Author: Brian Glenn

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone has permanently closed at Universal Studios Florida. DreamWorks Destination, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, Fievel’s Playground, Curious George Goes to Town, and the new Shrek Meet & Greet had one final round of goodbyes on Sunday, January 15; with team members getting the official last ride on the Nuthouse Coaster shortly after the park closed at 9 pm. By Monday morning, construction walls were already set up, with a lone pathway leading to the E.T. Adventure, which will remain open. The huge KidZone sign that welcomed guests into the land was covered in black tarp. Animal Actors on…

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is set to open on January 27, 2023 at CityWalk Hollywood per Universal Studios Hollywood’s official website. While no other information has been released, including the menu, Universal states it will feature “eclectic brunch, lunch, and dinner items, sumptuous milkshakes and desserts, and delectable confectionary treats”. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen replaces Hard Rock Cafe, which closed in 2020.

Animal Actors and the Special Effects Show have officially closed at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Production Central store will close later this week. Huge crowds came to pay their final respects to both shows on Sunday, with the final performances for each show having extremely long lines; to the point where guests needed to be turned away due to capacity. No details have been given for what is replacing the shows other than the area is closing to make way for a “future attraction” and there will be “more to come in the months ahead.” Stay tuned to Inside Universal for…

Florida’s biggest Christian music festival, Rock the Universe, is back at Universal Orlando from January 27-29. The event, which began in 1998, is celebrating its 25th anniversary of “faith, fun, and fellowship”. Each night, some of Christian music’s biggest artists will perform across Universal’s three stages – the Music Plaza Stage, the Hollywood Stage, and the Coca-Cola FanZone Stage. This year’s headliners include GRAMMY-nominated rock band, Skillet, Northern Irish folk-rock worship band, Rend Collective, Dove award-winning band, Bethel Music, and more. The festival continues Saturday night with performances by GRAMMY award-winning singer, Zach Williams, Billboard’s #1 Hot Christian Song artist, Matthew West, and more. For the full weekend…

Here’s a look around at what’s happening at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, from January 9, 2023, to January 15, 2023. Universal Orlando You have one week left to enjoy DreamWorks Destination, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, Fievel’s Playground, Curious George Goes to Town, and the Shrek Meet & Greet before they all close on Jan 15, 2023. Refurbishments Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida is still in Technical Rehearsal and may operate on a limited, unscheduled basis. There is no word as to when the ride will “officially” reopen. Jurassic Park River Adventure at Islands of Adventure…

UPDATE: Pass Member Reservations will open on Jan 9, 2023, at 11 am PST. Original story below. Universal Studios Hollywood has postponed registration for Pass Member Previews for Super Nintendo World until “early new week”. Reservations were originally supposed to open today, Jan 5, 2023, at 1:30 pm PT but Universal states they were experiencing a “temporary network outage”. https://twitter.com/UniStudios/status/1611161847096381440?s=20&t=h1hmx-9PYOI2czpPfK-Ftg Pass Members are encouraged to visit http://UniversalPassMember.com or Universal’s Twitter at @UniStudios on Friday, January 6 at Noon PT for updated information. Per Universal; “All reservations will begin early next week and previously announced AP preview dates will remain the…

Orlando’s Right Rail coalition and Universal Orlando Resort today announced significant progress toward realizing the vision of commuter rail connectivity throughout Central Florida – one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation – with the creation of the Shingle Creek Transit Utility Community Development District. This limited-purpose public entity will plan, finance, construct, operate, own and maintain a new Orange County Convention Center SunRail station, which advances a key priority for SunRail – the Sunshine Corridor Program. The Program creates a commuter rail line between the Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center – expanding SunRail and connecting…

Here’s a look around at what’s happening at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, from January 2, 2023, to January 8, 2023. Universal Orlando The Universal Studios AP Lounge officially closed on December 31, 2022, as they plan to relocate the popular AP hangout over to the Toon Lagoon area in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Refurbishments Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida is still in Technical Rehearsal and may operate on a limited, unscheduled basis. There is no word as to when the ride will “officially” reopen. The last day to ride Jurassic Park River Adventure before its…

After reopening in 2021, 2022 started to resemble something normal for Universal Studios Hollywood. This year saw the park get ready for the future, with the hype surrounding the opening of Super Nintendo World in full swing. While there were notable happenings around Hollywood, it also saw the park get ready for the future elsewhere. So let’s take a look at the Top 10 Stories from Universal Studios Hollywood during 2022. 10. Barham Gate Universal Studios added eight new soundstage buildings to the far side of the backlot, off of the Barham Blvd. entrance. The expansion should see some major…

After a weird few years, 2022 started to resemble something normal. Universal Orlando’s eyesight shifted more toward getting the Resort ready for Epic Universe’s opening in a couple of years. While the park’s changes weren’t as be as big as last year’s VelociCoaster, there were a lot of newsworthy announcements that made for an eventful 2022; so much so that some notable happenings – such as Vegan Butterbeer, the Prop Shop’s Closure, and the CityWalk 18+ curfew – didn’t make the list. So let’s take a look at the Top 10 Stories from Universal Orlando during 2022. 10. Poseidon’s Fury…