A lot is happening across Universal Orlando as major projects continue to reshape several areas of the destination. During our latest visit, we spotted work on a new dining and entertainment venue at Universal CityWalk. Over at Universal Studios Florida, significant progress has been made on the new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster, with crews installing numerous new supports and track sections since our last update. We also noticed Halloween Horror Nights preparations around the park ahead of this year’s event.
Meanwhile, demolition continues in The Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure, where many of the land’s former attractions, restaurants, and shops have now been torn down. We also noticed other updates around the resort. Let’s take a look at everything new we found.
- Cinemark Theatres Now Advertising Minions & Monsters
- Work Begins on New CityWalk Venue
- Major Demolition Progress Made in The Lost Continent
- Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Reaches New Construction Milestones
- Work Area Expands at Finnegan’s During Renovation
- Early Halloween Horror Nights Preparations Underway
- New Theming Installed for Jaws Summer Event
- Central Park Crêpes Updates Menu
- Trojan Horse Installed for The Odyssey Film Promotion
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Cinemark Theatre Now Advertising Minions & Monsters
The Universal Cinemark theater in CityWalk is now promoting Illumination’s upcoming Minions & Monsters movie, arriving in theaters on July 1, with advertising displayed around the theater’s outdoor rotunda.
Work Begins on New CityWalk Venue
During our previous photo update on June 7, we documented survey markings that had appeared on the ground, along with the removal of trees between the Lone Palm Airport bar and the Cinnabon kiosk in CityWalk. Just one day later, construction walls were installed at the site. Since then, the project has continued to move forward, with the Dockside Bar removed from the area within the past few days, and construction walls have been expanded to encompass the entire footprint of the future development.
The waterfront site will become the future home of Category 10, a dining and entertainment venue from country music star Luke Combs. The Orlando location will be the third Category 10 and is currently scheduled to open in late 2027. Plans call for a three-story, approximately 33,000-square-foot venue featuring a bar, dining, and live music.
Major Demolition Progress Made in The Lost Continent
At Islands of Adventure, demolition continues to rapidly transform The Lost Continent. The former Eighth Voyage of Sindbad stunt show has been completely demolished, including the archway that once served as the entrance to the auditorium. Nearby, Doc Sugrue’s Kebab House and the All Hallows Eve Boutique have also been fully removed. With those structures gone, much of the section of The Lost Continent closest to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has effectively disappeared.
Over at the former Poseidon’s Fury attraction, the show building remains standing for now. However, the trident that towered over the attraction’s entrance was removed last week, marking another major milestone in the area’s transformation. With exterior elements coming down, demolition activity on the attraction’s show building should happen soon.
With so many structures already demolished, the skyline across the lagoon has changed dramatically and now appears noticeably emptier than it did just a few weeks ago. Mythos Restaurant and a handful of other businesses remain standing and continue to operate. Universal is permanently closing The Lost Continent in phases to make way for a new, unannounced themed land, with Mythos currently scheduled to remain open until 2027.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Reaches New Construction Milestones
Since our last photo update, construction on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Florida has advanced considerably, with a large number of new supports and track sections installed throughout the project site. Near the Hard Rock Cafe, crews recently erected several tall support columns along with additional support structures. Track has been added to the coaster’s 170-foot vertical spike, though the last piece has not yet been installed. Additional track sections for a sweeping turn, brake run, and other portions of the layout have also been added in this area.
New supports and track pieces have also appeared near the Music Plaza. This marks a significant milestone for the project, as much of the coaster construction to date has been concentrated at the two ends of the layout rather than in the middle section. The latest additions begin to connect areas of the ride that had previously seen no track installation.
Here’s a look at the latest progress on the opposite end of the coaster in the New York section of the park. The structure under construction directly behind the firehouse facade will serve as the attraction’s station. We also noticed what appears to be work on the opening in the firehouse facade that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit once raced through. It’s possible crews are restoring the facade to close the hole, better matching its original look when it served as the entrance to Ghostbusters Spooktacular. When construction walls were first set up at the site last year, signage indicated the firehouse was being restored, suggesting that it may not have been just thematic wording, but something that is actually being carried out.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is set to open in 2027.
Work Area Expands at Finnegan’s During Renovation
More construction walls were installed last week around Finnegan’s Bar & Grill at Universal Studios Florida, further enclosing the restaurant and extending nearly up to the Transformers attraction, while also blocking off a large portion of the street near the Blues Brothers stage. Recently, an image of their Bluesmobile was added to the construction wall.
In addition, scaffolding and scrim were installed last week along part of the restaurant’s facade. Finnegan’s closed in January for renovations and is currently scheduled to reopen in winter 2026.
Early Halloween Horror Nights Preparations Underway
Noticeable Halloween Horror Nights preparation work is underway at Universal Studios Florida, with lighting and trusses set up throughout the park, including in the New York and Hollywood areas, among others.
Props are also being installed in Diagon Alley, signaling the return of the Death Eaters, who traditionally roam the land during the event.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights officially begins on August 28, with Premium Scream Night taking place the night before on August 27. You can use our free Halloween Horror Nights planning guide for full event details, tips, a touring plan, and other resources to help you make the most of your visit.
New Theming Installed for Jaws Summer Event
As part of Universal’s limited-time summer offerings, the San Francisco area is decorated with Jaws-themed props and signage added in May. A new prop has recently been placed near the shark photo op of Quint’s fishing chair.
Central Park Crêpes Updates Menu
Central Park Crêpes has added three offerings to its menu: Street Corn & Carnitas, Impossible, and Key Lime Pie.
Trojan Horse Installed for The Odyssey Film Promotion
Universal was setting up a Trojan Horse display near Central Park Crêpes to promote the upcoming Christopher Nolan film The Odyssey, which arrives in theaters on July 17.
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