Universal Orlando Resort has long been a cornerstone of Central Florida’s entertainment landscape, boasting its iconic trio of parks: Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal Volcano Bay Water Theme Park. But in 2025, all eyes are set on its game-changing fourth gate, Universal’s Epic Universe.
Mark your calendars. Come May 22, 2025, Universal’s Epic Universe will officially open its gates, promising an unforgettable journey into new realms of adventure. Central Florida, already hailed as the theme park capital of the world, is about to up the ante.
The immersive lands include Celestial Park, Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, and a spellbinding expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The attraction lineup, including Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, is poised to delight fans of all ages.
Universal’s Epic Universe is more than just a new theme park—it’s a bold statement in the ongoing theme park rivalry, cementing Universal Orlando Resort’s place as a must-visit destination.
As excitement builds for Epic Universe, Universal Orlando is facing some operational challenges. The unusually cold weather sweeping through Central Florida has prompted multiple closures at Universal Volcano Bay Water Theme Park, including back-to-back shutdowns on January 2 and 3, 2025. These closures follow a New Year’s Eve shutdown and come as temperatures in the region dip into the 30s and 40s—rare conditions for the Sunshine State.
The park’s closure was confirmed via Universal Orlando Resort’s official X (formerly Twitter) account:
“Universal Volcano Bay will be closed on Thursday, January 2 and Friday, January 3, due to inclement weather. For park updates, please call 407-817-8317 or stay tuned to Universal Orlando’s social channels.”
While neighboring parks like Disney’s Blizzard Beach remain open for now, meteorologists warn of an incoming arctic blast that could further impact operations.
“Florida will indeed get in on the Arctic action as well,” Click Orlando explained. “Temperatures will absolutely plummet when the first major winter system that’s expected to drag that dense but shallow layer of arctic air south. This will likely get going into early next week, around [January 6.]”
Elsewhere, Universal Studios Florida is preparing for a bittersweet farewell. The beloved Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster is set to close permanently in September 2025 after 15 years of thrilling guests. This iconic ride has become a fixture of the park’s skyline, and its departure marks the end of an era.
How do you feel about the current closures and upcoming changes at Universal Orlando Resort? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!
This is not newsworthy. Volcano Bay has closure dates every winter due to inclement weather. All make it sound like this is the first time. They do it every year