4 Quiet Changes Universal Orlando Was Hoping You Wouldn't Notice

It’s been a year of transformation at Universal Orlando, as the opening of Epic Universe and three new hotels have further changed the resort into a multi-day destination. However, several smaller under-the-radar changes have been happening across Universal Orlando as well.

Construction abounds.

I’ve been visiting Universal Orlando for nearly 30 years now, and over that time, I’ve seen the property evolve from a single theme park to a massive complex featuring three parks, one water park, double-digit hotels, and CityWalk.

The End of the Lost Continent

After LITERALLY years of letting Lost Continent wither away, Universal finally seems ready to do something with this opening day Islands of Adventure land. After having been mostly gutted for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the late 2000s, the land’s final two attractions — The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad and Poseidon’s Fury — closed in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

What’s going to happen with this area?

In September 2025, Universal filed demolition permits for an area of Islands of Adventure that is equivalent to the size of Lost Continent. Rumors abound as to what could be replacing the land, with popular theories being Nintendo’s Zelda franchise, The Lord of the Rings, or a further Harry Potter expansion.

Lost Continent

Rip, Ride, Rockit is Disappearing at Light Speed

When Universal announced the closure of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit earlier this year, few guests were surprised. The coaster always had its critics, and its theme no longer fit with the current Universal Studios Florida aesthetic. However, the speed at which the coaster has come down has caught many, including me, off guard.

It’s disappearing quickly

Within a month of closure, the coaster is nearly completely disassembled, leaving the front of the park overlooking CityWalk unrecognizable. The speed at which the coaster has come down, combined with clues laid down by Universal pointing to franchises like Ghostbusters and Back to the Future, would indicate that a major change is on the horizon for Universal Studios Florida.

Not So Epic Merchandise

While not nearly as big a deal as the construction projects at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, there is a seeming change in merchandise philosophy going on. Specifically, when it comes to Epic Universe, there is comparatively very little merchandise featuring the park’s logo. Sure, there are some t-shirts and etc., but most of the shops are packed with merch that’s geared to the individual portals’ intellectual property.

Epic Universe Merchandise

While this is understandable, I would have still liked to have seen some more park logo-specific merchandise available, similar to offerings at Universal’s other parks as well as Disney’s parks.