6 Family-Friendly Features That Make Epic Universe a Win for Parents

Universal Orlando's Epic Universe is the most ambitious theme park yet and in many ways it is the most family-friendly. As a local parent who has visited all the Universal parks over the years (including with a baby in tow), I wasn’t sure what to expect from this sprawling new space. But Epic Universe surprised me in the best ways.

From thoughtful restrooms to sensory-friendly touches, here are six ways Epic Universe is the most kid-friendly Universal Orlando theme park to date.

If you're unsure what Epic Universe offers, you can familiarize yourself with the most kid-friendly lands at our sibling site, Orlando-Parenting.com.

Epic Universe for Families

1. Family Restrooms in Every Land

Every major restroom we visited at Epic Universe included a dedicated family restroom, making it easier for caregivers of all kinds to manage diaper changes, bathroom breaks, and wiggly toddlers. Many of the women’s restrooms included private changing areas with sinks and enough space for a stroller. Changing tables were available in all restrooms we encountered, regardless of gender signage.

Even better, each land has its own restroom area, and every one we used included refillable water bottle stations—a small but helpful feature for families trying to stay hydrated.

This is a good time to remind you about some of the things to bring to Epic Universe, like a refillable water bottle and sunscreen!

2. A Truly Thoughtful Family Care Center

Located near Helios Grand Hotel and the Wizarding World, the Family Care Center feels like a quiet oasis. There are private nursing rooms, bottle warmers, microwaves, a large family restroom, and a sensory room with dimmable lighting and softly lit wall toys.

There’s even seating where parents can rest in the air conditioning while kids color or watch a family-friendly Universal movie.

And instead of searching through merchandise locations for diapers or children’s medicine, you’ll find a stocked vending machine with essentials like children’s Tylenol, feminine care products, and wipes.

3. Rider Swap Rooms That Work for Families

Epic Universe takes the concept of rider swap to a new level. Every attraction we visited had a dedicated rider swap room—and they weren’t just holding areas. Many featured air conditioning, refillable water stations, TVs playing ride previews or Universal cartoons, and even changing tables in some.

Available at most attractions (did not confirm at Darkmoor rides, Ministry, or two additional Berk rides)

• Yoshi’s Adventure – Small “pipe tunnel” area for kids to explore
• Donkey Kong Coaster – Compact space with a baby changing table
• Fyre Drill – Includes a TV for entertainment, HTTYD clips
• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge – Includes a TV showing Mario Kart montage

These rooms were game-changers. For example, my son was hesitant to ride Mario Kart at first due to the intimidating Bowser Castle entrance and queue. So we used the rider swap room to watch the fun, upbeat montage and he changed his mind. After riding once, he begged to go again.

Pro-tip: Based on previews, Mario Kart Bowser's Challenge is very busy when the park opens, with waits over an hour. But during the last two hours of park operation, the waits go down to 15 minutes or less!

4. Sensory-Friendly Moments That Matter

Throughout the park, Team Members showed real awareness and sensitivity, especially during character interactions. Each character's experience during our visit involved real, genuine one-on-one conversations and precious moments.

At the dragon hatching ceremony inside Toothless Treasures, a TM offered my son the option of a quieter version of the little ceremony, which made all the difference for our family.

The sensory/quiet room in Family Care is another big win. A friend had utilized the Family Care Center during her visit, and I regret not taking advantage of it during our own.

Thankfully, multiple areas within Celestial Park offer places to decompress, with shaded benches and quiet nooks in between the themed lands. Having to return to Celestial Park after completing each land allows guests to easily take breaks without having to go out of their way.

My son and I enjoyed a refreshing round of kid-friendly drinks at Celestiki, a cute tiki bar in between Super Nintendo World and Dark Universe.

5. Dining Designed for Convenience

Both Pizza Moon and Toadstool Café operated with mobile ordering, which we found extremely helpful. At Toadstool, we placed our order via the app, sat down at our table, and scanned a QR code to let the kitchen know where we were seated. It streamlined the process and eliminated standing in line with hungry kids.

Milk is available at quick-service spots (2%) and Starbucks locations offer other varieties upon request. While not every restaurant had a dedicated kids’ menu, Team Members were helpful with recommendations.

The grilled cheese at Meteor Astropub, for instance, was a hit with a friend's toddler, while the marinara spaghetti kids' meal at Toadstool Cafe satisfied my young son while he took in the fascinating ambiance.

And to quench your thirst there are some creative and beautiful lounges at Epic Universe, each with a unique menu – including mocktails.

6. Thoughtfully Designed Immersion

While Epic Universe is enormous, the design works in families’ favor. Each themed land is fully enclosed, and accessed through a portal in the central Celestial Park hub. That means each land feels like its own self-contained world, great for keeping kids engaged and not overstimulated by too many visual elements at once.

The portals add to the sense of magic. And because you must return to the center between lands, it builds natural breaks into the day. Celestial Park is full of green space, wide walkways, and seating, a perfect place to relax, have a snack, or let kids run around.

Our favorite land? Isle of Berk is the best balance of family-friendly fun, for everyone!

Final Thoughts As a parent who’s been doing theme parks since my son was three months old, I’m impressed. Epic Universe may be big and bold, but it’s also surprisingly thoughtful when it comes to families. With features like private family care spaces, easy mobile dining, and a layout that supports balance rather than chaos, it might just be the most family-friendly Universal park yet.