Most rides at Epic Universe have Single Rider traces, which is likely one of the finest methods to avoid wasting time at Common Orlando. This covers all the things you might want to learn about these queues for solo company, which rides have them & don’t, professionals & cons, and extra. Plus, why they’re a game-changer at EU proper now, how a lot time it can save you, and the place to NOT use Single Rider! (Up to date September 6, 2025.)

Let’s begin with the fundamentals: Single Rider traces are precisely what the title suggests, separate queues for events of 1. Profiting from a Single Rider line doesn’t require that you just go to Epic Universe by your self. Crew Members aren’t going to verify your marital standing previous to utilizing the road or confirm the folks coming into round you might be strangers. You aren’t prohibited from coming into the Single Rider line when you’re a part of a bunch.

Slightly, these are queues for company who’re keen to separate from their teams in trade for wait occasions which are normally considerably shorter than the standby line. Single Riders are finest regarded as “seat fillers” who will be part of different events to forestall sights from being dispatched with empty spots, thereby enhancing journey effectivity and lowering wait occasions for everybody. Friends within the Single Rider line will likely be separated from these round them previous to boarding. You’ll not journey along with your pals or household, which is usually a good or dangerous factor relying on whether or not you’re prepared for a break from them!

Word that simply because an attraction will function a Single Rider line, doesn’t imply that choice will likely be accessible always. It simply means the attraction was constructed with a devoted queue for Single Riders, and is operationally supposed to assist such a line. We’ve seen some sights not supply Single Rider traces till sure sights discovered their footing, or till operations grew to become extra comfy and environment friendly at dispatching journey autos. Extra on this within the commentary, although.

Within the Common Orlando app is the next warning: “The one rider choice is topic to availability and will open or shut at any time.” Now let’s flip to the checklist of main journey at Common Epic Universe with and with out a Single Rider line:

Celestial Park

• Stardust Racers: Single Rider
• Constellation Carousel: No

Find out how to Prepare Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: Single Rider
• Dragon Racer’s Rally: No
• Fyre Drill: No

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

• Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry: Single Rider

Tremendous Nintendo World

• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem: Single Rider
• Mine Cart Insanity: Single Rider
• Yoshi’s Journey: No

Darkish Universe

• Curse of the Werewolf: Single Rider
• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment: Single Rider

How Lengthy are Single Rider Line Wait Occasions?

Usually, you’ll count on to attend roughly one-third of the conventional wait time within the Single Rider line at Common Orlando. However these are very a lot ballpark numbers, and may differ broadly.

We have now in depth expertise as Annual Passholders at Common Orlando, in addition to Common Studios Hollywood and Japan. This consists of attending comfortable openings of recent lands, similar to Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Tremendous Nintendo World. One factor we realized throughout these experiences is that Single Rider traces are (unsurprisingly!) much more widespread with Annual Passholders and locals.

Single Rider utilization relies upon upon the day and time of your go to. It additionally is dependent upon posted wait occasions for the common standby line. There are occasions at Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey when Single Rider waits are almost so long as standby traces as a result of disproportionate variety of locals and followers. This was additionally our expertise at Epic Universe throughout previews. Nonetheless, issues have modified significantly since then.

Why Single Rider is a Sport-Changer at Epic Universe

As contrasted with locals and Annual Passholders, common vacationers are far much less more likely to learn about and use Single Rider traces. The large distinction between Epic Universe and the opposite two parks at Common Orlando is that it doesn’t have APs or ticket offers for locals.

For this reason Single Rider traces are an absolute game-changer for touring Epic Universe proper now. We’re at present in a ‘candy spot’ for visiting the brand new park, as lined in My Wonderful Epic Universe Expertise. I acquired a ton executed throughout that go to, most of which was with out even needing Single Rider.

