Universal Orlando’s highly anticipated Epic Universe is in the midst of attraction testing ahead of its grand opening in 2025, but one of its most thrilling coasters, Stardust Racers, recently hit an unexpected snag. A coaster train stalled in a valley between two track elements and needed the assistance of a large crane to be repositioned. While some initially speculated that the situation was part of a routine safety drill, it became clear that the train had genuinely lost momentum, leading to a rare and complex recovery operation.
The attraction, located in the Celestial Park section of Epic Universe, is designed as a high-speed dueling roller coaster where two trains race each other through a series of twists, drops, and turns. Testing has been ongoing for several weeks, with runs taking place both in daylight and at night with the ride’s signature lighting package. However, this particular test run didn’t go as planned. Reports suggest that strong winds may have impacted the ride’s speed, preventing the train from clearing a hill and causing it to valley between two sections of track.
Another contributing factor may have been the addition of trim brakes on the ride’s top hat element. These brakes, designed to regulate speed and enhance safety, may have unintentionally slowed the train too much, leading to the stall. Once the issue was identified, Universal quickly responded by bringing in a crane to reposition the train. Early morning images showed the massive piece of machinery being set up near the ride, and by night, the recovery process was in full swing. Carefully, the train was lifted over the next hill and placed back on track, allowing testing to continue.
Here are a few different angles of a Stardust Racers train being lifted up by a crane tonight.
This train is being pulled back over the top hat element pic.twitter.com/lemRTQf4Uq
— Ethan Hershaft (@EthanHershaft) March 8, 2025
The situation has sparked discussions among theme park fans and coaster enthusiasts about whether further adjustments to Stardust Racers are necessary. Some believe that minor tweaks to the braking system or track layout could help prevent similar issues in the future. Others point out that these kinds of setbacks are common during the testing phase and are simply part of the process before an attraction is fully operational. Universal will undoubtedly continue evaluating the ride’s performance to ensure that it meets safety and reliability standards before the park opens to guests.
Despite this unexpected challenge, anticipation for Stardust Racers and Epic Universe remains strong. The theme park is expected to be one of Universal’s most ambitious projects, with lands dedicated to How to Train Your Dragon, Dark Universe, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Stardust Racers is positioned as one of the park’s premier thrill rides, and this setback is unlikely to dampen excitement. With a few months left before the official opening, Universal has time to fine-tune the ride and ensure that guests experience the high-speed, cosmic race that was promised. Fans will be watching closely to see if any further modifications are made, but for now, Stardust Racers remains one of the most talked-about coasters in development.
