Universal's Epic Universe Has One Unexpected Rule Guests Must Follow
- Universal's new theme park Epic Universe will feature five fully-themed worlds, including Dark Universe inspired by classic movie monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein.
Universal's upcoming May opening of Epic Universe has been the talk of the town, but if you plan on going, you should be aware of one rule.
The new theme park will be split into five fully-themed worlds—Celestial Park, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon—Isle of Berk, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Ministry of Magic—that fans and park-goers can access via portals.
One attraction at Dark Universe is expected to be a fan favorite, but it comes with a very eyebrow-raising rule.
Dark Universe's inspiration comes "from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein," taking park-goers "to a shadowy landscape where monsters roam."
It's a "world of myth and mystery," meaning it will pay homage to classic movie monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Invisible Man.
And as the promotional materials note, you too can now "walk in a visitor" and "walk out a monster," thanks to the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience .
"At Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience, Dr. Pretorius' old lab has been converted into a parlor to continue the spirit of his demented experiments. Here, skilled artisans use their talents to experiment on customers and release their inner love of Universal Monsters – be they werewolves, vampires, or something even more fashionably monstrous," the description notes.
The face painting experience allows you to "release your inner creature," however before you undergo the transformation, you may want to consider next steps as you won't be able to consume any alcoholic beverages after.
A guest participates in the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience in the Dark Universe area, at the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Epic Universe, the $7 billion attraction from Comcast Corp.'s Universal Destinations & Experiences division, offers five distinct lands and opens to the public on May 22. Photographer: Thomas Simonetti/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Universal's FAQ page states that guests in makeup "will not be able to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages at any of the Universal theme parks" with an emphasis that it also includes "Universal CityWalk."
The monstrous makeover is so intense—in comparison to basic face painting you might find at other theme parks—that employees won't be able to verify your identity or age via your ID.
The rule is also being implemented because Epic Universe uses facial recognition screens to allow guests inside, with the FAQ noting, "After your experience, you may need to re-validate your photo in the Universal Orlando photo validation system. The Team Members at the venue will provide you with information on the easiest way to do this based on what you want to do next in the park."
While park tickets for a one-day for adults are going for $139 and $134 for children 9 and under, the face makeup is an add-on for just $45 or with accessories for $169.
