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Universal Orlando Snapshot: Current Ride Closures, Park Promotions, & Special Events

On this page, you’ll find our up-to-date one-stop shop for everything that is currently happening at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, 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 300 we have in our next-generation encyclopedia of obsessively-updated Universal Orlando vacation-planning info.

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The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure
The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure

Live tweeting and Facebook live streaming from Universal Orlando

We visit Universal multiple times every month to bring our fans live in-park photo and video updates direct from Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and CityWalk! 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, both on our page and in our community.  To be a part of these broadcasts, like our Facebook page here and join our private community here.

Current Ride Closures

Universal Studios Florida

  • E.T. Adventure: June 9 – 13, 2025

Islands of Adventure

  • Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall: June 16 – 20, 2025
  • Skull Island: Reign of Kong: August 20 – 29, 2025
  • Dudley Do-Right’s RipSaw Falls: October 6 – 31, 2025
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: November 3 – 16, 2025
  • The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle

Volcano Bay

  • Universal Volcano Bay will close for the season beginning October 26, 2026, with a planned reopening on or before March 24, 2027.

Current promotions and resort-wide changes

Universal Epic Universe Concept Art Map
Universal Epic Universe Concept Art Map

Epic Universe
Universal’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, recently opened on May 22, 2025! To learn even more, you can do a deep dive into Epic Universe in our complete guide or read our thoughts from our very first visit here.

Early Park Admission
This perk is currently available at Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. Prior to your visit, please check that you are eligible for Early Park Admission.

The following attractions are available for Early Park Admission at Islands of Adventure from January 1 – June 30, 2025:

The following attractions are available for Early Park Admission at Universal Epic Universe from May 23 – December 31, 2025:

The following attractions are available for Early Park Admission at Volcano Bay from May 24 – June 30, 2025 (up to one hour before park opening):

Upcoming annual events and special celebrations

Enter the Blumhouse Scare Zone at Halloween Horror Nights 2024
Halloween Horror Nights 2024

JAWS 50th Anniversary – JAWS is making waves for its 50th anniversary! From May 23 to July 6, celebrate this milestone with a killer lineup of limited-time merchandise, themed eats, and signature drinks in honor of the Steven Spielberg classic.

Wicked at Universal Orlando Resort – Good news! Universal Orlando Resort is celebrating the highly anticipated Wicked movie release. Follow the yellow brick road to Wicked: The Experience at Universal Studios Florida, where you can meet Glinda and Elphaba in person from June 23 to August 10. But that’s not all! Discover a lineup of exclusive merchandise, and treat yourself to Wicked-themed delights at select eateries across the resort. Learn more about the celebration here!

Halloween Horror Nights 2025 – Fright nights are making their thrilling return from August 29 to November 2. Experience the chills and thrills as you brave haunted houses, venture through scare zones, and experience thrilling entertainment. Dive into our comprehensive guide to uncover all the details… if you dare.

Holidays at Universal 2025 – Universal Orlando Resort is decking the halls from November 21 through December 31! Celebrate the season with exclusive entertainment, festive dining, and more. Discover all the details here!

Universal Studios Florida

M3GAN 2.0 – In honor of M3GAN 2.0 hitting theaters on Friday, June 27, keep your eyes peeled—because M3GAN could show up anytime, anywhere, day or night, from June 10 through June 30. You never know when she’ll make her move…

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Permanent Closure – This high-speed Universal Studios Florida coaster is on its farewell tour. Closing on August 18, don’t miss your chance to rock out one last time. Get all the details on its final bow here.

DreamWorks Land – Opened on June 14, 2024, this land brings beloved DreamWorks Animation films to life with play areas and attractions inspired by ShrekKung Fu Panda, and Trolls. Guests also have the opportunity to meet with beloved characters like Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse. Check out our first look here.

Illumination’s Villain-con Minion Blast – The biggest gathering of baddies has arrived at Universal Studios Florida! Find out about the mischief and mayhem here.

Illumination’s Minion Land – Mischief and mayhem have begun to arrive at Universal Studios Florida with the recent opening of Bake My Day, Pop-A-Nana, Freeze Ray Pops, Illumination Theater, and the flagship quick service spot – Illumination’s Minion Cafe. You can read all about this new eatery over on the OI Blog.

The list above is only a summary of the current ride 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.

Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure

Poseidon’s Fury Permanent Closure – The temple of Poseidon was sealed on May 9, 2023. Learn more here about the attraction that has made its home within The Lost Continent for almost 24 years.

Jurassic World VelociCoaster – the apex predator of roller coasters has arrived! Get the complete rundown here.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – find out everything there is to know about the newest Harry Potter ride over on our guide page.

The list above is only a summary of the current ride 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

Seasonal Closure – As noted above, Universal Volcano Bay will close for the season beginning October 26, 2026, with plans to reopen on or before March 24, 2027.

A look inside of Jurassic World: ESCAPE in Universal's Great Movie Escape
A look inside of Jurassic World: ESCAPE in Universal’s Great Movie Escape

CityWalk

Love is Universal – Celebrate Pride Month at Red Coconut Club during Love is Universal Nights, happening every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in June! This 21+ event features live entertainment and specialty drinks available for purchase. Best of all—admission is free!

Summer Music Series – Saturday nights come alive with live music at Universal CityWalk! From June 21 through August 9, grab a spot at the Waterfront Stage for a weekly rotation of themed performances.
June 21: 80s Night
June 28: 90s Night
July 5: Women in Music Night
July 12: Latin Night
July 19: Rock Night
July 26: Country Night
August 2: Broadway Night
August 9: Motown Night

Jamaican Independence Day – Join the celebration on August 9 at Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, where you can enjoy live entertainment and indulge in exclusive food and drink offerings available for purchase.

