With Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay water park closing two days a week, speculation has grown among fans that the theme parks would follow suit as the COVID-19 pandemic dampens weekday attendance.

On Tuesday, WDW News Today referenced that speculation in an article, headlined “RUMOR: Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure to Close Select Weekdays Due to Low Attendance.” The article’s only source was “a rumor is circling amongst Team Members that the parks may be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays moving forward due to issues with low attendance.” 

The brief, three-paragraph story emphasized that this “is merely a rumor and not confirmed by Universal Orlando,” though it did not mention any attempt to contact the resort. When Theme Park Tribune asked Universal for comment, the resort denied WDW News Today’s report.

“I can confirm that this rumor is not true,” Universal spokesperson Alyson Lundell said. She did not elaborate beyond that.

WDW News Today expanded to more regular coverage of Universal Orlando Resort when Universal reopened in June, more than a month ahead of Walt Disney World. Its coverage of Disney parks has garnered some praise from the Disney fan community for daily on-the-ground reporting inside the parks. The site has also accurately reported on changes coming to the parks before they were officially announced by Disney.

However, the website has also had reported rumors which Disney forcefully denied, such as claiming two Epcot pavilions would be demolished in the coming years and that Disney would retheme Enchanted Tiki Room and Country Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom. 

WDW News Today owner Tom Corless has stood by his story on the Country Bear Jamboree retheme, saying outcry from fans after his report was published helped save the attraction. 

Asked to comment on Universal’s denial of his website’s story, Corless told Theme Park Tribune: “The story came from within the park as we were told by guest services that they had heard rumblings. The denial doesn’t really address how that reached team members. As usual with any PR department spin, I’d wait until enough time has passed to decide if there’s any validity to the story.” 

This story was updated after publication with comment from Tom Corless. 

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