Universal Orlando Resort announced a series of significant changes coming to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure in 2026 and 2027, including the permanent closure of Lost Continent and the beloved Mythos Restaurant to make way for a new themed area, a reimagined Horror Make-Up Show, an entirely new dining concept replacing Thunder Falls Terrace, and a new CityWalk restaurant from a familiar pop culture name.
Lost Continent and Mythos Restaurant Will Permanently Close
The biggest news in this announcement for longtime Universal fans is the fate of Lost Continent at Universal Islands of Adventure. Universal confirmed that venues and experiences within Lost Continent will permanently close in phases over the coming months to make way for a new themed area. Mythos Restaurant, which has long been considered one of the best theme park restaurants in the country and has won numerous fan-voted awards, will close in 2027 as part of that process.
Universal has not yet revealed what the new themed area will be, promising additional details in the months ahead. Given the scale of the change and the permanent nature of the closures, this is a major land replacement on par with the transformation that brought The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the resort years ago.
Horror Make-Up Show Gets a Reimagined Version This Year
The Horror Make-Up Show at Universal Studios Florida will undergo a temporary closure beginning May 12, 2026. The updated show, opening later this year, will feature a mix of classic and modern horror properties along with new surprises while keeping the comedic tone that has defined the show for decades. This one is coming back, just with a fresh coat of horror.
Thunder Falls Terrace Becomes a New Signature Restaurant in 2027
Thunder Falls Terrace at Universal Islands of Adventure will close this summer and transform into an all-new dining concept. Universal is positioning the rethemed location as the new signature full-service restaurant for Islands of Adventure, with a debut planned for 2027. Thunder Falls has been a casual counter-service staple near Jurassic World, so the upgrade to a full-service concept is a meaningful step up for dining in that park.
Joey Fatone Is Opening a Hot Dog Restaurant at CityWalk
On a lighter note, Fat One’s Hot Dogs and Italian Ice is coming to Universal CityWalk. The restaurant is founded by NSYNC member Joey Fatone and his manager Joe Mulvihill and will feature creative hot dogs, Italian ices, and more. It will replace Hot Dog Hall of Fame, which closes in July to make way for the new venue. This is genuinely fun casting for a CityWalk spot.
What Else Is Already Coming to Universal Orlando
Today’s announcement joins previously confirmed additions including Five Guys and Luke Combs’ Category 10 coming to CityWalk, and the all-new Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift high-speed roller coaster joining Universal Studios Florida in 2027. Universal has been moving at a pace unlike anything the resort has seen in years, and this latest round of changes makes clear that the transformation is still in full swing.
Our Take: The Mythos closure is going to sting for a lot of Universal fans. It has been one of the most celebrated theme park restaurants in the world and losing it permanently is a real sacrifice. That said, what replaced the Dueling Dragons and Sindbad’s Stunt Spectacular was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and what replaced Kongfrontation and Jaws was the resort that Universal is today. The question of what replaces Lost Continent is now the most interesting open question at Universal Orlando. We will be watching closely. What will replace Lost Continent? We hope for a new Pokémon-themed land!
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