April 18, 2015 – To prepare for the summer crowds and the theme park’s fiftieth anniversary, Universal Studios Hollywood will be holding Studio Tour Guide auditions on May 4, 2015 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Individuals possessing a charismatic personality coupled with an encyclopedic knowledge of the movie and television industry are encouraged to bring their resume and headshot to the park for an interview. More than 40 guides will be hired to join Universal’s existing fleet of nearly 100 guides. A coveted role in the industry, Studio Tour guides are among the most public and sought-after positions at…
Author: Jon Fu
April 7, 2015 – Despite the soft opening of Springfield late last month, Universal is continuing to embark on its largest transformation to date. With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter fast approaching, Universal has attempted to expand its infrastructure with additional parking, a redefined entrance plaza, a new queue for Shrek 4D, various improvements to the Lankershim entrance and more.
Springfield at Night March 29, 2015 – With Springfield entering its third day of operation, we thought we’d take a special look to see what the new Simpsons-themed land looks at night. What had otherwise been a poorly lit Simpsons Plaza has now been transformed into an immersive experience based off America’s favorite fictional city. Let’s explore. Springfield Index » Springfield » Lard Lad, Krustylu & Android’s Dungeon » Phineas Q, Luigi’s & Suds McDuff » Duff Brewery & Bumbblebee Man » Krusty Burger, Moe’s & Springfield Nuclear » Cletus’ Chicken Shack & the Aztec Theater » Dr. Nick, Springfield…
March 29, 2015 – In preparation for the Studio Tour and the theme park’s continuing fiftieth anniversary celebration, Universal has refreshed the famous Flash Flood animation on the Studio Tour with new lighting, sound and audio effects. Compared to its previous versions, Flash Flood now features a more dramatic soundtrack with stronger strobe effects with new lighting attached to the village facades. In addition, audio surrounding the tour animation has also been upgraded, resulting in a more realistic experience. Guests can now expect to hear more pronounced thunder crackling coupled with low-frequency effects reminiscent of Earthquake: The Big One. Introduced…
March 28, 2015 – Following a year of extensive modifications, changes, and refurbishments, Shrek 4D has finally reopened with a brand new facade and queue. Featuring a plush, forest-esque scene, Shrek’s 4D’s queue now uses a combination of ground-lights, brick barriers, misters and in-ground speakers to create a new immersive experience. In addition, new lighting fixtures, a refreshed faux-brick facade, a new sign and a relocated Donkey meet-and-greet cart allow the park to subtly transition from the show to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – easing concerns that Shrek 4D may contrast dramatically alongside the immersive world of Harry…
Welcome to Springfield March 27, 2015 – After months of construction and anticipation, Universal Studios Hollywood previewed the highly anticipated Springfield food cfourt to guests and employees today. We’ll have comprehensive coverage in the coming days, but for now, let’s take a brief look at what Springfield has to offer. Springfield Index » Simpsons Plaza » Phineas Q. Butterfat’s Ice Cream Parlor » Luigi’s » Duff Brewery » Lard Lad Donuts » Krusty Burger » Moe’s » Springfield Nuclear Power Plant » Springfield DMV » Cletus’ Chicken Shack Simpsons Plaza Phineas Q. Butterfat’s Ice Cream Parlor Luigi’s Duff Brewery Lard…
March 26, 2015 – In an effort to promote the studio’s latest release in the popular Fast and Furious franchise, Universal Studios Hollywood will be hosting a series of special promotions and events centered on the premier of Furious 7. In line with its movie-studio heritage, Universal will be hosting advance screenings of Furious 7 at AMC Universal CityWalk 19 during select times every seven minutes after the hour starting on April 2, 2015. In addition, AMC Universal CityWalk 19 will also host a two-day movie marathon featuring six of the Fast and Furious releases from March 31, 2015 to…
March 25, 2015 – For those who are not aware, the NBCUniversal Experience recently underwent a minor refurbishment for its routine prop rotation, showcasing some of the studio and theme park’s most memorable items and memorabilia. While the bulk of the collection remains the same, Universal recently refreshed some of the exhibit’s window displays in an continuing effort to promote the theme park’s semicentennial. In addition to the park, Universal also added a slew of props from their large film catalog, including items from the Jurassic Park franchise, The Theory of Everything, Bring It On and more. With that in…
March 24, 2015 – While it took a bit longer than expected, Jurassic Park: The Ride reopened at Universal this week and the timing couldn’t be more crucial with spring break crowds beginning to flood the park. Let’s see how it looks! The gates stand tall as guests flow in. Warnings about a potential soaking are prevalent, and poncho purchases are plenty, but it was a fairly dry trip today, all things considered. Infomational signs are still around, but haven’t been polished in quite some time. The crowds didn’t mind though. They were just happy to get some splash excitement…
March 10, 2015 – Universal Studios Hollywood has filed a trademark application for “Hollywood & Dine,” Inside Universal has learned. Categorized as a service for providing food and drink, Hollywood & Dine may be the new name of the replacement restaurant for Victoria Station and Universal’s House of Horrors. Indeed, the name falls in line with the dining, shopping and entertainment venue that will replace Victoria Station, which Inside Universal confirmed late last year. While details are sparse, the name does suggest a sit-down restaurant in the same vein as the Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure, continuing the…