4 Ride Closures CONFIRMED for Universal Orlando in 2027

Believe it or not, 2027 is almost upon us, and many guests are already planning their Universal Orlando trips for next year.

Universal Orlando

If that’s you, you should take a look at Universal’s refurbishment calendar before deciding on dates, as we already know of some 2027 ride closures across the resort’s theme parks.

Universal Studios Florida

Currently, there are no closures scheduled at Universal’s original Florida park for 2027. However, both Finnegan’s Bar & Grill (which has been shuttered since January 12th) and Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show (which has been closed since May 12th) are scheduled to reopen in “Winter 2026.” Given the ambitious nature of that timeline, there’s at least a chance that one or both of those closures could leak into the early weeks of 2027.

Finnegan’s Bar & Grill

10 Weeks When Universal Orlando Could Be Empty in 2027

Islands of Adventure

Next door at Islands of Adventure, two popular rides are scheduled to see some downtime during the early months of the year:

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is set to be down from January 4th through February 2nd. This type of seasonal refurbishment is common for water rides during the early months of the year, as even Florida’s climate is generally too cold for them to be ridden comfortably.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey will be down for a quick refurbishment from February 8th through February 19th, which cuts right into the midwinter recess at many Northeastern schools.

Hogwarts

Good news for 2027 Islands of Adventure visitors is that the Jurassic Park River Adventure, which closed way back on January 5th, 2026, is currently scheduled to reopen on November 19th.

Jurassic Park is scheduled to reopen in November

Why Universal Orlando Passholders Are Running to the Parks

Epic Universe

Over at Epic Universe, the Fyre Drill attraction in the Isle of Berk portal — not coincidentally, another water attraction — is scheduled to be closed from January 25th to February 4th.

Fyre Drill

Finally, Volcano Bay is currently scheduled to begin a maintenance closure on October 26th, 2026, with a planned reopening on or before April 1st, 2027.

If you’re planning a trip to Universal Orlando during the early months of 2027, be prepared to run into some already scheduled closures at the resort. Stay tuned to DFB for more coverage of Universal’s operational calendar.

Why Fans Are Still OBSESSED with This Universal Orlando Ride 18 Years After It Closed

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

Are you heading to Universal next year? Let us know in the comments below.