On Wednesday, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Creative Director John Murdy and The Walking Dead’s Executive Producer and Director Greg Nicotero spoke at length about Universal’s latest addition, The Walking Dead Attraction. Focusing namely the athleticism and dexterity required to become a walker, John Murdy and Greg Nicotero introduced the opening cast of Universal’s up-and-coming year round maze. Their challenge? To create a cast that can embody the general characteristics of a walker, while still retaining some form of individuality. As Murdy put it, actors must “find their inner walker.” As cliché as that may sound, the attraction creators’ emphasis on originality…
Author: Jon Fu
Hi everyone, we’re back with yet another photo update from Universal Studios Hollywood, this time focusing on the ongoing construction occurring on Universal Hollywood Drive, CityWalk, the in-park Universal Studios Store, The Walking Dead Attraction, Halloween Horror Nights and more! We have a jam-packed photo update for you, so let’s get started. Park Update Index » Universal Hollywood Drive » CityWalk » Universal Studios Store » Starbucks » The Walking Dead Attraction » Springfield » Halloween Horror Nights » Soundstage 28 » Backlot » Aerostat Balloon Universal Hollywood Drive While the bulk of work on Universal Hollywood Drive has been…
WaterWorld will likely undergo refurbishment in January 2017, Inside Universal has learned. Aimed at refreshing the show’s infrastructure and reimaging the show’s queue, the refurbishment will close the show for several weeks while crews work on the popular stunt show. While routine enhancements and touchups are expected, Universal is also expected to reimagine the current queue to accommodate additional guests. The show received its last refurbishment in 2015. These changes come as Universal has revitalized the WaterWorld show in recent years, adding additional seating capacity, new sound, and a new production company aimed at prolonging the show’s stay at the…
Universal Studios Hollywood has just revealed that the park’s newest attraction, The Walking Dead Attraction, will open on July 4. Featuring “landscapes, special effects, props, staging, costumes and makeup,” the year-round attraction will occupy the back half of Universal’s latest expansion space, Universal Boulevard. With authenticity as a key priority, Universal Studios Hollywood Creative Director John Murdy has enlisted the help of Greg Nicotero, executive producer and director of “The Walking Dead”, to help create authentic molds, animatronic walkers, scenes and props specifically dedicated to Universal’s latest endeavor. Thematically, guests will be transported to the beginning of AMC’s immensely popular…
Portland favorite Voodoo Doughnut is coming to CityWalk Hollywood. Featuring a plethora of doughnuts, Voodoo Doughnut will be located “near the ‘5 Towers’ outdoor concert stage and adjacent to the Universal Cinemas, currently under renovation and also slated to debut this fall” according to an official press release from Universal, suggesting a takeover of the defunct Kelly Slater’s Quiksilver Boardrider’s Club that once occupied the space. Voodoo Doughnut is expected to open this fall, and comes at a time when CityWalk Hollywood undergoes its own transformation alongside the theme park. The entertainment district recently announced the arrival of the wildly…
In yet another modification to its annual pass system, Universal has eliminated the CA Resident and CA Resident Plus annual passes, replacing both with the new 2016 Season Pass Plus. The 2016 Season Pass Plus comes with 115 days of valid admission, with no in-park food or merchandise discount with a list price of $139. The discontinuation of the CA Resident and CA Resident Plus annual passes come less than a year after their initial introduction in November 2015. In related news, Costco has also released a new Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Pass Plus for $159.99, with 256 days of…
Coming off the heels of a national promotional tour, Los 5 – a rising Latin-English pop, rap and rock band – performed at CityWalk Hollywood’s outdoor 5 Towers stage Friday night to hundreds of eager fans. Headlined by lead singers Juan Pablo Casillas and Matt Rey and guitarist Ismael Cano and Hector Rodriguez and drummer Tomas Slemenson, the group performed a variety of songs in their hour-long set list – including their newest single “Poquito Mas.” Los 5 was also opened by folk singer/songwriter Marchan Noelle, who treated audiences to a 30 minute acoustic set. We’ve included a video and…
With The Wizarding World of Harry Potter now officially open, Universal is now winding down on what had been an incredible five-year period of growth and change for the park. While the bulk of the theme park is now finished, Universal continues to make small adjustments throughout the property to refine guest navigation. The only exception – of course – is The Walking Dead Attraction, which is slated for debut this summer. That project – which occupies portions of Universal Boulevard – is the lone intrusion in an otherwise construction wall-free park. Wandering outside the park and into the studio…
By now, you’ve probably read some of the scuttlebutt surrounding Universal’s newest addition. In fact, if you’ve browsed our forums, it’s hard to miss the prevailing question surrounding Universal’s latest land: why have wait times been so low? Sure, as a whole, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter adds a sizable chunk of capacity to the park, and the occupancy of Wizarding World’s shops and restaurants aren’t always taken into consideration when one only focuses on the park’s overall wait times. But then again, why has Universal cut back operating hours for the month of April and June, and where…
The Universal City/Studio City Metro Bridge is now open, Inside Universal has learned. Debuting alongside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on April 7, the new pedestrian bridge features two escalators, three elevators and three staircases, elevating traffic above Lankershim Boulevard. A pathway – featuring lighting underneath the handrails and barbed fencing on either side – curves alongside the intersection, allowing pedestrians to exit off three points. Crews began construction on the pedestrian bridge in June 2014, aiming to reduce the number of traffic incidents between guests traveling between the Universal City Metro station and Universal Studios Hollywood. The $19.5…