Epic Universe Ride Breakdowns/Delays

[akileese]

Ugh so worried about Stardust for our trip March 17, hopefully no more delays. Just need Stardust and Monsters and I’ll be happy but last trip Monsters was closed so I’m nervous!

Hoping you get to ride it. They were working on Yellow right after that tight turn on the rear today. You could see someone on a scissor lift with an impact gun. Hoping at some point we get some nuggets about what the issue was once it’s sorted because I’m really curious if its unexpected track wear related to the heavy trains.

 

[devinp267]

Really surprised that a Mack ride is having this many issues this early. Really hope this doesn’t become the cursed ride. It was like one of the first things done during construction it’s confusing

 

[Josh55]

Really surprised that a Mack ride is having this many issues this early. Really hope this doesn’t become the cursed ride. It was like one of the first things done during construction it’s confusing

Just to add some context here, I live about 90 minutes from Thorpe Park in the UK and they installed a Mack in 2024 (Hyperia) which is the tallest in the country.

It was plagued with issues early on, the opening few months were really bugged by downtime, its valleyed, I think, twice, possibly three times. It has now been fairly reliable from about May of last year but having seen what happened with Hyperia early on this doesn’t massively surprise me.

I’m going 23 April for my first time, hoping all is good by then.

 

[devinp267]

Just to add some context here, I live about 90 minutes from Thorpe Park in the UK and they installed a Mack in 2024 (Hyperia) which is the tallest in the country.

It was plagued with issues early on, the opening few months were really bugged by downtime, its valleyed, I think, twice, possibly three times. It has now been fairly reliable from about May of last year but having seen what happened with Hyperia early on this doesn’t massively surprise me.

I’m going 23 April for my first time, hoping all is good by then.

That’s promising for long term, but the actual track issue is what bothers me. I understand bugs to workout but seing them working with nuts and bolts is a bit concerning.

 

[Hatetofly]

So Stardust goes down unexpectedly for “routine maintenance” for a few days. Then it gets extended. Then extended again. Now we’re hearing reports of bolts being replaced at adjoining track sections in less than a year of operations? That is tough.

 

[Josh55]

So Stardust goes down unexpectedly for “routine maintenance” for a few days. Then it gets extended. Then extended again. Now we’re hearing reports of bolts being replaced at adjoining track sections in less than a year of operations? That is tough.

Whilst I appreciate the unease that this is causing, I very much doubt that a company like Universal is advertising closures of 2 weeks if it is clearly something more significant which is going to take much longer to resolve.

I appreciate that the facts disprove my own point to an extent, as they have already extended the closure twice, but there is a big difference between temporary closure taking longer than expected to resolve and the park dishonesty hiding what they expect to be a significantly longer closure.

It is probably just maintenance work being done now ahead of a busy spring/easter period. As to why it needs doing this early I wouldn’t know but it isn’t like these kinds of things are unheard of on new coasters, you only have to look at Fury which had an actual crack in the track.

 

[Cwoolboy]

Structural damage?

You guys think this is true?

 

[Josh55]

Structural damage?

You guys think this is true?

No.

If you look at that thread you will see someone called Josh arguing with him, that’s me.

If the ride was in a condition where someone has information that it is in danger of never reopening then Universal would not be setting targets of 2 weeks for it to be reopening. They’d say something like ‘Stardust Racers is closed with no scheduled date for reopening’ or something along those lines.

If you scroll through some of that individuals previous posts he’s claimed that the F+F coaster will be a Mack on the basis that the Lost Continent coaster will be an Intamin, despite there being no Loat Continent coaster. Whatever his ‘source’ is I wouldn’t read much into it.

 

[Rikku]

Structural damage?

You guys think this is true?

Please stop nooo haha I’m already stressed enough hoping this will open for my trip on March 17 let alone EVER again!

 

[Hatetofly]

Whilst I appreciate the unease that this is causing, I very much doubt that a company like Universal is advertising closures of 2 weeks if it is clearly something more significant which is going to take much longer to resolve.

I appreciate that the facts disprove my own point to an extent, as they have already extended the closure twice, but there is a big difference between temporary closure taking longer than expected to resolve and the park dishonesty hiding what they expect to be a significantly longer closure.

It is probably just maintenance work being done now ahead of a busy spring/easter period. As to why it needs doing this early I wouldn’t know but it isn’t like these kinds of things are unheard of on new coasters, you only have to look at Fury which had an actual crack in the track.

Are you referring to Fury 325? A coaster that opened in 2015 and over 8 years later a crack formed? Also the crack was determined to be caused by fatigue in the steel support columns weld point. Not the track itself. And yes while not unheard of, the timing is indeed unfortunate.

 

[Brian G.]

Sometimes it's as simple as a delayed part...

 

[Alicia]

Sometimes it's as simple as a delayed part...

See now that’s what I thought too. But everyone be reporting they see the replacing/working on every bolt along entire path.

My read on it, before the latest hoopla, was that since they had to wait a couple weeks for a part anyway they’d go and do a full inspection/maintenance on all parts so they’re not wasting the downtime.

But that was just my guess.

 

[Josh55]

See now that’s what I thought too. But everyone be reporting they see the replacing/working on every bolt along entire path.

My read on it, before the latest hoopla, was that since they had to wait a couple weeks for a part anyway they’d go and do a full inspection/maintenance on all parts so they’re not wasting the downtime.

But that was just my guess.

My main point with this is if there was anything more sinister going on then they wouldn’t be giving it 2 week timeframes for reopening; they would say it is closed with no scheduled reopening.

 

[Alicia]

My main point with this is if there was anything more sinister going on then they wouldn’t be giving it 2 week timeframes for reopening; they would say it is closed with no scheduled reopening.

With spring break coming up fast, I’m sure they really want it to be ready by that announced date.

 

[Josh55]

With spring break coming up fast, I’m sure they really want it to be ready by that announced date.

I’m sure they do yes, you would think the fact that they have said that it will be open for that time would suggest that they believe that there is a realistic chance of it happening which would contravene certain rumours on the internet.

I’m going 23 April so desperate for it to be open by then but we shall see.

 

[Hatetofly]

See now that’s what I thought too. But everyone be reporting they see the replacing/working on every bolt along entire path.

My read on it, before the latest hoopla, was that since they had to wait a couple weeks for a part anyway they’d go and do a full inspection/maintenance on all parts so they’re not wasting the downtime.

But that was just my guess

Sometimes it's as simple as a delayed part...

In a park that is already hurting for capacity I wonder what part would close down both sides simultaneously. We already know they’ll run one side in a situation if needed. Plus has anyone ever seen Universals parts department, it’s pretty well stocked or at least that’s what I’ve heard lol

 

[Brian G.]

In a park that is already hurting for capacity I wonder what part would close down both sides simultaneously. We already know they’ll run one side in a situation if needed. Plus has anyone ever seen Universals parts department, it’s pretty well stocked or at least that’s what I’ve heard lol

As someone who was just there on Wednesday, it wasn't hurting that badly. (and that's with MoM down, too).

But that may change by Spring Break, which it should be open by.

 

[Hatetofly]

I JUST WANT THE PARK TO WORK SO I CAN GO DO SHENANIGANS WITH THE GUYYYS BRIAN

 

[Brian G.]

I JUST WANT THE PARK TO WORK SO I CAN GO DO SHENANIGANS WITH THE GUYYYS BRIAN

#soon