Epic Universe has given Universal Orlando visitors plenty to celebrate since opening, but some guests are starting to question why certain problems keep returning.
The park officially welcomed visitors in May 2025, introducing ambitious attractions packed with advanced technology, elaborate animatronics, and innovative ride systems. Naturally, fans expected a few technical difficulties during the early months as Universal worked through the challenges of operating an entirely new theme park.
But nearly a year and a half later, some visitors say those growing pains have lasted far too long.
A video shared on October 28 has brought renewed attention to one of Epic Universe’s biggest attractions, showing several key effects reportedly failing during a single ride.
And judging by the reactions, this isn’t the first time guests have encountered these problems.
Multiple Problems Reported During One Ride
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment has become a major draw inside Dark Universe, where Universal brings its legendary movie monsters to life through an elaborate dark ride.
Guests encounter familiar characters, including Frankenstein’s Monster and Dracula, as they move through detailed environments filled with impressively animated figures.
However, a video shared on social media reportedly captured a very different experience.
During a scene involving Frankenstein’s Monster, electricity appeared to surge through the creature, but the massive animatronic reportedly didn’t move as intended.
The problems continued during an encounter with Dracula.
The vampire normally appears to fly through the air with thousands of bats behind him. In the reported footage, however, the scene remained dark, and Dracula failed to perform his usual movements.
A third malfunction reportedly affected the hunchback figure positioned inside a bell.
According to the video, all three animatronics experienced problems during the same ride.
That’s particularly disappointing for an attraction that depends on these characters to deliver its biggest moments. Even when the ride vehicles continue moving, guests can miss important scenes that Universal designed to make the experience memorable.
Guests Are Losing Patience With the Problems
Unfortunately, the October 28 video isn’t the first time Monsters Unchained has faced complaints about malfunctioning effects.
Visitors have reported similar issues since Epic Universe opened, including stationary animatronics, missing effects, and problems with the attraction’s preshow.
The latest footage prompted frustrated responses from guests who claimed they had experienced comparable problems.
“The finale drac will never be fixed,” one commenter wrote.
Another visitor described an experience from the previous week, saying the preshow featuring Frankenstein and Dr. Victoria was dark and guests simply walked through it.
“Really disappointed,” the commenter added.
Another reaction was even stronger: “Running an attraction in this state is insane to me.”
These complaints reflect a larger concern among visitors who want to experience the attraction as Universal intended.
For families paying hundreds of dollars for a theme park vacation, encountering multiple broken effects can take away from an otherwise exciting experience.
Universal has not publicly confirmed a permanent fix for the specific problems shown in the video.
Monsters Unchained is having challenges. Hunchback bell- broken. First Frankenstein- broken. Fear the dark dracula- broken. https://t.co/nfPjtu4ck4
— RockNstardust🎸✨ (@CoasterK24) October 28, 2026
The Frustration Extends Beyond Dark Universe
Monsters Unchained isn’t alone when it comes to complaints about technical difficulties at Epic Universe.
Other major attractions have also experienced interruptions that have frustrated visitors.
Inside SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness uses an innovative coaster system that makes riders feel as though they’re jumping across gaps in the track.
While the technology creates an unusual experience, guests posting on Inside Universal Forums have described recurring delays and technical interruptions.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry has faced similar complaints.
Located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, the attraction uses advanced technology to simulate a ride in magical elevators.
However, visitors have reported unexpected downtime and temporary closures that interrupt their plans.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, the family coaster in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, has also experienced operational delays.
These reports don’t suggest that every attraction constantly breaks down, but they help explain why some visitors remain concerned about reliability.
Universal Faces Growing Expectations
Epic Universe has introduced an ambitious collection of attractions, and the technology behind them remains a major reason guests want to visit.
Still, there’s a difference between experiencing an attraction and experiencing everything it was designed to deliver.
For Monsters Unchained, that distinction matters when several major animatronics reportedly fail during the same ride.
With the park approaching 18 months of operation, visitors understandably expect Universal to deliver more consistent experiences.
The attractions may be impressive, but keeping their biggest features working remains an important part of meeting those expectations.
