UniversalParksBlog News for September 21st, 2025
Universal Epic Universe just suffered a tragedy.
We’ll discuss that, Halloween Horror Nights, and a prolonged closure in the latest UniversalParksBlog News.
A Death at Epic Universe
Universal
When the latest theme park injury report was posted, Universal Orlando Resort listed seven incidents.
Considering that Universal opened a new theme park, that was pretty good.
Generally, Universal listed that many injuries before Epic Universe opened. So, there was cause for optimism.
However, one sticking point stood out on the chart. Stardust Racers accounted for two of those incidents.
Universal
Each one was more serious in nature than the typical incident report, which was alarming in and of itself.
Historically, Universal has understated the severity of incidents on its attractions.
Even accidents causing paralysis were described as “back pain” and so forth.
So, when the latest report suggested that a 63-year-old lost consciousness, that was concerning.
Now, we have a full-blown tragedy involving the attraction, as Stardust Racers suffered a tragedy.
According to several sources including the Orlando Sentinel, a person died after riding the roller coaster.
OC Register
Here’s the quote: “A man in his 30s who became unresponsive after riding the Stardust Racers thrill ride at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park has died, according to park officials and police.”
Reportedly, local law enforcement and paramedics responded to a “man down call” at the ride.
The individual was unresponsive on the scene and later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Image: Bioreconstruct on Twitter
Universal has stated, “Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night.”
There’s a larger statement, which Kristin Sabol posted the other day.
Photo: Comcast NBC Universal
As noted in those official comments, Universal immediately closed Stardust Racers.
We have no current information on when it will reopen, as the investigation is ongoing.
(Jeff Fusco/Comcast via AP Images)
You can donate to the GoFundMe for the victim, Rodriguez Zavala, and his family here.
Not the First
Photo: Cinema Blend
Incidents like this one, while extremely rare, do occur at times at theme parks.
Perhaps the most famous incident happened with Mission: SPACE at Walt Disney World.
Photo: NBC/Universal
This EPCOT attraction opened to plenty of fanfare, but its centrifuge mechanic proved too severe.
Several guests reported issues, with two ultimately dying, one of whom was a four-year-old.
Photo: Universal
Throughout the history of Disney and Universal Studios, the two major parks, there are a few isolated incidents like these.
The most gruesome one occurred behind the scenes at Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
Photo:themeparx.com
That one is so horrifying I won’t even provide the details here, but you can search for them if so inclined.
Still, the reality is that millions of guests visit theme parks each year. Incidents like this are extremely isolated.
Photo: Bioreconstruct
The last major one at a theme park occurred at Alton Towers in 2015 but thankfully wasn’t fatal.
A different, grotesquely negligent water park suffered a fatality in 2016.
Photo: Bioreconstruct
In my entire time covering theme parks, those were the only serious, avoidable incidents at major parks.
There was a death at EPCOT last year, but it was a heart issue for an elderly person who was just walking at the time.
Photo: Bioreconstruct
So, statistically, theme parks are staggeringly safe places to visit.
This is precisely the sort of incident Epic officials had hoped to avoid, though.
Photo: Bioreconstruct
Stay tuned to UniversalParksBlog News for additional information as we learn it.
Sunday Evening Update
After this article went to press, Universal Orlando Resort’s President and COO, Karen Irwin, published this message.
I’m posting the article, but the credit for the citation here goes to WESH. You can read their article here.
Universal Studios Miscellany
Everything else feels a bit trivial in comparison this week. So, I’ll be briefer than usual.
The other big news can and will impact your 2026 Universal Orlando visits, though.
Photo: Universal Orlando
Jurassic Park River Adventure will close for refurbishment and remain offline most of the year.
The water ride will shut down at the close of business on January 4th, 2026.
Image Credit: Universal
After that, it’s projected to remain closed until November 20th, 2026, which is six days before Thanksgiving.
So, that’s ten and a half months without Jurassic Park River Adventure, which understandably raises questions.
Is Universal Studios modernizing the ride? Universal Studios Hollywood fans already have something different.
At that park, Universal switched to Jurassic Park: The Ride, which is based on the Jurassic World franchise.
We don’t have that in Orlando despite the fact that Jurassic World has already included four (!) films.
A change to the current version of the franchise feels long overdue, but Universal hasn’t confirmed that yet.
Photo Credit: Universal Studios, Jurassic World
This is something else where you’ll need to check back with UniversalParksBlog for future details.
Zelda Or Pokemon Or What?
Photo: Universal
Speaking of which – and I know it’s a recurring theme this week – something’s happening at a different spot.
After a two-year absence of attractions, work is starting at The Lost Continent, formerly the home of Poseidon’s Fury.
When that show ended, speculation ensued about a Legend of Zelda themed land replacing the area.
Another recurring rumor involves Pokemon, although Zelda makes more sense with a movie coming in 2027.
Both strike me as something better suited for Epic Universe now, but we should find out soon.
With this much work starting, Universal is clearly up to something here, but let’s remember.
Park officials are notoriously tight-lipped about upcoming projects. Remember VelociCoaster?
Universal didn’t confirm its theme until tests were already occurring on the tracks!
Photo: Universal Orlando
So, we should know something over the next year, but it could be tomorrow or September 2026.
Okay, that’s the news for this week. I’m sorry parts of it were such a bummer.
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Feature Photo: Universal
