Welcome back to Around the Universe, your weekly Universal Orlando photo update.  This week we’ll start off with some major changes at Cowfish, take an abbreviated walk around Islands, before hopping on the Hogwarts Express over to the Studios, where most of todays update will take place.  Then it’s balls to the walls Horror Nights!  We’ve got this years merch, new scare zone props, lots of house signage, and some last minute road construction.  All that and more, this week, as we go Around the Universe.

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Cowfish facade is really coming along.

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Framing for the sign has gone up.
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Windows have been cleared, but there’s still not much to see inside.
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The exterior of the elevator is being painted with a fake wood paneling.
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Up on the second level, the Cowfish patio is nearing completion.
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Management getting a tour of the new facilities.
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There’s some new signage on the patio covering.
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Lots of construction going on on the front of the building.
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More Potter on this weeks park map.
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Lets make a quick stop for breakfast this morning before we start our tour.
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Todays three options are, The Cream Horn.
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This Giant Red Velvet Muffin, and…
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Todays winner, the Apple Coconut Turnover. A great value at $2.49.
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Obligatory Hulk Shot for the week.
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And another.
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Sensing a theme here.
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I may have found a new angle to shoot from this week.
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Last Hulk shot, I promise.
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The Lagoon is looking a little empty this week.
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Up in our Kongstruction Perch, lots of Earth moving and concrete pouring has happened in the last couple weeks.
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Looking the other direction provides a great view of Hogwarts Castle!
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Wait times have been pretty minimal this week for the Hogwarts Express, especially in the mornings. Now lets hop the train over to Kings Cross.
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This violin player in Kings Cross was going all out on a cover of “Free Fallin”
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The sax player was doing his own rendition of “Hedwig’s Theme”
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Kings Cross had a similar wait.
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All the signage for the Horror Nights Houses has gone up, including this one for Giggles and Gore near Beetlejuice.
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Halloween’s signage was set up outside the Men In Black restrooms.
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The signs for Dollhouse of the Damned and Roanoke in Kidzone.
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Over in Central Park, the Bayou of Blood voodoo shack stage looks to be completed.
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Obligatory, “Please Do Not Climb” sign.
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Lots of details inside the shack.
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The Horror Nights game area has been set up in front of the Universal Music Plaza.
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Lots of horror themed prizes to be won.
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Wonder what they do with these when it rains…?
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Horror Nights Merchandise has moved into the new Film Vault store.
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Wish this was for sale!
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They’ve added some classic Universal DVDs and Blu-Rays, including Jaws 3, and 2Fast, 2Furious
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Just outside, they were doing some filming for VH1.
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Major work is being done on the streets of New York.
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One entrance to Sting Alley is blocked off.
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The walls extend past Starbucks, to the edge of New York. Hopefully this will all be done by Friday!
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Back over in Production Central, two new giant candles have been put in for MASKerade.
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Some tattered netting was added to the giant chandelier.
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In New York, the “Gone Purging” banner is back up after last weekends Rock the Universe event.
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A school bus stage has been set up where the bus stop normally is.
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It’s covered in big banners advertising the Purge.
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Each side is flanked with two shipping containers.
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Lots of little details everywhere.
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Wouldn’t mind seeing this up for auction at next years Entertainment Designer’s Forum.
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This as well. Would look great on the side of my house!
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Not much longer now.
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Last week they had this side of Sting Alley walled off for a private event, but things are back to normal
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Lots of bars have been set up throughout the park, including this one along the San Francisco waterfront.
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Across the street, the Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute signage is up and covered.
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And the signage has gone up for the events other live show, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure.
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Another bar has been set up near the entrance to KidZone.
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Now lets take a walk through Bayou of Blood and check out some the great voodoo details.
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Lots of pieces with great detailing.
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Many of the bigger props remain behind tarps during the day.
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There were shots of this tombstone uncovered floating around twitter earlier this week. Seems to be some sort of angel statue.
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Hoping these are more than just static props.
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More hidden props.
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The zone itself is going to be ridiculously atmospheric! Can’t wait to see the lighting package they give it.
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Right next door is the prop-less Face Off scarezone.
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All that’s been set up are a pair of signs, one at each end of the zone.
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Assuming more will be rolled out prior the event starting each night. That being said, make up and creature design are what’s going to carry this zone.
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Outside the park, the gateway has received its HHN overlay.
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The Walking Dead features prominently in the middle.
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Expect to see lots of burning walkers this year.
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The Purge and Halloween feature to the left side.
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While AVP, From Dusk Til Dawn, Dracula Untold, and Face Off are featured on the right.
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And that’ll do it for the parks. Now lets check out some of the new merchandise for this years event at the HHN kiosk in CityWalk.
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This years official HHN 24 shirt!
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The 2014 HHN vinyl figure, and matching pin.
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Hmm, maybe a year late on this one…
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And this years Walking Dead shirt.
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The CityWalk Stage has been missing for a few weeks. No word yet on whether it will go back up for the busy holiday season.

And with that, I bid you adieu. Hope to meet a lot of you guys this Friday at the Orlando United and Tracker Vlog Opening Night Meet-Up! Make sure to leave a comment below and share the update on Twitter and Facebook. Follow me on twitter @triggernel and we’ll see you guys soon!