Rumors swirled this morning after posts on X from popular blogs and news sites claimed that Universal team members were telling guests that limited edition Epic Universe Grand Opening merchandise (in this case a commemorative medallion) had sold out before the park even opened to the general public.
Team Members are advising guests that the limited edition #EpicUniverse Grand Opening medallion sold out during the media preview and will not be available for regular guests today
📸: @OrlandoInformer pic.twitter.com/SjAioxzLdn
— BlogMickey.com (@Blog_Mickey) May 22, 2025
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The post, which has been shared widely among theme park fans, stated that Team Members were advising guests the medallion had already been snapped up during media previews and would not be available today to paying customers.
But according to Universal themselves, that’s simply not true.
In a direct statement to That Park Place, a Universal representative clarified: “There was a limited quantity available this morning in the park for opening day guests. It did not sell out before this morning’s opening.”
The butterbeer crepe at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Epic Universe – Photo Credit: Marvin Montanaro
That statement puts to rest the speculation that media and VIPs walked away with all of the commemorative collectibles before the gates opened. While it’s true that inventory was limited—and possibly sold out quickly after the park opened—regular day guests did have the opportunity to purchase the medallion.
This isn’t the first time misinformation has spread rapidly in the high-stakes world of theme park launches. With Epic Universe finally opening its gates after years of buildup, speculation and rumors are running hotter than a fire-breathing dragon from the Isle of Berk.
For context, Epic Universe is Universal Orlando’s most ambitious theme park to date. The park is divided into several immersive worlds, including Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Each land offers a jaw-dropping mix of cutting-edge attractions, themed dining, and immersive storytelling that rivals anything Disney has put forward in recent years.
The portal to How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park – Photo Credit: Marvin Montanaro
The limited edition medallion in question features the Epic Universe logo and commemorates the historic grand opening. Items like these are often in high demand on opening day, not only for collectors but for fans wanting to capture a piece of theme park history.
Unfortunately, high demand can often lead to confusion, and that seems to be what happened here. While it’s possible that some Team Members were misinformed or overheard incorrectly, the official word from Universal clears the air: the medallions were available to paying guests this morning.
Super Mario World with Bowser’s Castle at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park – Photo Credit: Marvin Montanaro
So, if you missed out on one today, it wasn’t because media guests grabbed them all yesterday. It was just a matter of limited quantity meeting massive demand—a common story in the world of collectibles.
Did you hear that Epic Universe opening day merchandise had been sold exclusively to the media? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Very glad to hear this but…it seems to me (and I speak as someone who’s been to park opening press events in the past) that the collectible limited quantity stuff should NOT have been available to the press preview folks at all–they could have been given special mementos of their day, but opening day is for the peeps and to have even limited their access due to prior sale to elites is a move guaranteed to stoke resentment and, as in this case, partially false rumors.