Everything You Need to Know about EV Charging at Universal's Epic Universe
Universal Orlando's Epic Universe now offers EV charging. Here is EVERYTHING you need to know before you charge, including exactly where the chargers are, what they cost, and the disappointing charging speeds.
If you are driving an EV to Universal Orlando Epic Universe, you may be wondering whether you can charge while you enjoy the park. The answer is yes, but the experience is far more nuanced than it first appears. Charging is completely free, but speed, location, and parking rules all matter.
Below is a complete breakdown of how Epic Universe EV charging actually works.
How Many Chargers There Are and How Much They Cost
Epic Universe has a surprisingly large EV charging setup. There are 10 clusters of 4 Level 2 chargers for a total of 40 chargers, and all of them are SAE J1772 plugs. If you have a Tesla, you'll need a J1772 to NACS adapter if you want to charge. Sometimes you can even find adapters for under $20 on sale on Amazon. All chargers are located under a shaded solar panel awning, which helps keep vehicles cooler while parked.
As of May 2025, Universal changed the pricing model to completely free. There is no per kWh fee, no session fee, and no transaction fee. Some online sources still mention a $0.50 transaction fee.
The official Universal Orlando website still even states, "EV charging is available at Universal Epic Universe in Prime Parking. Subject to availability. Additional fees will apply." However, that statement is outdated and incorrect when it comes to charging fees as of publishing, January 27, 2026.
Parking Costs
All EV chargers are located in Prime Parking, which is the premium parking tier at Epic Universe.
Prime Parking costs $50 to $60 per day depending on the date. If you already purchased regular parking ($32 online or $35 at the gate), you can upgrade to Prime Parking for between $14-$25.
There is one important workaround. After 6:00 PM, Prime Parking becomes completely free. At that point, anyone can enter and use the chargers without paying anything at all.
I personally arrived at 5:40 PM and was able to politely convince the parking attendant to let me in early so I could scope out the charging situation and get plugged in. This is not guaranteed, but it does not hurt to ask.
How to Start Charging
To use the chargers, you need to download the ChargeUp app and create an account. There are no membership fees or payment methods required since charging is free. The signup is actually very painless. After the app downloaded, it took only about 1 minute to create an account and actually start charging.
Each charger has clear instructions posted on it. Once you open the app, you simply scan the QR code on the charger to begin your session. From a usability standpoint, the process is straightforward and easy, even for first-time users. Once the light on the charger changed from green to blue, you're good to go!
Actual Charging Speeds and What to Expect
This is where expectations should be set very low.
While these are technically Level 2 chargers, performance is extremely poor. During my visit, the outside temperature was about 54 degrees Fahrenheit. When I arrived at 5:40 PM, only three other cars were charging. When I left later in the evening, there were no other cars charging at all. Despite the lack of load, the ChargeUp App reported that it was only delivering 1.1 kW of power.
For comparison, most home Level 2 chargers deliver between 7 and 11 kW.
This setup is not suitable for meaningful recharging. At best, it helps offset a small amount of range used getting to the park. After five hours, I had gained just 4.9 kWh total. That is an average charging speed under 1 kW, which is abysmal for Level 2 charging.
Historical Pricing
Epic Universe did not always offer free charging. In the past, charging reportedly cost $3 per kWh, which is outrageously high. One EV owner claimed they were charged $210 for a single session.
For context, most public EV chargers in Florida average $0.30 to $0.50 per kWh, and even Tesla Superchargers rarely exceed $0.60 per kWh. Universal's old pricing was nearly 6x higher than industry norms.
The shift to free charging is a huge improvement, but the extremely slow speeds suggest this is more of a courtesy feature than a practical charging solution.
Should You Charge?
If you are already paying for Prime Parking or arrive after 6:00 PM, it is worth plugging in. Just do not expect to leave with a significantly charged battery. At Epic Universe, EV charging is free, plentiful, and very slow.
