Universal Orlando Resort has never been shy about retiring an older concept when something fresh can take its place. Islands of Adventure has evolved considerably since it opened in 1999, and that evolution naturally puts some of the park's longest-standing areas under a brighter spotlight.

One land in particular stands out: Toon Lagoon.

What Is Toon Lagoon Today?

Toon Lagoon has been part of Islands of Adventure since opening day in 1999. Rather than anchoring the land around a single franchise, Universal built a colorful collection of comic-strip and cartoon characters — from Popeye and Betty Boop to Heathcliff.

The land is home to two major water attractions. Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges sends guests on a chaotic rafting adventure where getting soaked is practically guaranteed. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls combines a log-flume experience with scenes featuring Dudley Do-Right before ending with an enormous final plunge. Me Ship, the Olive rounds out the Popeye presence with an interactive play area for younger guests.

The attractions themselves aren't necessarily the issue. It's the characters. Popeye remains recognizable, but younger generations haven't grown up with him the way previous ones did. The same goes for Dudley Do-Right and several other Toon Lagoon residents. That gap creates an interesting opportunity for Universal — if it ever decides to act on it.

Two Cartoon Franchises With Staying Power

Cartoon tastes shift quickly, but SpongeBob SquarePants and Scooby-Doo have shown unusual staying power.

SpongeBob SquarePants premiered in 1999 — coincidentally, the same year Islands of Adventure opened. More than 25 years later, SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and the rest of Bikini Bottom remain prominent characters. Universal also already has an existing relationship with the property: Universal Kids Resort, which opened in Texas in 2026, features a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed area.

Scooby-Doo carries an even longer history, dating back to 1969, yet Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma continue appearing in entertainment and merchandise across generations.

Both franchises make for intriguing candidates if Universal ever decides Toon Lagoon needs a new identity.

Bikini Bottom Could Take Over Popeye's Corner

Here's where the fan imagination really kicks in. Universal could theoretically transform the area surrounding Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges into SpongeBob's underwater world — without necessarily scrapping the existing ride infrastructure.

The raft ride could become a chaotic boating school adventure, with guests boarding circular "boats" as SpongeBob attempts yet another lesson at Mrs. Puff's Boating School. Anyone familiar with the show knows how those lessons tend to go. A peaceful driving test spirals out of control, sending guests crashing through Bikini Bottom while water effects preserve what makes the current ride so popular on hot Florida afternoons. The surrounding area could be inspired by SpongeBob's pineapple, Squidward's home, and the Krusty Krab.

That's entirely hypothetical, of course. Universal has announced no such transformation. But the existing ride system does provide an interesting foundation for the idea.

Scooby-Doo Could Reinvent Ripsaw Falls

Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls presents another possibility. Rather than removing the log flume, Universal could transform the ride vehicles into stylized versions of the Mystery Machine and send guests alongside Mystery Inc. on an investigation.

The story could follow a classic Scooby-Doo setup: a mysterious monster has appeared, and Scooby and the gang need help figuring out who's behind it. Guests could travel through darkened scenes where Shaggy and Scooby stumble into trouble while Fred, Daphne, and Velma search for clues — brought to life through physical sets, practical effects, and animated figures.

Then comes Ripsaw Falls' signature moment. Just before the towering final drop, riders could hear Scooby's familiar terrified cry before their Mystery Machine races down the hill and hits the water below. It would preserve the thrill that already exists while wrapping it around characters that generations of guests recognize.

Toon Lagoon's Future Remains Wide Open

To be clear: none of this is confirmed. Universal Orlando Resort has not announced a Toon Lagoon closure, a Bikini Bottom replacement, or a Scooby-Doo transformation for Ripsaw Falls. These possibilities remain exactly that — possibilities.

Still, theme parks rarely stay frozen in time. Toon Lagoon has entertained guests for more than a quarter-century, and its two major attractions occupy significant real estate inside one of Universal Orlando Resort's flagship parks. Eventually, Universal could decide those rides need characters with stronger connections to today's families.

If that day comes, SpongeBob and Scooby-Doo would give Universal two recognizable franchises without requiring the company to abandon the area's biggest attractions. Popeye could sail away, Bikini Bottom could move in, and somewhere nearby, the Mystery Machine could be headed toward one very big drop.

For now, Universal fans can only imagine what the next chapter of Toon Lagoon might look like.