3 Rides Will Be Closed at Universal Orlando in December

Universal Orlando has a few key closures lined up for December, and depending on your holiday travel dates, these might have a real impact on your plans.

We just got new details straight from Universal about upcoming refurbishments across multiple parks, and there are a couple of important ride closures to know about before you finalize your itinerary. December is a busy month, so walking in prepared can make a big difference. Here is everything you need to know about what will and won’t be open this holiday season.

Hogwarts Express — Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Florida (Closed December 3rd, 2025)

The Hogwarts Express will be closed for a single day on December 3rd, 2025, and the closure affects both stations at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. If this attraction usually serves as your go-to method for hopping between the two parks, plan on using the regular entrances instead.

A one-day closure may not seem like much, but if your trip is short, especially a quick weekend getaway, losing access to the Hogwarts Express can change your flow more than you think. The train offers a simple and fun connection between parks, and many visitors rely on it to avoid long walks or midday crowds at the front gates.

If you’re visiting during the first week of December, keep this closure in mind and consider grouping your park plans so that you spend one larger block of time in each location instead of bouncing back and forth.

Honu of the Honu Ika Moana — Volcano Bay (Closed November 3rd – December 18th, 2025)

This multi-person raft slide at Volcano Bay is scheduled to remain closed through December 18th, 2025. If your trip falls during the first half of the month and you love tackling the big, swooping, high-bank turns of Honu, take note.

Honu Ika Moana Raft Slides at Volcano Bay

This attraction is one of the more thrilling water experiences in the park, and closures like this are usually tied to seasonal maintenance or slide track updates. With Volcano Bay entering its cooler-season rhythm, longer refurbishments like this can pop up more frequently.

If you’re heading to the resort in early December specifically for a water-park day, this slide’s downtime may push you toward other headliners like Krakatau Aqua Coaster, or you might want to concentrate your time on the more relaxing spots like TeAwa The Fearless River or the park’s wave pool area.

Ika Moana of the Honu Ika Moana — Volcano Bay (Closed November 3rd – December 18th, 2025)

This two-person raft slide, the slightly tamer counterpart of Honu, is also offline until December 18th, 2025. Visitors in early December will find both sections of the Honu Ika Moana complex unavailable.

These two slides typically handle a decent amount of the park’s guest load. Their temporary closures may shift visitors toward other attractions, which can affect overall wait times. Early-December guests who prefer a more laid-back water day may want to explore the serene corners of Volcano Bay, like the Kopiko Wai Winding River, because these smaller experiences often remain unaffected by larger slide refurbishments.

If you’re visiting after December 18th, both slides are scheduled to reopen in time for the tail end of the month which is great news for anyone doing a post-holiday trip.

Additional Closures to Keep in Mind (Outside of December but Coming Soon)

Universal lists a handful of major closures starting in early 2026. While these won’t affect your December 2025 visit, they will matter for anyone planning far ahead.

Jurassic Park River Adventure (Closed January 5th – November 19th, 2026): This is a major, long-term closure at Islands of Adventure and will take the ride offline for most of 2026.
Revenge of the Mummy (Closed January 15th – 21st, 2026): A brief closure in early 2026 at Universal Studios Florida.
Hogwarts Express (Closed again February 9th – 23rd, 2026 across both parks):
Finnegan’s Bar & Grill (Closed January 12th, 2025 – Winter 2026): This longtime dining spot in Universal Studios Florida remains under a lengthy refurbishment.
Volcano Bay Seasonal Closure (Closed October 26th, 2026 – On or before March 24th, 2027): A months-long winter break that will take the entire water park offline.

These later closures don’t impact December directly, but keeping them on your radar is helpful if you’re planning a big 2026 trip or considering when to shift future vacation dates.

What Your December Visit Might Look Like

Universal Orlando in December is one of the most popular times of the year, and knowing these closures ahead of time gives you a major advantage. If your trip includes early December dates, the one-day Hogwarts Express closure and the Volcano Bay slide refurbishments are the main things that could affect your plans. If your travel window falls during the latter half of the month, you can expect both water slides to be back online and the Hogwarts Express fully operational.

We’ll keep watching these refurbishments and update you on any new changes as Universal confirms more details.

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