Facing My Fears in the Dark Universe at Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe

If you know me, you know I don’t do scary.

I was traumatized by Gremlins as a kid, and I’ve stayed far away from haunted houses, horror movies, and anything designed to jump out at me ever since. So when I walked into Dark Universe at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe park, I didn’t expect to love it.

But surprise—this land was an unexpected favorite. 👀🖤

Even though I didn’t recognize a single IP (because, again, I avoid horror like the plague), I still fell in love with the immersive theming. This land is dripping with creepy ambiance—from fog rolling out of eerie wells to flickering lanterns, gothic castle spires, creepy crypts, and the absolute best team member costumes. I felt like I’d stepped onto a movie set… or into a classic monster film I was too scared to ever watch. 😅

🧄 Let’s talk food. Because this area SLAYED when it came to snacks.

I went for the Hunter’s Garlic Stake (yes, stake, not steak!)—a garlic butter pretzel with dipping sauce—but it was the Burning Cheddar Bites that won me over. Think crispy jalapeño pimento cheddar bites with sriracha ranch. I’m still dreaming about them.

And then there were the Darkmoor Black Wings—spicy, smoky, and served with cornbread shaped like a skull. You read that right. A skull. It felt weirdly wrong and right at the same time.

🎢 As for attractions? I loved both.

The werewolf ride is a little short but so fun, and the Frankenstein ride totally exceeded my expectations. And even though there’s nothing for toddlers to ride here, both attractions had family waiting rooms and easy rider swap options—big win for families! And YES—Express Pass is accepted and absolutely worth it in this universe.

🧟‍♂️ Bonus: Adults can get a monster makeover here! It was such a fun surprise to see guests roaming the park with spooky monster glam—total vibe.

Would I have ever guessed Dark Universe would become one of my favorite parts of Epic Universe? Nope. But that’s what makes this job (and travel in general) so much fun—unexpected magic in the most unlikely places.

Stay tuned for more Epic Universe posts… because this park is PACKED with things to share!