Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe suffered yet another operational disruption on Sunday, adding to a troubling pattern of technical failures that have plagued the dueling roller coaster since the Central Florida theme park’s grand opening last year.
The attraction partially shut down on February 8, with only one side of the racing coaster operational for several hours. The malfunction significantly impacted wait times and eliminated the competitive racing element that defines the ride experience—leaving guests with a decidedly one-sided “race” before full operations resumed late in the afternoon.
This latest incident is just one part of a challenging first year for the high-profile attraction at Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, which has already made headlines for a fatal accident and multiple technical breakdowns.
One-Sided Racing on Sunday
X (formerly Twitter) user @kdodgers24 documented the partial closure, posting a video of Stardust Racers operating with only one track active:
Im incredibly sad Stardust is only one sided again. But look how incredible the ops are
Im incredibly sad Stardust is only one sided again. But look how incredible the ops are pic.twitter.com/j31uZ7LjOh
— RockNstardust🎸✨ (@Kdodgers24) February 8, 2026
The footage shows ride operators continuing to dispatch trains efficiently despite the compromised experience. With half of the dueling coaster offline, wait times climbed as capacity dropped significantly. The racing concept that makes Stardust Racers unique became meaningless with only one train running.
Universal Orlando Resort’s operations team restored full functionality before 4:00 p.m. The same guest shared an update celebrating the return to normal operations:
WE ARE BACK BABY
WE ARE BACK BABY pic.twitter.com/kbKQuee1VX
— RockNstardust🎸✨ (@Kdodgers24) February 8, 2026
Universal Orlando Resort did not issue any public statement explaining what caused Sunday’s partial closure or how crews resolved the issue.
Pattern of Technical Problems
Sunday’s malfunction represents just the latest in a series of operational challenges for Stardust Racers. The most dramatic recent incident occurred in late January when both roller coaster trains simultaneously got stuck in a “double valley” situation.
High winds affecting Central Florida that day caused both trains to lose momentum after a steep descent. Neither train had sufficient speed to climb the subsequent lift hill, leaving riders stranded in the valley between the track elements. Universal was forced to bring a large crane into Epic Universe to physically lift the trains from the valley back to the station or maintenance area.
That incident kept Stardust Racers closed for nearly four days while Universal addressed the situation and conducted necessary inspections.
Tragedy on Stardust Racers
The technical issues follow a far more serious incident last September that resulted in the death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala. Zavala, who had spinal atrophy and used a wheelchair, lost consciousness during the ride and died from what medical examiners determined were “multiple blunt impact injuries.”
Officials ruled the death accidental, but Zavala’s family disputed suggestions that his disability contributed to the tragedy. They filed a lawsuit against Universal Orlando Resort, emphasizing that Zavala was an experienced theme park enthusiast who had successfully ridden numerous roller coasters without any problems.
The lawsuit was eventually dismissed following a private settlement agreement between Zavala’s family and Universal. Court records do not indicate whether any monetary compensation was paid as part of the resolution.
Safety Policy Changes Implemented
In the aftermath of Zavala’s death, Universal Orlando Resort modified admission requirements for several of its most intense attractions, including Stardust Racers. The updated policies now require guests to be able to transfer independently into ride vehicles, taking a few steps without assistance.
These stricter boarding requirements affect multiple high-intensity attractions at the Central Florida resort, reflecting Universal’s attempt to address liability concerns while maintaining attraction operations.
Have you ever been on Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments!
