Updated: 11/06/2026
Added the November Fyre Drill and December Monsters Unchained closures, and moved the past November 4 Hogwarts Express outage out of the upcoming list.
Current and upcoming Universal Orlando closures in 2026
Monsters Unchained: December 11–15, 2026
Universal’s temporary-closure calendar lists Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment as unavailable December 11–15, 2026. Universal has not supplied a reason on that listing. If the Dark Universe attraction is a priority, plan around those five dates and recheck the calendar before visiting; the schedule can change.
Fyre Drill: November 9–10, 2026
Fyre Drill in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk is listed as closed November 9–10, 2026. Universal also lists a separate January 25–February 4, 2027 closure, included in the 2027 section below. These are ride closures, not a closure of Isle of Berk. See our Epic Universe closure report for the two attractions’ current dates.
Jurassic Park River Adventure: reported December 17 reopening
Jurassic Park River Adventure has been closed since January 5, 2026. Universal’s temporary-closure calendar lists the closure through December 16, 2026, consistent with the reported December 17 reopening; schedules can change. Plan your Islands of Adventure day without the water ride until Universal confirms it has reopened. Jurassic World VelociCoaster is a separate attraction and is not a like-for-like choice for families who wanted a gentler water ride.
Universal Studios Florida shows and dining
- Finnegan’s Bar & Grill: Universal lists a closure that began January 12, with a winter 2026 return window. Check the dining listing before planning a meal there.
- Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show: Universal lists a temporary closure that began May 12 and a winter 2026 return window.
- Po Live!: Universal lists a temporary closure starting October 3, 2026, without a reopening date in the current calendar.
- Animal Actors On Location!: The show is permanently closed. See our Animal Actors closure coverage for background.
Volcano Bay: maintenance closure underway
Universal lists Volcano Bay as temporarily closed for maintenance, with a planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027. Those dates are subject to change. If the water park is a priority, check its operating calendar before selecting travel dates or a ticket that includes Volcano Bay.
Universal Orlando ride closures scheduled for 2027
Universal’s temporary-closure calendar lists these early 2027 ride closures:
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges: January 4–February 2, 2027.
- Fyre Drill: January 25–February 4, 2027.
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: February 8–19, 2027.
These scheduled closure dates may change. Our Popeye refurbishment report has more on the Islands of Adventure water ride.
Earlier 2026 refurbishments
Men in Black: Alien Attack’s June 1–16 closure and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish’s March 24–26 closure are past events. They should not be treated as upcoming outages for an October trip.
How to plan around a closure
Check the live calendar when you book and again in the Universal Orlando app on your park day. Build each day’s priorities around attractions that are scheduled to operate, and keep a substitute ready if a ride pauses unexpectedly. A closure can also change where you want to spend your second park day.
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Official Universal sources
Universal Orlando park hours and temporary closures
Which of these refurbishments affects your upcoming trip the most? Let us know in the comments!
Mark Layton
Mark covers Universal Orlando news, Epic Universe planning, hotel perks, ticket details, and the little fine-print surprises that can make or break a park day. He keeps an eye on official updates and authorized ticket sources so readers can plan smarter, save where it actually makes sense, and avoid vacation math that requires a wizarding degree.
If a guide talks tickets, crowds, hotels, or strategy, the goal is simple: practical advice you can use before you spend real money.
Source credit: universalorlando.com; insideuniversal.net
