MONDAY PARK UPDATE
Hey, it’s Bradley!
If your trip is coming up in the next week or so, you are landing in that sweet window where the holidays are in full swing, but the true Christmas crush has not completely hit yet. Epic Universe is deep into its first holiday season, the classic parks are dressed up, and Universal is quietly testing some pretty important changes in the background.
This week’s update is all about helping you read that fine print: a new digital accessibility system starting technical rehearsals, what is actually closed, what the hours look like, and whether you should expect shoulder-to-shoulder crowds or just “busy but workable” days.
Also, i’ll be in the parks this weekend. Feel free to say hi!
Digital Attractions Assistance Pass enters technical rehearsal
Universal has started technical rehearsals for a new Digital Attractions Assistance Pass (AAP) across the resort. Inside Universal reports that this is a mobile-based version of Universal’s existing accessibility pass, with digital return times and support for eligible guests, and it is currently in a test phase resort-wide.
Why it matters:
If you or someone in your party uses the current Attractions Assistance Pass, the process you are used to could change over the coming months. For now, treat this as an in-testing system: policies, how you register, and how return times are handled may shift as Universal tweaks it.
What I’d do:
When you arrive, go straight to Guest Services at the front of the park and ask what version of the AAP is in use that day. Do not rely on screenshots or blog posts from a few weeks ago because Universal is clearly iterating in real time.
Holiday Merch Drop
Super excited to announce this! I’ve always wanted park gear that feels less like merchandise and more like a souvenir you'd actually pick up inside the stories…like a vintage ad from a Hogsmeade shop window or a flyer for a swamp tavern.
So much merch you find out there on Etsy, or other shops feel a bit bland like “The Johnson’s 12th Annual Uni Trip” type of situation and I wanted some merch that subtly referenced rides or movies.
So, I finally sat down and designed the collection I’ve been waiting to wear myself; grab yours for 20% off with code BF2025!
Holiday dining at Universal’s resorts (Flora Taverna + more)
Universal has published a big slate of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining at the on-site hotels, highlighted in a new roundup from Inside Universal. The headliner is a five-course prix fixe menu and special brunch at Flora Taverna inside Universal Helios Grand Hotel on December 24 and 25, with options like Ora King salmon, beef tenderloin, and holiday desserts, plus similar holiday menus at other resort restaurants.
Why it matters:
If you want one “grown-up” holiday meal in the middle of a theme park trip, these resort restaurants are your best play. Spots like Flora Taverna, Amatista, and others are an easy escape from the noise of CityWalk without feeling like you’ve left the Universal bubble. Availability will tighten quickly as we get closer to Christmas week.
What I’d do:
If your trip covers December 24 or 25, set aside one evening or brunch slot at a resort restaurant now and build a lighter park day around it.
Rip Ride Rockit replacement: more coaster footers appear
Over in Universal Studios Florida, construction on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit replacement continues to pick up speed. New photos this week show more concrete footers and rebar going in across the former coaster footprint, strongly suggesting a new coaster-style attraction, although Universal still has not officially announced what is coming.
Why it matters:
If you are a coaster person, you are still in the awkward gap where Rip Ride Rockit is gone and its replacement is not yet announced. This is a long-term story, but the pace of new footers means this site is very active and likely moving toward vertical construction at some point in 2026.
What I’d do:
Adjust expectations if you remember that skyline shot with Rockit’s lift hill in the background. For now, consider this a future-trip storyline: grab a few construction peek photos from the bridge by Hard Rock Cafe or along the construction walls, then focus on Revenge of the Mummy, VelociCoaster, and Stardust Racers at Epic Universe to scratch the coaster itch.
Crowd levels & park hours snapshot
Park hours this week
Date | Day | Universal Studios Florida | Islands of Adventure | Epic Universe | Volcano Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025-12-10 | Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
2025-12-11 | Thursday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
2025-12-12 | Friday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
2025-12-13 | Saturday | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
2025-12-14 | Sunday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
2025-12-15 | Monday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
2025-12-16 | Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Strategy notes
Aim for rope drop until lunch, then a midday break, then come back for nighttime holiday entertainment.
If you are there on Friday or Saturday and do not want to buy Express, pick one park to focus on rather than trying to clear all three in a single day.
This is a good week to use single rider for things like VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s if your group is okay splitting up on the train.
Ride closures & refurbishments
Here is what is actually down or limited for this week around December 10–16, 2025:
Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure
There are no major posted ride closures in the two dry parks this week.
Volcano Bay
Honu of Honu ika Moana (family raft slide): Closed for refurbishment from November 3 through at least December 18, 2025.
Ika Moana of Honu ika Moana (multi-passenger slide): Closed for refurbishment on the same schedule, through at least December 18, 2025.
That means the iconic dual family raft slides are both offline right now, even on days when Volcano Bay is open.
Upcoming full-day Volcano Bay closures this month
If your trip stretches later into December, note that Volcano Bay is currently scheduled to be completely closed on:
December 18
December 19
December 22
December 23
December 30
How to plan around it
If Volcano Bay is a big part of your trip, I would try to schedule your water park day between December 10 and 16, when the park is open daily and the weather looks friendly, and simply accept that Honu / Ika Moana will be a “next trip” experience.
Shift that lost family-raft energy into Krakatau Aqua Coaster plus the lazy river loop combo.
Recommendation of the week: Flora Taverna (Helios Grand Hotel)
For this week’s “if you only pick one new thing to try” pick, I’m sticking with Flora Taverna at Universal Helios Grand Hotel.
Flora is Universal’s take on a modern, upscale Mediterranean spot. Think bright, coastal energy instead of dark, stuffy steakhouse vibes. The space feels airy and polished, with big “I’m on vacation” windows, warm lighting, and that slightly tucked-away hotel-restaurant calm that you start craving after a couple of loud park days.
On the food side, you’re looking at the kind of menu that respects simple ingredients but makes them feel special: well-cooked seafood, quality cuts of meat, pastas and small plates that are built to be shared, and desserts that actually feel worth saving room for. It is the kind of place where you can order a couple of starters, a main, and a drink and feel like you treated yourself without needing to go full white-tablecloth mode.
What I like most is how it fits into a Universal trip:
It is inside Helios Grand, which means you get that “new park, new hotel” feel as soon as you walk in, without the chaos and noise of CityWalk at night.
It is an easy “reset” move in the middle of a long trip. You can rope drop, nap back at your room, then head over cleaned up and refreshed for a slower, grown-up dinner that still feels very much inside the Universal bubble.
The menu is adventurous enough to feel special, but not so out there that a mixed group of eaters will struggle to find something they like.
If Flora is booked, I’d look at Amatista Cookhouse at Sapphire Falls or The Kitchen at Hard Rock as your backup options. They are more casual but still deliver that “we’re on a real vacation” feeling, which is the whole point of planning one nice meal around your park days.
That’s the pulse for this week. If you’re staring at park maps and second-guessing every decision, you’re not alone. Reply with your dates and rough plan and I’ll help you sort out what’s worth stressing over and what you can ignore.
See you in the next one,
Bradley