Universal Orlando is Closing 5 Attractions: Why You Should Skip the Split Trip

Published June 30, 2026

If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation, there’s always that lingering question: Should we take a day to visit Universal Orlando?

Usually, the answer comes down to whether your family prefers thrill coasters or pixie dust. But if you’re visiting this July, there’s a new math to consider. Universal is in the middle of a massive overhaul of its Jurassic Park area at Islands of Adventure, and five attractions are shutting down right as the peak summer crowds arrive.

Here is my read on what this means for your Orlando game plan, and why it might be the perfect excuse to stay inside the Disney bubble.

The Universal Closures

Universal is closing five attractions in the Jurassic Park section for a large-scale refurbishment. While the exact return date is up in the air, summer is generally the time you desperately need every ride running to absorb the heavy crowds. When an entire section of a park goes down, wait times at all the other headliners naturally spike to compensate.

If you have a crew of massive dinosaur fans—or if you just hate paying peak summer ticket prices to walk through a construction zone—the move is to skip Islands of Adventure for now.

Is It Time to Skip the Split Trip?

If you were on the fence about leaving Walt Disney World for a day, this is your sign to stay put.

Navigating between the resorts has already gotten more expensive and complicated. Since Disney ended its free Magical Express airport service in 2022, you’re already paying out of pocket for an Uber, Lyft, or private shuttle from Orlando International Airport (MCO). (Speaking of MCO, if you haven’t flown into Orlando recently, try to route through the newer Terminal C—it’s a massive upgrade for getting in and out of the city). Adding another set of round-trip rideshares to drag your family to Universal just adds friction and cost to your trip.

What to Do With That Extra Disney Day

If you redirect your Universal budget back to Disney World, you have some great options for filling that time without feeling like you’re just repeating rides.

Eat Like a Pro at EPCOT Instead of fighting summer crowds at Universal, dedicate a full day to EPCOT’s dining scene. If you head to the American Adventure pavilion, the Regal Eagle Smokehouse is a fantastic quick-service spot for hearty barbecue. Just one insider warning: The birds here are notoriously bold and will try to steal your food right off your tray if you eat outside. Guard your fries closely.

Chase the Thrills (Carefully) If you’re missing out on Universal’s intense coasters, you can still get your adrenaline fix on rides like Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT’s Test Track. But a quick heads-up: climbing in and out of the low-to-the-ground ride vehicles on both of these attractions can be incredibly awkward. If you’re wearing a skirt or a tight outfit, getting out of a Space Mountain rocket gracefully is nearly impossible. Plan your park wardrobe accordingly to avoid any embarrassing malfunctions.

The Bottom Line

When you’re paying premium prices for a theme park ticket, you want the full experience. With Universal taking a huge chunk of Jurassic Park offline during the busiest time of the year, your money and time are better spent optimizing your Disney World itinerary.

Use SupaPark to monitor Lightning Lane availability and let our live alerts find you when wait times crater. You can easily turn that “lost” Universal day into the smartest Disney day of your trip.

Go deeper — the full guides: Will Your Kid Hate Soarin’? How to Decide (And Where to Sit) · Why DINOSAUR Is Disney’s Most Intense Ride for Kids (And How to Know if They’re Ready) · Animal Kingdom Deep Dive: Conquering Pandora, Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris & Smart Touring

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.