New Year, New Trips, and Big Changes at Universal Orlando.

Hey friends, I owe you a little apology.

It’s been a few weeks since my last post, and I just wanted to pop in and say I’m sorry for the unexpected quiet around here. The end of the year got busy, I took a little time to reset, and truthfully, I haven’t been to the parks since before the holidays. Sometimes life just needs a pause button.

But the break is officially over.

I’m heading back to Universal in a few weeks for my first trip of 2026, and I am so excited. There is nothing like that first park day of the year. Fresh calendar, new plans, and way too many snacks. I also have a lot of posts planned for this year, from trip recaps and tips to hot takes and deep dives, so please stay tuned. There’s a lot coming and I can’t wait to share it all with you.

Since we’ve been a little quiet, let’s talk about what we’ve already missed.

Universal wasted absolutely no time kicking off the year with a massive announcement. They officially confirmed that they are breaking ground on the Fast and Furious Hollywood Drift Coaster. Yes, the one a lot of us have been speculating about. I definitely said “called it” when I saw the news.

The project is slated to open in 2027… which of course means we should realistically expect to ride it sometime in 2028 if Universal stays true to their very consistent tradition of delays. I say that with love.

Along with that announcement came even better news in my opinion. They will also be closing down the absolute eyesore of a ride that is Fast and Furious Supercharged. I truly could not be more excited about this. Between this closure and the new coaster plans, it finally feels like Universal is making room for some very overdue new attractions. New rides, new energy, and hopefully a much needed refresh for that area of the park.

And that’s not all that’s been happening.

Mardi Gras kicks off February 7th, and I am ridiculously excited about it. It is honestly one of my favorite times of year to visit Universal. I love the parade, I love catching beads, and of course I love the food. Mardi Gras at Universal doubles as an international food festival, and it is absolutely amazing. You can try food from all over the world just by walking through the parks.

Pro tip: if you’re a UOAP, you qualify for the Mardi Gras food and beverage gift card, and you should 100% buy it. You can spend $65 and get $75, or spend $120 and get $150 loaded onto the card. Aka, free money. You will have more than enough to try all your favorite booths, and this year they have quite a few great looking options. It does look like they didn’t bring back the Colombian burger that was my favorite last year, which I am choosing to be dramatic about… but it’s fine. I will survive.

On the refurbishment front, Jurassic Park River Adventure is officially closed for a long needed refurb. This has a lot of fans wondering if they may finally update it to a Jurassic World theme and modernize the ride. I’ve already heard more negative buzz than positive, with a lot of people saying they prefer the nostalgia of the original. I have thoughts, and we’ll definitely be talking about this more.

Finnegan’s has also closed for refurbishment, which surprised a lot of people since it’s such a fan favorite.

So yeah… a lot has happened in just a few weeks.

New coasters announced. Old rides closing. Mardi Gras starting. Major refurbs underway. And I haven’t even stepped foot in the parks yet.

Here’s to 2026, to new trips, and to everything Universal has coming. Thanks for sticking around during the little break. I’m so excited to be back and I can’t wait to share what’s next.

See you real soon ✨