Credit: UniversalUniversal’s theme park business has hit a rough patch. According to Comcast’s latest earnings call, Universal’s theme parks generated $2.6 billion in Q3 2026, a 4.4% decline year over year.
CFO Jason Armstrong told investors that demand for theme parks softened over the summer months. Co-CEO Mike Cavanagh went further, acknowledging that competitors, including Disney, “were quicker to anticipate and recognize softness in demand” and made adjustments to match. Cavanagh also highlighted “capacity challenges” at Epic Universe, which opened at Universal Orlando Resort in May 2025.
A New Coaster for Dark Universe
Universal appears to have at least one answer to the capacity question. Epic Universe will add a new indoor coaster to Dark Universe, placing it directly alongside Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. No details have been shared yet on theming, ride system, or an opening date. The official Universal X account featured the announcement, adding that “Construction is underway, with an opening planned in the years ahead.”
Monsters Unchained Closing in December
The land’s flagship attraction is also set for some downtime. Universal has confirmed on its official website that Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment will be closed from December 11 through December 15, 2026. No reason for the closure has been given.
Monsters Unchained has been one of Epic Universe’s headline attractions since day one, sending guests deep into Frankenstein Manor as Dr. Victoria Frankenstein attempts to harness the power of Universal’s most famous monsters. Its absence for five days during the busy holiday run-up will be felt by guests who have planned their visits around it.
Fyre Drill Also Facing Closures
Monsters Unchained is not the only Epic Universe ride on Universal’s temporary closures list. Fyre Drill, the water-soaked boat attraction in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, is closed from November 9 through November 10, 2026. A longer closure is also scheduled from January 25 through February 4, 2027.
A Park Built Around Multiple Worlds
Epic Universe brings together five immersive lands: SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and the central hub of Celestial Park. With demand concerns and capacity pressures now openly discussed by Comcast leadership, every ride closure carries a little more weight.
What This Means for You
Guests visiting Epic Universe between December 11 and December 15 should plan their Dark Universe time without Monsters Unchained, and those heading to the Isle of Berk in late January or early February should expect Fyre Drill to be unavailable. Checking Universal’s official closures page before visiting remains the safest bet. Looking further ahead, a new Dark Universe coaster could help ease crowding in one of the park’s most popular lands, though Universal has yet to say when it will arrive.
Are you looking forward to the new coaster coming to Dark Universe? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!
