Universal moves to build rail stop in Orlandoโs tourism hub
Universal Orlando Resort has filed paperwork and pledged 13 acres for a commuter rail station that could link the seventh busiest airport in the U.S. with the heart of the tourism district in one of the top travel destinations in the world.
Movies love a comeback story. This summer, it's their turn.
Hollywood is bringing out some of its biggest and most reliable players for the 2022 summer movie season, which unofficially kicks off this weekend with the help of Marvel and Disneyโs โDoctor Strange and the Multitverse of Madnessโ and runs through the end of August.
Video: Insiderโs look at new Super Nintendo Park at Universal Stuidos Japan
After several delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, โSuper Nintendo Worldโ at Universal Studios Japan is now open. The amusement park is a bigger-than-life-size replica of the companyโs most famous games, featuring characters like Mario, Luigi and Yoshi. CNNโs Selina Wang got an insiderโs look at the new park, showing how guests enter through the warp pipe. The opening comes as the global theme park industry is struggling and theme parks are reopening in a patchwork around the world. There are plans to open Super Nintendo World in other parts of the world, including Orlando, where the opening has reportedly been delayed until 2025.
Central Florida schools react to decision to stop publication of 6 Dr. Seuss books
The decision of Dr. Seuss Enterprises to stop publishing six of its books due to racist and insensitive imagery has school districts in Central Florida, as well as Universal Orlando, reevaluating their own uses of the Dr. Seuss titles. The book โIf I Ran the Zooโ is among the Dr. Seuss titles featured at Seuss Landing at Universalโs Islands of Adventure. AdSeveral Central Florida school districts issued statements about the publisherโs decision:โBooks written by Dr. Seuss will remain in school libraries in Marion County Public Schools. Many of our schools take part in โRead Across America Day,โ some tie the celebrations with Dr. Seuss more than others. Orange County Public SchoolsThe Orange County Library system also released a statement:
Universal Orlando building new flagship store in CityWalk
Universal confirms new flagship store is coming soonORLANDO, Fla โ For months, guests visiting Universal Orlando have been wondering what construction crews were building in the heart of CityWalk. Universal confirmed Friday that itโs in the process of building an all-new store. [TRENDING: All Florida Publix locations now offer vaccine | John Morgan settles beef with Arbyโs | Last chance to go to space]โUniversal Orlando Resort will soon debut an all-new flagship Universal Studios Store in the heart of Universal CityWalk. PHOTOS: New Universal Studios Store Confirmed, Concept Art Releasedhttps://t.co/XVKNCstWSn pic.twitter.com/PanZ7Obnpm โ Universal Parks News Today (@UniNewsToday) February 26, 2021Last year, Universal closed Island Clothing Co., Fossil and P!Q to make room for this new location. Universal has an official store right now next to Big Fire restaurant in CityWalk.
Universal Orlando goes international with upcoming Mardi Gras event
ORLANDO, Fla โ Universal Orlando Resort is set to begin its upcoming Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval on Feb. 6. AdSome flavors include dishes from Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Italy, France, Germany, Spain and other regions including the home of Mardi Gras, New Orleans. Members of Universalโs culinary team said theyโre bringing the Mardi Gras savory delights to select menus at Universal CityWalk and Universal Orlando resort hotels. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 17 Mardi Gras Food and Beverage OfferingsClick here to see the menu of food options available. Passholders can also pick-up a free Mardi Gras themed magnet and button at the passholder lounge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during operating hours.
Universalโs Volcano Bay to reopen after months-long closure
ORLANDO, Fla. โ If late February sounds like a good time to head to a water park youโre in luck, Universalโs Volcano Bay is set to reopen later this month after closing for three months. AdUniversalโs Volcano Bay will begin welcoming guests again on Feb. 27, hopefully in time for Florida to emerge from its recent cold snap. The water park, along with other Universal Orlando Resort theme parks, closed in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic and began a phased reopening in early June. When Volcano Bay reopens health and safety measures will remain in place similar to the measures when it reopened last summer. Guests will be required to have their temperature checked and limited capacity at the park is still in place.
More dinosaur statues arrive at Universalโs Jurassic World Velocicoaster
ORLANDO, Fla โ Universal continues to make progress on its new ride the Jurassic World: Velocicoaster. This past weekend, guests begin noticing construction crews installing additional statues of the prehistoric predators. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 14 Jurassic World: VelocicoasterGuests may remember that this is not the first sight of the iconic dinosaurs at the attraction. Aerial views now show those statues near the roller coaster tracks. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 2 Jurassic World: Velocicoaster night testingUntil that time comes, fans visiting Islands of Adventure are getting the opportunity to see the ride testing, which seems to be happening more often.
Universal Orlando offers families limited time Black Friday deal with up to 40% off
ORLANDO, Fla โ Usually Black Friday is packed with deals on TVs, clothing and stocking stuffers, but now families can grab a discounted vacation package from Universal Orlando Resort. The theme park is set to offer its best vacation package ever on Friday. The entire deal is valued at $2,154 but Universal said families that book can save as much as $1,292, based on a family of four. The incredible deal is limited in quantities and Universal stresses it will sell out fast. Universal is also offering Florida residents a limited time offer, which includes savings up to $100 on select annual passes until Dec. 17.
