It's Official: The Lost Continent Is Coming Down at Islands of Adventure — And What Replaces It Could Be Enormous

One of Islands of Adventure's original opening-day lands is officially on its way out. Universal Orlando has confirmed — through newly filed demolition and construction permits — that The Lost Continent is being dismantled, with work underway to remove the remaining structures that once housed two of the park's most beloved experiences. What rises in their place could be one of the most exciting additions to Universal's Orlando resort in years.

What's Being Torn Down

Universal's Islands of Adventure. Photo by Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The permits specifically detail removal of the buildings that housed Poseidon's Fury and The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad — two experiences that were central to The Lost Continent's identity as Islands of Adventure opened its gates on May 28, 1999.

Sindbad closed back in 2018 and never reopened. Poseidon's Fury, the walk-through special effects show where guests witnessed an epic battle between Poseidon and the dark wizard Lord Darkkenon, held on until May 2023 before finally closing for good. Both buildings have sat largely dormant for years as speculation about the land's future grew louder.

Importantly, the permits do not include the Mythos Restaurant — the fan-favorite dining establishment that has long been considered one of the best theme park restaurants in the world. Mythos is expected to remain open and continue operating through and beyond the construction period, which is welcome news for anyone who's made a reservation there.

The Intamin Ride Permit

The demolition news is only half the story. In late 2025, Universal filed a Notice of Commencement listing Intamin Ltd. as the contractor for a new attraction in the former Lost Continent area — and that's a name that carries serious weight in the theme park world.

Intamin is the Swiss engineering firm behind two of Islands of Adventure's greatest modern achievements: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (consistently ranked the best theme park ride in the world) and VelociCoaster (one of the best steel coasters anywhere). The permit describes the work involving "specialty equipment" — industry shorthand for a new ride system installation.

Whatever Universal is building here, it has serious engineering pedigree behind it.

The Rumored Replacements: Zelda, Pokémon, or Something Else?

Universal hasn't announced what's coming, but the rumor mill has been churning for years — and two names consistently rise to the top.

The Legend of Zelda

The most persistent and widely reported rumor points to a Legend of Zelda themed land. The fit feels almost too perfect: The Lost Continent's existing aesthetic of ancient ruins, mythological architecture, and fantasy landscapes is tailor-made for Hyrule. Link, Zelda, Ganon, and the expansive world Nintendo has built over four decades of games would translate beautifully into a theme park environment — and after the blockbuster success of the Super Nintendo World lands at Epic Universe and Universal Studios Japan, the appetite for Nintendo IP at Universal parks is clearly enormous.

Nintendo and Universal's relationship, cemented through their Epic Universe partnership, makes a Zelda expansion at Islands of Adventure feel less like speculation and more like an inevitability.

Pokémon

The other major contender is Pokémon, which has appeared in multiple credible rumor reports. A Pokémon land at Islands of Adventure would tap into one of the most valuable entertainment franchises in human history — the Pokémon brand has generated more revenue than Star Wars — and its broad multigenerational appeal would make it one of the most visited areas of any theme park on Earth.

A Land Worth Remembering

Before we get too far into what's coming, it's worth taking a moment to appreciate what's going. The Lost Continent opened with Islands of Adventure in 1999 as a genuinely original creation — a land of ancient myths and legends with no franchise IP anchor, built purely on atmosphere, theming, and Universal Creative's imagination. Poseidon's Fury was a theatrical achievement; Sindbad's stunt show was a crowd-pleasing spectacle; and Mythos Restaurant remains a benchmark for what theme park dining can be.

The land lived a long and full life. It's been largely dormant for years now, and the bones that remain deserve a fresh purpose. Whatever Universal has planned, the combination of Intamin's engineering talent and Universal Creative's recent track record — Hagrid's, VelociCoaster, Epic Universe — suggests the replacement will be something genuinely special.

Timeline

Demolition is underway now, with heavy construction and foundation work expected throughout 2026. Given the scale of what's being built, a 2027 or 2028 opening for the new land seems most realistic, though Universal has not confirmed any timeline or, for that matter, any details about the project at all.

We'll be watching the permit filings and aerial photography closely. The Lost Continent may be ending — but its replacement looks set to be one of the most talked-about theme park additions of the decade.

Universal Orlando has not made any official announcement regarding the replacement for The Lost Continent. Franchise rumors remain unconfirmed. Mythos Restaurant remains open during construction.