Credit: UniversalUniversal CityWalk has always functioned as more than a shopping and dining buffer between the parking structure and the theme park gates. At Universal Orlando Resort, CityWalk carries its own identity as an entertainment destination, branded by Universal itself as the Epicenter of Awesome.
It houses some of the resort’s most frequented dining options, hosts live entertainment, and serves as the connective tissue between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. For guests who arrive early or linger after park hours, CityWalk is where the day begins and ends, and the specific stores and restaurants it contains shape the overall guest experience in ways that extend well beyond what happens inside the park gates. Right now, CityWalk is in the middle of a notable stretch of changes. A beloved retail concept is returning. A fast-casual dining name is arriving.
A major live music venue is heading to a new waterfront location. And today, April 13, marks the final day of operation for the Universal Epic Universe Preview Center, the dedicated space that has been giving guests a window into the resort’s ambitious fifth theme park ahead of its opening. For guests visiting Universal Orlando Resort in the coming weeks, understanding what is changing and when matters for how they plan their time at CityWalk.
Today Is the Last Day for the Epic Universe Preview Center
The Universal Epic Universe Preview Center at CityWalk closes today, April 13, 2026. Guests who have not yet visited the space, which has housed an extensive model of Epic Universe and offered guests a detailed preview of the park’s lands, attractions, and experiences, have until closing time today to do so. The Preview Center will not reopen after today, as the space is being repurposed for the returning Universal Legacy Store.
Today is the last day to visit the Epic Universe Preview Center. The store is set to close to make way for the returning Universal Legacy Store. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/Wvb8LeJO8y
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) April 12, 2026
For guests who have been following Epic Universe’s development closely, the Preview Center’s closure is a milestone moment. The park itself has been open for nearly a full year, and the space that once served as a teaser for something that had not yet arrived is now being retired as the real thing is already drawing guests daily. The Preview Center served its purpose as a marketing and excitement-building tool during a critical window of anticipation, and its closure makes sense as the resort shifts focus toward the park’s ongoing operation and future growth.
The Universal Legacy Store Is Coming Back
The space vacated by the Epic Universe Preview Center will become home to the returning Universal Legacy Store, expected to open later this month. An exact opening date has not been announced.
The Universal Legacy Store is a fan-favorite retail concept that focuses on retro and throwback merchandise celebrating the history of Universal Studios Florida and Universal Pictures. The returning store will feature exclusive retro merchandise and immersive photo opportunities inspired by iconic Universal Studios Florida attractions and beloved films, including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Back to the Future, and the Classic Universal Monsters.
For guests who appreciate Universal’s deep catalog of classic intellectual properties, the Legacy Store represents something genuinely different from the typical theme park merchandise experience. While much of CityWalk’s retail focuses on current properties and trending merchandise, the Legacy Store carves out space for a more nostalgic kind of shopping, one that appeals to longtime Universal fans and collectors as well as first-time visitors interested in the history of one of Hollywood’s oldest studios.
Five Guys Is Replacing the Whopper Bar
On the dining side, the Burger King Whopper Bar at CityWalk is closing effective April 21, with Five Guys set to take over the location later this summer. Five Guys, the popular fast casual chain known for its made-to-order burgers and fries with an unusually wide range of topping customization, will bring a new quick service option to a space that has been running as a traditional fast food location.
For guests looking for a relatively quick and reliable meal option at CityWalk, the arrival of Five Guys adds a known quantity to the dining lineup, particularly for families with children who may not want a full sit-down dining experience.
Luke Combs Is Bringing Category 10 to a New Waterfront Location
Looking further ahead, CityWalk will eventually be home to a new waterfront entertainment venue connected to country music star Luke Combs. Category 10, the brand named after Combs’ chart-topping hit Hurricane, is coming to a new location at Universal CityWalk in a targeted 2027 opening. The approximately 33,000-square-foot, three-story venue will include live music, food and spirits, and experiential areas inspired by Combs’ music and personal passions.
Combs commented on the announcement: “I have a line in my song ‘1, 2 Many,’ ‘there’s no stopping me once I get goin’. Well, I guess you can say the same about Cat 10 now. I know Orlando is a worldwide destination spot, so I’m super pumped and humbled that we’re getting to open a location there. My wife is from Florida, so we’re both super excited about this. I am glad to be bringing our brand of first-class service and awesome tunes to the Sunshine State.”
The Orlando venue is the third Category 10 location, following the flagship in Nashville and a Las Vegas location set to debut in fall 2026. Opry Entertainment Group, which manages Category 10, also operates Blake Shelton’s Ole Red in Orlando. Groundbreaking on the Orlando location is targeted for summer 2026.
What Is Happening at Epic Universe Right Now
While CityWalk evolves around it, Epic Universe is settling into its first full year of operation. The park has proven its ability to draw massive crowds and deliver genuinely impressive experiences, but it has also been navigating first-year challenges that are common for new parks of this scale. Capacity management in certain areas, ride reliability on some of the park’s biggest attractions, and ongoing guest flow adjustments have all been topics of active discussion in the fan community.
Expansion rumors have been circulating with significant energy, including speculation about visible land clearing and grading work near the park. Universal has addressed those rumors directly, with a spokesperson characterizing the activity as routine land maintenance rather than the early stages of development. For now, the official position is that no expansion announcements are forthcoming, and the focus remains on refining the existing park experience during its first operational year.
How All of This Affects a Universal Orlando Visit
For guests planning a visit around Epic Universe, the park is open and running its full lineup of experiences. Understanding that it is still in an operational refinement phase is useful context. The immersive lands and headline attractions are worth the visit, and the first-year operational adjustments that have been documented are the kind of issues that typically improve as a new park finds its rhythm.
Check the Universal Orlando Resort website and app for current CityWalk store and dining hours as the Legacy Store transition is completed and the Five Guys opening is confirmed. If you are planning a Universal trip and want guidance on how to make the most of both CityWalk and Epic Universe during your visit, our Universal Orlando guide is updated regularly with current dining options, attraction status, and CityWalk changes as they happen.