ORLANDO, Fla. — After a closure lasting greater than two weeks, Common’s Epic Universe has formally reopened its Stardust Racers curler coaster — the journey that was shut down following a tragic incident in mid-September.
On September 17, 2025, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala misplaced his life after changing into unresponsive throughout a journey on Stardust Racers. The Orange County health worker dominated the reason for demise as a number of blunt affect accidents and labeled the style of demise as unintended.
Within the days following the incident, Common Orlando Resort closed the journey to permit for detailed investigations, inspections, and opinions of each technical methods and operational procedures.
The journey reopened on October 4, roughly 17 days after it was shut down. Common President and COO Karen Irwin stated in an inside memo {that a} complete technical and operational evaluation had been accomplished, and that assessments confirmed the journey methods functioned correctly throughout boarding, operation, and return to station. Unbiased engineers, the journey’s producer Mack Rides, and state officers all participated within the inspections.
Common launched up to date signage and rider eligibility necessities as precautionary measures. Key modifications embody the elimination of language that beforehand allowed assisted entry for visitors utilizing mobility units, requiring as an alternative that riders be capable to stroll independently to board. The signage now makes use of “should” as an alternative of “ought to” in statements about riders’ capability to take care of management of their our bodies in the course of the journey. Common additionally strengthened bodily eligibility warnings to assist visitors assess whether or not they need to journey.
The park additionally eliminated Stardust Racers from the record of points of interest the place crew members help visitors in wheelchairs, a coverage that aligns with the up to date necessities.
On reopening day, wait instances reached as excessive as two hours, with visitors saying they felt protected and appreciated the clearer steerage. Nonetheless, Zavala’s household and their legal professional, Ben Crump, criticized Common for reopening earlier than unbiased consultants may absolutely examine the journey. Crump accused the park of “spoiling proof” by resuming operations too quickly.
The household launched a press release condemning the choice, calling it disrespectful and untimely. They plan to carry a press convention this week to precise their considerations because the state’s investigation into the demise continues. Common has stated it’s cooperating absolutely with authorities.
Stardust Racers is a dual-launched metal coaster within the Celestial Park space of Epic Universe, reaching speeds as much as 62 mph and standing 133 toes tall. It opened with the launch of the park in Could 2025 and shortly grew to become one in every of its signature thrill points of interest.
The reopening marks a fragile second for Common, which says the journey has been deemed protected following inspection. However because the investigation continues, the park faces continued scrutiny over its dealing with of the incident and its dedication to transparency and security.
