Universal Orlando Snapshot: Current ride closures, park promotions, & special events

On this page, you’ll find our totally up-to-date one-stop-shop for everything that is currently happening at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and all of Universal Orlando Resort! (Yeah, this is a good page to bookmark.)

By the way, we’re very happy to let you know that this is just one page out of over 200 we have in our next-generation encyclopedia of obsessively-updated Universal Orlando vacation-planning info.

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Last Updated: May 25, 2018

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Skip to: Promotions | Events | USF | IOA | VB | CityWalk | On-site hotels

Live tweeting and Facebook live-streaming from Universal Orlando

We visit Universal multiple times every month to bring our fans live in-park photo updates direct from Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay! To see all of our photo updates as they happen, we invite you to follow us on Twitter.

We also do Facebook live-streaming from in-park as well from our Facebook page and Facebook community page. To be a part of these live streams, like our Facebook page here and join our private Facebook community here.

Current promotions and resort-wide changes

Endless Summer Resort announced
Universal has announced the name of its upcoming hotel complex: Endless Summer Resort. It’ll consist of two properties – the 750-room Surfside Inn and Suites and the 2,050-room Dockside Inn and Suites – and will be the very first entry in the value hotel category, with room rates that start at $73 a night (using certain promotions).

You can find out everything you’d ever want to know about Endless Summer in both our announcement article and our brand-new guide page.

Universal Orlando ticket price increase
On Friday, February 16, Universal increased the price of admission to its theme parks. A three-day two-park ticket (meaning you can visit either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure) went up by 3.6%, to $284.99; a three-day three-park pass (meaning Volcano Bay is also thrown into the mix) increased by 7.9%, to $339.99. (And just for completeness’s sake, a three-day one-park-per-day ticket is now $279.99, a 7.7% hike).

In the weeks after the theme-park increase, Universal also upped the price of Volcano Bay-only admission – expect to pay $80 now for a one-day ticket, or 19.4% more.

Early Park Admission
Big news! If you’re an annual passholder, you’ll be allowed to join in on the Early Park Admission fun over at Volcano Bay just for the month of May 2018. While any level of AP will work, please be aware that you’ll have to have a three-park pass in order to actually get in the door. (You can learn more all about the different annual passes in our complete insider’s guide).

The Universal Studios Florida attraction that opens up alongside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for Early Park Admission has reverted back to Revenge of the Mummy (it is usually Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem). No word on how temporary a move this will turn out being.

Additionally, over at Volcano Bay, there are now six slides that greet EPA goers. You can find the whole list over at our complete guide to EPA.

Florida-resident limited-time offers
Universal has a new limited-time offering for Sunshine State dwellers: four-day tickets to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure for less than $42 a day (not including tax, of course). Those four days don’t have to be consecutive, but keep in mind that you have to use ’em up by June 28, 2018, when the deal ends. You can purchase your special passes here.

And as if that weren’t enough, the company has a second promo currently going on, which has residents buying a one-day park-to-park ticket and getting a second day free. As above, the two dates don’t have to be consecutive, but they do have to be used by June 28; unlike with the previous offer, there’s also one last stipulation: a valid UPC code from a 12-ounce can of Sprite or Fanta Orange is required at the time of purchase.

My Universal Photos
Universal’s Photo Connect program has been rebranded to My Universal Photos, and our guide has been updated.

Upcoming annual events and special celebrations

Halloween Horror Nights 2018
The second haunted house of the year is Dead Exposure: Patient Zero, an original entry and a prequel to the fan-favorite Dead Exposure from 2008. Get the full low-down in our write-up.

Want to relive the excitement of the first (official) announcement for Halloween Horror Nights 2018? No problem: the nation’s most popular Halloween event will run for 34 select nights, from September 14 through November 3. Plus, we also have word on our very first haunt, which will be based on the mega-popular Stranger Things. You can read even more about both in our insider’s guide.

In an even bigger piece of HHN news, Universal has a first-ever buy-one-get-one-free ticket sale, which runs until June 6. You can find the full details in our admission guide.

Deal or No Deal
CNBC is reviving last decade’s Deal or No Deal game show, and auditions were held at Universal Orlando on May 19. You can still be part of the new season, though – filming for all 30 of the upcoming episodes will start in July, with guests being invited to come be members of the studio audience.

Deal or No Deal will begin airing on CNBC this fall.

Hard Rock Hotel
May’s Velvet Session will feature Berlin ft. Terri Nunn. They’ll play from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm on May 31; you can order tickets here (purchasing online saves you $5 – making the price $30 – and enables you early entry by half an hour).

