Islands of Adventure 2026! Big Changes, Lost Continent, Jurassic Park, New Merch & MORE

We are back at Islands of Adventure to kick off 2026 and see what’s actually happening on the ground this January. The park is definitely feeling the changes already, especially over in Jurassic Park where River Adventure is now officially closed. It’s going to be down for a huge chunk of the year, so we’re checking out the new construction walls and seeing how that’s changing the flow of that side of the park. The crowd levels for January were a bit of a mixed bag, so we spent some time over in Hogsmeade checking out the wait times and just seeing how busy things are feeling. We also had to stop by the Lost Continent, see the talking fountain and the state of Poseidon's Fury, and some favorite secret spots, that area of the park feels like it has a big question mark over its future, so it’s interesting to see it as it is right now. We also see some wildlife and the troll under the bridge! I also found some really cool new stuff in the shops, like "The Birds" collection in the All Hallow's Eve Boutique, new Hello Kitty merch in CityWalk, and some fun new coloring activities in the UOAP Passholder Lounge. We also take a quick look at the Epic Universe Preview Center to see what’s going on there now that the new park is the main focus. It's a chill, fun day at the park with a lot of little updates, gorgeous views on a beautiful day, and interesting shifts to see as we move into the 2026 season!