The park also announced the introduction of new themed shows and eateries
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NEED TO KNOW
- Universal Orlando’s Lost Continent section will close permanently and be replaced with a new themed area
- The Jurassic Park area will get a new signature restaurant while its River Adventure ride undergoes renovations
- Hogwarts Castle is being refurbished, but remains open for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride
Universal Orlando is announcing major changes.
The theme park announced Thursday, May 7 that it will permanently close its Islands of Adventure's Lost Continent section, which opened alongside the park in 1999, and replace it with a major "new themed area."
Universal has been slowly closing portions of the Lost Continent section for years, including the Dueling Dragons roller coasters, which were absorbed into the adjacent Harry Potter–themed area in 2010, where they reopened as the Dragon Challenge before permanently closing and being replaced by Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in 2017.
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The stage show The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad closed in 2018, while Poseidon's Fury, a major walk-through attraction with special effects, fire, and water stunts, shuttered in 2023.
The park's Mythos restaurant, located within the Islands of Adventure section, will also shut down next year, with the rest of the section closing in phases.
"Universal Orlando Resort is continuing its unprecedented momentum as it prepares for a slate of compelling new guest offerings across the destination, ranging from new themed areas to delicious eateries," the resort said in a press release shared with PEOPLE.
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Also in the Thursday announcement, Universal revealed that the park's Horror Make Up Show production will temporarily close beginning May 12 to prepare for a "reimagined experience" adapted from the original.
The new production "will showcase a mix of classic and modern horror properties along with shockingly fun surprises — all while staying true to the comedic and irreverent spirit that guests know and love."
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Another restaurant, the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant, located inside the Jurassic Park area, will close and be replaced by an "all-new dining concept" that will become the new signature full-service restaurant.
The current restaurant is situated next to the classic Jurassic Park River Adventure flume ride, which is currently undergoing extensive renovation and is set to reopen later this year. Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, which will feature a variety of hot dogs and Italian ices, is also coming to Universal CityWalk. The restaurant was founded by *NSYNC's Joey Fatone and his manager, Joe Mulvihill.
In late March, fans noticed the park's Hogwarts Castle was undergoing serious renovation, with the massive structure covered in scaffolding and gray tarp.
A representative for Universal Orlando confirmed the refurbishment to PEOPLE but did not provide an exact date of when the work would be finished. "The exterior of Hogwarts Castle is currently undergoing refurbishment that will be complete later this year," they said.
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Hogwarts Castle is home to the fan-favorite Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, which remains open amid the refurbishment, according to the park's website.
Universal Orlando opened a new park, Epic Universe, in May 2025. It was the first major U.S. theme park to open in more than two decades.
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