UniversalParksBlog News for February 15th, 2026
The rumors are true! I’m a bit surprised to be saying that, but they are!
We’ll discuss the big change coming to Universal Orlando Resort in this week’s UniversalParksBlog news.
Universal Makes a Big Move
Photo: Universal
Last July, I did something I probably shouldn’t have. I led the news with a rumor.
Since this is, you know, a bi-weekly news article, it really shouldn’t include rumors.
Photo: Universal
Sometimes, I stick them in when I’ve heard something that I believe is likely to happen.
As I mentioned at the time, Universal officials had grown jealous of Las Vegas. Here’s why:
That’s the underground tunnel system that ostensibly keeps some traffic off the main roads.
Now, why they were jealous is an open question. The Las Vegas tunnels aren’t going well.
Don’t take my word for it. Here is popular influencer CityNerd debating its many failures:
As is the case with many Elon Musk proposals, it’s a lot of hype with less publicized failures.
John Hammond
Lately, people have stopped looking the other way on the Vegas tunnels, which are a safety and environmental nightmare.
Musk’s tunneling business, The Boring Company, is currently facing 17 different complaints.
Jurassic Park meet-and-greet
Eight of them have already led to violations, in addition to accusations of “nearly 800 environmental violations.”
Contrast that with the comments in CityNerd’s video where he asks a driver some questions.
John Hammond
The person informs him that their section of the Vegas tunnels should have two drivers that day.
Since the other one is training, only one driver is available for an entire area of the tunnels.
Based on this information, you can already tell how ridiculous this entire story may be.
We just don’t know yet, but I’ll report it based on the facts at hand. Then, we’ll see how it all plays out.
Jurassic Park cars
But I’m warning you in advance that this whole thing almost certainly sounds better than it is.
That may change in seven or eight years, but you should calibrate your expectations for now.
A Traffic Hail Mary in Orlando
The Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District just performed a bake-off.
This district, Universal’s equivalent to Disney’s (formerly named) Reedy Creek, runs Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Orlando
Yes, UOR is moving forward with an underground tunnel plan, and it has chosen The Boring Company.
You may ask why, which is a multifaceted question. I’ll circle back to something I said in July.
Universal Orlando Resort
“Creating an underground transportation system could greatly enhance Universal’s logistics.
Ostensibly, people could get from one park to another without ever riding a bus, which is the goal.”
So, Universal is ostensibly doing this project to improve future theme park operations.
For the time being, I should stress that all of this is theoretical, as Boring hasn’t signed a contract yet.
Photo: IG/ @thejourneyduo
According to the Orlando Sentinel, “voted to begin contract negotiations with Musk’s firm.”
Presuming a contract gets signed, Boring will “design and build the infrastructure improvements.”
Photo: Universal
I don’t like this phrasing, as there’s nothing to improve right now. Boring will be creating infrastructure.
Obviously, this process will take years, as we’ve witnessed in Las Vegas. And there WILL be hiccups. Still, I admire Universal’s ambition here. It’s trying to match Disney in terms of novelty.
Walt Disney World and Disneyland host monorails. UOR will soon have underground tunnels.
Photo: Pinterest
Well, I should say probably. As you probably know, Central Florida consists of swampland.
The water tables wreak havoc with the best-laid plans, which forced Disney to improvise.
Photo:themeparkhipster.com
Magic Kingdom’s public areas are actually the second floor of the park. Utilidors are the first floor.
Some describe them as underground tunnels, but that’s not accurate. Disney just built over them.
Photo:Universal Orlando Resort
The Boring Company already lacks a solid track record, and now it’ll take on a difficult building project.
For this reason, we should keep our expectations in check.
Universal Miscellany
Universal
Let’s start with a strange story about DreamWorks Land. Something has already closed!
Here’s the official site for Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres. According to Universal
Photo: DreamWorks
“Your little ogres can climb and slide through Shrek’s playground, as Pinocchio spouts hilarious white lies.”
“Plus, they can splish, splash and spray people with water in a swampy play area.”
Well, they can’t do any of that anymore, as Universal just paved over the splashpad area.
That’s almost incomprehensible to me, as DreamWorks Land just opened 18 months ago.
Photo: Airbnb
Universal had demolished the area last September, almost without warning.
Park officials didn’t communicate much about the situation, and now it’s just gone.
Photo: Airbnb
I have no idea whether the splashpad area was unpopular, unsafe, or just tough to manage.
Whatever the explanation, it’s gone-gone. Universal is just acting like it never existed.
They should probably take down that page on the official Universal Studios site, though…
In other news, Hogwarts Express is currently undergoing a rare refurbishment.
The current timeline suggests a return on February 24th, although Universal has been running ahead of schedule lately.
On February 26th, Ollivanders Wand Shop will temporarily close for refurbishment, too.
Photo: Universal
Since Universal likes to make money, I cannot imagine it will be down for long.
Then, from April 19th through the 25th, the Toon Lagoon play area will undergo a refurb.
You may not even know this, but it’s called Me Ship, The Olive, which is a Popeye reference.
Then, we have the Pokémon news, which I promise I’ll discuss next time.
Let’s just say that I consider it Universal’s biggest announcement since Epic Universe.
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Feature Photo: Universal
