Universal Orlando Resort today announced plans to premier an all-new, 36-hole miniature golf experience – Hollywood Drive-In Golf – at CityWalk by early 2012. The experience is being designed by Universal’s creative team to do for miniature golf what a blockbuster theme park attraction does for a movie: bring it alive in an entirely new way. The two state-of-the art 18-hole courses will be unlike any other mini golf experience.
Inspired by the classic drive-in movie era, guests will be whisked into an elaborately-themed environment based on the vintage horror flicks and “little green men” science fiction films of the 1950s. As they experience two family friendly courses, “The Haunting of Ghostly Greens” and “Invaders From Planet Putt,” guests will putt their way through elaborate movie-style scenes, passing through a cemetery, under a giant spider, through a flying saucer and into the basement lab in a haunted house. Cutting-edge interactive elements and special effects will immerse guests further into the “double feature,” and with LED course edge-lighting they can play day, night and late night.
The new experience is being developed to complement Universal CityWalk’s role as an entertainment hub with something for everyone.
“We created Hollywood Drive-In to be fun and different and something everyone can enjoy,” said Ric Florell, senior vice president and general manager of resort revenue operations. “We used creative theming and state-of-the-art technology to take the experience to the next level. It’s perfect for Universal CityWalk – whether you are playing at 11am or 11pm.”
Situated just below the first level of CityWalk and next to the AMC Cineplex, guests will see the miniature golf courses as they are entering CityWalk from the parking garages. Construction on Hollywood Drive-In Golf is scheduled to begin this summer and the venue will open by early 2012.
With the addition of the this new courses, many are speculating about it’s location and what will happen to the Valet Parking area, which is located exactly where the announcement hints at the Mini Golf Location. Below is an image that will give you an idea what space Universal has to work with. Looks like Valet will be getting the boot.
UPDATE: Universal Orlando has confirmed that the Valet Parking Area will stay as is, and will utilize other unoccupied space.
