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Credit: UniversalEpic Universe hasn’t even reached its one-year anniversary, and it’s already adding another attraction to the refurbishment calendar.
This time, it’s Yoshi’s Adventure.
A recent update confirmed that Yoshi’s Adventure will temporarily close beginning February 24, 2026, with a planned reopening on February 27, 2026. On paper, that’s a quick three-day refurbishment. In reality, it’s another reminder that Universal’s newest park is still settling into its long-term operational rhythm after opening in May 2025.
Yoshi’s Adventure at Epic Universe will be briefly closed for refurbishment starting on February 24, 2026. The ride is expected to reopen on February 27, 2026. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/DL4XCgc2ga
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) February 18, 2026
And notably, this is far from Epic Universe’s first attraction closure.
A Brief Closure in a Brand-New Park
Yoshi’s Adventure quickly became one of the most approachable rides at Epic Universe. Located inside Super Nintendo World, the attraction offers a slow-moving, elevated journey through the Mushroom Kingdom. Riders search for colorful eggs, take in playful scenery, and enjoy an experience designed for families rather than thrill-seekers.
That family-friendly positioning makes the ride important. Epic Universe is packed with ambitious headliners and intense coasters. Yoshi’s Adventure fills the gap for younger guests and multi-generational groups who want something calmer.
So even a short closure gets attention.
Three-day refurbishments are not uncommon in theme parks. Attractions close for routine inspections, repainting, system recalibrations, ride vehicle adjustments, or minor show updates all the time. In fact, short, scheduled downtime is often a proactive move rather than a reaction to major issues.
Still, expectations are different when a park is brand new. Many guests assume that fresh attractions should run flawlessly for years. But modern theme park rides are incredibly complex. Even new systems require fine-tuning after months of heavy daily operation.
Epic Universe Has Already Faced Downtime Challenges
While Yoshi’s Adventure is only closing briefly, Epic Universe has seen more significant operational interruptions since its debut.
The most talked-about example has been Stardust Racers.
The dual-track coaster opened as one of the park’s flagship thrill rides. With its racing format, powerful launches, and towering presence, it immediately became a must-do attraction. Wait times frequently stretched well beyond an hour during opening season.
Then came the legal situation surrounding a reported death and the resulting lawsuit. The incident brought intense scrutiny. During that period, the coaster experienced multiple operational pauses and extended closures while investigations and safety reviews unfolded.
Even outside of the legal headlines, Stardust Racers has reportedly valleyed several times. Valleying occurs when a coaster train fails to complete its course and becomes stuck in a low section of track. When that happens, the ride must be stopped, evacuated, and reset. The process can take considerable time and often leaves guests frustrated after long waits.
Stardust Racers hasn’t been the only attraction with challenges.
Several other rides throughout Epic Universe have experienced extended downtime windows since opening. Highly technical attractions that rely on advanced ride systems, projection effects, synchronized audio, and animatronics have occasionally gone offline for resets or recalibration. In a park that leans heavily into immersive, cutting-edge technology, those interruptions can happen.
To be fair, this isn’t unusual for a new park filled with complex systems. Even established resorts like Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World have faced similar issues when launching major attractions. New rides often go through months of adjustment before reaching peak reliability.
But because Epic Universe opened with so much hype, every downtime feels magnified.
Why Early Refurbishments Aren’t a Red Flag
At first glance, it might seem surprising that Yoshi’s Adventure needs refurbishment less than a year after opening. In reality, early maintenance can be a positive sign.
Florida’s climate is tough on attractions. Heat, humidity, heavy rain, and constant daily operation take a toll. Paint can fade quickly. Sensors require recalibration. Ride vehicles accumulate wear from thousands of dispatches.
Short, scheduled refurbishments allow technicians to address small issues before they escalate.
In many cases, parks would rather close a ride briefly for preventative work than risk an unexpected breakdown that leads to a multi-week shutdown later. A few days offline now can strengthen long-term reliability.
Given Epic Universe’s early operational growing pains, proactive maintenance could help stabilize performance heading into its second year.
A Massive Park Still Finding Its Footing
Epic Universe is enormous. It launched with five fully realized lands, multiple high-capacity attractions, advanced show buildings, and highly detailed environments. Opening something of that scale is never seamless.
Opening day is only the beginning.
Since May 2025, the park has continued refining crowd management, dispatch timing, technical calibrations, and guest flow patterns. Team members are still gaining experience with the park’s unique ride systems. Minor finishing touches have continued even after the official grand opening.
That evolution is normal for a large-scale project.
But expectations were sky-high. Universal marketed Epic Universe as its most ambitious and technologically advanced park to date. Guests naturally expected smooth operations across the board.
Instead, what they’ve seen is a park adjusting in real time.
What This Means Moving Forward
For guests planning late February trips, the Yoshi’s Adventure closure is short enough that many may not even notice. With reopening expected just three days later, the disruption window is minimal.
The larger question centers on consistency.
Epic Universe is moving beyond its grand opening honeymoon phase. The focus now shifts to sustained reliability. Can the park minimize unexpected shutdowns? Can it maintain steady operations across all lands? Can it rebuild confidence among guests who have experienced repeated downtime?
Short refurbishments are part of that process.
If Universal continues investing in preventative maintenance, especially on attractions that have faced repeated interruptions, Epic Universe could settle into a more stable operational pattern heading into year two.
The Bottom Line
Yoshi’s Adventure closing for a few days may not seem dramatic. It’s brief. It’s scheduled. It appears routine.
But within the broader story of Epic Universe’s first year, it represents something important.
This park is still evolving.
From the high-profile legal situation surrounding Stardust Racers to intermittent downtime across multiple lands, Epic Universe has experienced its share of early challenges. That doesn’t mean it’s failing. It means it’s growing.
Every major theme park goes through a phase like this. The difference is that Epic Universe opened under a national spotlight.
For now, the temporary closure of Yoshi’s Adventure feels less like a setback and more like a tune-up. If those adjustments lead to stronger long-term performance, guests may ultimately benefit.
Epic Universe set out to be ambitious. Ambition often requires refinement.
And sometimes, a short pause is part of building something built to last.