Author: Brian Glenn

Knott’s Berry Farm will open Calico River Rapids on Friday, May 17th. The new white water raft ride takes explorers on a search for new land where indigenous wildlife, treacherous roaring rapids, dynamic water effects plus a variety of wild surprises will be encountered along the way. Calico River Rapids takes over the former Bigfoot Rapids white water raft ride, after undergoing a major renovation; featuring new animatronics, themed show scenes, a new story overlay – which tells the backstory about the origins of the “Ghost Town” community of Calico. The attraction will come to life with new animatronics and…

The Universal Monsters will be featured as a maze at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, with each coast getting their own version based on the popular Monster franchise. At Universal Orlando Resort, guests will be hunted by every single grisly monster from the anthology, including Dracula, The Wolf Man and Frankenstein, in the all-new experience, “Universal Monsters.” Each sinister environment will bleed from one to the next as guests press through the darkened realms of horrifying creatures. Guests will face bloody terrors in Dracula’s castle and flee from what is behind the cryptic…

The Today Cafe opened its doors for the first time yesterday at Universal Studios Florida, allowing passholders the first chance to enjoy the new quick-service restaurant. Inspired by the studio where the show is filmed, fans will be able to enjoy the experience of enjoying a bite while inside a recreation of Studio 1A in the Rockefeller Center. The Today Cafe will offer specialty breakfast options like bagel toast and breakfast bowls; to New York-inspired sandwiches and salads. Guests can grab items on-the-go, or enjoy their meal any time of the day at seating both inside and outside in an…

The Hollywood team assemble to discuss a busy couple months at Universal Studios Hollywood. In this episode, we chat about Dark Arts of Hogwarts Castle Premiere, Jurassic World: The Ride news, the announcement of Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, and a few Halloween Horror Nights announcements. As always, we cap off the episode by answering your questions. 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.

Merchandise for the much-anticipated Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure coaster is now for sale at both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. The merchandise features different magical creatures that guests will encounter on the ride, including Fluffy, the three-headed dow, centaurs, pixies, and more. Items such as t-shirts, plushes, mugs, and jewelry are available for purchase. The attraction, which is set to open on June 13, will combine a new level of storytelling and innovative coaster technology with rich environments and sets – including an actual forest with more than 1,200 live trees. It will also give guests the unique opportunity…

Universal Orlando Resort has announced the dates for this year’s Holidays celebration, beginning November 16, 2019 and running through January 5, 2020. All the Holiday’s favorites are returning this year for Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration; including Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which also features the  “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” nighttime show. Over at Universal Studios Florida, the Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s will run nightly, and Mannheim Steamroller will be performing on select nights. Over at Islands of Adventure, the classic Grinchmas returns. Of course,…

The Raptor Encounter meet & greet at Jurassic Park in Islands of Adventure has temporarily moved to a new area as Universal continues land preparation for a new Jurassic Park attraction. The meet & greet is now located adjacent to Pizza Preddatoria, in an area formerly occupied by a seating area. The old Raptor Encounter area has now been completely walled off. Universal has yet to announce what the new project entails, but rumors indicate a coaster is likely coming to the area. Like always, nothing is official until Universal makes it official. It is believed that a new Raptor…

We’re back with a photo update around the Universal Orlando. Other than the Jurassic Park project and Dockside Inn & Suites, a lot of the projects are putting the finishing touches and wrapping up as they enter the final phase of construction. Let’s get started! Park Update Index » Universal’s Endless Summer Resort » Bigfire Restaurant » Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure » Jurassic Park Project » Today Cafe » Hollywood Walk of Fame » New Universal Monster/Horror Store » New Universal Resort Freestyle Cup » A Little Bit of this, A Little Bit of that Universal’s Endless Summer Resort…

Tigris is officially open Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! The new attraction is Florida’s tallest launch coaster and the ninth coaster in the park’s collection. Busch Gardens invited us out to ride the new coaster yesterday before it officially opened to the public. Tigris is located in the Stanleyville area of the theme park in the former home of Tidal Wave – right next to Jungala, which houses the park’s endangered Bengal tigers. In an effort to reuse and recycle, most of the parts from the old attraction, Tidal Wave, was demoed and recycled to use in the construction of Tigris…

The Hard Rock Cafe is staying at Universal’s CityWalk in Orlando for the foreseeable future. Hard Rock International today announced a lease renewal with Universal Orlando Resort to maintain Hard Rock Cafe’s presence in the Universal CityWalk entertainment complex for another 20 years, keeping the venue open at its current location through 2039. Hard Rock Cafe Orlando stands in Universal Orlando CityWalk and features a multi-level Cafe, expansive Rock Shop and 3,000-person concert venue. The “Coliseum of Rock” is home to more pieces of music memorabilia than any other Hard Rock Cafe in the world. The Hard Rock Cafe has…