January 25, 2014 – Hey everyone! We’re back with another photo update from Universal Studios Hollywood, this time detailing the continuing work occurring at Despicable Me, Simpsons Plaza and the Wizarding World.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
» Parking Lot
» The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
» The Studio Tour
» Universal’s Lunar New Year Celebration
» Simpsons Plaza
» Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem / Super Silly Fun Land
As we noted in our previous update, construction in the former E.T. parking lot has continued in preparation for a new parking structure (P-3 on the NBCUniversal Evolution Plan). Lighting fixtures and other remnants are being removed as construction crews and equipment move in.
Meanwhile, steel frames for Wizarding World continue to be placed in front of the Curious George parking lot as crews continue to prepare their final destination on the Upper Lot.
Moving forward towards the Upper Lot, drilling continues at the site of Wizarding World.
There’s not too much to report as construction crews continue to level out the area’s foundation. Similar to its existing counterpart in Florida, Wizarding World in Hollywood is predicted to slope slightly upwards as guests head towards Forbidden Journey. As a side note: If you’re interested in what we have to say about Hollywood’s installation, be sure to read our article detailing our personal predictions for what Hollywood’s version of Wizarding World could entail.
With the peak season behind us, Jaws has undergone a rigorous refurbishment that’s expected to replace the leaning dock effect with a permanent concrete road. The process is expected to be completed my mid-April. In lieu of Jaws however, guests have reported going over the Collapsing Bridge on an inconsistent basis.
Meanwhile, construction continues to pull ahead at the former site of the Mummy’s Tomb, with a tour animation expected to open in the near future.
In a somewhat surprising move, Universal has launched a special in-park event celebrating Chinese New Year, with Universal Plaza decked out in festive Asian decor.
Special guests Woody Woodpecker and his girlfriend Winnie were also spotted wearing special traditional Chinese clothing with Megatron interacting with guests in Mandarin. Universal’s Lunar New Year event runs from January 25 to February 9, 2014 in Universal Plaza and is included in the price of admission.
Heading over to Simpsons Plaza, impressive progress has already been made to the structure neighboring the StarWay entrance as the area surrounding the Simpsons Ride appears to transform into a miniature version of Springfield.
Lastly, Despicable Me finally received its signage – with one facing Baker Street and a smaller incarnation facing Moulin Rouge as guests approach the attraction from Super Silly Fun Land. Construction crews appear to be moving at a steady pace, with the attraction expected to hold technical rehearsals in March.
That’s it for this month’s update. Be sure to stay with Inside Universal for continuing coverage of these projects and more originating from Universal Studios Hollywood. Thanks for reading!
Photos by Jonathan Green. Captions by Jon Fu.
