Epic Universe might be Universal Orlando’s most ambitious project to date, but its latest blunder has fans doing a double-take. When the park’s headlining attraction in the Dark Universe land—Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment—went down this week, guests expected a quick fix or at least some kind of eerie atmosphere to hold them over. What they got instead? Cornhole.
What’s Going on at Dark Universe?
Guests visiting Epic Universe on October 28 were stunned to find Team Members setting up wooden cornhole boards in front of Frankenstein Manor. According to reports shared by Coaster101, the ride was closed for the entire day, and Universal even confirmed through its app that the attraction wouldn’t reopen.
Monsters Unchained will be closed all day. There are wooden games set up outside. #EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/QYvITJrjXL
— Coaster101.com (@Coaster101) October 28, 2025
The sight of a few simple game boards sitting outside one of the park’s most elaborate show buildings quickly went viral online. Guests joked that Universal had accidentally launched a new experience called Cornhole Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment Gone Wrong.
For a park built on cinematic storytelling, the juxtaposition was hard to ignore. Frankenstein’s gothic mansion—complete with flickering lights and eerie sound effects—now looked like the backdrop for a backyard cookout.
The Irony of Epic Universe
Epic Universe has been open for less than a year, but it’s already becoming known for two things: record-breaking crowds and frustrating downtime. Its biggest attractions, including Battle at the Ministry in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Monsters Unchained, have seen extended closures due to technical hiccups and overwhelming guest demand.
For many visitors, this was the final straw. Social media threads filled with jokes, complaints, and even memes comparing Epic Universe’s lavish dark ride to a “tailgate party gone rogue.” Some fans called it funny; others said it was “the least immersive thing they’ve ever seen.”
When the Magic Breaks
Universal has not released an official statement about what caused the downtime. But one thing’s clear: the temporary “solution” didn’t exactly scream horror or innovation. While some guests found the humor in it, others expressed disappointment that a park designed to rival Disney’s best could allow such a jarring sight to unfold in its newest land.
At least for now, the horror has shifted from Frankenstein’s lab to Universal’s public relations department. Fans still love Epic Universe, but moments like this remind everyone that even the biggest theme park in the world can stumble—and when it does, the internet notices fast.
