Stardust Racers is going to reopen after a guest died on the attraction on September 17th, 2025.

Stardust Racers

According to The Orlando Sentinel, the Epic Universe coaster plans to reopen on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, for the first time since the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala last month. Changes are coming to the attraction, which will now require wheelchair users to be able to walk independently to the ride, and Team Members will no longer be able to assist them on the attraction.

The changes come after Zavala, who was a wheelchair user, was helped into the coaster by Team Members before his passing. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the cause of death was due to multiple blunt impact injuries, and the manner of death was ruled an accident.

Stardust Racers

The family of Zavala is being represented by attorneys who have “angrily blasted Universal” for statements that the family says imply that his disability played a role in his death on the coaster. Team Members received an email sent by Karen Irwin on October 3rd, sharing that they completed an extensive review of the ride with local officials, the state of Florida, the manufacturer of the attraction, and an independent engineering expert. The report stated “the ride systems functioned properly throughout the boarding process, the duration of the ride, and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station.”

Epic Universe

The email continued to state that the Team Members followed all the correct procedures before continuing on to say they are updating operational procedures as well as signage around the attractions in the park. Other attractions impacted by the operational procedure changes are Dragon Racers Rally and Monsters Unchained. Guests will now be required to walk independently onto those attractions as well.

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Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests speeding through the air aboard “comets” in a race to see who’s the fastest. The ride reaches speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track. It’s Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience, “with unique maneuvers such as the ‘Celestial Spin,’ in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air.”

The family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala started a GoFundMe to help with expenses during this difficult time. Our thoughts continue to be with his friends and family.