Untrainable Dragon Closing for Brief Refurbishment at Epic Universe

Universal Orlando has announced temporary ride refurbishments, permanent closures and changes coming soon at Epic Universe, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios Florida. Here are the latest developments, which include the Jurassic Park restaurant closing and the Untrainable Dragon going dark for brief, one-week window.

Any downtime at Epic Universe, whether scheduled or unplanned due to midday rain, can be consequential since the one year old park still isn’t firing on all cylinders. This is a point we’ve made repeatedly in our regularly-updated Why You Should Skip Epic Universe. This is doubly true with the loss of an indoor stage show that is typically a good midday respite from the crowds and, potentially, afternoon storms.

Our advice for many tourists is to stay on the sidelines and wait until Epic Universe improves its operations and efficiency, which should happen by late 2026 or 2027. The good news is that, based on wait time trends that are starting to emerge, it is possible the new park has already achieved its targets.

Earlier this week, Comcast had its earnings call and revealed that Epic Universe Is Not Empty, But Universal Is Seeing “Softening” Summer Crowds. Specifically, the company’s co-CEO said that “attendance across the broader Orlando market began to soften in June, and that trend has continued into the third quarter.” Comcast executives attributed this to higher fuel prices and weaker consumer sentiment.

None of this is surprising. To the contrary, it’s consistent with what we covered in July 2026 is Walt Disney World’s Least Busy Month Since September 2021. The only difference is that Epic Universe hasn’t been open since 2021, so we can’t go that far back with the comparisons.

This actually means that, as opposed to skipping this summer, right now could be a great time to visit Epic Universe. Consider this a potential window of opportunity, especially since the new park still doesn’t have Annual Passes and isn’t included in the recently-released Florida resident ticket deals.

If I were visiting Central Florida anytime between now and October 8, 2026, I’d strongly consider doing a day at Epic Universe. (And in fact, I’m planning two myself for that window!) Even with the temporary closure of The Untrainable Dragon and the increased likelihood of afternoon storms causing weather delays (closures) to the outdoor attractions (which is most of them), but prospect of those “softer” crowds is too much to resist.

Regardless, here’s a look at the upcoming refurbishment of The Untrainable Dragon and everything else at Universal Orlando.

To that point, The Untrainable Dragon will temporarily close for refurbishment from September 15, 2026 through September 20, 2026.

The Untrainable Dragon stage show is scheduled to reopen on September 21, 2026. (As always, dates are subject to change, extension, cancellation, etc. This is something worth underscoring with Universal closures, as we’ve seen several instances of the calendar quietly changing, and refurbishments being removed, extended, or accelerated.)

Universal Orlando has not announced the reasoning for the closure, but the brief closure of only one week suggests it’s relatively minor. Further reinforcing the routine maintenance angle is that Le Cirque Arcanus in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic just closed last month for its own weeklong refurbishment. That show has since reopened without any material, guest-facing changes being reported.

For those who are unfamiliar with it, The Untrainable Dragon is a live theatre experience nestled deep at the back of Isle of Berk. This show features live performers and aerialists, large-scale dragon puppetry, and other special effects. The highlight of the show is (spoiler) Toothless soaring above the audience, weighing in at 1,157 pounds, with a wingspan of nearly 27 feet.

The premise of The Untrainable Dragon is that, when a new dragon shows up on the Isle of Berk, the Vikings think they may have finally met their match. Hiccup and Toothless, with help from Gobber and Astrid, work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. Experience the wonder of dragons onstage and soaring overhead in this spectacular, music-filled, heart-warming live show.

While this is ostensibly a post about the refurbishment, it’s also a good excuse to revisit and recommend The Untrainable Dragon, which we’ve found doesn’t get nearly enough attention in the fan community. (Stage shows, generally, seem to suffer from this, likely since they’re less repeatable than roller coasters, and the fan discourse is dominated by locals who seldom do these stage shows.)

In our Epic Universe Ride Reviews & Ratings, we gave the Untrainable Dragon a 9/10, with the following blurb:

Inspired by Universal Beijing Resort’s popular show, this dragon-filled live spectacular takes guests on a journey with Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. This heartwarming story comes to life with musical numbers, large-scale sets and show-stopping scenes.

The Untrainable Dragon is carried by the dragons. As one might expect.

I was initially inclined to give the Untrainable Dragon a 10/10 score on the backs of those dragons, as the visuals of this show are so wowing that they overcome everything else. After mulling it over a bit more, the script does strike me as very basic (I’d hazard a guess it was ported directly from Beijing without much more than a straightforward translation).

I still think it’s a must-see show, but not quite on par with the best of Disney’s Broadway style productions–even if the marquee moments are more awe-inspiring.

