The Universal Orlando Rumor Tracker

[HHN Maddux]

Hello all, I've taken it upon myself to give UOR its very own rumor/timeline tracker! Over on WDWMagic, Moth runs a very well put-together rumor tracker for Disney World, and this will be taking some hints/inspiration from that (thank you again Moth for your hard work!). My apologies if this is a bit of a mess at first, first time ever putting something like this together!

Some ground rules:

• This will be using information/rumors from trusted insiders, not speculation or theories/assumptions.
• If you want to follow through and discuss further on any rumors, please use the link(s) provided for said rumor.
• Please correct me on any outdated information and/or provide newly updated information on any section.

WARP PIPE! Jump to...
Universal Studios Florida
Islands of Adventure
Epic Universe
In general/Resort-wide

 

[HHN Maddux]

Universal Studios Florida

New York

• Hollywood Rip Ride RockIt closed on August 18th, 2025, track is now fully demolished.
  • The replacement will likely be quite Furious. (Here)
  • And it may even open very Fast? (Here)
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon has new marquee signs on the way, likely not going away anytime soon. (Here)
  • If Fallon turns out undesirable, there's supposedly a Fallon-less backup ride film. (Here) and (here).
• Finnegan's Bar and Grill to close on January 12th, 2026 for major refurbishment, will reopen late 2026. (Here)
  • Will reportedly include a bigger kitchen, new bathrooms, and an outdoor bar window. (Here)
• Revenge of the Mummy got a major refurbishment in 2022, updated screens and general TLC.
  • With the announcement of The Mummy 4 (WITH BRENDAN FRASER RETURNING!), this is likely very safe.

San Francisco

• Supercharged, our favorite love-to-hate attraction.
  • With HRRR's replacement looking to be a F&F coaster, Supercharged is likely (hopefully, finally) next on the chopping block for USF.
  • Back to the Future? (Here)
  • "Refurb" might be coming sooner than you'd think! (Here, hi Moth!)
  • Although with HHN 35 codenames confirming F&F as a house location again, it might still be a bit. (Here)

World Expo

• Fear Factor Live never reopened from the COIVD-19 pandemic, has been used for HHN since but nothing else.
  • Can't find the comment, but at one point the long-rumored Potter VR broom attraction was eyeballed for here, before being moved to EU, then ultimately scrapped.
  • When EU was put into question during COVID, Ministry might've moved over here. (Here) and (here).
  • Could fit Waterworld... (Here)
• MIB has been receiving lots of TLC over the past two years, restored effects and animatronics.
  • When EU was put into question during COVID, Unchained might've moved in. (Here)
  • MIB seems to be safe... for now.
  • MIB 5 is in development with Will Smith set to return. Seems we might be safe for a while!

Springfield: Home of the Simpsons

• Ever since Disney's purchase of Fox, this area's future has been in question.
• Original contract was reportedly for 20 years.
• Contract renewed for 3 years? Maybe 5? (Here)
• Pokemon was slated for here... until it wasn't. (Here)
• Now your guess is as good as mine for what inevitably takes over here.

Hollywood

• E.T. Adventure ain't going anywhere.
  • Been receiving quite a lot of TLC over the past year!
• Horror Makeup Show to close on January 4th, 2026 for a reimagining and will reopen late 2026. (Here)
• Bourne isn't going anywhere. (Here)

 

[HHN Maddux]

Islands of Adventure

Toon Lagoon

• Whole area has been drifting in-and-out of the "will it, won't it" rumor mill for years. Currently no notable rumors about a retheme anytime soon.
• Toon Lagoon Theater remains completely unused for guests.
• Blondie's reopened after being closed most of 2025 with a new menu. (Here)
• Wossamatta U might be no more. (Here)
• Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls received some much-needed TLC in late 2022.

Skull Island

• Skull Island: Reign of Kong had its 3D removed in February 2024.
  • In better news though, it finally goes back outside! Thank you George!

Jurassic Park

• Pteranodon Flyers reopened in February 2025 after being down a year, OI meetup guests rejoice!
• River Adventure will be closing January 5th, 2026 for a much needed almost year-long overhaul! Will reopen November 19th, 2026.
  • And even better, word is updated dinosaur animatronics and intense refurb, while staying themed to Park! (Here)

The Lost Continent

• The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad closed in September 2018, with the theater left as-is since.
• Poseidon's Fury closed in May 2023 and left abandoned.
• For the longest time, the word was to expect Zelda here in the future.
• We have demolition permits! (Here)
• Uh oh.
• Pokemon?
• Pokemon.
• We have construction permits! (Here)
• Might wanna book a Mythos reservation while you still can.
  • Waiters have been told by management that Mythos still has 12-18 months left. (Here)

 

[HHN Maddux]

Epic Universe

• IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!

