Universal Orlando Resort is heading into another year filled with closures, refurbishments, and major changes.That has become especially noticeable at Islands of Adventure, where several areas of the park are either undergoing work now or preparing for changes in the near future.Jurassic Park River Adventure remains closed for an unusually long refurbishment. Universal has also started clearing portions of The Lost Continent ahead of that land’s permanent closure. More changes are expected there in 2027.Credit: UniversalNow, Universal has confirmed another closure for next year.This time, the work is happening inside Toon Lagoon.Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges will temporarily close in early 2027, removing one of Islands of Adventure’s two major water rides from operation for several weeks.While this isn’t a permanent closure, it adds another attraction to a growing list of projects affecting the park.Universal Confirms Toon Lagoon Ride ClosureUniversal has confirmed that Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges will close on January 4, 2027.The attraction is currently scheduled to remain unavailable through February 2, meaning guests visiting during most of January won’t be able to experience the Toon Lagoon water ride.This is scheduled as an annual refurbishment rather than a permanent shutdown.January is also a logical time for Universal to complete maintenance on an attraction like Bilge-Rat Barges. Cooler Orlando temperatures generally make water rides less appealing, particularly one known for getting riders completely soaked.Still, this isn’t exactly a minor attraction.Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges sends guests through a winding rapids course as Popeye attempts to rescue Olive Oyl from Bluto. The attraction includes an 18-foot octopus and plenty of opportunities for riders to get drenched along the way.Its temporary disappearance also comes during a period when Islands of Adventure is already dealing with substantial attraction and land changes.Islands of Adventure Is Already Dealing With Major ClosuresThe timing becomes more interesting when looking at everything happening around Islands of Adventure.Jurassic Park River Adventure is currently undergoing one of the most extensive refurbishments the attraction has seen.The water ride has been closed for nearly the entire year and isn’t expected to reopen until November.That project has involved significantly more work than the typical short seasonal refurbishment guests might expect from a water attraction.Once Jurassic Park River Adventure returns, Universal will at least regain some capacity before Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges closes in January.But that doesn’t mean construction around Islands of Adventure is slowing down.Quite the opposite.Universal has already confirmed that The Lost Continent is permanently closing, marking the end of another original section of Islands of Adventure.And Universal isn’t waiting until every remaining location closes before beginning work.Credit: UniversalThe Lost Continent Is Already Starting To DisappearChanges inside The Lost Continent have already become visible.Demolition has begun in portions of the land as Universal prepares the area for whatever comes next.The Lost Continent has gradually lost attractions and experiences over the years, leaving the area very different from what guests encountered when Islands of Adventure originally opened.Its final major holdout will be Mythos.The longtime table-service restaurant is expected to remain open into some point in 2027 before eventually closing as Universal finishes shutting down the land.That means Islands of Adventure could have several projects happening around the same general period.The Lost Continent will continue moving toward its permanent closure. Mythos is expected to eventually serve its final guests. Meanwhile, Toon Lagoon will temporarily lose one of its biggest attractions for approximately a month.None of that necessarily signals something bigger for Toon Lagoon itself.Universal specifically lists the Bilge-Rat Barges closure as an annual refurbishment. The attraction is scheduled to return after the work concludes, so there’s currently no indication that this particular shutdown represents a permanent change.But the broader pattern around the park is difficult to ignore.Universal Continues Investing in Its Existing ParksEpic Universe may be Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, but Universal isn’t simply leaving its older parks untouched.Islands of Adventure continues to receive maintenance and changes alongside the resort’s larger expansion projects.That distinction matters.Not every construction wall or extended attraction closure means Universal is preparing to replace something. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is a good example. Its January closure has a scheduled reopening date, and annual maintenance on a water ride isn’t particularly unusual.At the same time, guests planning vacations need to look at the bigger picture.An attraction undergoing refurbishment still removes capacity from the park, regardless of whether that closure lasts four weeks or forever.For Toon Lagoon, losing Bilge-Rat Barges temporarily takes away one of the area’s signature experiences.The land will continue operating around it, but guests specifically hoping to ride the attraction will need to plan accordingly.Credit: Universal2027 Could Bring Even More Change to Islands of AdventureThe bigger story may ultimately be how different Islands of Adventure looks as Universal moves through 2027.Jurassic Park River Adventure should be back in operation by then following its lengthy refurbishment.Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges will begin its own scheduled refurbishment on January 4 before reopening after February 2.And The Lost Continent will continue moving toward extinction.With demolition already beginning in sections of that land and Mythos expected to eventually close in 2027, Universal will have another sizable portion of Islands of Adventure preparing for its next chapter.That makes the Bilge-Rat Barges closure relatively small compared with some of the other projects underway.Still, for guests visiting in January, it will be noticeable.Water rides have been a major part of Islands of Adventure since the park opened, and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges remains one of the most intense examples. Riders don’t simply risk getting splashed. Getting soaked is practically part of the experience.Fortunately, this closure comes with something many Universal projects don’t have: a clear reopening timeline.Unless Universal changes the schedule, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges should return after February 2, 2027.By that point, however, Islands of Adventure could already be deeper into another year of transformation.Between the work happening around Jurassic Park, the approaching end of The Lost Continent, and another scheduled Toon Lagoon refurbishment, Universal is heading into 2027 with plenty happening inside one of its oldest Orlando theme parks.The post Universal Confirms 2027 Toon Lagoon Closure at Islands of Adventure appeared first on Inside the Magic.