Stop right now. You do not want to continue reading this blog if you have any desire to remain level-headed and orderly with your personal finances. I’m serious — this blog post is about to elicit some serious coveting. You can still turn back. I mean it, you will not be able to stop yourself once I reveal my favorite merchandise at Universal Epic Universe. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
Still here? Oh good, I knew I liked you! OK, I am so excited to share some of my favorite Epic merch. Hundreds of creatives and producers worked for years to create items (over 5,000 to be exact) that will delight every person in your family.
So, let’s dive right into my favorite merchandise at Epic Universe, starting with our first out-of-this-world world: Celestial Park.
Celestial Park
You might think of Celestial Park as home to the appropriately-hyped roller coaster, Stardust Racers, but it’s also the place to find uniquely-branded Epic Universe merchandise. And you know you’re going to want to rep this first-of-its-kind theme park.
At Other Worlds Mercantile, you’ll find beautiful clothing (I honestly think the cobalt blue and gold accents may become my whole look) and want-able tumblers and journals. I am obsessed with the Epic Universe popcorn bucket. Yes, you know we love a popcorn bucket.
PRO TIP: Other Worlds Mercantile carries merchandise from across all the worlds in Epic Universe!
Celestial Park is the heart of Epic Universe, and it’s the first location where you will witness how Universal has really taken the merchandise game to a whole new level. Don’t believe me? Well, take it from Brian Beauregard, executive creative director who has been with Universal for almost 22 years and knows a thing or two about how “epic” your merchandising experience is about to get.
“We’ve raised the bar so high…it’s been amazing to partner with hundreds of creatives, producers, and innovators across the board,” he shares. “It’s amazing to deliver this level of immersion through our merchandise to guests.”
Celestial Park is just the beginning. Let’s step through the portals and see what else is in store (see what I did there?).
Epic easter egg: Keep a lookout for Captain Cacao, a local denizen of Celestial Park. He’s a totally adorable plush character you will be eager to take home with you.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
Wahoo! I am locked in on this merch, and woe to anyone who gets in my way. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Epic Universe has tons of merchandise featuring your favorite Super Mario and Donkey Kong characters.
You can find me at the 1-UP Factory, where you can stock up on fun items and collectibles, character apparel, toys, and more.
If you haven’t heard about Power-Up Bands, now is the time to study up, because they make SUPER NINTENDO WORLD even more interactive. And get this — for all my Donkey Kong fans out there (guilty), there are bands for both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong!
Speaking of Donkey Kong, you’ll want to stop by Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy for some super cool gear. Donkey Kong’s friend Funky Kong has turned his airplane into an open-air jungle market featuring apparel, souvenirs, and other goods and treasures!
Back in Super Mario Land, there’s a Boo reversible pillow and it is too cute. And what about the ? Block pillow that turns into a Super Star? I definitely feel invincible when I have it with me.
Kate Land, assistant director of product development and assortment planning, knows Mario and Luigi are great — but she also knows that fans have been clamoring for more of Princess Peach. Well, get ready because she’s well represented with her own collection of merchandise.
The Princess Peach crewneck sweatshirt immediately called my name — plus the tank and water tumbler…so it’s a whole “I could go for a cute jog at any moment” vibe.
But I have to say, Yoshi will always be my main and I grabbed one of the colorful Yoshi shirts in an oversized situation for lounging and all-around living in. In fact, the whole Yoshi line is everything. Headbands are going to be so tubular this Epic season (sorry, I had to) — so be sure to grab a few of the Yoshi ones for your entire crew.
And if one store isn’t enough, head over to Mario Motors, where there’s plenty of Mario Kart-inspired merch. Are you kidding me!? I can’t.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
I am obsessed with How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. It is beautiful and totally immersive; like, unbelievable levels of detail and that includes the merchandise offerings.
In addition to the absolutely necessary sheep merch (I’m talking Loungeflys, attitude tees, plushes), Don Davis, director of merchandise brand management and product development, emphasized that they wanted merchandise items that were as unique and immersive as the theme park. And boy, did they deliver.
Cosplay opportunities are big throughout Epic Universe, and I will be the first person in line to become a Viking — complete with exact film replicas of the sword used by Hiccup, helmets, the whole bit. I purchased the entire set of Viking cosplay items faster than Snotlout Jorgensen in a dragon race. My kiddo has Hiccup’s Inferno Sword, the Viking shield, and a coterie of Gronckles.
And if you love Toothless as much as my family (which, how could you not, he is literally the cutest), there are plenty of Toothless items you can bring home with you. As Don shared, “everything from fashion to plushes, headbands, backpacks — everything you can think of for Toothless, we’ve got that covered.” And yes, that does include a baby bodysuit for all those tiny Vikings out there.
