It is important for guests visiting Universal Orlando Resort to know which rides and attractions are closed for refurbishment or for another reason to avoid disappointment. It can be difficult to keep up to date with the changing schedules so we are collating the current list of refurbishments planned for Universal Orlando Resort during March and beyond.
In this month's update we see a popular rollercoaster, a water ride and kids interactive play area reopening from refurbishment. We continue to see parts of the KidZone at Universal Studios Florida closed for reimagining. We are including dates where possible for refurbishments and closures but these are subject to change. We will keep you informed of any changes on our news and Facebook page.
1. Universal Orlando's Cinematic Celebration (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: March 9 - Permanent
Universal Orlando's Cinematic Celebration night show first debuted at Universal Studios Florida in 2018 on the lagoon and included dancing fountains, pyrotechnics, lasers, water screens and projection mapping. Due to COVID-19 it was not shown for a number of months but returned in October 2020. We have recently heard that Universal Orlando's Cinematic Celebration's run has now ended in order to make way for a new offering soon.
We await further details of this new show but with drones being tested over Universal at the end of January we expect that they will likely be included in some way in this new offering.
2. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Universal's Islands of Adventure)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: February 21 - March 5, 2023
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal's Islands of Adventure closed on February 21, for refurbishment. It is currently scheduled to reopen on March 6.
3. Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges (Universal's Islands of Adventure)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: February 13 - March 10, 2023
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges at Universal's Islands of Adventure closed on February 13 - March 10, 2023 for its annual refurbishment. We are expecting it to reopen on March 11.
4. Me Ship, The Olive (Universal's Islands of Adventure)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: February 3 - March 10, 2023
Me Ship, The Olive is a imaginative play area located in Toon Lagoon at Universal's Island of Adventure and is currently closed for refurbishment. It is scheduled to reopen on March 11. The colorful ship is spread across three floors and includes slides, climbing nets, horns as well as an interactive piano. It also has water cannons to squirt passengers on Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges.
5. Parts of KidZone (Universal Studios Florida)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: January 15, 2023 - TBA
A number of attractions in the KidZone area of Universal Studios Florida have been closed since January 15, 2023. This decision was made in order to be able to bring exciting new family entertainment to immerse guests in beloved animated characters.
The attractions that are now closed include Fievel's Playland, the Woody Woodpecker family coaster, Curious George wet and dry play areas, DreamWorks Destination and Meet Shrek & Donkey.
The E.T. Adventure, Animal Actors on Location!, SpongeBob StorePants - including meet and greets with SpongeBob SquarePants and friends and the KidZone Pizza Company will remain open.
According to online reports, the closed attractions will all remain but will each get a make over as part of Universal's DreamWorks Animation Land which is slated to open in 2024. Sources report that Fievel's Playland will be rethemed to Shrek, Woody's Woodpecker coaster could see a Trolls overhaul with a Trolls themed kids show planned for the theater building with Kung Fu Panda taking over the Curious George play areas. These changes have not been officially confirmed. We will keep you up to date with further information on this when it is announced.
Comments
I’m glad that your still going to have the mummy ride their you’re just changing the name of it right. I also have something else to tell you in the Kid’s land make sure that you never get rid of the E.T. ride or the Woody Woodpecker ride because I was planning to come to Universal Orlando this month, but then changed plans to go to Walt Disney World instead and I’m really looking forward to getting the chance to ride these rides. There was the Madagascar ride at Universal Studios Singapore that just closed down and a was really looking forward to ride it, so I’m asking you please don’t ever in a million years change these rides.