There’s nothing worse than dropping hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on a family vacation to one of the most popular theme parks worldwide, only to find your favorite rides closed upon arrival. That disappointment hits even harder today, with rising costs across nearly all aspects of the travel experience, including flights, food, hotel accommodations, and park admissions.

Universal Orlando Resort, home to four theme parks in Florida, has seen some of the steepest price hikes in the industry over the last decade. Excluding the newly opened Epic Universe and its Volcano Bay water park, ticket prices across Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios Hollywood increased by an average of 49% between 2015 and 2025, which is higher than the national inflation rate of 36%, according to FinanceBuzz.

Despite price surges, demand for theme parks remains high. Grand View Research valued the global theme park market size at $64.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $110.6 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 6.3%.

Universal has been investing heavily in upgrades and enhancements across its parks to keep them fresh, exciting, and safe. While these updates aim to improve the overall experience, they also mean several major attractions will be closing in the coming months.

To prevent any mishaps, Universal (CMCSA) has released a list of attraction closures for the 2026 season so guests can be fully informed before their visits.

Universal Orlando will close four rides across its theme parks in 2026.

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Jurassic Park River Adventure

Opened in 1996, Jurassic Park River Adventure is a water-based ride at the Jurassic Park immersive world in Islands of Adventure. This attraction is inspired by the 1993 film and 1990 novel Jurassic Park and is best known for its famous 85-foot drop.

After nearly three decades in operation, the ride is due for refurbishment. It will be temporarily closed, from January 5 to November 19, 2026.

Although discouraging news for guests with plans to visit around those dates, the nearby Jurassic World VelociCoaster will remain open throughout the renovation period for thrill ride seekers.

Hogwarts Express

Connecting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, the Hogwarts Express has made park-to-park travel between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure a more enjoyable experience for fans since 2014.

After a decade of service, the train will undergo maintenance from February 9 through 23, 2026. During that time, guests with park-hopper passes will need to travel between parks the old-fashioned way, by exiting and re-entering through the main gates.

More Universal Orlando News:

  • Universal Orlando reopens rollercoaster that killed a man
  • Universal Resorts is opening a new theme park in an unexpected place
  • Universal Studios Orlando demolishes entire theme park land

Revenge of the Mummy

An indoor coaster classic since 2004, Revenge of the Mummy, themed after The Mummy movie franchise, continues to be a top draw at Universal Studios Florida. Though it underwent a major overhaul in 2022, the attraction will close briefly from January 15 through 21, 2026, for what appears to be a routine upkeep.

Fans of the park’s New York land can still enjoy other thrilling rides, such as Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and Transformers: The Ride-3D.

Volcano Bay Water Park

Opened in 2017, Volcano Bay is Universal Orlando’s only water park. it contains four themed lands and is known for its 200-foot volcano, fast water slides, and a massive lazy river.

Unfortunately, this park operates seasonally, and although Florida has hot weather almost year-round, it will remain closed until March 2027.

Universal Orlando 2026 attraction closures

  • Jurassic Park River Adventure: January 5 – November 19, 2026
  • Hogwarts Express: February 9 – 23, 2026
  • Revenge of the Mummy: January 15 – 21, 2026
  • Volcano Bay: Expected to reopen on or before March 24, 2027

Source: Universal Orlando Resorts Temporary Closures Schedule.

Universal Orlando opens 2026 ticket sales

Despite the closures, Universal has already released ticket options for the 2026 season, including new pricing, ticket types, and packages.

Starting now, guests can purchase one-day, two-day, three-day, four-day, and five-day tickets for all parks, including multi-day tickets for Universal’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, for the first time.

Epic Universe 2026 Ticket Prices

  • Adult: From $139 to $199 per day
  • Child (Ages 3-9): From $134 to $194 per day

Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure 2026 Ticket Prices

  • Adult: From $119 to $179 per day
  • Child (Ages 3-9): From $114 to $174 per day

Prices vary depending on dates and passholder status. Tickets are now available for purchase on Universal’s website for visits through December 2026. 

Related: Universal Orlando makes major ticketing change at its new theme park