Construction Walls Now Surround Poseidon's Fury as the Lost Continent's Final Chapter Begins
If you've wandered through the Lost Continent at Universal's Islands of Adventure over the last few days, you've probably noticed the latest round of construction walls. The set that's been up around the old Sindbad theater since earlier this month has grown — and this time, the walls run directly in front of Poseidon's Fury.
Multiple outlets — Inside Universal and WDW News Today on April 20, Attraction Insight on April 21 — confirmed the expansion. It's the clearest on‑the‑ground signal yet that Poseidon's Fury, which stopped operating in May 2023, is moving from "indefinitely closed" to "site prep for demolition." Universal does not yet hold an approved active‑demolition permit, per Alicia Stella's reporting — so the walls are staging, not wrecking ball.
New construction walls directly in front of Poseidon's Fury. Photo: Orlando ParkStop.
What the Lost Continent Used to Be
When Islands of Adventure opened in May 1999, the Lost Continent was one of its themed "islands" — a moody, stone‑and‑torch corner of the park built around Greek, Arabian, and Arthurian mythology. The original marquee attractions were Poseidon's Fury, a live‑action special‑effects walkthrough; The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad, a live stunt show that ran for nearly two decades; and Dueling Dragons, a pair of inverted Bolliger & Mabillard coasters.
The Merlinwood section — Dueling Dragons' home — got absorbed into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade when that opened in 2010. What remained — a crescent of path running from the Hogsmeade gate toward the lagoon — has been quietly shrinking ever since. The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad closed in 2018. Poseidon's Fury shut in May 2023. The area today is mostly just Mythos Restaurant, a couple of retail stalls, and a lot of nostalgia.
The Lost Continent signage is still up. The land behind it, increasingly, is not. Photo: Orlando ParkStop.
The Demolition Plan
Per permits Alicia Stella at Orlando ParkStop surfaced back in September 2025, the demolition footprint is 4.9 acres. The permit describes a demolition of 4.9 acres of theme‑park site including retail/show/attraction buildings and associated utilities, as well as pedestrian facilities and access roadway — about as terminal as theme‑park permits get.
Where things stand on the ground, moving outward from Sindbad:
- Sindbad theater — walls up earlier this month
- Poseidon's Fury — walls as of this week
- Market stalls & retail — still open, next per the permit phasing
Mythos Restaurant is not in the current permit footprint. Earlier 2025 rumors had it eventually going too, but as of April 2026 reporting, Mythos is staying put.
Universal's own on‑record statement — given to the Orlando Business Journal when the permits first surfaced — remains studiously vague. "In the coming months, there will be construction activity in Lost Continent as part of site planning to ensure the area is ready for any future developments," the company said. No named successor. No announced last day. Just walls.
The Pokémon Elephant in the Room
The Lost Continent is coming down for something. Every outlet that covers this park for a living is pointing at the same thing: a rumored Pokémon land.
In January 2026, Universal Destinations & Experiences and The Pokémon Company announced a global theme‑park partnership, with Universal Studios Japan as the debut site. Orlando has not been officially named as a future location, and Universal's permit‑response statement above is about the demolition itself — not about what replaces the land. But "4.9 demolished acres next to the Wizarding World" is a very specific footprint, and "what IP could possibly justify it?" is not a long list.
Treat Pokémon‑in‑Orlando as the rumor it is until Universal says otherwise. But keep an eye on it.
A wider view of what's left of the Lost Continent. Mythos, outside the permit footprint, stays put. Photo: Orlando ParkStop.
What's Still Open
If you're planning a trip and want one last visit to the area as it stands: Mythos Restaurant is still operating, and the remaining retail stalls are still open to guests at time of writing. Universal has not announced closing dates for the remaining retail.
Past Islands of Adventure regulars remember Mythos as a long‑standing favorite among theme‑park diners. It's the last bit of the original Lost Continent you can still walk into. If nostalgia is a factor in your trip planning this year, it probably belongs on the list.
Sources
- Inside Universal — More Construction Walls Added in Lost Continent, Now Surrounding Poseidon's Fury (April 20, 2026)
- WDW News Today — Poseidon's Fury Surrounded by Construction Walls 3 Years After Closing (April 20, 2026)
- Attraction Insight — PHOTO UPDATE: The Lost Continent Demolition, Hogwarts Castle Refurb & More (April 21, 2026)
- Orlando ParkStop — Demolition Work Starting in Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure
Image credits: Orlando ParkStop (photography, via orlandoparkstop.com).
