What’s New at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure – January 2025!
The new year is here, and that means it’s time to check out what’s new at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure! From exciting construction updates, new merchandise, ride closures, rumors, and more, there’s plenty to explore around the parks. Let’s dive into what we discovered on our latest visit!
CityWalk & Universal Studios Store Expansion
Before even stepping into the park, one of the biggest visual changes is happening right in CityWalk! The Universal Studios Store expansion is making serious progress, with windows, doors, and roofing already going up. It looks like they’re working on waterproofing, so we might see construction walls come down soon, at least for the exterior.
While we wait for that, we also noticed early park admission signage outside of Universal, confirming that Islands of Adventure is currently the park allowing early entry for resort guests and select passholders.
Universal Studios Florida Updates
As we entered Universal Studios Florida, we noticed something rare – a decoration-free entryway! With no events currently running, the entrance is surprisingly bare, but not for long—Rock the Universe, Florida’s largest Christian music festival, is set to take over on January 24-25.
New Bubble Wand Experiences
Inside the Universal Studios Store, we spotted a cool interactive experience for bubble wand users! If you own a reactive bubble wand ($30), you can activate window displays featuring Trolls, Minions, and a dance party setup. These displays seem to be wired together for a nighttime light show, so we definitely need to return after dark to see the full effect.
Annual Passholder & Team Member Garage Sale
A major sale is happening at the Brown Derby Hat Shop, exclusively for annual passholders and team members. Discounts are up to 70% off, including Popeye merchandise (possibly because he just entered the public domain), Loungefly bags, and other Universal items.
Biggest Rumor: Rip Ride Rockit’s Replacement!
The biggest confirmed news is that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is officially closing in September 2025. Universal has not announced what will replace it, but rumors suggest a Ghostbusters-themed Intamin double-launch coaster—similar to VelociCoaster. Since Rip Ride Rockit has been around since 2009, this refresh is long overdue, and we’re excited to see what’s next!
Mardi Gras 2025 Lineup & Tribute Store Updates
The Universal Mardi Gras event runs February 1 – March 30, and the concert lineup is officially stacked. Some of the biggest acts include:
🎤 T-Pain (Feb 1)
🎤 Joe Jonas (Feb 8)
🎤 Kool & The Gang (Feb 16)
🎤 All Time Low (March 15)
🎤 TLC (March 29)
We also noticed the Holiday Tribute Store has officially closed to prepare for the Mardi Gras version, and food booths are already popping up around New York and Battery Park.
Merch Spotlight: Creature from the Black Lagoon Back Scratcher
One of the most unexpected but awesome finds of the day was a Creature from the Black Lagoon back scratcher in Sahara Traders! It’s shaped like Gillman’s arm, and we’re guessing it references a scene where he loses a claw in a fishing net. Either way, it’s an instant must-have for horror fans.
New at Islands of Adventure
Switching parks, Islands of Adventure greeted us with the perfect 2025 mantra—“The Adventure Begins” on the park’s entrance sign. Here’s what we noticed:
•Pteranodon Flyers has started test runs! This previously indefinitely closed ride might be reopening soon.
•The Grinch is still meeting guests, even though all the Seuss Landing holiday decorations are gone.
•Green Eggs & Ham sign disappeared again, though the restaurant remains open.
•Poseidon’s Fury remains closed, with no updates on what will replace it.
We also caught Popeye & Olive Oyl interacting with guests, which sparked an interesting question—is Olive Oyl also in the public domain now, or just Popeye? Something to research!
Passholder Perk: Exclusive Patio & Menu at Confisco’s
From January 6-31, passholders can access Confisco Grille’s private upstairs patio and try exclusive menu items starting at noon each day. If you’re a Universal passholder, this is a unique way to escape the crowds and try new food!
Universal’s Epic Universe Preview Center
With Epic Universe opening in 2025, we stopped by the Preview Center in CityWalk to check for new merchandise and updates.
🟢 Dark Universe pins that glow in the dark!
🟢 How to Train Your Dragon “Be Yourself” shirt
🟢 New Celestial Park pathway maps to help guests navigate the park when it opens.
The Dark Universe ornament also caught our eye—it seems like we’re officially in our “collecting Christmas ornaments” era now.
Final Thoughts & What’s Next
Between huge construction projects, ride rumors, Mardi Gras preparations, and some unique merch finds, there’s a lot happeningat Universal Orlando this January. With Rip Ride Rockit’s closure confirmed, Pteranodon Flyers showing signs of reopening, and Epic Universe getting closer, 2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for Universal!
So what are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments! 🎢✨
#UniversalOrlando #IslandsOfAdventure #MardiGras2025 #EpicUniverse #UniversalUpdates
