Universal’s Epic Universe was supposed to be, well, epic—and in many ways, it still is.
As Universal Orlando’s long-awaited fourth theme park, Epic Universe opened in May 2025 to massive crowds and sky-high expectations. With immersive lands based on How to Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, Universal Classic Monsters, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, the park made a promise to redefine the theme park experience.
Guests have been raving about everything from the Dragon Racer’s Rally in Berk to finally stepping into Princess Peach’s Castle. Universal packed the park with cutting-edge attractions, stunning scenery, and some of the best theming they’ve ever done, but that doesn’t mean that everything has gone perfectly. This park was designed to rival anything Disney had to offer, including a hotel on-site and a brand-new transportation hub.
But just a few months in, things aren’t going exactly as planned.
Something’s Already Falling Apart?
A new video has started making the rounds online—and it’s raising more than a few eyebrows. Shot by a guest during a recent visit, the video shows large sections of concrete walkways inside Epic Universe already showing wear and tear. And we’re not talking about a few small cracks here and there. These are chunks of pavement that are crumbling, uneven, and roped off with barriers.
That’s right—barriers. In a brand-new theme park that opened this summer, Universal is already having to block off areas due to structural issues. The footage, which appears to come from a path near Celestial Park, shows not only visible damage but active maintenance trying to keep guests away from the affected areas.
For a park that is barely out of its grand opening phase, this is a surprising development. Theme parks do go through growing pains, but structural damage this early on is not what anyone expected.
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What Went Wrong?
So far, Universal hasn’t made an official statement about the cause of the problem. Theories are flying, of course. Some guests think the area was rushed during the final construction crunch to meet the park’s opening deadline. Others wonder if Florida’s intense summer weather—complete with heavy rain, humidity, and scorching temperatures—played a role in weakening the concrete more quickly than expected.
There’s also speculation that the massive daily foot traffic might have accelerated the problem. Epic Universe has been drawing relatively huge crowds since day one, and the paths in question are located in high-traffic areas. Of course, it still should be noted that most insiders believe Universal has not operated the park at 100% capacity yet.
Still, it’s hard to shake the thought: shouldn’t a brand-new $17 billion theme park be built to withstand this?
Fans React To Epic Universe Damage
Most guests who’ve seen the video seem more baffled than angry. There’s a sense of disbelief that such a major new attraction is already showing physical damage. Some fans on social media are calling it “embarrassing” for Universal, especially since the park is supposed to represent the future of themed entertainment.
Others are giving the resort the benefit of the doubt. One user wrote, “Stuff like this happens. If they fix it fast, no big deal. The rest of the park is still jaw-dropping.” Another chimed in with, “I’ll take some cracked concrete over Disney raising prices again any day.”
In other words, while the news is concerning, it doesn’t look like it’s stopping fans from booking trips. At least not yet.
What this incident does highlight is how tricky it is to open a theme park at this scale. Epic Universe is massive, intricate, and packed with next-generation experiences. Maintaining a park of this size is a full-time job—and with so many moving parts, something is bound to go wrong now and then.
The question now is whether this will be a one-off hiccup or the first sign of larger maintenance concerns. Universal has a solid track record with their other parks, so hopefully they get this patched up quickly and thoroughly.
But if more areas start closing or more damage starts appearing? Then Epic Universe could have a much bigger problem on its hands.
For now, it’s just a roped-off sidewalk. But when a new park is supposed to feel flawless, even the small cracks tend to get noticed.
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