Not familiar with Hard Rock’s Velvet Sessions? They’re special rock-‘n-roll cocktail parties and lobby concerts held the last Thursday of the month (January through October). A Velvet Sessions ticket includes free specialty drinks, finger foods, and valet parking. A $55 VIP pass is also available, which throws a special viewing area with a private bar into the mix. (And don’t forget the $40 meet-‘n-greet ticket, as well.)

Please note Velvet Sessions are for guests aged 21 and older.

Royal Pacific Resort
Jake’s Beer Dinner, which is only held a few times throughout the year, is returning to Jake’s American Bar on Friday, June 15. Five “expertly prepared” courses will be paired with specialty craft beers, selected by Royal Pacific’s award-winning chefs.

You can view the menu here and purchase tickets, which cost $55, here. (While parking is free, valet parking will run you $5.)

Please note Jake’s Beer Dinner is for guests aged 21 and older.

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Sapphire Falls Resort hosts a Caribbean Carnaval event weekly at its hotel, where guests can celebrate the culture of various areas of the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. We reviewed the event on the Orlando Informer Blog.

Please be aware that Caribbean Carnaval now takes place on Fridays (previously Wednesdays).

Sapphire Falls also hosts a Despicable Me Character Breakfast every Saturday. Located in Cayman Court, just like the Caribbean Carnaval, guests can enjoy a buffet of “breakfast favorites” and visit with Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes, and the Minions. One free digital photo is included with the meet-‘n-greet, which costs $34.99 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $20.99 for children (ages three to nine). Theme-park admission and hotel reservations aren’t required; however, reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Each session lasts for an hour, features communal seating (meaning you’ll be making some new human friends alongside the Minion ones), and has three different morning time slots: 7:30, 9:00, and 10:30.

You can book on this page.

Hard Rock Live
Located at Universal CityWalk, Hard Rock Live is a multi-use performance center that features a variety of acts, from pop and rock artists to stand-up comedians to special events, both public and private. Because Hard Rock Live has dozens of events scheduled at any one time, we aren’t able to list them here – so be sure to check out its website to see if one of your favorite acts will be on-site when you’re there!

Universal Studios Florida

Universal’s Superstar Character Breakfast – this add-on dining option held its final seating on Saturday, November 11. Replacing it is the Marvel Character Dinner over at Islands of Adventure.

Terminator 2 3D: Battle across Time – this attraction closed on October 8, 2017 to make way for a new, unannounced show to open in 2019. You can read more about the announcement and history of T23D here on the OI Blog.

Express additions – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express now accept Universal Express passes. You can learn more on our Orlando Informer Blog.

Race through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon – Twister… Ride It Out closed on November 2, 2015 to make way for Race through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, which is now open! Details can be found here.

Fast & Furious: Supercharged – in a surprise move, Universal announced first thing in the morning on Monday, April 23 that its newest attraction was now open! Find out everything you ever wanted to know about the ride – and leave your real guest review – on our Supercharged page.

Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride, Starring YOU closed on September 8, 2015 and Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue closed on January 5, 2016 to make way for this new attraction. Learn more.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley – Jaws and its home on Amity Island were closed permanently on January 3, 2012 to make way for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, which officially opened on July 8, 2014. This “London” portion of the Harry Potter story features new shops, a themed restaurant, and two new attractions: the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts simulator experience and a real Hogwarts Express running between London and the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogsmeade, over at Islands of Adventure. Visit our insider’s guide to the Wizarding World to learn so, so much more.

The list above is only a summary of the current attraction refurbishments, openings, and closings at Universal Studios Florida. For a complete list of the park’s attractions, scroll to the bottom of this page or visit the OI Universal Center table of contents.

Islands of Adventure

The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle – Universal has been continually adding on more dates to its new (more or less) year-round projection-mapping show (which replaced the seasonal Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle at the beginning of the year). Find the full details on our guide page.

Marvel Character Dinner – Spidey, Cap, and more are now dinning with a guest of honor – you! We’ve experienced the new Marvel Character Dinner for ourselves, and we tell you all about it in our complete guide.

Package pick-up – guests sending their packages to the front of Islands of Adventure to be picked up later now will have to stop by Port Provisions (instead of Ocean Trader Market) to do so.

Dragon Challenge – the 18-year-old ride’s final day of operation was on September 4, 2017. A new Harry Potter coaster will replace it, opening in 2019. More details can be found here on the OI Blog.

Express additions – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and the Hogwarts Express now accept Universal Express Passes. You can learn more on our Orlando Informer blog.

