As we head into the holiday season, Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood for another year of fun with characters, shows and entertainment based off the popular 2000 live action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The event takes place inside Universal Plaza and on the Studio Tour from December 10 and 11, and from December 16, 2016 to January 1, 2017. While the bulk of this year’s Grinchmas remains remarkably similar to last year’s event, there are a few notable changes that are still worth covering, so let’s take a look at what Grinchmas 2016 has to offer. Park…
Author: Jon Fu
With Grinchmas fast approaching, here’s what you need to know about Universal’s annual holiday event: First off, what is Grinchmas? Inspired by Universal’s 2000 live-action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Grinchmas is a seasonal event that focuses on recreating some of the film’s most memorable scenes inside the park. The festive event also includes shows and activities that are based on the film’s whimsy and spirit, including a nightly a capella group and a copious amount of photo opportunities. Is Grinchmas included in the price of admission? Yes, Grinchmas is included in the price of a one-day ticket on…
After several weeks of construction, the newly refurbished Universal Cinema is now open for Thanksgiving weekend. Still operated in conjunction with AMC, Universal Cinema now features a new expansive glass facade with a refurbished entrance plaza and a redesigned logo. The cinema complex also features reclining seats, a new immersive sound system and a Christie RGB laser projection system. Universal Cinema’s refurbishment also extends to the theater’s IMAX theaters, which will now feature a dual 4K laser projection system, 12 channel surround system and reserved seating. Patrons who wish to have a pre-movie drink will also be able to experience…
Revenge of the Mummy reopened today after a brief refurbishment. The bulk of the refurbishment focused on the ride’s infrastructure, with no significant modifications to the guest facing experience. As we also reported, guests are now utilizing temporary lockers setup in the Revenge of the Mummy queue. Mummy Treats and the adjoining locker rooms are now closed, with guests being rerouted by wooden construction walls. These ongoing changes as Universal prepares to construct a fourth row of StarWay escalators . Such an expansion will expand the StarWay’s landing banks, requiring modifications to the Upper and Lower Lot entrances. Please stay…
Cartooniversal – one of the oldest structures on the Upper Lot – has been demolished. The retail store closed earlier this month after years of operation, with Universal planning to replace the aging structure with a new a two-story multi-use space that will house retail, park services and guest amenities. Though not formally announced, the new structure will likely house a section for Hello Kitty – a brand that Universal partnered with in 2015 to create interactive in-park experiences. The new building is also expected to be a part of Universal Boulevard, which debuted earlier this year as a multi-use…
As Halloween Horror Nights 2016 winds down, Universal has already begun preparations for their annual Grinchmas holiday event. Featuring a festive display of lights, characters, shows and activities inspired by the live action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the bulk of this year’s Grinchmas will take place in the heart of Universal Plaza. However, while Universal prepares for the holiday season, the park is also gearing up to refurbish or enhance several areas of the park and the studio. In this update, we’ll take a look at those construction projects alongside Universal’s progress on Grinchmas. Let’s get started. Park…
In this episode, Chris Glass, Tyler Crouch and Jon Fu discuss Universal’s potential attendance bump of 20 percent, CityWalk developments and the closure of several items inside the park. Agenda » 0:00:10 – Will Universal experience a 20% increase in attendance this year? » 0:13:00 – StarWay expansion / Mummy Treats closure » 0:28:00 – The closure of the Red Sea on the Studio Tour » 0:39:00 – Universal’s annual Day of Giving charity event » 0:44:10 – The closure of Yogurtland » 0:58:05 – Grinchmas 2016 » 1:02:00 – Halloween Horror Nights 2016 wrap-up Direct Download and iTunes You…
Edit: November 11, 2016: After a week of inactivity, the Red Sea is likely to have closed permanently on November 3. … Edit: November 4, 2016: The Red Sea was not open today. We’ll continue to update you with the tour animation’s status. … Edit: November 3, 2016: The closure date has been moved, and guests can go through the Red Sea today. However, the tour animation’s pumps have been dismantled and the lake will not be able to refill. The Red Sea is expected to close very soon, so we suggest you try to experience the animation as soon…
Edit: According to CityWalk’s directory, Yogurtland will indeed be replaced by Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt. Yogurtland has closed, Inside Universal has learned. Known for serving frozen yogurt alongside a plethora of toppings, Yogurtland was CityWalk Hollywood’s go-to place for frozen treats. While an official replacement has yet to be announced, a job posting by NBCUniversal suggests that Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt will move in. Menchie’s is a San Fernando based frozen yogurt retailer known for their wide assortment of flavors and toppings with a branch already in operation at CityWalk Orlando. Please stay tuned to Inside Universal for more on this and…
Universal Studios Hollywood has begun serving Hot Butterbeer at Three Broomsticks within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Hot Butterbeer will be served by the cup for 5.49 plus tax. Served alongside Butterbeer and Frozen Butterbeer, Hot Butterbeer is described as a combination of butterscotch and shortbread. For those who have never had Butterbeer, Hot Butterbeer tastes somewhat like a sweeter version of hot chocolate with a nice foam top. The warm beverage will be offered as part of Universal’s seasonal menu for The Wizarding World.