With no park ticket required for entry, Bar Helios on top of Universal Helios Grand Hotel is the best spot to take in the grand scope of the new park. Regardless of whether you’re staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel, stop by daily after 4 p.m. (reservations are encouraged, though not required) to grab a bite and a drink and marvel at the incredible 360-degree views of the park. The rooftop eatery features a wondrous constellation map dome and Mediterranean accents, with style more akin to a swanky city hotspot than a theme park. The expansive menu is tapas-inspired, featuring highlights such as Wagyu beef sliders, a crunchy crab cake, and charred octopus. On trend and perhaps a first-ever for a theme park restaurant, Bar Helios offers a Seafood Tower with locally sourced crab, prawns, oysters, and tuna sashimi for a hefty $225. (For context, the large seafood tower at Orlando’s The Oceanaire Seafood Room hovers around $159). This restaurant offers a premium experience that is worth the price, especially for the unmatched views of the park.

Summoning wizards and muggles to test their magic might since 2010, Universal Orlando Resort’s Harry Potter now spans three distinct lands. The original Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, followed by Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, and now, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Ministry of Magic in Epic Universe. Drawing inspiration from the Harry Potter-inspired Fantastic Beasts franchise, the new world transports guests to a 1920s Paris street scene, complete with towering facades that completely immerse you in the romance of a bygone era. However, it’s the next generation wands that put the world’s magic in your palm. Find your next Second Generation Interactive Wand at many of Universal’s retail outlets (including the Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magiques in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Ministry of Magic) and you’ll unlock many exciting spell-casting opportunities throughout the world. The new wands feature light and haptic vibrations, adding an element of wonder as you successfully cast your spells throughout the world. Connect to the Universal app for enhanced spell effects, interactive gameplay, challenges, and a handy map that routes you to the world’s many enchanted locations. Your new wand will work at the other two parks, though you’ll find the Magical Spellbook moments in the Ministry of Magic are the next generation of play.

Photos don’t seem to capture the scope and scale of the How to Train Your Dragon–Isle of Berk world, the largest of the four IP-themed worlds. Let your eyes wander, and they’ll fixate on any of the thousands of details that imbue this mountainous land with its unique, island character and charm. Add in the many dragon and Viking interactive activations, and this world will be a family favorite. The Untrainable Dragon show is one of the main attractions here, with a new story about a misunderstood dragon that tests the limits. Enter Hiccup and Toothless, flying in for an awe-inspiring entrance that sends them soaring over the audience—the 20-minute show clips along with lively drummers, excellent puppets, and thrills for the whole family.

Part circus sideshow, part Cirque, Le Cirque Arcanus is one of the two main attractions in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Ministry of Magic. A playful extension of the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, this live-action two-part show begins with an extensive standing pre-show followed by a seated, big-top circus show. The act features aerialists, breathtaking puppetry, and high-tech special effects that had the audience at the performance we attended enraptured. This presented less as a theme park show and more as something you’d see in Vegas. High quality, well-themed, and with a few unforgettable moments, don’t pass up the chance to recharge in the well-air-conditioned tent as this one-of-a-kind spectacle inspires you.

Travel the Warp Pipe portal with the cheeky Mario “Here We Go!” motto, and you’re on an escalator up to the eye-popping sights of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. An 8-bit dreamscape brought to life, behold the many shiny, spinning, dazzling objects of the Mushroom Kingdom with Bowser’s Castle across the way. Step inside the imposing Bowser metal sculpture and you’ll find Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. This family-friendly ride brings the classic Mario Kart video game to life with a first-of-its-kind augmented reality system that projects classic video game graphics onto a visor panel attached to a helmet provided in the queue. While the ride’s gameplay can take some time to get used to, the main attraction is the grand physical scenes here that bring many of the game’s best sequences to life. It all builds to a breathtaking race to the finish on Rainbow Road.

Don’t underestimate the fun on Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, the family-friendly launch coaster in the Isle of Berk. This “winged flying machine” is a fun fusion of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure with Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Slinky Dog Dash. The powerful 45 mph launch sends the 16-passenger train through the peaks and valleys of Berk, with a few themed elements and track twists that are best kept a surprise. With a fast pickup, no inversions, and great theming, this is a thrilling coaster for the younger set. Riders must be at least 40 inches tall to ride.

It’s all chaos ahead, and luckily, you’re along for the ride! Hop into the perfectly recreated Donkey Kong mine cart for a mind-bending race through a crumbling mine. This ride is the main attraction of Donkey Kong Country, a bonus world located in the back of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. The land faithfully brings the playful gorilla’s world to life with tropical greens and plenty of bright yellow bananas. On the ride, you’ll have thrilling encounters with Donkey and Diddy Kong, jump the tracks numerous times, and aquaplane for a delightful few seconds. There are a few fake outs and moments of surprise that are best left unspoiled until you hop into the mine car. The ride is a family coaster with a few sudden drops and unexpected turns. Riders must be at least 40 inches tall to ride.

