Universal Orlando Resort has posted a technical role tied to pyrotechnics at its newest theme park, Universal Epic Universe. The listing has drawn attention because it references ongoing fireworks operations, which are not currently part of the park’s daily offerings....
Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde attended a presentation from Universal creatives and walked away impressed. He compared its creative philosophy to that of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the park he helped design.
Aerial photographs of Universal Studios Florida reveal that major construction has begun on the site once occupied by Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, even though Universal has not yet announced what the replacement attraction will be.
Quietly and without notice, Universal Orlando Resort discontinued its option for 3-park annual passes, which once included admission to the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks, as well as Universal’s water park: Volcano Bay. This comes ahead of the water park’s planned 2026-2027 refurbishment.
Universal Orlando Resort’s latest theme park, Epic Universe, is projected to generate approximately $2 billion for the Central Florida economy during its first year of operation. This comes from a study led by economist Dr. Sean Snaith from the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting.
Universal Orlando Resort has restocked its Epic Universe Grand Opening medallion—a previously sold out item that had recently been listed on eBay for as much as $5,000. The surprise return of this collectible comes after widespread criticism of limited availability and rampant price gouging by resellers.
Universal Orlando Resort has officially announced that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, the iconic roller coaster towering over the entrance of Universal Studios Florida, will be permanently closing on August 18, 2025. The attraction’s impending retirement was first hinted at in late 2024, but the official closing date is now confirmed.
Universal filed a notice of commencement earlier this week for the “South Campus,” which is where Epic Universe is located. The contractor on the permit is Falcon’s Attractions which based on their website specializes in immersive theater attractions as well as 4D Dark Rides. While we don’t know what exactly this potential expansion is for or where in Epic Universe it’s at, this notice does seem to lineup with a persistent rumor for the park.
Just days before its official grand opening, Epic Universe has replaced one headache with another. After widespread complaints about the broken virtual queue system used during technical rehearsals for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Universal Orlando appears to have quietly scrapped the system — at least for now. But what’s taken its place may be even worse.
Universal Orlando has confirmed that Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, the flagship attraction of Epic Universe and its Wizarding World land, will be closed from May 10 through May 16 during the resort’s final preview period.
Just when guests thought the virtual queue system at Universal Orlando couldn’t get more frustrating, a quiet update on the resort’s website has ignited a fresh wave of anxiety—this time about access to entire lands within Epic Universe.
Universal Orlando’s upcoming park, Epic Universe, isn’t even officially open yet, but it’s already facing mounting pressure from theme park enthusiasts due to issues surrounding one of its most anticipated attractions. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry has captured the imagination of early guests with its stunning visuals and next-gen ride technology. But the ride is also drawing criticism—not for its design, but for the Harry Potter virtual queue system guests are required to use.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe theme park is one of the most ambitious projects in theme park history, promising to reshape the entire Orlando tourism landscape. With its grand opening slated for later this year, Universal has wisely initiated internal Epic Universe Team Member previews—a common practice in the industry. These previews are not only a reward for the hardworking employees who make the parks run smoothly but are also part of crucial technical rehearsals. Attractions are tested, operations are fine-tuned, and the overall guest experience is polished before the gates officially open to the public.