This is the barest minimum of “our vacation is ruined!” if we don’t do it 
Everything else is a “nice to do” but it’s not like I’m going to cry if we don’t get to it.
USF
Gringott’s
HRRR (RIP)
Mummy
Hogwart’s Express
IOA
Hagrid’s
Forbidden Journey
VelociCoaster
Hulk
EU
Ministry
Werewolf
Stardust
This is very doable, you’ll crush IOA with Express in like two hours. USF probably an hour just because of the walk! Epic is still up in the air with Ministry.
Ministry of Magic is not listed as open for early entry
Oh that’s awful. I hope that would change by Dec but if not I suppose we’ll get to ride it the once on the VIP Tour. I went back and looked at what we did in our 7 hour USF/IOA VIP Tour and it was 13 attractions with 1 being a show so my guess is we’ll be able to fit in 7 attractions in 4 hours. I would assume they’d do the three non-express rides. I would assume they wouldn’t do a show when people still get express after the tour and those take up so much time so you might even be able to get in one more for 8? Going with fitting in 7 rides and if I’m right about which ones here’s my plan for Day 1:
Epic Universe
9am check-in with 9:30AM start time for 4-hour VIP Tour that comes with Express 1 time ride pass after tour ends.
Book when Possible:
2PM Lunch at The Blue Dragon Pan Asian Restaurant
My thinking is VIP Tour will include:
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry of Magic
Mine Cart Madness
Dragon Racer’s Rally
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Mark Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Stardust Racers
If so, after lunch do:
Check out the Viking Training Camp
Ride Fyre Drill with Express
See The Untrainable Dragon with Express around the previous attractions based on show time.
Ride Yoshi’s Adventure with Express
Play Nintendo band games for about an hour
Ride Curse of the Werewolf with Express
Ride Starfall Racers (otherside) with Express
Ride Hiccups Wing Gliders with Express
Ride Mine Cart Madness
And then if BatMM still isn’t part of Early Entry by Dec, we’ll do wands when it’s less crowded.
Day 2: Epic Universe Day with Express Pass
8AM early entry Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic
9am breakfast at Cafe L’air De La Sirene (try to book in late May/early June)
Do wands for an hour
See Le Cirque Arcanus around showtimes with Express
Re-ride Starfall Racers with Express pass
Ride Hiccups Wing Gliders with Express
Ride Fire Drill with Express
Book, when possible, lunch at Atlantic at 130pm
Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge with Express
Ride Yoshi’s Adventure with Express
Nintendo Wristbands if you didn’t finish yesterday for another hour
Ride Constellation Carrousel with Express Pass
Ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment with Express
Ride Curse of the Werewolf with Express
630pm mobile order dinner at Das Steakhouse
Any remaining wand effects
Can jump in line for BatMM if it’s open right before close
*I’m totally okay with not doing multiple rides on Yoshi, did it in Japan and it’s meh for me. So we may skip if even with Express if we’re waiting more than 20 minutes average.
And if they don’t even let you in HP portal for early entry maybe another mine cart madness but I feel like with those at the front of the park it’s not worth it coming from Helios cuz we’ll be at the back of the pack so we just wait for HP land to open
Good news!! After a multi-year shut down the outdoor section of the Kong - Skull Island is back up & running! I saw video of a full tram goong through it yesterday!
I still miss the 3-D element, but at least this is finally back!
That’s great 
I miss the 3D too. At least having the outdoor part will compensate for that.
Now just to get the 3D back on Minions… 
I agree! It’s so boring without it!
I don’t think it’s boring, but it’s definitely not as fun as it used to be.
In a press release from Universal Orlando Resort on Tuesday, April 29, the company announced that Universal Volcano Bay will close for seasonal maintenance from Oct. 26, 2026, to March 24, 2027, ensuring sufficient time for improvements across the water park’s attractions.
Starting Oct. 1, 2025, TapuTapu wearables and virtual queues will be discontinued, allowing guests to enter attraction queues at their convenience.
Do people think this is good or bad? I imagine lines will be longer at some of the slides? We’re highly considering going to Volcano Bay in April 2026.
Oh no!!
I love the Tapu system!
My initial reaction is bad.
But I hope I’m wrong 
We were planning to go in October. This doesn’t necessarily change our decision whether to go, but it will cause some rethinking about how to navigate the park.
I do, too. But that said, it could be nice in some ways to have more flexibility.
If a 100% VQ system can work, it’s at a water park, since the wave pool and lazy rivers are attractions unto themselves. You can “wait” at the lazy river while your return time approaches.
I wonder why they decided to do away with it? Too confusing? Too many complaints? Or just too expensive to maintain?
Me too 
I’m hoping the reason is because they think it’s no longer necessary since the lines don’t get too long. 
When I have been, there have always been lines even after reporting for the VQ. Maybe they think lines will still be about the same length, you just won’t have to do the additional waiting before entering the queue.
Is this one long closure for five months? Is so it is massive downgrade to the uor experience.
I agree but I guess if you’re going to close it, those dates aren’t too bad since you can’t rely on having a warm day in the winter months anyway.
So couple of thoughts, I didn’t like the bands, they took forever to get in the morning, then one came off on our very first slide and they wouldn’t let that person in our family ride anything without it or let us search for it at the pool (OhNo, the slide, not the band falling off LOL) and it ate up like another huge chunk of time having to walk to customer service and get in line and get another one. So I’m not too upset tbh but I also buy express so I wonder how that will work without the band?
That is a very long closure and there are plenty of very hot days in Oct/Nov and March for water parks. Only really Dec - Feb have 30-50 degree days consistently.