Author: Brian Glenn

The creative minds behind Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor has brought their haunt skills over to Orlando with the debut of Dark Horizon: Point of No Return. Taking place select nights until Nov 2nd, Dark Horizons features 3 different houses; Vodou, Ghostship, and Murder Island, as well as 4 bars, 2 live stages, themed food and hundreds of scare actors ready to scare you. Dark Horizons invited us out on the opening night of the event, and while we had fun overall, we thought it was fine, as there are definitely some issues that could impact how you feel about the…

Hot Butterbeer has returned to the Wizarding World. The popular version of the beverage returns during Florida’s Fall/Winter Season (being Florida, we are using Winter very loosely here). The beverage is available year-round at Universal Studios Hollywood. Hot Butterbeer is a smooth, hot beverage reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch, served hot with a whipped topping. The beverage will be available at most food & drink locations around the Wizarding World – including the Leaky Cauldron, The Hopping Pot, and Hog’s Head Pub. Since the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in June 2010, millions of Butterbeers have…

Universal Orlando has revealed some new passholder perks and benefits for 2020. Staring in January, Annual Passholders can enter through a new dedicated entrance at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The dedicated entrance will run from Jan. 4–31. The UOAP Lounge has been extended for another year and will hold a 1-Year Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 13, 2019, from park opening to park closing. Other AP exclusive perks include all-new buttons throughout the year, seasonal giveaways, and new UOAP merchandise.

Early registration is now open for Running Universal’s inaugural Epic Character Race 5K and 10K weekend on February 1 & 2, 2020 at Universal Orlando. Early registration gives runners a chance to save with race pricing starting at $72 per person (plus tax). Runners can choose from multiple options, including 5K or 10K race registration, VIP race upgrades – which include exclusive character meet-and-greets and a post-race breakfast – and admission to two of Universal Orlando’s theme parks. Runners can also save on exclusive weekend packages for race participants and their friends & family, such as the 5K Epic Character…

It’s time for another podcast! We discuss the announcement of the Bourne Stuntacular Stunt show, our experience at Dark Horizons, and some middle impressions of Halloween Horror Nights 29. Direct Download and iTunes You may download this episode directly here. You may also subscribe to the Inside Universal Podcast on iTunes. In addition, you can also follow us on Spotify to listen to podcast episodes on their app.

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that NBC Sports Grill & Brew will be opening at CityWalk Hollywood in 2020. Located adjacent to the recently opened Antojitos Cocina Mexicana, the all-new restaurant will be designed to reflect the excellence and excitement of NBC Sports’ award-winning coverage, with a fresh take on pub menus and a stellar selection of regional and exclusive draft brews. With a complement of over 100 HD TV screens, broadcasting favorite sporting events, live stream sports content and in-depth sports coverage, NBC Sports Grill & Brew will offer guests the MVP treatment with the best seats in the…

Universal Beijing Resort has announced details for its upcoming theme park, Universal Studios Beijing, revealing the seven highly-themed lands that will be featured when the park opens in 2021. In addition to the lands, Universal Beijing Resort will include a signature Universal CityWalk Beijing entertainment complex and two resort hotels. The lands are: Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Transformers: Metrobase, Minion Land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood and WaterWorld. The seven lands at Universal Studios Beijing theme park “will bring popular culture’s most compelling stories and characters to life. Each land will contain…

Jason Bourne is headed to Universal. Universal Orlando has announced The Bourne Stuntacular is set to open at Universal Studios Florida in Spring 2020. Based on the hit spy franchise, the live stunt show will “blur the lines between stage and cinema in a hybrid form of entertainment that has never been seen before”. The Bourne Stuntacular will follow the character of Jason Bourne around the globe as sinister characters pursue him. Universal states that the new show will feature “thrilling chase scenes, punishing fistfights, death-defying leaps and danger at every turn”, with the action taking place right in front…

Due to the impact of Typhoon Hagibis, Universal Studios Japan has decided to close the park on October 12 in consideration of the safety of its guests and employees. Guests with tickets purchased for October 12 will be refunded. As of now, the park is scheduled to resume operations on October 13, but could change depending on the impact of the storm. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Typhoon Hagibis (19th typhoon) is moving northwards over the Pacific to the south of Japan’s main island. Hagibis, one of the most powerful storms of the year, is on track to hit…

Experience virtual classic monsters like never before in a brand-new experience debuting at CityWalk Hollywood; Universal Monsters Presents: Bride of Frankenstein holoride. Guests will board a 2020 Ford Explorer and “fight off the creatures of the night with Bride of Frankenstein.” According to the website; Holoride is “the company advancing the future of in-vehicle entertainment”, and is partnering with Ford Motor Company and Universal Pictures to create an in-car, virtual reality experience. The experience will be offered for a limited time beginning October 14 through select dates until November 9. The experience is free and will last approximately 10 minutes from…