It is important for guests visiting Universal Orlando Resort to know which rides and attractions are closed for refurbishment or for another reason to avoid disappointment. It can be difficult to keep up to date with the changing schedules so we are collating the current list of refurbishments planned for Universal Orlando Resort during March and beyond.
Last month, we saw another popular water park close temporarily for its annual refurbishment and then reopen and a nighttime show remained paused at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
This month a popular flat ride begins its month long closure and we hear about two more attractions which will close temporarily in the next couple of months for short annual refurbishments. Work continues to be done on the former KidZone area in Universal Studios Florida which will open as the new Dreamworks land this year.
We are including dates where possible for refurbishments and closures but these are subject to change. We will keep you informed of any changes on our news and Facebook page.
1.E.T Adventure (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: 6 May – 15 May
It has now appeared on the official Universal Orlando Resort calendar that the E.T Adventure will be closed for a short time from May 6 – 15. We assume this is for refurbishment.
Originally, opened in 1990, suspended from above and strapped onto a bicycle with E.T at the helm, this attraction created specifically for Universal Studios Florida sees guests racing from the police, flying above the city streets, and finally landing on E.T.’s never-before-seen home planet.
2. Revenge of the Mummy (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: 17 June–22 June
Another popular attraction has now appeared on the official Universal Orlando Resort calendar. The Revenge of Mummy at Universal Studios Florida will close for a short refurbishment 17 – 22 June.
“The world’s first psychological thrill ride” will leave you screaming for more as you hurtle backwards and forward through a cursed tomb on this launched roller coaster full of special effects. And just when you think it’s over… In the words of the Mummy: “Your end shall be my beginning.”
3. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (Universal’s Islands of Adventure)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: 27 April – 24 May
It has now appeared on the Universal Orlando Resort refurbishment calendar that One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish will close on April 27 for its annual refurbishment and is currently set to reopen on May 25.
Located in Seuss Landing, this popular flat ride takes the success of Dumbo The Flying Elephant, adds in squirting fish and then introduces a song explaining how to avoid these squirts.
4. Nighttime Lights At Hogwarts Castle (Universal’s Islands of Adventure)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – TBC
The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle are still currently listed as “temporarily closed” on the official Universal Orlando website.
Usually, on selected nights, against the backdrop of Hogwarts, projections celebrate the four houses through lights and music. We are currently unsure when this nighttime offering will return but will update you when further details are announced. We will update you when this becomes available again.
5. Dark Arts At Hogwarts Castle (Universal’s Islands of Adventure)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: TBC
It still states on the official Universal Orlando website that the Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle is “temporarily closed”. It specifies that this offering should take place on “Select nights in Autumn” so we hope to see this popular entertainment returning to Universal’s Islands of Adventure later this year.
Located in Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle combines lights and music in an exciting spectacle where images of Death Eaters and Dementors alongside Lord Voldemort cloak the stone walls of Hogwarts Castle as darkness falls. We will update you with further information when it is announced.
6. Parts of KidZone (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: January 15, 2023 – TBA
Construction walls were erected in mid-April 2023 meaning that The E.T Adventure has currently got a temporary entrance with guests being rerouted through the pre-show room to access the attraction meaning there is currently no pre-show and the exit shop has also been closed. We will update you on this when further details are announced.
A number of attractions in the KidZone area of Universal Studios Florida have been closed since January 15, 2023. This decision was made in order to be able to bring exciting new family entertainment to immerse guests in beloved animated characters.
The attractions that are now closed include Fievel’s Playland, the Woody Woodpecker family coaster, Curious George wet and dry play areas, DreamWorks Destination and Meet Shrek & Donkey.
The E.T. Adventure, Animal Actors on Location!, SpongeBob StorePants – including meet and greets with SpongeBob SquarePants and friends and the KidZone Pizza Company will remain open.
In August, Universal officially announced details of the new land coming to Universal Studios Florida to replace the former KidZone area, Dreamworks Land. To check out everything this new land will offer, head to our news article, Universal’s Immersive New Land is Set to Open in 2024 With a Roller Coaster, Character Experiences and More.
7. Poseidon’s Fury (Universal’s Islands of Adventure)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: May 10, 2023 – Permanent
It was announced in mid-April that Poseidon’s Fury would permanently close at Universal’s Islands of Adventure at the end of the day of May 9, to make way for “exciting new experiences,”. Universal has not divulged any further information regarding what these exciting new experiences will consist of but many speculations are already beginning to circulate online.
Poseidon’s Fury first opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999 making it one of the opening day attractions. It reopened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure back in March 2022 having been shuttered since March 2020. Many Universal fans will be sorry to see it close permanently. We will update you on what Universal’s plans are to replace Poseidon’s Fury when they are announced.
8. Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: March 9, 2023 – Permanent
Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration night show first debuted at Universal Studios Florida in 2018 on the lagoon and included dancing fountains, pyrotechnics, lasers, water screens and projection mapping. Due to COVID-19 it was not shown for a number of months but returned in October 2020. We have recently heard that Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration’s run has now ended in order to make way for a new offering soon.
We await further details of this new show but with drones being tested over Universal at the end of January we expect that they will likely be included in some way in this new offering.
9. Superstar Parade (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: June 4, 2022 – permanent
The Universal Superstar Parade at Universal Studios Florida is now permanently closed. The parade travelled through the park for the last time on June 4, 2022. Universal has given the reason for this closure as being “to make way for new entertainment experiences.”
The Universal’s Superstar Parade took place through the streets of Universal Studios Florida where guests could enjoy street performers and music with floats featuring popular characters including; SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora and Diego, Gru, Agnes, Margo, Edith and the Minions from Illumination’s Despicable Me as well as from The Secret Life of Pets.
Universal announced at the end of November that a new parade will be coming to Universal Studios Florida named, UNIVERSAL MEGA MOVIE PARADE in 2024. Although details are still very scarce we will bring you further updates regarding this new offering when they are confirmed.
10. Monsters Cafe (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: May 2022 – permanently
Universal’s Classic Monsters Cafe is now closed permanently at Universal Studios Florida . A spokesperson with Universal Orlando said in a statement, “Monster’s Café has closed to make way for a new dining experience. More details will be shared at a later time – stay tuned to our website for updates.” The Universal’s Classic Monsters Cafe opened in 1998 and has been a fan favorite dining spot for many guests.
The new Minions Cafe is now open along with the whole of Minions Land including the long awaited Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction which is located in the former home of Shrek 4-D. For a round up of our thoughts on Villain-Con Minion Blast, check out our news article, Villain-Con Minion Blast Isn’t a Ride, But it Is Fun!
We will keep you up to date with any changes to this refurbishment schedule on our news and Facebook page and we will post our next Universal refurbishment article at the beginning of May 2024!
