Common Orlando has prolonged the refurbishment of Stardust Racers, which has been closed off and on for a couple of other causes over the past a number of months. Along side this, the previously-calendared closure of Yoshi’s Journey in Tremendous Nintendo International has been got rid of. Listed here are the most recent dates & main points, in conjunction with our statement.
It’s been a coarse first yr for Stardust Racers, the dueling coaster that’s Epic Universe’s marquee thrill experience. The experience is recently closed for a scheduled refurbishment of an unknown nature, however one who’s believed to be regimen. This was once scheduled to finish this weekend, however has been prolonged for just about every other week.
That is Stardust Racers’ 3rd vital closure since Epic Universe opened not up to a yr in the past. This ongoing refurbishment follows a January incident the place each coaster trains concurrently valleyed throughout prime winds and chilly temperatures, which diminished the trains’ momentum, combating them from clearing a height.
That uncommon double valley required Common to deliver a crane into the park to bodily raise the trains off the monitor. The coaster was once closed for three days following the incident. That in fact wasn’t the primary time that Stardust Racers had valleyed; the coaster did once or more throughout pre-opening checking out.
There’s additionally been quite a few downtime and circumstances of Stardust Racers operating with just one monitor; whilst irritating to fail to spot the dueling component, having two tracks has arguably stepped forward uptime of the appeal.
Stardust Racers’ maximum critical factor took place in September 2025, when 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died after shedding awareness throughout the experience. The scientific examiner dominated the loss of life unintended and attributed it to a couple of blunt have an effect on accidents. The lawsuit was once ultimately brushed aside following a personal agreement.
Following that tragedy, Common closed Stardust Racers for investigation and made adjustments to switch necessities and accessibility procedures throughout a couple of sights. The experience reopened in early October, however that in conjunction with different litigation over the appeal understandably solid a protracted shadow.
It’s unclear what the continued refurbishment of Stardust Racers includes or why the extension was once important, but it surely’s value reiterating that that is deliberate downtime that was once scheduled prematurely.
Normally, we wouldn’t bat a watch at this kind of factor, assuming it to be regimen repairs because of strange put on and tear. Alternatively, Stardust Racers’ aforementioned monitor file coupled with how new it’s (not up to a yr outdated) does pique our interest.
As of now, Stardust Racers is scheduled to be closed thru February 28, 2026. The experience is anticipated to reopen on March 1, 2026, despite the fact that reopening dates are tentative and topic to modify (as evidenced via one extension already).
With Stardust Racers being prolonged, Yoshi’s Journey in Tremendous Nintendo International has been dropped from the refurbishment calendar. The family-friendly Peoplemover taste darkish experience was once scheduled to near for refurbishment February 24-26, 2026 previous to the extension of the Stardust Racers closure.
It’s unclear what led to the trade, however our wager is that it’s an issue of capability. Epic Universe can’t truly have the funds for to have a couple of sights down for refurbishment on the identical time, even though they’re basically other in nature.
Assuming this to be correct, we’d suppose Yoshi’s Journey will reappear at the refurbishment calendar as soon as Stardust Racers reopens. It’s conceivable no matter repairs Yoshi’s Journey wanted was once achieved throughout overnights, however our wager is this closure has been behind schedule versus cancelled.
We additionally wouldn’t be stunned if Fyre Drill closes for every other “refurbishment” over the following few days. Unseasonably chilly climate is as soon as once more within the forecast for subsequent week, and Fyre Drill is a “you are going to get rainy/you can get soaked” form of appeal. No one desires to experience that once it’s 40 levels out.
Stardust Racers being down is for sure the larger blow. It’s a headliner appeal that’s much better, and has a lot upper hourly throughput. I’d completely talk over with Epic Universe when Yoshi’s Journey is closed; I’d no longer with out Stardust Racers.
It’s proper up there with Harry Potter and the Struggle on the Ministry and Monsters Unchained as one among my 3 favourite sights within the park; it’s additionally my favourite curler coaster any place. I may just take or go away Yoshi’s Journey.
After all, the calculus would possibly vary for households with smaller kids, however I’d argue the entire park isn’t truly proper for them (us) within the first position. (It’s a wholly needless park for our infant.)
