Author: Brian Glenn

UPDATE 9/3: Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure will close at 6 p.m. today. Original story below. Due to the looming threat of Hurricane Dorian, Universal Orlando has announced operational changes for Tuesday. Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure will open as scheduled, however, Volcano Bay will be closed for the entire day. No announcement has been made as to whether the theme parks will close early. As of now, Wednesday’s operational status is also unknown, along with the Team Member Preview for Halloween Horror Nights which is scheduled for Wednesday night. As much as we love the…

Universal Studios Hollywood has begun testing an all-new electric tram for its Studio Tour. The tram is allegedly much quieter, and, obviously, a lot more enviro-friendly. As of now, testing is being done randomly. The move is part of Universal’s “Green is Universal” initiative – focusing on sustainability throughout operations but focus on three main areas – energy, water, and waste. There is no word as to whether all trams will be converted to electric. Stay Tuned to Inside Universal for the latest on the Studio Tour and Universal Parks & Resorts.

Universal Orlando Resort has launched a social media sweepstakes to reward two lucky participants with an unforgettable trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. To enter, fans must showcase their passion for the Wizarding World by posting a photo on their social media channels of what they’d wear on their visit to the incredibly-immersive lands – whether that’s donning a Hogwarts robe to display their house pride, wearing glasses reminiscent of the famous Boy Wizard himself or letting their creativity flow by creating their very own outfit inspired by beloved characters and environments from the Harry Potter series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNa1oNWmTq4 Universal Orlando…

The Horrah Season is upon us! Brian and Drew talk everything Halloween Horror Nights 29, discussing all 10 houses, 5 scare zones, the shows, as well as offer tips for this year’s event. 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.

Antojitos Mexican Restaurant has opened at CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood! Antojitos features a menu that boasts traditional favorites like signature guacamole, empanadas, and tacos; plus over 150 tequilas, handcrafted cocktails, and draft imports. The restaurant replaces Camacho’s Cantina, which closed last year. Antojitos is an original restaurant from Universal that opened in CityWalk Orlando in 2014 as part of CityWalk’s re-imagining. Sadly, the tableside guacamole, which has become a staple of the Orlando version, is not featured at the Hollywood version. Stay Tuned to Inside Universal for the latest on CityWalk and Universal Parks & Resorts

Universal Parks has released the director’s cut of the TV spot for Halloween Horror Nights 2019, which will be used for both coasts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAl_OXRzjVs&feature=youtu.be The short film follows a group of friends enjoying a movie night until the biggest names in horror come alive – including the Tethered from Us, the Demodogs from Stranger Things, and Dracula & Wolfman from Universal’s Monsters. An alternate commercial exists solely advertising Ghostbusters, and features Slimer eating popcorn and coming after one of the Watch Party guests. Halloween Horror Nights begins Friday, September 6 in Orlando and on Friday, September 13 in Hollywood. Tickets…

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced a new original house that will be featured at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights – Curse of Pandora’s Box. The original, Greek mythology-inspired maze transports guests into the nightmarish netherworld of Hades. Guests enter the maze inside “Pandora’s Cabinet of Curiosities”.Amid every occultist artifacts and forbidden relics known to man, the bizarre shop houses an all-consuming collection of evil trapped behind glass-encased cabinets, including a giant, ornate box inlaid with human bones and adorned with the silhouette of a mysterious woman clasping her body with skeletal arms. According to Universa’s Press Release: As guests pass…

Universal Orlando has announced that they will be moving the pick-up and drop-off location at the Resort to its own dedicated area in the garages. Beginning Thursday, August 22, guest and team member pick-up/drop-off, as well as rideshare transportation programs such as Uber and Lyft, will be re-located to the 5th floor of the Jurassic Park section of the North parking garage in CityWalk. Vehicles will be able to access this location through a dedicated lane in Universal Orlando’s standard parking garage entrance. Parking fees will not be required. With the increasing popularity of the resort, as well as the…

Chris Lord, Chris Glass, and Sydney Newman are back to discuss the latest happenings around Universal Studios Hollywood; including Pass Member Appreciation Days, the end of Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle, wrap up thoughts on Jurassic World, Midsummer Scream’s Halloween Horror Nights panel, and more. 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 Orlando has announced the dates for next year’s Mardi Gras 2020 event. The event will be taking place nightly from February 1 to April 2. Mardi Gras has become a popular staple at Universal Orlando, featuring a nightly parade and concerts featuring the biggest acts. The concert lineup will be released in the coming months. Stay tuned to Inside Universal for more on Mardi Gras and the Universal Parks & Resorts.