Planning a Universal Orlando trip requires knowing more than just which parks are open on the days you are visiting. The resort's refurbishment calendar is substantial right now, and some of the closures on the list are significant enough to reshape what a vacation looks like depending on when you go.
A few of the upcoming permanent closures in particular represent the end of experiences that will not come back in their current form.
The latest addition to watch is coming to Universal Studios Florida's DreamWorks Land. Po's Kung Fu Training Camp and the Po Live! experience will both be closing for refurbishment starting May 18, 2026, according to Inside Universal, which reported the news on X. The area is expected to reopen by July 4, 2026.
For families with younger children who were specifically planning around the DreamWorks Land interactive experiences, the timing matters. The closure lands in the period directly before the Fourth of July and covers roughly six weeks of the busy early summer window.
Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp, along with Po Live!, in DreamWorks Land will be closing for refurbishment starting May 18, 2026. The area is expected to reopen by July 4, 2026. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/3uEaCGA5hN
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) May 17, 2026
Here is the full picture of what is currently closed, what is closing soon, and what is leaving permanently across Universal Orlando.
Universal Studios Florida
The most operationally significant ongoing closure at Universal Studios Florida is Finnegan's Bar and Grill, which closed January 12, 2026, and does not have a reopening date beyond “Winter 2026.” Finnegan's is one of the more distinctive dining options in the New York area of the park, known for its full bar and live entertainment, and its extended absence has reduced the dining variety in that section of the park meaningfully.
Universal Orlando's Horror Makeup Show closed May 12, 2026, with the same Winter 2026 estimated reopening window. The show is a long-running staple for guests interested in the behind-the-scenes craft of film and television makeup effects, and its closure removes one of the park's more educational entertainment options from the lineup.
MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack is scheduled for a shorter closure, running June 1 through June 16, 2026. The interactive shooter ride tends to draw consistent crowds and guests planning a June trip in the first two weeks of the month should account for its absence when planning their day.
The most consequential long-term news at Universal Studios Florida is the confirmed permanent closure of Fast and Furious: Supercharged in 2027. The franchise attraction has drawn mixed guest reviews since its opening but occupies a significant footprint in the park, and whatever replaces it will be a major story for the resort as that date approaches.
Universal Islands of Adventure
The closure with the largest impact at Islands of Adventure is Jurassic Park River Adventure, which closed January 5, 2026, and is not scheduled to reopen until November 19, 2026. That is nearly a full year offline for one of the park's anchor thrill attractions. Guests visiting Jurassic World during the bulk of 2026 will be without the centerpiece ride of that area.
Pteranodon Flyers, the family-friendly cable ride in Jurassic World, closed February 27 and is scheduled to reopen May 21, 2026. Me Ship, The Olive, a children's interactive play area in Toon Lagoon, is scheduled to close May 26 through June 9, 2026.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey remains open with visual refurbishment work ongoing on Hogwarts Castle. No closure is scheduled for the attraction at this time, which means guests will still be able to ride while exterior work continues.
The permanent closure news at Islands of Adventure is significant. The Lost Continent, one of the original lands that opened with the park in 1999, is closing permanently in phases throughout 2026 and 2027. Mythos Restaurant, which has won recognition as one of the best theme park restaurants in the world and which anchors the Lost Continent area, is closing permanently with a TBD date in 2027.
Thunder Falls Terrace Restaurant in Jurassic World is closing this summer and will be transformed into a new signature full-service restaurant opening in 2027.
Universal Epic Universe
Viking Training Camp in How to Train Your Dragon's world at Epic Universe is scheduled for closure May 4 through May 22, 2026. The interactive outdoor experience is one of several family-friendly activity spaces in the park and its brief closure is the only current refurbishment listed for Epic Universe.
Universal Volcano Bay
No ride or attraction refurbishments are currently listed for Volcano Bay. The more significant planning note is the seasonal closure that begins October 26, 2026, with a planned reopening on or before March 24, 2027. Guests planning fall or winter visits should confirm park hours before travel since Volcano Bay also closes on select dates during those seasons and can close due to inclement weather.
Universal CityWalk
Two CityWalk changes are in motion that affect dining options at the resort. The Burger King Whopper Bar closed April 21, 2026, to make way for a Five Guys location that is scheduled to open this summer. Hot Dog Hall of Fame is closing in July 2026 to be replaced by Fat One's Hot Dogs and Italian Ice. Both represent tenant transitions rather than permanent losses, and the replacements are confirmed.
How This Affects a Disney and Universal Vacation
Universal Orlando now competes directly with Walt Disney World for Orlando vacation days in a way that has intensified with the opening of Epic Universe. Guests who are building multi-day trips that include time at both resorts need to account for both parks' refurbishment calendars when deciding how to allocate their days.
The most immediate impact for Universal guests visiting in May and June 2026 is the combination of Po's Kung Fu Training Camp and Po Live! being offline through July 4th, Pteranodon Flyers returning just before the extended summer window, and Jurassic Park River Adventure remaining closed through November. That is a meaningful reduction in the available attraction lineup at Islands of Adventure specifically during the peak summer travel season.
For guests planning a Universal visit in the second half of 2026, the Lost Continent closures progressing through their phases and the Thunder Falls Terrace closure will reshape what Islands of Adventure looks like in ways that become more visible as the year goes on.
For Disney guests who are adding Universal days to their trip, knowing that Epic Universe has only Viking Training Camp as its current listed refurbishment makes it the more complete Universal option for the summer window. The original two parks have more significant closures during this period.
Before you finalize your Universal Orlando travel dates, check the current refurbishment calendar against your specific trip window. Jurassic Park River Adventure and Finnegan's Bar and Grill are both closed through most of 2026, and Po's Kung Fu Training Camp and Po Live! close starting May 18th. If any of those are priorities for your group, your dates matter significantly. Inside Universal keeps the most current version of the full closure list and is worth bookmarking for updates as your trip approaches.
