What is closing at Universal Studios Hollywood?

Universal Studios Hollywood is closing two long-running shows, Universal's Animal Actors and the Special Effects Show, to make room for ?a future attraction?. Both shows will close on 8 January 2023. The Production Central Store, which can be found between the shows' theatres, will also shut.



As of February 2026, the most significant "closure" at Universal Studios Hollywood is the former site of the Animal Actors and Special Effects Show areas, which were cleared to make room for the massive new construction of the "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift" high-speed roller coaster. This new attraction is currently in its final testing phase and is slated to open later in 2026. Additionally, rumors suggest that portions of the "Production Plaza" area near the front of the park may see rolling closures for refurbishment as the park prepares for the 100th anniversary of the studio's founding. While the Studio Tour remains open, specific "sets" on the backlot are frequently closed for active filming. Visitors should also note that some older retail locations in Universal CityWalk are being phased out to introduce new dining concepts intended to complement the surge in attendance following the success of Super Nintendo World.

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Universal Orlando Operating Hours During the off-season, parks may be open as few as 8 hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.). At busy times (particularly holidays), they may operate 8 a.m.–11 p.m. Volcano Bay is open anywhere from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the off-season to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer.

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Most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic kept the Disney and Universal parks closed for months, though they eventually reopened at reduced capacity in the summer of 2020. However, hurricanes have occasionally forced closures, with the most recent ones taking place in 2019 due to Hurricane Dorian.

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“The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Universal's Islands of Adventure will close for an extended refurbishment for “future show enhancements.” Its last performance, for the time being, will be tonight, May 9.

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, Replacing The Adventures of Curious George which closed on September 6, 2013. The flagship attraction is the flight-simulating ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, similar to the Orlando one.

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Felt like we were definitely in wizarding world. If you want to see all of Harry Potter at Universal, you'll need to buy tickets for both parks (and that's the only way to ride the Hogwarts Express). Makes it very expensive, but we felt it was worth it after having enjoyed it. Absolutely awesome!

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As Universal Studios Florida introduced newer 4D theateresque attractions, they included more movement, so Guests didn't feel as if they were simply sitting in a theater watching a short film. As a result, the reign of Shrek 4D was over, and the attraction closed permanently on January 10, 2022.

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You can now book a room at Hogwarts, the mythical wizarding academy attended by the boy wizard and his pals. Sort of. Since Hogwarts is, well, fictional, you can't really check-in. But, the Georgian House in London has transformed some guest rooms into Wizard's Chambers.

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Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit to close for short refurbishment on August 14, 2023 at Universal Studios Florida | Inside Universal.

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Q: What are the Newest Universal Attractions in 2023? A: The newest rides in Universal Orlando are Villain-Con Minion Blast, Velocicoaster and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

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However, fans can rest assured that the park indeed remains open for all to enjoy, and it's unlikely that it will be closing down anytime soon. This situation is humorous in that it's not the first time this kind of rumor has made waves.

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