When Will Stardust Racers Reopen at Epic Universe?

UPDATED: October 6th

On September 18th, 2025, it was reported that a man had died following a ride on Stardust Racers at Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park.

The man, later identified as Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, suffered multiple blunt impact injuries, which were ruled the official cause of death. The ride has been closed since, with both law enforcement and Universal conducting investigations — but when will Stardust Racers reopen at Epic Universe?

When the news first came to light, Universal released a statement that said, “Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night. The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died. We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones. We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.”

As of the afternoon of October 4th, Stardust Racers has officially reopened to the public.

The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office officially concluded that the manner of death was an accident caused by blunt force injuries. Shortly after Mr. Zavala’s death, another guest filed a lawsuit against Universal for injuries allegedly sustained on Stardust Racers.

In late September 2025, guest Sandi Streets filed a negligence lawsuit in Florida state court in Orlando, alleging that she, too, was injured on the coaster. Streets claims she rode the ride during an Epic Universe preview in April, before the park’s public opening. The suit alleges that during her ride, Streets’ head shook violently and slammed into her seat’s headrest, giving her permanent injuries.

According to Streets’ suit, these injuries have led to disability, medical care expenses, loss of the ability to work, and an exacerbation of a preexisting condition since going on the ride. The filing further accuses Universal of failing to properly restrain her head, and that the theme park failed to adequately warn of “the unsafe and unreasonably dangerous condition” of riding the coaster.

Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing roller coaster that reaches speeds up to 62 mph with heights up to 133 feet and 5,000 feet of track. It’s Universal’s most thrilling coaster experience, with two of the vehicles completing an inverted crisscross in the air.

Both Universal and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have said that initial findings show that the ride’s systems functioned normally, its equipment was intact, and Universal workers followed the proper procedures. However, attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Zavala’s family, has disputed these findings, saying that “They are quick to say that, ‘Well, the ride functioned as it was supposed to. Everything works properly.’ Well, just because it didn’t malfunction does not lead us to believe that there were not safety issues because we know something caused him to die.”