ORLANDO — Universal Orlando Resort has announced a series of operational changes and exciting developments for travel advisors and their clients to be aware of.

Seasonal Closure for Volcano Bay and End of TapuTapu System

Universal Volcano Bay will temporarily close for seasonal maintenance beginning Oct. 26, 2026, with a scheduled reopening on or before March 24, 2027. This closure will allow for annual upkeep across several attractions and areas of the park. Guests who have already purchased tickets for this period are encouraged to contact Guest Services at any Universal Orlando theme park or by calling (407) 224-4233 for assistance.

In addition, starting Oct. 1, 2025, the TapuTapu wearable and virtual queue system will be retired. Moving forward, guests will be able to access attraction queues at their leisure, eliminating the need for virtual wait times.

Epic Universe Previews Now Available to the General Public 

Universal Orlando has also expanded access to previews of its highly anticipated new theme park, Universal Epic Universe, ahead of its grand opening on May 22, 2025.

As of April 29, 2025, the general public can purchase tickets to visit and preview Epic Universe through May 19, 2025.

During this preview period, availability of experiences within Epic Universe may vary as Universal puts the final touches on the park ahead of its grand opening.

Epic Universe is being touted as Universal’s most ambitious park to date, offering an immersive experience across five unique worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Guests can look forward to a collection of state-of-the-art attractions, themed dining and retail experiences, and live entertainment.

For more information go to www.VAXVacationAccess.com.