If I were to revisit that review again, I might be inclined to increase Untrainable Dragon’s score to 9.5/10. Maybe even 10/10. The wow-factor and the majestic, suspension of disbelief quality of the puppetry really is the heart of the show and lifts this above any shortcomings it might otherwise have.

Average wait times have dropped dramatically at Epic Universe since Spring Break, with May being the lowest full month since the park officially opened with average wait times of 46 minutes.

Average wait times in June 2025 were 63 minutes, versus 48 minutes in June 2026. It’s a similar story thus far in July 2026, which has seen a slight uptick with 51 minute wait times, versus 64 minutes last July. That’s a big improvement, and continues a downtrend that began in February and continued through Spring Break!

Last year, Epic Universe saw a sharp drop-off in crowd levels during August and September. That’s consistent with the other parks at Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, as those months are off-season. If we assume the same will happen in August and September 2026, those two months should have average wait times in the 35 to 45 minute range.

The other added wrinkle with Epic Universe is the expectation of improved operational efficiency. It has always been the case that, even assuming static attendance, average wait times would decrease over time as the new park found its operational footing. There are clearly ways that that’s happening, but it also seems that attendance is softening at the same time.

If you want more advice on avoiding crowds, see our Epic Universe Crowd Calendar: Best Dates to Visit in 2026. The worst and least busy dates are actually pretty predictable, albeit slightly counter-intuitive and unlike the other Universal Orlando theme parks.

Here’s a current look at the full refurbishment calendar for 2026 at Universal Orlando:

Universal Epic Universe

• The Untrainable Dragon: September 15, 2026 – September 20, 2026

Universal Islands of Adventure

• Jurassic Park River Adventure: January 5, 2026 – November 19, 2026

Universal Studios Florida

• Finnegan’s Bar & Grill: January 12, 2026 – Winter 2026
• Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show: May 12, 2026 – Winter 2026

UPDATE: Fast & Furious – Supercharged will be permanently closed to Guests starting on August 17th, 2026. The final day of operation will be August 16th, 2026. (Fast & Furious – Supercharged was previously set to close in 2027. We view the earlier closure as a positive from an ‘addition by subtraction’ perspective, even if there are no immediate replacement plans. But hopefully there are!)

Universal Volcano Bay

• None at this time.

UPDATE: Universal Volcano Bay, which is currently scheduled to begin a maintenance closure on October 26, 2026, now has an updated planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027. (Previously was on or before March 24, 2027.) This should underscore the above note that dates are subject to change.

In addition to the above temporary refurbishments, construction walls have gone up around the Lost Continent. Demolition is now underway at Poseidon’s Fury and the former Eighth Voyage of Sinbad theater. A lot of the land has already been reduced to rubble.

Earlier this summer, Universal Orlando quietly announced that more in Lost Continent will permanently close in phases to make way for a new themed area. No announcement as to what this will be has been made by Universal, but Pokemon is what’s widely expected. I’m still holding my breath for a last-minute change and the Legend of Zelda being the featured IP.

Once demolition progresses further, the replacement of Lost Continent will necessitate the permanent closure of fan-favorite Mythos Restaurant in 2027. Our expectation is that this restaurant venue will be rethemed as opposed to replaced, but it could be a dramatic transformation that basically just retains the kitchen and back-of-house facilities while completely gutting and retheming the dining room.

As an indirect result of that lost table service dining capacity, Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant in Jurassic Park quietly closed earlier this week for reimagining. Thunder Falls is right next to Jurassic Park River Adventure, which is likewise down for a lengthy routine refurbishment.

Universal Orlando previously announced that Thunder Falls Terrace would be transformed into an all-new dining concept that will become the new signature full-service restaurant in Islands of Adventure. The rethemed dining location will debut in 2027, presumably around when Mythos closes. Not much else is known about the Thunder Falls Terrace reimagining, except that it won’t bear that name when it reopens.

Universal Orlando previously filed a construction permit for interior renovations at Thunder Falls Terrace. The permit passed review, and has an expiration date of October 26, 2026. While the expiration could always be extended, this would seem to suggest that we’re looking at the new table service restaurant in Jurassic Park debuting in early 2027.

Thunder Falls Terrace had its fans, but I’m honestly excited about this project and think it could be a net positive. The interior of this restaurant is pretty well done, and feels like something out of the real Jurassic Park. If a bit of effort is made and money is spent “plussing” it, I could see this being a top-tier table service restaurant in a really cool setting!

Need trip planning tips and comprehensive advice for your visit to Central Florida? Make sure to read our Universal Orlando Planning Guide for everything about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Also check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for everything about those parks, resorts, restaurants, and so much more.

Your Thoughts

Have you see The Untrainable Dragon? Did you prefer that or Le Cirque Arcanus? Do you agree or disagree that it’s a 9/10 production? Optimistic that Epic Universe will find its footing and operate at full capacity well before the end of 2026? Agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!