Universal Studios Store Expansion – The Universal Studios Store recently expanded to include a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD section and a Wizarding World of Harry Potter area, complete with a dedicated Butterbeer counter, all in preparation for Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, Epic Universe.

Universal’s Great Movie Escape – First-of-its-kind escape adventures kicked off at Universal CityWalk on December 9, 2022. Travel through time within the Back to the Future universe in Back to the Future: OUTATIME, or flee from the grasp of an apex predator in Jurassic World: ESCAPE. Read our spoiler-free review here.

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.

Universal Stella Nova Resort
Universal Stella Nova Resort at Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando’s hotels

Velvet Unplugged at Hard Rock Hotel – Velvet Unplugged makes a rockin’ return to the Hard Rock Hotel lobby on July 18 with a special acoustic performance by David Cook! The American Idol season seven winner will perform stripped-down versions of his hits, including “The Time of My Life,” “Light On,” “Come Back to Me,” “The Last Goodbye,” “Fade Into Me,” and more.

Harbor Nights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel – Enjoy enchanting evenings under the stars in the Harbor Piazza on October 17 and November 28, featuring a curated selection of wines, delectable Italian-inspired cuisine, the sounds of live music, and captivating opera performances. Please note that this is a separately ticketed event, and admission is required.

Universal Stella Nova Resort – Inspired by the infinite and ever-growing mysterious universe, Universal Stella Nova Resort offers a tranquil galactic getaway in the heart of Central Florida. Opened on January 21, 2025, this Prime Value hotel features a stellar collection of 750 rooms, recreational amenities, dining experiences, and more.

Universal Terra Luna Resort – Adding to Universal Orlando Resort’s constellation of hotel accommodations, Universal Terra Luna Resort opened on March 25, 2025. This Prime Value hotel draws inspiration from the universe’s diverse planetary elements, similar to the possibilities that can be explored within the realms of Universal Orlando Resort’s three (soon to be four) theme parks.

Universal Helios Grand Hotel – The latest addition to Universal’s Signature Collection is the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which opened on April 16, 2025 and is inspired by Helios, the Greek god of the sun. This hotel is beautifully decorated with celestial patterns, constellations, and Mediterranean design elements. Guests at this hotel enjoy stunning views of Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, and benefit from exclusive theme park entrance privileges.

Epic Universe

Epic Universe, Universal’s newest theme park, was announced in August 2019 and finally opened on May 22, 2025. Find out everything there is to know about the park’s past and future over in the Universal Center.

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 hotels at Universal Orlando. For complete details about these properties, 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 or would you like to provide feedback? Please let us know by posting in our Orlando Informer Community on Facebook.

See everything else you’ve been missing

Overview and Introduction:

Tickets and Planning

Insider Tips on Your Vacation

These guide pages will give you the inside scoop on how to get the most out of your vacation to Universal Orlando Resort. From internet access to mobile food ordering, all your questions can be answered here. Perusing these pages now will save you countless hours later, allowing you to spend more time on what’s important – your trip!

Insider’s Guide to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

With Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village, Universal Orlando changed the game for what it meant to be immersed in a theme park. These guide pages will cover our best insider tips on getting the most out of your visit to the Wizarding World.

Annual Events at Universal Orlando

There’s more to do than just rollercoasters! The following guide pages provide information on annual events at Universal Orlando Resort. Check here periodically for updates and news.

Universal Orlando Touring Plans

We combined our years of expertise and insider experience to build the best touring plans for you so you don’t have to! Whether you’re staying one day, or all week, we’ve got you covered!

Universal Studios Florida – Complete Guide and History

Universal Studios boasts The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, Men in Black, Springfield, U.S.A, and more. Use these guide pages to help plan your ultimate vacation.

Universal Islands of Adventure – complete guide and history

Islands of Adventure features lands such as Seuss Landing, Jurassic Park, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Village. That means you can ride The Cat in the Hat, come face to face with dinosaurs, and attend Hagrid’s magical creatures lesson. These pages contain great insider tips and tricks to make sure you have a great vacation.

Universal’s Volcano Bay – complete guide and history

The water theme park at Universal Studios, Volcano Bay takes your vacation to a whole new level of relaxation and excitement – all in the same day! Go with the flow in a raft, or climb to the top of Krakatau volcano just to slide back down again! But whatever you do – use our guide pages to plan your day at Volcano Bay and maximize your trip.

Park-wide tips

Universal Epic Universe – complete guide and history

Epic Universe will be Universal Orlando Resorts’ biggest park, housing four major intellectual properties: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon, and Universal Monsters.

Universal CityWalk Orlando

These guide pages will walk you through everything you need to know about Universal City Walk and all you can find there! With formal dining options, to-go pizza, and even a tattoos parlor, you’ll find what you need (and more) at City Walk.

Universal Orlando’s hotels (general information)

Universal Orlando Resort boasts 11 hotels, and each has something the others don’t! Use these guide pages to read about each one and decide which is best for you and your family on your unforgettable vacation.

The Prop Graveyard: TOURING THE EXTINCT ATTRACTIONS

Unfortunately, even good things must come to an end. Universal Orlando Resort opened more than 20 years ago, and in their journey to keep things fresh and updated, sacrifices had to be made along the way! Use these guide pages to read up on the attractions of days gone by.

When we say that Orlando Informer is the world’s leading resource for Universal Orlando vacation planning, we’re not just blowin’ smoke. Start your journey through our knowledge by following any link below.