Celestial Park

• Two new restaurants at the front in the building not being used. (Here)
  • Unless a miracle happens, opening in January? (Here)
• Enough room for flat rides in certain spots in the future.

Super Nintendo World

• Luigi's Mansion expansion eventually. (Here)
• Or Zelda? (Here)

Dark Universe

• Longest-standing rumor has been a Creature boat ride expansion at some point.
• Expansion pad has been seeded, probably nothing anytime soon. (Here)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic

• Seems we have our lucky winner for Epic's first expansion! Here and here.
  
  • Some interesting new ride patents, one of which looks suspiciously like a flying broomstick.
  • 2028 opening?
• Great Hall at some point? (Here)

How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk

• We, my friends, have drones!
• Small expansion pad but from what I can find, no notable rumors as of now.

5th portal?

• A large expansion pad between MoM and Stardust, for a while was rumored to eventually have LotR.
• Perhaps now slated for something a bit more... Wicked.
  • Wicked reportedly getting the Harry Potter treatment. (Here)
• Waterworld......? Probably not, but go to 44:17.

 

[HHN Maddux]

CityWalk/general/resort-wide

• All the land that Universal bought around Epic Universe is enough for an entire south campus with a 4th theme park, 2nd water park, 2nd CityWalk and multiple hotels. (Here)
  • If or when Universal pulls the trigger on this? Who knows. Could be 10 years from now, could be 26 years.
• Something happening in a 53-acre parcel near Epic. Could just be for construction staging, could be something else. (Here)
• DC on its way to the parks? (Here)
  • Oof... maybe not. (Here)
• Permit for hotel expansion by Helios (unknown if Helios expansion or new hotel). (Here)
• Boring Company Tunnel might be built for transport between USO's main campus and Epic. Hopefully not. (Here)
  • Universal is actively making plans for a resort-wide transportation system! (Here)
• Volcano Bay will close for a refurbishment on October 26th, 2026 and will reopen March 24th, 2027.
  • Demolition permits? The heck?
  • Tai Nu being torn out maybe? Has been closed since 2021.
• Nothing of note happening in CityWalk.
  • Ghostbusters might eventually find a new home in the BMG space. (Here)
• SeaWorld purchase? Almost certainly never.

 

[mccgavin]

The one thing I would add to this was that the HHN house permit "HELECOPTER" was filed for F&F, which likely suggests it will not be undergoing an extensive refurbishment/retheme at that time.

 

[Skold]

@Brian G. 's gonna be really pissed about five posts in a row.

 

[DOOMBOT]

@Brian G. 's gonna be really pissed about five posts in a row.

Lucky it's their birthday! They're probably off partying tonight. Should give this thread an extra few hours of life haha!

 

[Brian G.]

Lucky it's their birthday! They're probably off partying tonight. Should give this thread an extra few hours of life haha!

I was asleep by 10.

I believe Joe wanted to do something like this back when he was part of the Staff, but the problem is keeping tabs and updating the thread. If you're comfortable doing that, enjoy the thread!

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Maddux this is awesome! Thanks for keeping it concise with all the sauce.

 

[Thorin Groth]

In general/resort-wide

• Volcano Bay will close for a refurbishment on October 26th, 2026 and will reopen March 24th, 2027.
  • Demolition permits? The heck?
  • Tai Nu being torn out maybe? Has been closed since 2021.
• All the land that Universal bought around Epic Universe is enough for an entire south campus with a 4th theme park, 2nd water park, 2nd CityWalk and multiple hotels. (Here)
  • If or when Universal pulls the trigger on this? Who knows. Could be 10 years from now, could be 26 years.
• SeaWorld purchase? Almost certainly never.

As a former VB employee, the strange demolition permits set in the Volcano made sense to take out Tai Nui. There were too many "spinals", where the ride's g-force acceleration at the bottom would result in guests complaining of neck injuries. This was well before my time but supposedly the ride went down for refurb maybe a year after its initial closure and they had replaced some of the track segments but the issue still persisted. Now, the water runs just to make sure it doesn't fall apart. I doubt they'll add something new there because it would just have to be the same tracking but I'm assuming it'll happen during that refurb period.

