Okay, so here’s something we never thought we’d be writing about Florida in February: it’s literally too cold for boats to run at Universal Orlando Resort. Yes, you read that right. BOATS. Can’t. Run. Because. It’s. Too. COLD.
Inside Universal broke the news on X this morning, basically saying the water taxis that shuttle guests between the fancy resort hotels and CityWalk are completely out of commission due to freezing temps. And honestly? This is just the cherry on top of what’s been an absolutely wild week at Universal that feels more like a theme park disaster movie than actual real life.
Looks like it may be too cold for the water taxis to run this morning. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/HlnzevmusJ
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) February 2, 2026
Picture this: you book your dream Universal vacation, you pack your shorts and tank tops because hello, it’s FLORIDA, and you show up to find out that not only are half the rides closed, but now you can’t even take the cute little boat to get to the parks. Instead, you’re stuck waiting for buses like some kind of off-property peasant (no shade to off-property guests, we see you). The whole situation is giving major “what parallel universe did we wake up in” energy.
Central Florida is supposed to be the place where you escape winter, not where you experience it. Theme parks down here are built for hurricanes and heat waves, not ice and frost. So when temperatures drop low enough that basic transportation has to shut down, you know something seriously unusual is happening. This isn’t your typical “oh, it’s a little chilly this morning” situation. This is full-on operational chaos that Universal basically never has to deal with.
And let’s be real about the timing here. Guests who planned these trips months ago, who saved up for Express Passes and booked those premium hotels specifically for perks like water taxi access, are now dealing with a completely different vacation than what they paid for. The boats aren’t running. Major rides are closed. An entire water park shut down. This is the kind of trip that ends up in the group chat with crying laughing emojis and a lot of “you won’t believe what happened.”
Water Taxis Are Down and Guests Are NOT Happy
So here’s the deal with the water taxis. If you’re staying at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, or Royal Pacific Resort, one of the biggest perks is taking these boats straight to CityWalk and skipping all the parking drama. It’s convenient, it’s scenic, and it makes you feel fancy. But when they’re not running? You’re basically stuck with the same transportation options as everyone else, which means longer waits and zero Instagram-worthy boat moments.
The boats shutting down might seem like a small thing compared to massive coaster closures, but it’s actually a huge inconvenience that affects thousands of guests every single day. People are paying premium prices for these hotels partly because of amenities like this, and when those amenities disappear, it changes the entire value proposition of the stay.
Let’s Talk About Everything ELSE That’s Been Closed
The water taxi situation is honestly just the latest casualty in what’s been a week of absolute mayhem at Universal Orlando. Like, where do we even START with this list?
At Islands of Adventure, some of the park’s most iconic attractions went completely dark. The Incredible Hulk Coaster? Closed. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (you know, the ride people wait 3+ hours for)? Closed. Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls? Also closed. And Seuss Landing basically turned into a winter wonderland nobody asked for, with actual ICE forming on the One Fish, Two Fish ride. The videos circulating on TikTok are absolutely bonkers. This is FLORIDA. We don’t DO ice here.
Over at Epic Universe, which literally just opened and is supposed to be Universal’s big shiny new thing, the weather was not having it. Dragon Racer’s Rally, Mine-Cart Madness, and Stardust Racers all experienced closures at various points. Imagine finally getting to visit the brand new park everyone’s been hyping up for years and half the headline attractions aren’t even open. Brutal.
Universal Studios Florida got hit too. The Trolls Rollercoaster had delayed openings, Men in Black: Alien Attack closed down, and here’s the real kicker: the Hogwarts Express stopped running completely. That’s not just an attraction, that’s literally how people get between parks. So if you had a park-to-park ticket and wanted to hop over to Islands of Adventure, too bad. Find another way.
But the absolute most dramatic move? Universal straight up CLOSED Volcano Bay. The entire water park. Just shut it down. And look, we get it. Nobody wants to be in a water park when it’s freezing outside. But still, seeing a major section of the resort completely inaccessible is pretty shocking for a destination that prides itself on being open basically all the time.
Why Florida Theme Parks Literally Can’t Handle Cold
Here’s the thing people don’t realize: theme parks in Florida are engineered completely differently than parks in places that actually get winter. Everything from the plumbing to the ride mechanics is designed assuming it’s going to be warm most of the time. When temperatures drop below what the systems were built for, stuff breaks. And not in fun ways.
Roller coasters are especially finicky about temperature. All those wheels, brakes, and launch systems have optimal operating ranges, and when you go outside those ranges, bad things can happen. We’re talking potential mechanical failures that could actually put guests at risk. So when Universal shuts down The Incredible Hulk Coaster or Hagrid’s, they’re not being overly cautious. They’re literally preventing disasters.
Water rides are even worse. Frozen pipes can burst and cause damage that takes WEEKS to fix. Universal made the smart call to drain attractions like Dudley Do-Right’s before things got really bad, which probably saved them from way more serious problems down the line.
TikTok is Having a FIELD DAY With This
Social media has been absolutely going OFF about the Universal freeze situation. TikTok is full of videos showing empty queues, ride operators in winter coats, and that now-viral footage of frozen Seuss Landing attractions. Some creators are finding the humor in it (shoutout to the person who posted “came to Florida to escape winter, Florida said not today”), while others are visibly frustrated about their ruined vacations.
The Seuss Landing ice videos in particular have gotten millions of views. Seeing icicles on a Dr. Seuss ride in Central Florida is just such a bizarre image that people can’t stop sharing it. It’s like proof that we’re living in the weirdest timeline.
What You Need to Know If You’re Visiting Soon
If you’ve got a Universal trip coming up in the next few weeks, here’s our advice: expect literally anything. While this level of cold is super rare, Florida weather can be unpredictable during winter. One day it’s 80 degrees, the next day it’s freezing. Pack layers, check the Universal app obsessively for ride status updates, and have backup plans for everything.
Don’t assume your hotel’s water taxi service will be running. Don’t assume your favorite ride will be open. Don’t assume anything will go according to plan, basically. Build flexibility into your schedule and try not to have a meltdown if things change last minute.
And honestly? Bring a jacket. Even to Florida. We never thought we’d have to say that, but here we are.
The Bottom Line (Yeah, We Went There)
This whole week has been absolutely unhinged for Universal Orlando. Between frozen rides, closed parks, and now boats that literally can’t operate, guests are getting a vacation experience nobody signed up for. But credit where it’s due: Universal is prioritizing safety over guest satisfaction, which is exactly what they should be doing even when it means disappointing people.
As temps start climbing back to normal Florida levels, operations will get back on track. The water taxis will start running again, rides will reopen, and Universal will go back to being the smooth operation everyone expects. This week will probably become one of those legendary stories that longtime fans talk about for years.
For everyone who’s there right now dealing with this chaos: we see you, we feel for you, and honestly, you’ve earned some serious theme park street cred. Not everyone can say they experienced Universal Orlando during a literal freeze. Make sure you’re documenting everything for the group chat because this is content GOLD. And hey, if you need to vent about your frozen Florida vacation, our DMs are always open. Stay warm out there, friends.
