Universal Orlando Will Dismantle Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure: Mythos Closes in 2027, Thunder Falls Terrace Becomes a Signature Restaurant, and Joey Fatone is Bringing Hot Dogs to CityWalk

This is the biggest day for Islands of Adventure since Wizarding World expansions. Universal Orlando just confirmed it will dismantle Lost Continent in phases, close Mythos Restaurant in 2027, transform Thunder Falls Terrace into a new IOA signature restaurant, refresh Universal's Horror Make-Up Show over at USF (already known to close May 12), and replace Hot Dog Hall of Fame at CityWalk with Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, the Joey Fatone hot-dog concept that built its reputation on the Florida convention and festival circuit.

Universal's framing in the release is "unprecedented momentum as it prepares for a slate of compelling new guest offerings across the destination, ranging from new themed areas to delicious eateries."

Universal Orlando new experiences announcement. Image: Universal Orlando Resort.

Mythos is the emotional one

Mythos Restaurant won Theme Park Insider's "Best Theme Park Restaurant" award 10 times and was the inaugural inductee into the publication's Hall of Fame in 2022, retiring it from yearly competition. It opened with Islands of Adventure on May 28, 1999, as one of the original anchors of Lost Continent. The cavern-style interior with waterfalls, rock formations, and carvings of mythological figures, plus the lagoon-facing patio, made it a rare Universal venue celebrated for original environmental storytelling rather than IP.

It closes in 2027 as part of the broader Lost Continent redevelopment.

Mythos Restaurant, closing 2027. Photo: Matt Roseboom / Attractions Magazine.

What's closing and what's replacing it

• Lost Continent: dismantled in phases. The new themed area has not been announced. With The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad already gone (closed September 2018) and Poseidon's Fury already gone (closed 2023), Mythos's 2027 closure removes the last anchor of the original 1999 land.
• Mythos Restaurant: closes in 2027.
• Thunder Falls Terrace (the rotisserie counter-service spot next to Jurassic World River Adventure): closes summer 2026, returns in 2027 as a full-service signature restaurant for Islands of Adventure. Suggests it inherits the role Mythos has played for nearly three decades.
• Universal's Horror Make-Up Show: last performance Tuesday May 12, then a "reimagining" with classic and modern horror properties, returning later in 2026.
• Hot Dog Hall of Fame at CityWalk: closes July 2026. Replaced by Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice (Joey Fatone and Joe Mulvihill's concept).

Construction walls at Lost Continent. Photo: FOX 35 Orlando.

What we do not know yet

• What replaces Lost Continent. Universal has not announced an IP, theme, or opening date for the new themed area.
• The reimagined Horror Make-Up Show details. Universal has called it a "reimagining" with a "mix of classic and modern horror properties along with shockingly fun surprises." No specific IP confirmed.
• The Thunder Falls signature restaurant concept. Universal has only said "full-service signature" so far.
• Fat One's opening date. The Hot Dog Hall of Fame closure is set for July 2026, but Fat One's opening date has not been announced.

Joey Fatone's hot dog turn, in context

Joey Fatone has been running Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice as an Orlando-area concept for years, with the brand featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The CityWalk slot pulls a celebrity-anchored concept into Universal's prime dining real estate, alongside the broader 2026 and 2027 buildout that already includes a new Five Guys, Luke Combs's Category 10, and the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster (2027).

Quick planner notes

• If you have always wanted to eat at Mythos, you have time, but stop putting it off. A 2027 closure means you have roughly a year of operating windows left.
• Thunder Falls Terrace closes summer 2026. Plan around its rotisserie if it has been a repeat stop on your IOA trips.
• Horror Make-Up Show: AP reserved seating runs through Sunday May 10; final show Tuesday May 12. Already covered, but worth flagging in any "before it goes" trip planner.
• Hot Dog Hall of Fame: July closure means CityWalk runs without a dedicated hot dog stop until Fat One's opens.
• With Sindbad, Poseidon's Fury, and Mythos all gone after 2027, the Mystic Fountain interactive talking sculpture is the last surviving piece of the 1999 Lost Continent.

Sources

• FOX 35 Orlando: Lost Continent and Mythos closing announcement
• The Main Street Mouse: full Universal release
• Attractions Magazine: Mythos closing reaction
• Laughing Place: closures and timing breakdown

Image credits: Universal Orlando Resort, FOX 35 Orlando, Matt Roseboom / Attractions Magazine.