On condition that Annual Passes usually are not legitimate at Epic Universe and locals had a couple of months of previews earlier than Epic Universe formally opened, most have gotten their fill. The overwhelming majority of present UOAPs have stopped buying 1-day tickets–an costly proposition–they usually’re now ready till an Epic Universe add-on is on the market for his or her APs. (They is perhaps ready some time!)

Accordingly, Epic Universe is disproportionately households of vacationers proper now and can most likely stay this manner by someday in 2026. Throughout that window, Single Rider traces are good for looping curler coasters and different widespread sights with minimal waits. So if it’s a weekday in late February 2026 and Annual Passes nonetheless aren’t accessible at Epic Universe, waits for Single Rider traces will likely be a lot shorter. Nonetheless, if Common does supply an AP add-on by then, all bets are off.

As a basic rule, we’ve discovered Single Rider traces to be longer at Common Orlando than they’re at Walt Disney World. Common is extra akin to Disneyland on this sense, due largely to demographics (extra locals and younger adults, fewer households with kids).

That is usually the case, and over time, we’d count on it to even be true at Epic Universe. Particularly as soon as Common begins promoting Annual Passes for the park. However for now, there are extra households and different vacationers visiting Epic Universe, they usually’re much less more likely to need to go solo on sights. They’re additionally much less more likely to have information of Single Rider traces.

Proper now, I might estimate that the Single Rider traces are sometimes a walk-on or very near it. I’ve skilled minimal waits on nearly all the things, with the very notable exception of Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity. With that stated, Single Rider wait occasions do scale with standby occasions, so longer waits for the latter incentivizes extra company to strive Single Rider.

When & Why Single Rider Strains Shut

It’s value stating that Single Rider traces aren’t all the time open. Throughout my most up-to-date day at Epic Universe, Single Rider traces had been ceaselessly closed when traces had been too lengthy, but additionally too brief. This was true with each Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity and Curse of the Werewolf (the previous having an indication indicating the road was “at capability”) on the excessive finish.

It’s additionally notable that the Single Rider traces for each Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry and Stardust Racers closed because of an absence of demand. When each of these sights had standby traces that dipped under half-hour, their Single Rider traces closed. This can be a good factor, and we wouldn’t advocate utilizing the Single Rider line with standby traces that brief, anyway.

Relating to not being open because of excessive demand, Mine-Cart Insanity is certainly the most important offender. That is adopted intently by Curse of the Werewolf. Our robust suggestion could be to do Curse of the Werewolf earlier within the day when standby wait occasions are shorter, and Mine-Cart Insanity in Donkey Kong Nation in direction of the top of the night. Single Rider ought to be open then, and again to an affordable wait.

Single Rider Wait Time Inconsistency

As soon as Epic Universe settles right into a groove, the one-third quantity won’t be a tough and quick rule–it’s a really, very tough rule of thumb. There have been occasions after I’ve executed a Single Rider line that’s backed up and I’m fairly positive the posted standby line for the common queue was massively inflated. On a minimum of a few events, I wouldn’t be shocked if I didn’t save any time in anyway by way of Single Rider. (Mario Kart once more involves thoughts.)

In my expertise–and I’ve plenty of it since Sarah doesn’t repeatedly journey most of the headliner sights within the Common parks–Single Rider traces are very hit and miss. There have been occasions when completely nobody else is within the line and it’s primarily a walk-on, and different occasions when the road is lengthy and extremely slow-moving.

Typically talking, the perfect occasions for Single Rider traces are very first thing within the morning or late at evening when standby traces are additionally brief. However a minimum of in these circumstances, Crew Members will normally shut the Single Rider line or give company coming into it a ‘heads up’ that it received’t save any or very a lot time.

The place to Skip Single Rider Strains

With that stated, Single Rider traces aren’t all upside for company utilizing them. There are tradeoffs. Each Single Rider line skips a portion of the queue. When you’re into themed design and need the total expertise, we all the time advocate doing the common line as soon as earlier than switching to Single Rider. That is necessary on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem, which skips the detailed queue, in addition to parts of the pre-show explainer movies. That interactive attraction could be complicated even with the right context; these pre-show movies are beneficial.