Women’s Boutique in Marvel – a small women’s boutique with Marvel apparel has opened in Marvel Superhero Island. You can see a video of the store on our YouTube channel.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster – this headline attraction is now open! It features a new track, completely refreshed queue experience, and more. You can learn all about it by clicking here.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong – King Kong is now open at Universal Orlando Resort! This brand-new attraction is located in between Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park. You’ll navigate perilous jungles, explore ancient temple structures, and encounter hostile natives – and that’s only the beginning. Learn more.

The list above is only a summary of the current attraction refurbishments, openings, and closings at Islands of Adventure. For a complete list of the park’s attractions, scroll to the bottom of this page or visit the OI Universal Center table of contents.

Volcano Bay

Express Pass changes – there are now two types of Express Passes that are available at Volcano Bay. The basic level covers seven rides (Krakatau Aqua Coaster, Punga Racers, Taniwha Tubes, and the two double-headers of Honu ika Moana and Maku Puihi), while the new premium version adds in four additional attractions (Ko’okiri Body Plunge, Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides, and the double Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides).

Pricing depends on the day (such as $50 for basic and $80 for premium, as just one example), and the passes can only be obtained in the park. For more, see our Volcano Bay tickets and Express Pass pages.

Ride changes – Taniwha Tubes has now been split up into two different attractions: Tonga of Taniwha Tubes (the green slides) and Raki of Taniwha Tubes (the blue ones).

Why make the change? Now, Universal has two different rides where before it only had one, helping to better process the summertime crowds that are already starting to inundate the shores of Volcano Bay.

Hours of operation changes – for the month of December, it opens at 10:00 am (with EPA at 9:00) and closes at 5:00 pm every day (save for Saturdays, which have a 7:00 pm closing time). We expect this schedule to switch to every day, including Saturdays, starting in January and running on through May.

Weight limit changes – Kala and Tai Nui, two of the three drop-door slides at the park, have had their weight limit changed for the fourth time – they’re now back up to 270 pounds after having been down to 230 for a little while.

Height changes – more little ones can now enjoy Runamukka Reef, as its height restriction has been bumped down from 54″ to 48″.

Menu changes – Volcano Bay has removed over 20 items from the menus across the park. You can read the full details in our article.

Now open – the new water theme park is now open! You can see our full coverage here.

Universal CityWalk

Voodoo Doughnut – this quirky, delicious West Coast start-up is now officially open! To view its hours of operations, as well as see the rest of our full, in-depth coverage, visit our guide page.

NBC Sports Grill & Brew – this family-friendly sports-centric dining venue has one of the largest menus at Universal and plenty of TV screens. See our complete coverage (including the red-carpet grand opening), our top five mouthwatering recommendations, or the top five delectable desserts at the new restaurant. (Just be aware that the menu has changed a bit since its opening.)

Looking for CityWalk events? They are included in our events section near the top of the page — skip up there.

For more information about Universal CityWalk, scroll to the bottom of this page or visit the OI Universal Center table of contents.

Loews on-site hotels

Aventura Hotel – Universal has revealed the name of Aventura’s already-famous rooftop bar: Bar 17 Bistro. You can find out all about it in our complete guide.

Universal Orlando’s second prime value hotel opens on August 16, 2018.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort – 400 new rooms have arrived at Universal’s prime value hotel. The new towers are now open and are located next to Universal’s water theme park, Volcano Bay.

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – Universal Orlando’s fifth on-site hotel is now open! The new property, a paradise where blue waterfalls cascade across lush grounds, features 1,000 guest rooms geared towards families and convention attendees. Our complete guide has been updated, and it consists of 10 pages and hundreds of photos and videos!

Loews Royal Pacific Resort – Emeril’s Tchoup Chop closed for good on December 31, 2017, with a “new and exciting” concept slated to replace it sometime in the future. Emeril’s Orlando, meanwhile, remains at Universal CityWalk. “With great gratitude to our loyal customers, hardworking staff, and colleagues at Loews Royal Pacific, it’s been an incredible 15 years,” said Emeril Lagasse.

Royal Pacific wrapped up a complete remodel of its rooms. The new rooms are a pretty substantial departure from the previous color scheme and design.

Looking for hotel events? They are included in our events section near the top of the page — skip up there.

The list above is only a summary of the current projects relating to the Loews on-site hotels at Universal Orlando. For complete details about these properties, including over 700 full-screen photos, check out the links below or visit the OI Universal Center table of contents.

Do you have a question about the information on this page, would like to provide feedback, or did you spot an inaccuracy? Please let us know by posting in our Universal Community Facebook Group.

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