Take the splendor and force of Islands of Adventure’s Jurassic World VelociCoaster and add in a dueling element, and you’ll have a sense of what makes Stardust Racers so special. The signature attraction of Celestial Park, Stardust Racers, is a smooth, fast, and wildly fun dueling launch coaster. The two tracks, Photon (yellow) and Pulsar (green), are identical in length, speed, and max height, though Pulsar delivers a slightly more intense ride experience. Expect tons of thrilling intertwining moments, perfect for a wave across the track. The two launches ensure there’s no downtime as you buck over top hats and hills and soar into a most unique “Celestial Spin” crisscross inversion. While it might be hard to sync up, racing friends on opposite trains is one of the most exciting things to do in the park.

It’s all going according to plan until it’s not, of course. And so begins the wildly amusing, delightfully demented Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe. Built on similar technology to the robotic arm of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, this hair-raising ride seamlessly integrates high-quality video and animatronics as you escape Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s experiment below the haunted Frankenstein estate. Head to this attraction early in the day to try to beat the rush, as the line will undoubtedly be one of the longest waits in the park.

Dolores Umbridge is about to stand trial for her crimes against Muggle-borns, and you’ve got a first-row seat for all the action. In an astonishing feat of theme park magic, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is the most shockingly immersive and exciting dark ride of a generation. Think of the remarkable feats accomplished in the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts rides at Universal Studios Florida, and then advance the technological wizardry by a decade. This new ride is a mad-cap elevator ride through the Ministry of Magic, expanding scenes you’ll recognize from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The animatronics here are so life-like, you’ll wonder if live actors are part of the experience (anyone remember Disney World’s Great Movie Ride?!). Those all-encompassing moments of disbelief, along with what might be the world’s most impressive queue experience of a theme park attraction (think Rise of the Resistance-level scale and scope), make this the best attraction of the park, and a strong contender for one of the most thrilling dark rides ever built.

We understand your time at Epic Universe will be limited, and there are only so many hours in a day. Not to mention that Epic Universe is brimming with great theming to enjoy, top eats and drinks, and many activations that will delight park-goers throughout the day. It’s safe to say that this park will be crowded for years to come, so here are five things you can skip to maximize your time in the park.

Cute, sweet, and short, Yoshi’s Adventure is an omnimover ride through the Mushroom Kingdom on a hunt for the glowing eggs. While this has some cute elements, the ride features only one dark-room show scene that feels abbreviated. So much of the ride’s focus is on taking in the playful energy of the surrounding world, something you can enjoy without having to get on the ride.

There is fun to be had while soaring through the air on Dragon Racer’s Rally, but it might take you a few runs on the ride to get the hang of it. Think of this soaring ride as the next generation of Disney’s Dumbo flying ride, though you’ll be riding solo with the ability to go for full-tilt inversions. The ride takes a good sense of physics and patience to master, as you maneuver the wings on each side of you to catch a spin-inducing airstream. If you aren’t able to master the inversions, no sweat, you’re still in for a pleasant, if somewhat unremarkable, flight.

Fyre Drill is Epic Universe’s only water ride, and oh, do you get wet. On a boat battle where water cannons reach up to 28 feet, it can feel like the main target is your dry clothes. There are merits to cooling off with a family-friendly water fight on a scorchingly hot summer day. Just assess how comfortable you’ll be walking around in wet clothing for the next few hours. If you’re eager to complete every attraction in the park, be sure to pack extra pairs of socks, consider wearing a bathing suit, and even bring a poncho. And if you don’t heed the warnings and come unprepared, people’s air dryers are available near the ride’s exit for a fee.

A solid launched spinning coaster, Curse of the Werewolf, is fun and pleasant and would be a top attraction at most other parks in the country. Though in a top-tier park packed with many one-of-a-kind thrill rides that push boundaries, “Curse” feels more like a footnote than a bold-faced title. The ride can be disorienting as it spins, covering relatively little ground. It’s tucked away in the back of Dark Universe, and while there is fun to be had, it’s overshadowed by the genre-busting theatrics and thrills of the neighboring Monsters Unchained.

This park is brimming with special moments around every corner, and much of the strategy is figuring out how to fit them into your visit. Constellation Carousel is one of those attractions that can be enjoyed from a distance, especially when time is of the essence. This is the next generation of carousel technology, featuring whimsical dragons, peacocks, and lions that independently rotate and bob up and down, reaching heights of up to six feet. Take note of the carousel’s mystical ways as you pass by it throughout the day. Return at night to see the roundabout in all its glory, beautifully lit up and most efficiently admired from the sidelines.