When I think of things I want to make my husband wear, it’s definitely the Hiccup’s Work Shop line. It’s understated and cool — very “in world.” The hat with the leather-like detailing is an immediate yes.
Look for my whole family completely dressed to the scales in How to Train Your Dragon merch next time you’re there!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Get ready to explore the streets of 1920s Paris, where you will find charming shops, cafés, magical creatures, and even more amazing merch!
What I love about the collection in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is the commitment to authenticity. Kate was thrilled when she was given a blank slate: an empty store footprint and the creative freedom to dream up enough items to fill every corner.
“When we learned the theme, we researched real-world fashion and events that happened in 1920s Paris,” she shares. “We wanted to take what we know our guests love about [the wizarding world] merch and deliver an immersive experience.”
If you’re anything like me, you enjoy knowing everyone’s Hogwarts houses and have a passion for French pastries. So, bien sûr, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is the perfect place to wander through the charming shops.
First up: the clothing. There are so many incredible items to choose from. I am particularly enchanted by the Auror items, which include a couture-looking jogger set, a baseball cap, a journal to document all of your spellbinding adventures in the wizarding world, and more!
Do you ever wish you could be in two places at once? Or just bend time to your will, in general? When “Arresto Momento” just won’t cut it, maybe the Time-Turner merchandise will. The delicate necklaces will be perfect the next time I need to be in two places at once.
Where are my villain fans out there? I have at least one friend who was beside himself to discover an entire line dedicated to one of the most coyly villains, Dolores Umbridge. Grab a feline teacup or perhaps a journal because I must not tell lies — this collection is adorable.
I have always wanted to receive my Hogwarts letter and step into the wizarding world. And who doesn’t want to look the part? Let me check my closet…The best house robe? Check. Scarf? Check. Tie? Check. Now, it’s time for a new wand.
Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique sells some of the finest wands in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Kate describes them as “absolutely stunning works of art.” I’m particularly excited for the Phoenix wand, an Epic Universe exclusive Second Generation Interactive Wand that will be inspired by the Phoenix Arch at the entrance to Place Cachée.
I could go on and on because there is so much more to discover, but I’ll leave you with this little easter egg, courtesy of Kate: in addition to a myriad of delicious confections, there are French iterations of chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavored Beans at K. Rammelle. The metal collectible packaging is written in French. Ooh la la!
Dark Universe
Is that raised skin up your arms the response to the howls of werewolves, or your reaction to the horrifying idea that you have yet to explore the merch of Dark Universe?
Well, werewolves never bothered me, so it must be the latter.
Welcome to Dark Universe, home of the Universal Monsters, a flaming blade tavern, and plenty of shopping opportunities.
When you aren’t plundering the depths of Frankenstein Manor, you could find yourself in The Manor Storehouse or Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities. The whole gang calls Dark Universe home: Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon…and they all have their own merchandise. Are the Universal Monsters, dare I say, chic? I love this whole line.
Get ready to embrace the monster in your heart with some monster-inspired costumes. And to take things a step further, for a separate fee you can get your face makeup done at Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience so you can really let out your inner fierceness. I don’t think you’ll see any poufy dresses or glitter here.
Everybody pause! I’m going to be honest, most of the Universal Monsters merchandise is great for adults — but wait until you see the Kidult collection! I’ve never seen scary monsters look so gosh darn adorable. Trust me, you’re going to want to collect them allllllllll.
Have you ever returned home after a long day at work and thought to yourself how you just never have a stake handy in the event of a Drac attack? Well, you Van Helsing, you — we’ve got you covered. Choose from a selection of monster fending items, from classic stakes to elegant swords.
Raise a glass in The Burning Blade Tavern and leave with the merch to prove you were there. I love the very authentic looking pieces and will be hording them back in my home.
My 5-year-old is obsessed with the Curse of the Werewolf ride — and I am legit in love with the stylized symbol for the Werewolf. I think the tank top in particular is howling my name. There are so many awesome pieces to consider here, the scariest part will be when you run out of luggage space to take them all home.
More to Explore
Whew! Thanks for sticking with me — and to think, this is only a fraction of the merch available within the worlds of Epic Universe. Overseeing the design and development of hundreds of unique merchandise pieces can’t be easy, but Don stays motivated by something that makes it all worth it.
“My family loves theme parks,” he says. “Seeing the smile on my nieces and their kids’ faces when they enjoy the products…I always go back to those moments and think about the fans, their excitement…and how happy we are making the guests.”
The portals are open, and there is so much in store for you when you arrive! We really mean it when we say “you gotta see this.”
Have you shopped ‘til you drop at Universal Epic Universe yet? Let me know your faves in the comments — and maybe I’ll have to whip out my credit card based on your recs!
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