Author: Brian Glenn

Chris Lord, Chris Glass, and Sydney Newman are back to discuss the latest happenings around Universal Studios Hollywood; including Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem removal of 3D glasses, Halloween Horror Nights updates, Jurassic World and the handling of opening date announcements for Jurassic World and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. 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.

While guests eagerly await the opening of Jurassic World: The Ride, Universal Studios Hollywood re-opened the Raptor Encounter, while also debuting 2 new dinosaur meet & greets. Located adjacent to the ride, the newly-themed Raptor Encounter allows guests to meet Blue and her beta Raptors. Initially debuting last Summer, each Raptor bares 56 razor-sharp, bone-crushing teeth and lunges forward with curved talons that extend up to 12 inches from their 18-inch-long feet.  Towering 12 feet in height and 15 feet – from tail to snout. Blue, of course, became popular after her debut in 2015’s Jurassic World – where she…

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced the full scare zone line-up that will be featured at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Joining the previously-announced “Christmas in Hell” zone will be 4 additional zones throughout the park, including the returning “ToXXXic Tunnel”. Here’s a brief description, along with some released concept art of a character, of each zone. Fallen Angelz Explore crypts packed with restless ghouls and escape angry skeletons that have taken over Main Street. If you think the aged statues are creepy, wait until you encounter the wraith who will be literally watching over you. You can also spread your…

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced tickets and released a bit of information for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, including an offer for fans to get an exclusive first look at “Halloween Horror Nights,” inviting them to experience the event on Thursday, September 12, one day before it officially opens on Friday, September 13. The Fan Preview includes a chance to be among the first to visit the event, special themed photo ops with scare-actors, DJ music performances, plus receive a special commemorative credential, in addition to possibly seeing favorite celebrities attending the event’s red carpet premiere which takes place that…

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites is officially open at the Universal Orlando Resort. Surfside Inn and Suites is Universal’s first Value Category hotel; and offers guests a relaxed and easy retreat, with a surf and beach vibe woven throughout the hotel. The 750-room hotel is the destination’s seventh property in partnership with Loews Hotels & Co. Earlier in the month, Universal invited us out to get a tour of the resort while they were getting it ready for the opening, which you can read about here. Surfside Inn and Suites will offer two different types of…

Bigfire is now officially open at Universal’s CityWalk Orlando. The all-new full-service restaurant draws inspiration from the nostalgia of cooking over open flames The two-story venue will feature natural design elements of mix and matched fabrics and seating, cast iron, twinkling lights, camp lanterns – and even a canoe suspended from the overhead rafters – to complete the outdoor ambiance inside the restaurant. We recently were invited by Universal to preview the menu and came away very impressed with its offerings. For a full breakdown of the menu, along with prices, make sure to visit Universal’s official site. Bigfire replaces Emeril’s…

Our new Zoom Lens series presents something a bit different than our usual podcast releases. Each episode of Zoom Lens will offer an in-depth look at attractions, events, lands, and more around the Universal Parks & Resorts. In this episode, we take a look at the history and making of the Jurassic Park attractions, and it’s eventual evolution in Universal Studios Hollywood to Jurassic World. Hosted by Christopher Lord Special Guest Host: Derrick Davis of Jurassic Time Photos from Sydney Newman, Derrick Davis, Christopher Lord, Brian Glenn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s7gxJkhvTo&t= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HoxOzdyCxE& Direct Download and iTunes You may download this episode directly…

The Yeti returns! Today, Universal Orlando has revealed Yeti: Terror of the Yukon as the next original haunted house coming to Halloween Horror Nights 29. The house will transport guests to an isolated logging camp in a remote part of Canada that’s all but uninhabitable. As they venture through the camp, they will quickly discover they are not alone and now must flee from a tribe of Yeti, beasts as brutal as the winter. Last year, the yeti was featured in Attack of the Swamp Yeti as part of the grindhouse-themed Slaughter Sinema haunted house. Halloween Horror Nights returns to…

Over the weekend, She-Ra debuted in the Lost Continent, featured as a new meet & greet in Islands of Adventure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF5obwghPLI&lc=z23rz1co1vepd1af1acdp43b0ngi3kr0yjkdzko0eq1w03c010c Currently meeting near the area just before Mythos/Posideon’s Fury, the character is based on the 2018 Netflix reboot She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which is also produced by DreamWorks Animation Television. The series has been renewed for a third season, which is set to debut this August Debuting in 1985’s She-Ra: Princess of Power, Princess Adora is the twin sister of Prince Adam, aka He-Man, and is part of the Masters of the Universe franchise. As of now, there…

Universal Orlando invited members of the media to tour around and get a first look inside  Endless Summer Resort as Surfside Inn & Suites before it opens to the public. Set to open June 27th, Surfside Inn & Suites introduces extra affordability with the introduction of the Value category, offering the lowest rates of any Resort hotel; with rates starting as low as $73 per night for a 7-night stay. With such a low price point, while still offering all of the on-site amenities, Universal states that pre-bookings have been some of the strongest in Universal’s resort history. During our…