Epic Universe has been booming for over a year now. It’s still a new park that is a special day for newcomers and frequent Universal Orlando visitors alike. Sure, there are some people who have been to the park more than a handful of times. However, because it is not an experience that is covered under the annual passes (though it is discounted for passholders), even frequent parkgoers have likely spent less time in Epic than they have in the other parks.
I've now been on every major Epic Universe attraction, and know there's way more to uncover, but here are five fun Easter eggs I only learned about the second time I visited the parks.
The Pikmin Are The Only Creatures To Have Escaped From Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is amazing when it comes to theming. You take an escalator through the portal into the park, and once inside, the colors pop and the characters are everywhere. Those characters are there to stay, with one exception. When you exit Super Nintendo World, you can spot some escapees, the Pikmin, who have shimmied into Celestial Park. They can be spotted if you look closely enough in a couple of locations, and if you can’t find them, you can always catch them in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Dark Universe Has A Cool Reference For Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle Jr., the son of the man who started Universal Pictures and the person who convinced his dad that monster movies would be a studio lifesaver, has an Easter egg in Dark Universe. Carved into the side of a concrete structure, it’s definitely the type of thing you would probably miss if you didn't know what to look for. Laemmle Jr was born on 4/28/1908, and when the Dark Universe portal was coming together, they popped a little 428 address on one of the buildings. You can see it on the bricks near the ground by the Burgermeister, and it's fun to look for it on your own.
The Cute Little Leafy Guy In Ministry of Magic Is Pickett
The French-themed park has a lot of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them references, and Nifflers and Bowtruckles are no exception. If you look around in the shop windows (and have a wand), not only can you complete spells, but you can also find some of the real creatures from Fantastic Beasts. My favorite is Pickett, and he can be found quietly picking a lock in a shop window in Place Cachée, having escaped Newt Scamander's suitcase.
The Ministry Of Magic Looks Large Thanks To A Hidden Mirror
Going through the Metro Floo network is considered to be the coolest experience at Universal Orlando. Once inside the Ministry of Magic, there’s a lot to look at. I’d recommend sauntering over to the side of the cavernous room where the Ministry offices are. There’s a thunderstorm ceiling with a mirrored rim that is used to give the illusion the Ministry stretches forever and ever. There are ceiling fans on the floors and the ceiling to keep the optical illusion going (because again, mirrors). To me, it's even more stunning than the green fog effect of the floo.
Stardust Racers Is A Different Experience At Night
You may have already seen videos of the dueling coasters racing around the cosmos online prior to this, but I can now confirm Stardust Racers is a completely different experience at night than during the day. Not only are you riding in complete darkness, which is just really flipping cool, but the ride also has different music at night. It gets more spacey and EDM-oriented. Next time you’re walking by at night, you can hear the differences rather than just spotting them.
All in all, if you've been to Epic Universe, you've probably discovered some fun things already, such as the Burning Blade Tavern catching fire or some dragons hanging out in some unusual places. But there's way more than meets the eye at first, even when it comes to the queues on Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. I'm just saying, keep your eyes wide open; you never know what you're gonna see.
