Universal Orlando just announced the permanent closure of an opening day land in one of their theme parks. This closure will also impact one of their only sit-down restaurants. Rumors have been swirling about this area of the park for months, including many speculating that this area could become a Nintendo-themed space.
Keep reading for all the details on this closure, plus what might be coming soon to the park. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a new Disneyland popcorn bucket that lights up with sound and a price increase for a ticketed Disney World event.
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Universal Orlando Announces Permanent Closure
Lost Continent at Universal Islands of Adventure has been the subject of rumors for months, as the area has been slowly shrinking for years, with many former attractions now permanently closed. This area opened on the same day as the theme park in 1999 and is themed to ancient legend and mythology.
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This restructuring began as early as 2010 when the former Dueling Dragons roller coasters in this land were rethemed to Harry Potter before permanently closing in 2017 to transform that space into the popular Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Following that closure, the stage show The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad closed permanently in 2018, with Poseidon’s Fury closing in 2023.
All that remains of the Lost Continent at this point is the popular Mythos Restaurant and The Mystic Fountain, known for its viral insults as it squirts water at guests who engage with it. The land has basically become just a transitional point between Hogsmeade and Seuss Landing, aside from those two remaining features. The restaurant for years proudly displayed a sign that read “#1 theme park restaurant in the world, six years in a row”.
Universal shared on May 7 that Lost Continent at Universal Islands of Adventure will permanently close in “phases” within the coming months to make way for a “new themed area.” This includes the closure of Mythos Restaurant in 2027. Mythos Restaurant is the only full-service restaurant in Islands of Adventure featuring a mix of Mediterranean, Asian, and American menu items.
This announcement was shared alongside news that the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant in Jurassic Park will close this summer to transform into the new signature full-service restaurant in Universal Islands of Adventure. The rethemed dining location will debut in 2027. Based on this plan, it does not appear that Universal Islands of Adventure will go long without having at least one signature restaurant. Since Jurassic Park has the space and the popularity, it makes sense to upgrade their restaurant to a full-service option. I hope the food here gets an upgrade to contend with the great food we’ve tried at Epic Universe.
Pokémon and Zelda Rumors on Lost Continent Replacement
Speculation around what will replace the Lost Continent has ranged from rumors about a Pokémon franchise expansion to the potential for a Legend of Zelda area for months. Universal Orlando did not reveal what the replacement will be in its announcement.
Universal already has an official deal with Nintendo, and the Super Nintendo World lands at their theme parks have been incredibly popular. Both Pokémon and Zelda are Nintendo franchises, so either choice leans into the demand for more Nintendo-themed areas in theme parks. The Nintendo attractions at Universal make the list of our top rides, including our best-ranked rides at Universal Studios Hollywood and our ranking of Epic Universe attractions.
The atmosphere of Lost Continent is what seems to be primarily fueling the Zelda rumors, as the area already has a strong mix of fantasy-inspired elements. Zelda’s fantasy setting includes things like temples, dungeons, and medieval landscapes, which fit the aesthetic of Lost Continent well. This area is structurally a good space with the Hyrule-style environments of Zelda.
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Pokémon is another top contender since it is already widely represented in Universal merchandise and events, but currently has no set anchor in the theme parks. The environments for Pokémon are quite flexible, focusing on varieties of cities, gyms, and forests. All of which could be easily adaptable into any theme park space. And similar to Mario, Pokémon as a franchise never seems to lose its popularity. This would be a major draw for all ages and would be considerably more popular than Zelda.
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