Trees, treats and a squirrel named Earl: A detailed look inside Universalโs holiday tribute store
Outside faรงade of Universal's Holiday tribute store (WKMG-TV)The tribute store will take guests into four highly-immersive themed rooms to purchase merchandise including T-shirts, ornaments, stockings, drink ware and more. Entrance to Universal's Holiday tribute store (WKMG-TV)Hidden treasures plucked straight from the North Pole litter a workbench, sparking a first impression. Universal's Holiday tribute store (WKMG-TV)โWhat weโve noticed just in the last few days, is some people are using it for Christmas cards. But a squirrel caused a power outage in our tree.โEarl's Tree Farm inside Universal Holiday Tribute Store (WKMG-TV)Just like that Earl the squirrel was born, and this year the holiday tribute store is celebrating the local legend with his own room. The holiday tribute store is part of Universal Orlandoโs holiday celebrations which run through Jan. 3.
Universal theme park revenue down 80% as pandemic continues
ORLANDO, Fla. โ In a quarterly earnings call, the CEO of Comcast called Universalโs theme parks the โsingle biggest dragโ of the quarter. โWhile it will take some time for the parks to return to historical levels, weโve made substantial progress,โ CEO Brian Roberts said. โUniversal Orlando and Osaka are operating at limited but growing attendance. I am very excited for next yearโs launch of our frankly incredible new theme park in Beijing.โComcast reported that Universalโs theme parks brought in $311 million during the third quarter, which runs from July through September. Dr. Duncan Dickson, a retired professor at UCFโs Rosen College of Hospitality Management, sees the upcoming hurdles for Universal Orlando.
โPuppet Theater: Captive Audienceโ house coming to Universal Orlandoโs Halloween Horror Nights
ORLANDO, Fla โ The creative and twisted minds behind Universalโs Halloween Horror Nights announced Tuesday an all-new haunted house for 2021, โPuppet Theater: Captive Audience.โThe original house will transport guests into the horrifying and gory scenes of San Franciscoโs Grandeur Theater in the turn of the century in the 1900โฒs. โThey all start losing their mind and the puppet troupe start taking the patrons, cutting them up, and turning them into puppetsโ Gray described. The house is one of several already being planned for the 2021 event by the team at Universal Orlando. Universal Orlando is currently offering fall and Halloween activities through Nov. 1, which include two haunted houses, scavenger hunts and a Halloween Horror Nights tribute store. Guests can start planning their fall 2021 visit to Halloween Horror Nights and enjoy other seasonal experiences across the destination by clicking here.
James Bond film โNo Time To Dieโ pushed again, to 2021
The release of the James Bond film โNo Time To Dieโ has been delayed again, this time to 2021, because of the effects of COVID-19 on the theatrical business. โNo Time To Dieโ was originally supposed to open in April 2020 but was pushed back to Nov. 12 in the U.K. and Nov. 20 in the U.S. The Walt Disney Co. last week delayed the planned 2020 releases of a handful of major movies until 2021. They include Marvelโs โBlack Widowโ and Steven Spielbergโs โWest Side Story.โ Universal delayed โCandymanโ to next year. Some major releases are still planned for 2020.
Volcano Bay announces monthslong closure for maintenance
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Months after reopening from its coronavirus closure, Universalโs Volcano Bay water park will once again close its gates. Only this time, itโs a planned closure. Volcano Bay will begin a seasonal closure on Nov. 2, with a current planned reopening timeframe of on or before March 1, the theme park said. โWe will use the seasonal closure to conduct annual maintenance on several attractions and areas of the park at the same time,โ the park said in a news release. โWe are working with guests who have purchased tickets to visit Volcano Bay during this timeframe.โThe theme park will also contact Universal Orlando Annual Passholders affected by this update.
Frankenstine, Bride scare-up frights in new Universal monster Halloween dรฉcor
Fans of Universal and the studioโs classic monster characters are getting a real treat this Halloween season. Universal Monsters characters like the Bride of Frankenstein, Invisible Man, The Mummy and Creature from the Black Lagoon come to life with short-circuit LightShowยฎ Projection. (Gemmy Industries)Home decorations include horrifying monster light show projections, creepy mirrors, crawling mummy hands, pumpkin push pins and an incredible 9-foot Frankenstein air blown inflatable. Trick-or-treaters are sure to be frightened when they come in contact with monster Halloween greeters and an animated Frankenstein doorbell that zaps to life showcasing a grim-green eye. 9-foot Frankenstein Airblownยฎ Inflatable (Gemmy Industries)โFor the Universal monsters collection, our goal was to create a program centered around some of the most iconic characters in history,โ said vice president of licensing at Gemmy Industries, Kim Richeson.