 

[ParkRumors]

Just to provide some clarity here - there were never Demo permits for Volcano Bay.

The initial Project 555 demolition permit filing with the City of Orlando (DEM2025-10175) was likely just a clerical error/project number mismatch that was rectified when the permit was re-filed a few days later (DEM2025-10178). That permit is for the upcoming work in Lost Continent. We still don’t know the project number associated with that work.

The Project 555 permit you linked with the SFWMD was likely just for the months-long refurb happening next winter, and after its review, it was determined that a water management permit isn’t required for whatever work will be done there, so the permit was withdrawn.



So basically:

Project 555 = VB refurb. And whatever work is going to take place, it isn’t significant enough to require a SFWMD permit.

 

[UNIrd]

I love progress tracker threads myself. And a rumors thread is especially necessary for UO since they don't like to announce anything until right before ribbon cutting.

 

[RFRees]

As a former VB employee, the strange demolition permits set in the Volcano made sense to take out Tai Nui. There were too many "spinals", where the ride's g-force acceleration at the bottom would result in guests complaining of neck injuries. This was well before my time but supposedly the ride went down for refurb maybe a year after its initial closure and they had replaced some of the track segments but the issue still persisted. Now, the water runs just to make sure it doesn't fall apart. I doubt they'll add something new there because it would just have to be the same tracking but I'm assuming it'll happen during that refurb period.

Very glad I got to go on that slide before it's potentially removed (or severely nerfed).

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic

• Seems we have our lucky winner for Epic's first expansion! Here and here.
  
  • Some interesting new ride patents, one of which looks suspiciously like a flying broomstick.
  • 2028 opening?
• Great Hall at some point? (Here)

Perhaps worth mentioning are the potential stores they may open in Paris in the near future? Can't remember where it may have been mentioned specifically, but I'm sure Alicia has at least mentioned it in Epic update videos.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I was asleep by 10.

I believe Joe wanted to do something like this back when he was part of the Staff, but the problem is keeping tabs and updating the thread. If you're comfortable doing that, enjoy the thread!

I'd clean up the pins and pin this to the subforum, btw.

 

[TheUniC6]

I would update the Springfield section to include the recent rumblings Wicked might be in consideration for the spot based on a 5 year prediction vid for UOR Alicia recently put out

 

[HHN Maddux]

I would update the Springfield section to include the recent rumblings Wicked might be in consideration for the spot based on a 5 year prediction vid for UOR Alicia recently put out

I just watched it, please correct me if I'm wrong/misheard (just had a fun but very long day), but I believe she specifies it's not based off any evidence or rumors, just personal speculation on her part regarding Wicked in Simpsons?

 

[TheUniC6]

I just watched it, please correct me if I'm wrong/misheard (just had a fun but very long day), but I believe she specifies it's not based off any evidence or rumors, just personal speculation on her part regarding Wicked in Simpsons?

I believe she said that as well. My personal hunch is Wicked landing in Springfield makes the most sense because you give USF a land themed to a hit IP, address the lack of large practical dark rides, and save the new portal for a larger then life IP that truly deserves it when the time comes.

 

[Mad Dog]

It's probably between Springfield and the large expansion pad at Epic. At this point in time, Universal may still
be trying to decide. Perhaps a lot depends on whether the short contract extension talks
for Simpsons are successful or not. Supposedly, before the strong returns for the first film, Universal was considering
adapting the Fallon attraction for Wicked. But that idea was abandoned for a larger scale attraction/land. Seems
Woodbury is really strong in Wicked's camp, see all his comments. So something major will probably happen down
the road..

 

[RFRees]

I agree, I believe @Alicia had mentioned this was more speculation (based on what makes sense). I think this thread should stick to info considered as leaks and/or official info from Universal.

It's probably between Springfield and the large expansion pad at Epic. At this point in time, Universal may still
be trying to decide. Perhaps a lot depends on whether the short contract extension talks
for Simpsons are successful or not. Supposedly, before the strong returns for the first film, Universal was considering
adapting the Fallon attraction for Wicked. But that idea was abandoned for a larger scale attraction/land. Seems
Woodbury is really strong in Wicked's camp, see all his comments. So something major will probably happen down
the road..

That would be been probably the most underwhelming version of a Wicked attraction and certainly would have gotten backlash; glad they didn't go this route.