Where monster makeup and booze don’t mix

When Epic Universe cards you, it wants your face to match your ID

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Monster makeup is among things you can spend money on at the new Universal Epic Universe park in Florida. Photos Courtesy of Universal

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If the full cosplay makeover is your desire, the makeup and costume will run you $169, but you won’t be able to buy alcohol in the park.

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By Brady MacDonald

bmacdonald@scng.com

Epic Universe visitors who get a monster makeover in Dark Universe can’t sip a Reaper’s Reserve brown ale, Darkthorne mead or any other alcoholic drink while they are dressed like Dracula, Wolfman or Frankenstein’s monster at Universal’s new Florida theme park.

Full face monster makeup and alcohol don’t mix at the $7 billion Universal Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, which officially debuted in late May with more than 50 rides, attractions, shows and experiences.

Visitors can put on the face of a vampire, werewolf or a host of other monsters at the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience in the park’s Dark Universe themed land. Just don’t plan on heading over to Das Stakehaus or the Burning Blade Tavern for beer, wine or a monstrous cocktail after the 20-minute makeup session is complete.

The Darkmoor website clearly states Universal’s policy when it comes to monster makeup and alcohol.

“Guests will not be able to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages at any of the Universal theme parks or Universal CityWalk while in the makeup,” according to the website.

Makeup artists will give you a full- or half-face monster makeover for $45 and throw in a complete monster outfit for $169. Those who opt for the half face may be able to order a drink.

“It’s at the discretion of the bartender,” Universal Orlando Merchandise General Manager Melissa Leggett said. “It all comes down to if the bartender can recognize them, because they have to do that validation and make sure that the photo ID matches the person.”

Don’t think about asking a friend to order a drink for you. If you order two drinks, you need two IDs.

“By Universal rules, whoever is purchasing the alcoholic beverage should be the person that’s consuming the alcohol,” Leggett said during an Epic Universe media preview event.

Darkmoor will provide wipes to remove the makeup.

Leggett recommends making a makeover appointment in the morning so you can snap photos during the day while you’re in makeup, and then wiping it off in the evening so you can have a drink or two on-site.

The makeup could also interfere with your ability to get on attractions, use lockers and enter parts of the park.

You may need to snap a new photo with your makeup on to avoid running afoul of the Universal Orlando photo validation system.