Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the Magic
Epic Universe may still be in its first year, but it’s already facing a monster of a problem—literally. Universal Orlando’s flagship attraction in the brand-new Dark Universe land, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, shut down unexpectedly this week, and what replaced it turned a jaw-dropping gothic centerpiece into something that looked more like a backyard tailgate.
Credit: Universal
A Shocking Sight at Dark Universe
Guests visiting Epic Universe on October 28 were met with a strange surprise: instead of screams coming from Frankenstein Manor, there was laughter and beanbags flying through the air. Team Members reportedly set up wooden cornhole boards outside the attraction, right where guests would normally queue to encounter the terrifying Frankenstein’s monster.
According to Coaster101, the ride was confirmed closed all day, with the Universal Orlando app showing no operating times. The post quickly made its way across social media, with some guests joking that “Cornhole Unchained” might be Universal’s next big IP crossover. While funny on the surface, others saw it as a sign of larger issues brewing at the park.
Monsters Unchained will be closed all day. There are wooden games set up outside. #EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/QYvITJrjXL
— Coaster101.com (@Coaster101) October 28, 2025
Epic Universe’s Growing Pains
It’s no secret that Epic Universe has been dealing with capacity struggles since its highly anticipated opening. The park’s biggest attractions—including Monsters Unchained and Battle at the Ministry in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter—have been drawing massive lines from day one. Add in unplanned closures like this, and guests are starting to question if Universal was truly ready for this scale of operation.
What’s particularly frustrating for visitors is that Epic Universe was billed as the future of theme park innovation—a place where storytelling, technology, and immersion all come together seamlessly. When one of its premier rides goes down, the illusion shatters a little, leaving fans wondering if the park bit off more than it could chew during its first year.
Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the Magic
From Horror to Humor
You’d think a sudden ride closure would prompt a subtle workaround or a themed in-character experience to keep guests entertained. Instead, the cornhole boards—plain, wooden, and completely unthemed—stood awkwardly outside the castle-like structure of Frankenstein Manor. The contrast between gothic architecture and yard games didn’t go unnoticed.
Guests online described it as “the most Florida thing Universal could’ve done,” and honestly, they’re not wrong. Epic Universe was built on the promise of fully immersive worlds, so seeing something that looked straight out of a suburban cookout was a bit of an eyesore in the shadow of such impressive design.
A Temporary Fix or a Sign of Trouble?
While there’s no official word on what caused the full-day closure, Universal fans are hoping this was a one-off issue and not the start of a pattern. With ongoing construction projects already visible around the park, it’s possible the team is juggling maintenance and expansion at the same time—a tricky balance for any theme park, especially one this new.
Still, the image of guests tossing beanbags in front of Frankenstein’s fortress feels almost symbolic of Epic Universe’s current moment: incredible ambition colliding with the reality of operations and upkeep. The potential is enormous, but the execution still needs refining.
Credit: Universal
Universal’s Next Steps
For now, Universal hasn’t shared when Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment will reopen, though many expect it to return quickly. It remains the centerpiece of Dark Universe, an area that’s drawn rave reviews for its atmosphere, effects, and connection to Universal’s monster legacy.
But if the park wants to avoid being the butt of online jokes, it might be time to double down on maintenance and communication. Guests don’t mind a bit of downtime—it’s when the replacement is something that feels out of place that eyebrows start to raise.
As one fan put it on social media, “I didn’t travel across the country to play cornhole with Frankenstein.”
That about sums it up. Epic Universe has all the bones of greatness—it just needs to make sure Frankenstein’s aren’t the only ones rattling.