Universal Orlando Sees No Closures From the Cuba Earthquake That Briefly Sidelined Disney World Rides
Universal Orlando reported no widespread closures from the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck off Cuba at 2:00:28 p.m. ET today, while Disney World took more than 10 attractions offline for precautionary safety inspections (we covered the Disney side separately). Stardust Racers, VelociCoaster, Hagrid's, and the rest of the Universal Orlando coaster lineup stayed open.
Universal Orlando on the day of the Cuba earthquake. Image: Inside Universal.
The headlines:
- No widespread closures at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, or Volcano Bay.
- Stardust Racers, VelociCoaster, Hagrid's, and the rest of the coaster lineup stayed open.
- Universal's social-media response referenced Earthquake: The Big One, the long-gone Universal Studios Florida dark ride that closed November 5, 2007.
- No injuries, no property damage reported at any Universal property.
The contrast with Disney
Disney took the more cautious operational approach. More than 10 Disney World attractions briefly closed for safety inspections after the quake, concentrated at Magic Kingdom (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle/Run, Haunted Mansion, Country Bear Musical Jamboree, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, The Barnstormer, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid), plus single closures at EPCOT (Remy's Ratatouille Adventure), Animal Kingdom (Na'vi River Journey), and Disney Springs (Aerophile balloon).
Universal's decision to keep operating was not a riskier call; it reflects different inspection protocols. Both responses are valid post-seismic operational choices. The contrast is the story.
The Earthquake: The Big One nod
Earthquake: The Big One was a Universal Studios Florida opening-day attraction (1990) that simulated a magnitude 8.3 earthquake hitting San Francisco. It closed November 5, 2007, was replaced by Disaster!, which itself closed in 2015 and was succeeded by Fast & Furious: Supercharged. The 2007 reference is the kind of inside-baseball Universal social-media tone that long-time fans pick up on instantly.
Per Attractions Magazine, Universal Orlando's social post read: "That shake we felt at 2 p.m.? Biggest earthquake in Orlando since 2007." The "since 2007" line is the wink: Earthquake: The Big One closed on November 5, 2007, after a 17-year run as a USF opening-day attraction. The post drew the kind of nostalgia engagement Universal's social team mines well.
What stayed open
- Universal Studios Florida: Revenge of the Mummy, MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, Mega Movie Parade (we covered the June 5 debut). All operating. (Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit has been permanently closed since August 18, 2025.)
- Islands of Adventure: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, VelociCoaster, Spider-Man, Hulk, Doctor Doom's Fearfall, Skull Island. All operating.
- Epic Universe: Stardust Racers, Monsters Unchained, Curse of the Werewolf, Mine-Cart Madness, Constellation Carousel, and the rest of the Celestial Park, Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon, and Wizarding World headliners. All operating.
- Volcano Bay: Krakatau Aqua Coaster, TeAwa The Fearless River, and the rest of the slide and raft lineup. All operating.
Why this is the Universal story today
Earthquakes affecting the Orlando theme park cluster are rare. When they do hit, the operational divergence between Disney's cautious-by-default protocol and Universal's lighter touch is the kind of contrast guests rarely get to see side by side. Neither resort has detailed its decision-making publicly today, but both reached the same safety endpoint by different paths.
Quick planner notes
- If you're visiting Universal Orlando tomorrow, no ride downtime is expected from today's earthquake. The full Mega Movie Parade lineup ran on schedule. Check the official Universal app for any normal-day refurbishment closures.
- Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure loses Universal Express July 1 (we covered May 27). That deadline is unaffected by today's events.
- Mega Movie Parade runs daily through the summer with Back to the Future as the lead float (we covered the June 5 debut).
- Hollywood Drift construction continues at USF, with no work stoppage reported around the under-construction spike element.
- For the Earthquake: The Big One nostalgia trip, the third-generation tenant of that building, Fast & Furious: Supercharged, still operates daily at Universal Studios Florida. It is widely expected to close ahead of Hollywood Drift's anticipated 2027 debut, though Universal has not announced a date.
Sources
- Attractions Magazine: Cuba earthquake Disney attractions temporarily close (June 8)
- Inside Universal: What's happening at the Universal parks, week of June 8 (June 8)
- Fox 35 Orlando: 6.1 magnitude Cuba earthquake felt in Florida (June 8)
Image credit: Inside Universal.