Right here’s a present have a look at the overall refurbishment calendar for 2026 at Common Orlando:
Common Epic Universe
- Fyre Drill: February 1, 2026 – February 19, 2026 (Fyre Drill has reopened and is recently posting a 60 minute wait; no longer certain why it’s nonetheless at the calendar…until it’s anticipated to head down once more subsequent week because of climate.)
- Stardust Racers: February 19, 2026 – February 28, 2026
Common Islands of Journey
- Jurassic Park River Journey: January 5, 2026 – November 19, 2026
- Hogwarts Categorical: February 9 – 23, 2026
- Ollivanders Wand Store in Hogsmeade™: February 26, 2026
- Me Send, The Olive: April 19, 2026 – April 25, 2026
Common Studios Florida
- Finnegan’s Bar & Grill: January 12, 2026 – Iciness 2026
- Hogwarts Categorical: February 9 – 23, 2026
Common Volcano Bay
- Maku of Maku Puihi Spherical Raft Rides: January 5, 2026 – February 26, 2026
- Puihi of Maku Puihi Spherical Raft Rides: January 5, 2026 – February 26, 2026
Common Volcano Bay is seasonally closed on make a choice dates between October 2025 and February 2026. Moreover, Common Volcano Bay shall be closed for repairs starting October 26, 2026, with a present deliberate reopening on or earlier than March 24, 2027.
Turning again to capability, it’s additionally value sharing that Epic Universe nonetheless isn’t firing on all cylinders.
All through the corporate’s most up-to-date profits name, Comcast CFO Jason S. Armstrong shared that Epic Universe is “no longer but working at complete run price capability, however we’ve made significant growth increasing experience throughput and stay keen on scaling additional over the following a number of quarters with upper attendance, more potent per-caps, and further working leverage over the years.”
Right here’s what he formerly stated closing August: “We think Epic to proceed to scale over the process the yr, with upper attendance and according to caps in addition to considerably stepped forward working leverage.” On a next profits name, one of the vital executives recommended it’d be a couple of extra months earlier than the park totally hit its stride.
Now, Armstrong has stated that he expects Epic Universe to be at complete capability via the tip of 2026. It’s unclear why management believes it’s going to take every other complete yr to ramp up Epic Universe, but it surely isn’t unusual for a brand-new theme park–particularly one with a number of envelope-pushing sights–to have rising pains.
Whilst the longer time horizon for the ramp-up is disappointing, it’s no longer unexpected. In January, Epic Universe had its busiest day ever.
No longer simply the perfect wait instances ever for Epic Universe, however for any park at Common Orlando or Walt Disney International since a minimum of 2019–and via an overly extensive margin. The typical wait on that date was once 107 mins, with height waits of over 300 mins and a couple of headliners hitting 200+ mins all over the day.
Since then, Epic Universe has had some quieter days, however no longer weeks. The typical wait time for each and every unmarried week this yr has been 60 mins or upper. To position that into standpoint, the busiest week of the closing yr at Walt Disney International was once that of New Yr’s Eve, which most effective hit 49 mins. And the astronomical crowd ranges at Epic Universe are a byproduct of capability constraints, no longer overwhelming call for.
Thankfully, there are candy spots to talk over with amidst the insanity. See our Epic Universe Crowd Calendar: Very best Dates to Discuss with in 2026 for recommendation. The worst and least busy dates are in fact beautiful predictable, albeit rather counter-intuitive and in contrast to the opposite Common Orlando theme parks.
Want travel making plans guidelines and complete recommendation on your talk over with to Central Florida? You should definitely learn our Common Orlando Making plans Information for the whole lot about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney International Holiday Making plans Information for the whole lot about the ones parks, lodges, eating places, and so a lot more.
Your Ideas
Shocked to look Epic Universe sights already ultimate for refurbishments not up to a yr after the park opening? Ideas on Stardust Racers’ rocky opening months? Constructive that the park will to find its footing and perform at complete capability neatly earlier than the tip of 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will permit you to solution? Listening to your comments—even whilst you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
