Common Orlando has introduced an roughly 11-month refurbishment of Jurassic Park River Journey in Islands of Journey that’ll shut the attraction for many of 2026. This covers dates and particulars, plus rumors & hypothesis about why the favored water trip may have such a prolonged closure subsequent yr.
That is yet one more challenge Common Orlando has introduced for 2026, reinforcing its aggressive plans for its theme parks. We already know that Rip Journey Rockit is being changed, and Common has wasted no time getting began on demolition of that. There are rumors that Springfield is subsequent on the chopping block, to get replaced by a Pokémon-themed space. There’s most likely extra to come back at Common Studios Florida in 2026.
Extra seems poised to occur at Islands of Journey, as nicely. Simply final week, Common Orlando filed development permits to demolish a 5-acre portion of the Misplaced Continent island in that park, confirming that the realm is slated for substitute as rumors swirl about Zelda, Depraved, and different future prospects for that land. This now provides one other challenge in that basic space of the park.
For reference, right here’s a present take a look at the complete refurbishment calendar for 2025-2026 at Common Orlando:
Common Islands of Journey
- Dudley Do-Proper’s RipSaw Falls: October 6 – 31, 2025
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: November 10 – 20, 2025
- Hogwarts Categorical: September 15 – 19, 2025
- Jurassic Park River Journey: January 5, 2026 – November 19, 2026
Common Studios Florida
- Hogwarts Categorical: September 15 – 19, 2025
Our Commentary
In all probability, there’s going to be much more added to those Common Orlando closure calendars for 2026 within the subsequent month or two. I say this with zero inside info, nevertheless it’s however a secure prediction for a few causes.
First, that is the time of yr when scheduling often occurs for the next yr’s main closures. It stands to purpose that at the very least a couple of trip refurbishments of various scopes, scales and durations will quickly hit the calendar.
Second, Common Orlando virtually definitely has some deferred upkeep points.
I’ve already reported on My Glorious Expertise at Epic Universe, notching 20+ points of interest in in the future, final month. Within the two full days earlier than that, I area examined technique and rode extra points of interest than I had shortly at Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. A number of have been in tough form.
It could not be in the least shocking if Common Orlando selected to defer upkeep within the lead-up to Epic Universe, given the pre-launch prices that have been being incurred there. We noticed Walt Disney World do the very same factor post-COVID, and so they’re nonetheless taking part in catch-up.
Clearly, the circumstances between launching a brand-new theme park and reopening to decrease attendance are very completely different, however the underlying motivations are comparable.
Decreasing prices so the quarterly financials don’t look much more brutal. And we all know this sort of factor was occurring to a point, as Comcast’s quarterly earnings calls repeatedly talked about the adverse impression of one-time prices related to Epic Universe pre-opening and mitigation measures.
Level being, it’s most likely secure to say that Common Orlando goes to make up for misplaced time with a disproportionate variety of trip refurbishments in 2026 and 2027 now that Epic Universe is open and producing income, and assets might be diverted again to the unique parks.
As for the Jurassic Park River Journey refurbishment, it is rather clearly in want of main TLC.
Among the many points of interest I skilled late final month, that is most likely the perfect trip that’s within the worst form. (Which means there are far worse rides, however there’s no fixing a few of them–their roughness is baked in.) Among the dinosaurs appeared like they could be exhibiting indicators of going extinct quickly; the entire trip simply appeared tough.
The large query is whether or not Jurassic Park River Journey might be reimagined into Jurassic World River Journey. It’s price noting that out at Common Studios Hollywood, this conversion occurred in roughly the identical timeframe. So it’s at the very least believable.
It’s cheap to count on Common Orlando so as to add some thrilling “new magic” (to borrow Disney’s phrase for the year-long Massive Thunder refurbishment) simply to present the Jurassic Park River Journey refurbishment some marketable pizzazz.
That most likely will occur; it simply appears much less more likely to me that they’ll go the Jurassic World route in 2026 than they’d’ve a pair years in the past. Possibly that’s simply wishful pondering on my half as a fan of old skool Jurassic Park, nevertheless it simply appears type of foolish to totally reimagine Jurassic Park River Journey to Jurassic World.
The older franchise from the Nineties clearly has extra endurance, field workplace receipts for Jurassic World are already falling off, and making the change in 2026 simply feels prefer it’d be chasing a fade that’s already fading.
Jurassic Park River Journey already has been sufficiently tied to the brand new movies, they’re represented within the land by Jurassic World VelociCoaster, and there are a variety of different adjustments that would wish to happen to make this island Jurassic World.
I’m skeptical it’ll occur, particularly at a time when Common is lastly recognizing the worth of its legacy franchises. On the identical time they’re revisiting the longevity and worth of Ghostbusters, Again to the Future, Jaws, ET, and different franchises, they’re going to disregard the newer, Nineties traditional?
However to be fully clear, I haven’t heard something by any means–that is simply my intestine intuition right here. On condition that they’ve already transformed one model of Jurassic Park River Journey to Jurassic World in about the identical timeframe and that the latest and hottest attraction within the land can be based mostly on Jurassic World, maybe this can be a unhealthy guess on my half. I assume we will see!
Finally, don’t be stunned if 2026 is a reasonably quiet yr for the Central Florida theme parks, between Common Orlando making up for misplaced time on trip refurbishments, and Walt Disney World doing one thing comparable with reimaginings, deferred upkeep, and ongoing demolition & development. There’s nonetheless so much that’ll be taking place, however 2027 ought to be the yr when issues begin to get actually thrilling.
If all goes in line with plan and expectations, the subsequent decade-plus ought to see a revival of the theme park wars in Orlando, with each Walt Disney World and Common Orlando visitors being the most important winners of all! We will’t wait to look at this unfold, and sit up for having fun with the trip as each compete for visitor {dollars} and attendance. Within the meantime, we’ll maintain you posted on the Jurassic Park River Journey challenge, together with what, if something, is deliberate past a routine refurbishment.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation to your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for all the things about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for all the things about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.
Your Ideas
Which different Common Orlando points of interest do you assume are overdue for TLC? Agree or disagree with my hypothesis that Jurassic Park River Journey won’t be reimagined to Jurassic World? What do you consider the bold plans for additions at Common Orlando? Anticipate it’ll be full steam forward on enlargement and redevelopment at Epic Universe, Islands of Journey, and Common Studios Florida? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
