Universal Orlando Ride Closures & Refurbishments (2025–2026)

***Updated 10/10/25

Planning a trip to Universal Orlando? Here’s your up-to-date list of temporary closures, seasonal refurbishments, and permanent ride retirements at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.

🛠️ About Universal Orlando Ride Closures

Theme park attractions are routinely taken offline for maintenance and refurbishment to keep them running safely and smoothly. This includes everything from mechanical repairs and software updates to structural inspections and control system checks.

Whether it’s a short downtime or a permanent retirement, we’ve rounded up the most current list of ride closures and refurbishments at Universal Orlando Resort—including Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and Epic Universe.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Bookmark this page and check back often. Universal updates their refurbishment schedule frequently, and we’ll keep this post current with any new closures or reopenings. And we recommend double-checking the Universal Orlando app or website before your visit, as dates can shift without much warning!

📄 Need an easy way to keep track of rides, shows, and spells? Grab our Universal Studios Cheat Sheets—they’re printable, phone-friendly, and full of Pixie Dust Pro Tips.

🎬 Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida ride closures can pop up throughout the year for seasonal maintenance or full refurbishments. Here’s what to expect in 2025:

• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - 🛑 Permanently Closed August 18, 2025

• Universal Mega Movie Parade: October 8 - Late October 2025

• Revenge of the Mummy: January 15 - 21, 2026

• Hogwarts™ Express: February 9 - 23, 2026

🎬 Planning on visiting Universal Studios Florida? Start with our Complete Guide to Universal Studios Florida to get the inside scoop on attractions, entertainment, dining, and more.

🦖 Islands of Adventure

Refurbishments at Islands of Adventure are often scheduled during slower travel months—but they can still affect your favorite thrill rides. Here's the current list of closures and reopening dates:

• The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle — ❌ Temporarily Closed (return date to be announced)

• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls — 💦 Closed October 6–31, 2025

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey — 🧙‍♂️ Closed November 10–20, 2025

• Jurassic Park River Adventure - January 5, 2026 – November 19, 2026 for an extended refurbishment.

• Hogwarts™ Express: February 9 - 23, 2026

🦖 Exploring Islands of Adventure? Don’t miss our Islands of Adventure Park Guide for ride rankings, crowd strategies, and where to find the best snacks.

🌴 Universal’s Volcano Bay

Volcano Bay’s seasonal closure schedule and attraction refurbishments help keep the water park safe and clean for guests. Here’s what’s ahead:

• Seasonal Closure — 🔒 Closed October 26, 2026 – Reopening on or before March 24, 2027

• 📱 TapuTapu Virtual Queue - Officially Ended October 1, 2025

  
  

  Universal is officially phasing out its TapuTapu wearable system at Volcano Bay. Guests now use traditional standby lines to wait for rides, and the wearable is no longer provided. 

  
  

🌌 Epic Universe

Universal’s newest park, Epic Universe, officially opened in May 2025—and it's already a must-visit! 🎉

• Stardust Racers - Reopened.

🧭 Need help navigating it all? Our Epic Universe Park Guide has everything you need to know—from spell locations in the Wizarding World’s Ministry of Magic to ride strategies and food tips for Super Nintendo World.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Keep checking back—we’ll update this list with any temporary closures or ride changes as the park settles into its first full year.

🧳 Planning Around Closures

While a favorite attraction might be down during your trip, there’s still plenty of excitement to be found across all four Universal Orlando parks.

🎢 Use our Universal Studios Orlando Park Guide and Islands of Adventure Guide to plan your day efficiently, even with a few closures.

🗺️ Don’t forget to grab our Printable Cheat Sheets for quick access to wait times, rides, and pro tips!

🌌 And if you’re headed to Epic Universe, check out our Complete Park Guide for all the need-to-know info.

🎟️ Still figuring out your plans? Bren is happy to work with you to make your Universal vacation practically perfect—especially if you're traveling with accessibility needs, mobility considerations, or a large group.

Pixie Dust Hugs,

Bren, Lyn, and Kim