Universal Orlando Quietly Delays Park Opening to 10 a.m. in 2026—And Fans Are Furious

If you’ve got a Universal Orlando vacation booked for early 2026, you’ll want to hear this. Universal just quietly updated its website with a schedule change that has fans up in arms—and for good reason.

Starting January 5, 2026, Universal Studios Florida will open at 10 a.m. for nearly the entire month of January. That’s a full hour later than usual, and here’s the kicker: there won’t be any Early Park Admission available either. For guests staying at Universal hotels or annual passholders who’ve come to rely on that extra morning hour, this means losing up to three hours of valuable park time per day.

Meanwhile, Islands of Adventure will maintain its 9 a.m. opening (with 8 a.m. Early Park Admission), and the highly anticipated Epic Universe will open at 10 a.m. (with 9 a.m. Early Park Admission). The timing suggests Universal is trying to unify schedules across all three parks to simplify staffing and operations as Epic Universe comes online.

The change was posted on Universal’s website with no fanfare and no advance notice to guests who’ve already booked trips. According to Inside the Magic, fan reaction has been swift and overwhelmingly negative. Families who meticulously plan their vacations around rope drop and Early Park Admission feel blindsided by the change—especially since Early Park Admission has been one of the cornerstone perks for Universal hotel guests.

If you’re traveling to Universal in January 2026, here’s what you need to know: plan your Studios day carefully. The park will be open fewer hours, so prioritize your must-do attractions and consider whether a Park-to-Park ticket makes sense so you can hop over to Islands of Adventure for that earlier start. And if you’re booking a trip for early 2026, factor this schedule change into your planning—those extra morning hours you were counting on may not be there.

Universal hasn’t officially commented on whether this is a temporary adjustment for January or a sign of things to come. For now, it’s a reminder to always double-check park hours before you go, especially as Epic Universe shakes up the resort’s operations.