Universal Orlando Construction Update Mid April 2026: City Walk Changes, Hollywood Drift Progress & Park wide Refurbishments
It’s a busy season of change across Universal Orlando Resort, with construction, refurbishments, and new experiences continuing to reshape Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk Orlando. From major attraction developments and dining changes to smaller visual updates and seasonal preparations, there’s no shortage of activity throughout the resort. Here’s a closer look at everything happening right now around Universal Orlando, with photos captured on April 10 and April 16.
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Universal Citywalk
BK Whopper Bar
Welcome to Universal CityWalk Orlando, where a few notable changes are currently underway. Universal Orlando Resort recently announced that the Burger King Whopper Bar, located in the upstairs mini food court, will officially close on April 21. Taking its place will be a brand-new Five Guys location.
.This update will not impact neighboring dining spots such as Panda Express or Moe’s Southwest Grill, both of which were refurbished relatively recently. Given that the Whopper Bar space is somewhat isolated from the other venues, we expect a quick turnaround as construction begins and the new concept moves in.
Universal Legacy Store
Elsewhere at CityWalk, the Epic Universe Preview Center has now closed and is expected to revert back to the former Universal Legacy Store. This retail space traditionally highlights classic attractions and memorabilia from Universal’s history, complete with themed photo opportunities. There are also rumors that the location could incorporate a Pop Mart retail concept, which has been expanding with a dedicated store presence in California.
At the moment, little has changed externally during the transition. The exterior signage and displays remain in place, with monitors still looping the original Universal Epic Universe concept videos.
While the preview center offered an exciting early look at the park, its closure may ultimately be a positive move—during our most recent visit, the model itself appeared to be showing signs of wear, including noticeable dust buildup.
Category 10
Nearby, Universal has also revealed that construction will soon begin on the third location of Category 10, part of Luke Combs’ growing entertainment venue franchise. The multi-level venue is projected to open in late 2027 and will span approximately 33,000 square feet across three stories. It will be built along the waterfront, situated between the Lone Palm Airport Bar at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville and the CityWalk amphitheater stage, further expanding the resort’s lineup of nightlife and entertainment offerings..
Miscellaneous
Most of the themed elements for the “Cursed” Coconut Club have now been removed, with only select walls and the balcony still retaining portions of the Mardi Gras overlay. Nearby, the vine-covered trellis surrounding the Cinemark Universal CityWalk theater has also seen elements stripped away. Cherry pickers have been spotted in the area, suggesting that additional work—possibly roof-related—is underway. The theater itself last saw a major interior renovation in 2019 following its transition from AMC Theatres to Cinemark Theatres.
Universal Studios Florida
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Work is progressing at a steady pace on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, with vertical construction now clearly visible. Support structures have begun going up near the maintenance base and load station, marking a significant milestone for the coaster. Based on the placement of these supports and the previously released concept layout, it appears the attraction may feature a dual load-and-unload platform system—an approach that would improve operational efficiency and significantly increase ride capacity.
Closer to the park entrance, tall stakes have been installed at each footer location, likely to ensure visibility as heavy equipment continues work on drainage and utility infrastructure.
Utility Work
Over at the park entrance, as well as in the New York and Hollywood sections, utility work is currently taking place along the middle of several pathways and streets. We expect this work to wrap up soon as preparations continue for the debut of the Universal Mega Movie Parade, which is anticipated to begin rehearsals shortly ahead of its summer and fall run. Ariel photos by BioConstruct
Finnegan’s Bar
Nearby, Finnegan’s Bar & Grill has now gone behind construction walls at its rear entrance, offering a glimpse into the scope of the refurbishment. From visible sightlines, the interior appears to have been fully gutted, and the back entrance itself has been removed as part of the overhaul. The popular Irish pub is currently scheduled to return in late 2026. In the meantime, a temporary bar location has been established behind Lombard’s Seafood Grille, and the seasonal bar in the transformers bar has a monsters throwback theme allowing guests to still enjoy select drinks during the extended closure.
Main Entrance Painting
Additional progress has been made on the main entrance repaint project at Universal Studios Florida. The turnstile area has now received a fresh coat of white and cream tones, giving the entry experience a noticeably brighter and more modern look. The adjacent VIP building, however, still retains its previous color scheme for the time being. Rumors continue to circulate that the iconic entrance arch may also be repainted, and if so, it’s likely that the updated color palette could eventually be extended to nearby soundstages, creating a more cohesive visual identity throughout the park’s front-of-house areas.
Miscellaneous
Throughout the park, a few smaller but notable changes have been observed. In DreamWorks Land, the Donkey meet-and-greet area has received a new shade canopy installation, likely to improve guest comfort in the high Florida heat. Over in the San Francisco section, the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop façade is now behind scaffolding and scrims, indicating ongoing maintenance or refurbishment work.
In the realm of seasonal speculation, Halloween Horror Nights chatter continues to build, with “Boris Shuster” reportedly featuring a mysterious popcorn bag on his investigation board, adding to the ongoing intrigue surrounding this year’s potential reveals.
Finally, the display vehicles located at the exit of Fast & Furious – Supercharged have been removed, most likely to accommodate Grad Bash preparations and event operations taking place within the park.
Islands of Adventure
Lost Continent
Demolition work at the former The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad Theater is now fully enclosed behind construction walls, with progress continuing at a steady pace. While visible work is underway within the site, all surrounding areas remain open and accessible to park guests as normal, Update: Work Walls have been seen around Poseidon’s Fury at this time. Ariel photo by: Bioconstruct
Harry Potter
As refurbishment continues on Hogwarts Castle, some of the protective tarps have now been removed, offering a clearer look at the ongoing work. Several of the castle’s spires can be seen with fresh primer applied, indicating that repainting and restoration efforts are actively progressing.
Jurassic Park
Refurbishment work continues in Jurassic Park, with scaffolding now added to sections of the rockwork as repainting efforts get underway. Inside the gift shop, a playful and unexpected detail has appeared—a set of ketchup, mustard, and mayo pipes installed above a fuse box, seemingly serving as a lighthearted tribute to the former DINOSAUR attraction at Walt Disney World.
For a broader perspective on the ongoing work, we’ve also included aerial photos provided by Bioreconstruct, offering a unique look at the refurbishment progress from above.
Artistic Photos
We’ve also included a selection for photos that highlight a more artistic perspective of the parks—an approach we find both engaging and visually compelling.
As work continues across Universal Orlando Resort, it’s clear the destination is in the midst of another major evolution—balancing exciting new additions with ongoing enhancements to existing experiences. From construction milestones and refreshed spaces to subtle details that hint at what’s next, there’s plenty for fans to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead. Be sure to follow Florida Thrills for continued updates as these projects progress and more changes take shape across Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk Orlando, Be sure to follow us on Twitter for live updates at the parks.