Rather more importantly, we’d strongly advocate NOT utilizing the Single Rider line to your first expertise on Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Each of those sights don’t simply skip “cool queue,” however quite, they bypass parts of pre-shows that assist inform the story of the attraction. That is particularly true with Monsters Unchained, as one of many large wow-moments is within the pre-show. There’s additionally the fact that that is persistently among the many shortest standby traces in Epic Universe, so that you is perhaps saving 5-10 minutes with Single Rider.

That is much less the case on extra easy curler coasters. I’ve by no means felt like I’m lacking out on something at Stardust Racers, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Mine-Cart Insanity, or Curse of the Werewolf at Epic Universe. Similar goes with VelociCoaster, Unimaginable Hulk Coaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey, Revenge of the Mummy, or different thrill rides that lack compelling queues or pre-shows on the legacy Common Orlando parks.

Single Rider Strains Cut up Events

One other factor that basically bears reiterating is that teams could enter the Single Rider line however they completely won’t be seated collectively. No less than, not on function. It does occur now and again when there are two empty seats as an alternative of 1. (We regularly use the Single Rider line at Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland, and about half the time, we’re in separate rows of the identical automobile.)

I’m emphasizing this as a result of I’ve seen so many folks play dumb (or maybe they really are dumb, to offer them the advantage of the doubt) and attempt to argue with Crew Members about being seated collectively. At Common, it’s normally youngsters who feign ignorance (or are ignorant) and plead their case to be seated collectively.

Crew Members hear sob tales a number of occasions per day; you’re not the primary to do this “trick” and also you’re not going to be the one who succeeds on the gambit. Your circumstances, no matter no matter they’re, usually are not distinctive. Eager to journey collectively is why standby traces exist.

Everybody Wins With Single Rider

We’re enormous advocates of the Single Rider line, as it might probably minimize wait occasions dramatically for individuals who are keen to separate from their events. That is nice for thrill seekers who need to loop curler coasters, that are additionally normally probably the most environment friendly and efficient Single Rider traces at Common.

Single Rider can also be helpful for individuals who don’t use it. Filling each seat will increase attraction effectivity and meaning shorter wait occasions for everybody. If journey autos are dispatched with unfilled seats, that will increase standby wait occasions.

If Single Rider traces aren’t provided, these company will as an alternative be within the standby traces. They’re the uncommon “everybody wins” providing–and I’m glad to see that every one main rides at Epic Universe a minimum of supply Single Rider traces.

Finally, Single Rider traces are an effective way to avoid wasting time ready at Common Orlando. We’re actually happy to see the excessive variety of these queues given the probability that Epic Universe’s low journey depend will result in epic standby wait occasions. Single Rider traces can imply not having to cope with lengthy standby traces or having to spring for Specific Move. You can even get unfortunate and find yourself not saving a lot time–it’s tough to foretell since wait occasions typically usually are not posted on Single Rider traces. Even when they’re, they’re normally inaccurate.

Single Rider traces could be nice for thrill seekers who need to ‘loop’ widespread thrill rides with minimal wait occasions. Over at Islands of Journey, I’ve executed that with each Hagrid’s and VelociCoaster, which frequently have extremely environment friendly Single Rider traces. They’re much more beneficial at Epic Universe on busy days, and may proceed to be an entire game-changer till Epic Universe presents Annual Passes!

Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation to your go to to Central Florida? Make sure that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for all the things about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for all the things about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.

Your Ideas

Have you ever used Single Rider traces at Common Orlando? Have you ever had usually good or dangerous experiences with them? Agree that Single Rider traces are a game-changer for getting a ton executed with minimal waits at Epic Universe till APs are offered? Any horror or success tales from particular sights with Single Rider traces? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!