Universal Studios has implemented a new Guide for Safety and Accessibility aimed at ensuring a safe experience for all guests. Effective from October 4, the updated guide applies to the Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure. Each guide details essential safety advisories and accessibility requirements for attractions, including the newly highlighted Stardust Racers.
Overview of the New Safety and Accessibility Guidelines
The guides can be accessed through the official Epic Universe website and provide crucial information on the specific requirements for different attractions. The guide for Epic Universe consists of 34 pages, while the combined guide for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure is 62 pages long. Both are effective from October 4, 2025.
Key Features of the Guides
- Detailed “Rider Requirements” for each attraction.
- Safety advisories covering various concerns such as lost items and restraint systems.
- Information tailored to guests using wheelchairs or mobility devices.
Attractions are categorized based on their accessibility features. Some allow guests to remain in their standard wheelchairs, while others require transfers to ride vehicles. Notably, there is now a third category where attractions necessitate that guests walk independently. This category includes Stardust Racers, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
Specific Requirements for Stardust Racers
The guidelines for Stardust Racers specify that guests using mobility devices must walk independently. Furthermore, participants must meet additional conditions:
- Maintain an upright position.
- Support the torso, neck, and head during sudden movements.
- Brace the body with at least one natural upper extremity.
Any guests with prostheses are required to remove all prosthetic limbs before riding Stardust Racers. Additionally, the attraction is not accessible for guests with casts covering areas essential for meeting ride requirements.
Signage Updates and Safety Considerations
In alignment with these updates, the signage for attractions has been revised. New warnings related to medical conditions have been added to the signs for Dragon Racer’s Rally and Monsters Unchained. These updates emphasize conditions that may be aggravated by the rides, ensuring guests can make informed choices.
Stardust Racers’ Reopening Amid Controversy
The announcement of the reopening of Stardust Racers coincides with the release of the updated safety guides. The attraction has been closed since September 17, following the tragic incident involving 32-year-old Kevin Rodríguez Zavala. Although Universal stated that the ride systems functioned normally, the family of the deceased expressed their concerns regarding the quick reopening.
Attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, criticized the decision to reopen, citing potential risks to public safety and the need for a thorough investigation. Despite the family’s statements, Universal has confirmed that Stardust Racers is expected to reopen on October 4.
Universal’s new Safety and Accessibility Guide is designed to enhance guest safety and is part of the ongoing commitment to create an inclusive environment in all its parks.
