Credit: Zachare Sylvestre, FlickrThe Epic Universe location will now remain closed.
When Universal Orlando Resort debuted Epic Universe in late May, the resort introduced an array of rides and lands designed to broaden its lineup and draw visitors to an entirely new park. One of the standout additions was Stardust Racers, a high-speed roller coaster featuring dual launches, speeds above 60 miles per hour, and a towering height of 133 feet.
Found in the Celestial Park area of Epic Universe, Stardust Racers is but one of many new attractions and experiences at Universal Orlando’s third theme park gate. From the new Ministry of Magic addition at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the Isle of Berk from the How to Train Your Dragon movie franchise, Epic Universe has brought more of Universal’s popular IP to the Sunshine State. And that’s not to mention SUPER NINTENDO WORLD or Dark Universe.
And while Epic Universe remains popular almost a year on from its grand opening, one attraction has hit the headlines for multiple worrisome reasons. Stardust Racers has been in the spotlight ever since last year’s tragic event that resulted in the death of a Universal guest, and now more concerns are being raised due to the ongoing and repeatedly extended closing of the roller coaster.
Stardust Racers, the high-speed dual-launch attraction located inside Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park, was expected to reopen on March 14, 2026, after undergoing refurbishment. However, the coaster’s downtime has now been extended yet again—marking the third time its return date has shifted.
The attraction first closed on February 19 for what was initially described as a brief maintenance window. At the time, the refurbishment was only expected to last three days, with a planned reopening on February 22.
Those plans quickly changed. The closure was first pushed back to February 28, giving Universal additional time to complete whatever work was taking place behind the scenes. Soon after, the timeline shifted again, this time extending the ride’s downtime through March 14.
Now, according to the official Universal Orlando Resort website, Stardust Racers won’t reopen until at least April 5. If that timeline holds, what was originally scheduled as a short three-day refurbishment will have stretched into multiple weeks.
Stardust Racers: The Story So Far
On September 17, 2025, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala boarded Stardust Racers during a visit to the park with his girlfriend. Authorities later reported that Zavala lost consciousness while riding. Once the coaster returned to the station platform, emergency personnel were called to assist. Zavala was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later declared dead.
In the hours after the incident, Universal Orlando Resort President and COO Karen Irwin spoke with employees, explaining that the ride had been operating “as intended” at the time of the event. Like many intense attractions, Stardust Racers includes posted warnings advising guests with back, neck, or certain medical conditions not to ride.
Local and state agencies soon began formal reviews of the incident. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched an inspection of the attraction, while the Orange County Sheriff’s Office opened a manslaughter investigation, a routine step when a death occurs under non-natural circumstances. Investigators examined whether negligence or outside factors could have played a role.
The medical examiner later concluded that Zavala died from multiple blunt impact injuries. According to statements provided to investigators, Zavala’s girlfriend shared that he had previously suffered a spinal injury and was taking medication at the time of their visit. Authorities did not determine whether those details contributed to the incident.
Her sworn testimony was included in the final investigative documents. She recalled that prior to dispatch, a Universal team member “pushed down on [his] restraint multiple times.” During the ride itself, she said portions of her memory were unclear, but she remembered instances where Zavala appeared to strike his head during the experience.
A medical examiner’s report released last year described the injuries in detail. CNN reported that Zavala suffered a deep cut on the left side of his forehead, a fracture along the bony ridge above his eye, bleeding above the skull, bruising across his abdomen and arms, as well as fractures to his nose and right femur.
Zavala’s family subsequently hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who called on Universal to disclose operational data and documentation related to the ride. “A man died after boarding a ride that should have been safe. We will hold all responsible parties to account … We will demand full transparency,” Crump said.
Crump also referenced a prior incident involving Stardust Racers in which another guest reported injuries and later reached a settlement with the company. He questioned how the park responded to those earlier concerns.
“We believe that these were warning signs that there was something wrong with the design of this ride and that they tried to blame the victims,” Crump said previously, citing the previous guest’s warning that someone could be seriously injured or killed.
In December 2025, both the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Medical Examiner finalized their investigations. The agencies concluded that Zavala’s death was accidental and found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Universal later confirmed the matter had been settled following the investigation’s conclusion. A company spokesperson told Click Orlando, “This matter has been amicably resolved. The family has asked for privacy at this time.” Ben Crump Law released a similar statement on December 13, confirming that the agreement’s details remain confidential.
Still, the situation surrounding Stardust Racers is far from over.
“A North Carolina woman filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming she sustained ‘severe and permanent injuries’ after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe,” Click Orlando wrote last year. “Debbie Reinelt alleges that she required medical care after experiencing dizziness, headache, and nausea following her ride on May 5 during previews of the new theme park, which officially opened about two weeks later.”
According to the legal complaint, Reinelt claims that her head was “violently shaken” while riding the attraction. Her lawsuit does not mention Kevin Rodriguez Zavala or the fatal incident that later brought widespread attention to the coaster.
Although the Zavala investigation has now closed, the events surrounding Stardust Racers continue to spark conversations among theme park fans and industry observers. Questions about coaster design, restraint technology, safety messaging, and guest awareness remain part of the broader discussion, especially now that this short closure has extended into months.
How do you feel about the operation of Stardust Racers at Universal Orlando Resort? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!