Author: Brian Glenn

Knott’s Berry Farm is commemorating its 100th anniversary with its largest celebration ever, which includes the return of the beloved Bear-y Tales story in an all-new 4-D interactive dark ride. Knott’s is bringing to life a continuation of the classic attraction which was initially commissioned by the Knott Family and created in 1975 by the legendary attraction designer Rolly Crump. From the press release: “Knott’s Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair” is a new 4-D interactive dark ride that will take guests on an exciting journey through reimagined show scenes that are reminiscent of the original dark ride, including the…

In this episode, we are joined by Joe, from Parkscope & Touring Plans, to wrap up and give our final thoughts on Halloween Horror Nights 29 and offer some early predictions for Halloween Horror Nights 30; as well as answering fan questions related to the Horrah! 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.

Halloween Horror Nights 29 may have just ended, but it’s time to start planning for next year. Universal Orlando has released event days for Halloween Horror Nights 30, with the event running 39 select nights at Universal Studios Florida; from Thursday, Sept 10 through Saturday, October 31, 2020. Universal plans on celebrating the 30th anniversary of the event by “bringing to life all-new scares, plus reimagined haunts inspired by the past” – teasing that we may see some returning favorites of yesteryear. The Thursday start date is new for Orlando and possibly hints towards a “Fan Night” event, similar to…

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration returns for this 2019 Holiday season, taking place from November 23 through December 31. For five weeks, the park is transforming into a winter wonderland with more than 3 million sparkling lights. Returning for another year of festive fun, guests can immerse themselves in the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Rudolph’s ChristmasTown. Stroll past life-size story book vignettes featuring the classic tale, and meet beloved characters including: Rudolph, Clarice, Bumble and Yukon Cornelius. In O Wondrous Night, enjoy a live nativity complete with more than 30 carols, life-sized puppets and animals in a spectacular Christmas…

During a Q3 earnings conference call this morning, Comcast executives confirmed that Universal Orlando’s new theme park, Universal’s Epic Universe, is expected to open in 2023. Regarding theme park growth and the future, Steve Burke, Senior EVP & CEO of NBCUniversal, stated: “And then if you go out into 2021, roughly 18 months from now, we open in Beijing. And Brian and I were there last week with Tom Williams, who runs our theme parks. It’s going to be a spectacular park, and we’re really looking forward to that. And we recently announced we’re doing a fourth gate in Orlando…

Universal Studios Hollywood is gearing up for the 2019 Holiday season, with returning favorites “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and “Grinchmas,” set to begin Thursday, November 28 and running daily through Sunday, December 29, 2019. “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” returns this year. The nighttime show features projection mapping, lights, and music cast against the backdrop of Hogwarts castle. The A Capella Frog Choir returns, performing holiday-themed songs, and newly introduced holiday-themed fare and hot Butterbeer will further complement the overall experience. A wide selection of custom-made Christmas ornaments created especially for “The Wizarding World of Harry…

For the sake of clarity, this article discusses rumors and possible changes to the park. This is not a confirmation. With The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash set to open in the near future, Universal Studios Hollywood plans on repackaging the surrounding area, along with Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and Super Silly Fun Land, into Illumination-branded “neighborhoods” – creating an Illumination Land in the Upper Lot. Recently, a sign was installed near the entrance of The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash showing the street will be renamed “Pets Place”. This is in addition to “Minion Way”,…

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.