If you’re planning a Universal Orlando trip for September, a little advance warning!
Three attractions have closure windows landing this month, and one of them has already been down since January.
First up: The Untrainable Dragon show over in Isle of Berk at Epic Universe will close from September 15th through the 20th.
The good news is Toothless isn’t disappearing entirely (you’ll still be able to meet him outside the theater during the closure) but the flyover portion of the experience won’t be running during that window. If you’ve never caught it, this is the one where Toothless soars through the clouds overhead, and it’s honestly one of the more genuinely magical pieces of Isle of Berk. If your trip lands during those specific dates, you can still get your dragon fix on Hiccup’s Wing Gliders or Dragon Racer’s Rally instead.
Next, and this is the one that’s been dragging on for a while now: Jurassic Park River Adventure has been closed since January and isn’t expected back until November 19th.
That’s a genuinely long refurbishment window, and it’s had real ripple effects on the surrounding area — this section of Islands of Adventure only has the one major ride, so its extended closure has been pushing crowds elsewhere in the park harder than usual. If Jurassic Park River Adventure was a must-do on your list, September is unfortunately still squarely inside that closure window.
Additionally, the attraction formerly known as Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show will continue to be closed through September.
During its closure the attraction is undergoing extensive refurbishment to reopened as a new, revised experience that we’re all waiting on the edge of our seats to get to see for the first time when it reopens. While an exact date is yet to be announced, we’re anticipating this project to stay on pace for it’s planned winter opening.
And finally, Finnegan’s Bar & Grill has also been closed since January, with a planned reopening sometime this winter, though Universal hasn’t released a specific date yet. So if you had a meal there penciled into your dining plans, you’ll want a backup restaurant lined up for now, and it’s worth checking back closer to your trip for an updated timeline.
Between one dragon show on a short break, one major ride still mid-refurbishment after eight-plus months, and one restaurant with no firm return date, September visitors have a few things worth working around. None of these are dealbreakers on their own, but if any of the three were central to your itinerary, now’s the time to adjust.
Are any of these closures affecting a Universal Orlando trip you’ve got coming up in September? Let me know how you’re adjusting your plans!
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