Universal Orlando guests have a lot to look forward to this winter, with three long-absent experiences — one ride, one restaurant, and one iconic show — all scheduled to return before the new year.
The first and most concrete comeback belongs to Jurassic Park River Adventure at Islands of Adventure. The beloved water ride closed on January 5 for a lengthy refurbishment and has now been given a firm reopening date of November 20, meaning visitors arriving for Thanksgiving week or the holiday season will once again be able to board the attraction's boats, navigate close calls with dinosaurs, and plunge down that massive final drop.
Over at Universal Studios Florida, Finnegan's Bar & Grill is also slated to reopen, though without a specific date attached. The Irish-American restaurant, situated across from Revenge of the Mummy, has long served as a table-service refuge for guests looking to cool down and sit for a proper meal. Universal lists its return simply as winter 2026. Joining it on the comeback trail is the Horror Make-Up Show, a production that dates back to Universal Studios Florida's opening day. Rather than reviving the original version — which gave its final performance on May 12 — Universal is reimagining the show entirely before bringing it back, also sometime in winter 2026.
Looking further ahead, Universal has confirmed that a Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster is coming to Universal Studios Florida in 2027, following the September 2026 opening of the Hollywood version. A specific debut month hasn't been announced, so for now guests are watching construction progress and waiting on an official window.
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Information for this article came from Disney Fanatic.
