Epic Universe Day 4
“I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it’s gonna take.” — A Million Dreams ( The Greatest Showman)
It’s not often a theme park lover’s birthday lines up perfectly with a brand-new theme park’s preview timeline, but I happened to be one of the lucky ones. Before I got invited to the preview I attended the week prior, Annual Passholders had the opportunity to buy tickets for Epic Universe previews. My co-agent Kendra lives out of state but has an annual pass, so she chose the same date as me and my mother-in-law to celebrate my birthday together.
We made plans to explore Universal Helios Grand Hotel the night before our park day. This hotel is located inside the Epic Universe theme park, similar to how the Grand Californian connects directly to Disney California Adventure.
We had reservations at the newly opened Bar Helios, but we arrived early to explore the hotel. As a birthday present, my mother-in-law bought me my very own Power-Up Band. The hardest part was choosing which character to get. Epic Universe features two characters not available in the Hollywood version: Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. I considered one of them since they’re a little more unique, but Yoshi has always been my go-to. I debated it for a while but ultimately went with Yoshi. What can I say? I’m a true Hufflepuff and loyal to my favorites.
We then took the elevator up to Bar Helios. The hosts greeted me with a cheerful “Happy Birthday,” which honestly caught me off guard. I had made the reservation through OpenTable, so I guess my birthday is linked to that account.
Bar Helios serves mostly small plates and tapas-style dishes, but I still left feeling pretty full. The whole restaurant leans into a celestial and zodiac theme, with gold accents and moody, elegant décor. The space is divided into three areas: the bar, the dining room, and outdoor seating.
The menu has changed a bit since our visit, but here’s what we ordered. For my drink, I ordered the Nectar of the Gods, made with Cruzan Single Barrel Rum, Grand Marnier, peach yogurt syrup, lime juice, and cane syrup. I was a little nervous about the idea of “yogurt” in a cocktail, but I couldn’t even detect it in the drink. Since then, I’ve noticed they changed the description to simply say “peach syrup.”
As for the food, here’s what we shared at the table:
Heritage Crispy Chicken Wings with honey lime, pomegranate, and labneh
Charcuterie board with Prosciutto di Parma, bresaola, tartufo salami, mostarda, pickled vegetables, grilled focaccia, and olio verde
Wagyu Beef Sliders with kibbeh-spiced mayo, aged cheddar, charred onions, and arugula
Beef Skewers with chimichurri and garlic sauce
Whipped Farmer’s Cheese with honeycomb, citrus, seasonal local fruit, pistachios, and grilled focaccia
Since it was my birthday, we splurged on the Shattered Rose for dessert, which was a whole experience, not just a sweet treat.
As we left the resort, the view overlooking Epic Universe gave us a perfect glimpse of the magic waiting for us the next day. It was the perfect end to a memorable early birthday celebration evening.
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