Author: Brian Glenn

Universal Orlando has finally opened Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn & Suites on December 15, 9 months after its original opening scheduled in March. We were able to tour the hotel back a week before opening and came away impressed, anticipating our opening night stay on March 17. “The hotel is ready to go,”  said George Cronk – Managing Director, Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites – back during our tour. And then “2020” happened. As Universal tried to navigate on how to operate the Resort during an extraordinary situation, Dockside Inn & Suites remained closed…

Universal Orlando continues to make adjustments in 2020, altering their traditional events and offering new, unique experiences. Since EVE will not be held this year, Universal is allowing guests to celebrate the New Year with all-new, exclusive menus across select Universal CityWalk restaurants and at Universal Orlando hotels only available on December 31, 2020. Hard Rock Cafe will be hosting the only NYE event on-property at Hard Rock Live, with live entertainment – featuring Classic Albums Live: The Beatles Abbey Road – along with a countdown to midnight. The VIP Ticket ticket ($75) includes access to the John Lennon Room…

Universal Orlando has finally addressed the lockers at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey by relocating the lockers into a brand-new area. The lockers are now located to the left of the attraction entrance, offering a much wider pathway. The new lockers also have been converted to the new ticket-scanning, aka “Locker Link” technology – which uses the barcode on the back of guests’ park ticket. Since the attraction opened in 2010, congestion was an issue at the old lockers, which were located at the attraction’s entrance. Several entry points would converge into one small area – with guests entering…

We’re back with a photo update around the Universal Orlando Resort! This month, we take a look as the Holidays continue throughout the Resort, including the addition of Earl the Squirrel merchandise; and construction continues on the Jurassic World VelociCoaster. Let’s take a look! Park Update Index » CityWalk » The Holidays at Universal » Jurassic World VelociCoaster » Harry Potter Locker Expansion » Portofino Bay Hotel » A Little Bit of this, A Little Bit of that CityWalk Progress continues on the unannounced store at CityWalk. The exterior framework is starting to form the general look of the facade.…

Universal Orlando has shared its first look at the ride vehicle for the upcoming attraction, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, set to open at Islands of Adventure in Summer 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwJIvCvLIJQ&feature=youtu.be The coaster will catapult guests up to 70 mph and more than 150 feet in the air. The vehicle was designed for speed and engineered “for the hunt”, the coaster’s revolutionary ride vehicle will send riders twisting and soaring across 4,700 feet of track as they encounter near-misses, launches, 12 heart-pounding seconds of airtime, and more – with just a lap bar restraint holding them in place. The coaster will feature…

Universal Studios Japan has announced that it will hold its grand opening of Super Nintendo World on Thursday, February 4th, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Nc9au7FjY The multi-layered land, with familiar landmarks such as Bowser’s Castle, Peach’s Castle, Toad’s House, and the familiar look of a Super Mario Bros game level, will feature several attractions – headlined by Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge. Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge “Race your way to victory! Iconic Mario Kart courses have been brought to life with cutting-edge technology. Challenge enemies with shells! Aim for the finish line with Mario and Peach! The world’s first interactive Mario Kart theme park…

After many requests, we have finally released all previous entries of our “Real or Fake” segment from the podcast. “Real or Fake” is a segment that pokes fun at the names of menu items around the theme parks. Enjoy! Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs Fright Feast at Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Holy Land Star Wars Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line Marvel Mania at Universal Studios Hollywood

SeaWorld Orlando has released a virtual POV of their upcoming roller coaster, Ice Breaker. You can check out the full ride-through down below: https://twitter.com/SeaWorld/status/1329832072102486017?s=20 Named after the icy Arctic summits, Ice Breaker will be SeaWorld Orlando’s first launch coaster, featuring four launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch into the steepest beyond vertical drop in Florida — a 93-foot tall spike with 100-degree angle. The roller coaster will send guests along 2,750 feet of bright orange track. The coaster was originally supposed to open in 2020, but due to the pandemic, will now open in Spring 2021.

Universal Studios Hollywood has opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Sweets & Treats, a new seasonal walk-up location in CityWalk, offering Butterbeer favorites and other Wizarding World treats. The location will serve traditional cold, frozen and hot Butterbeer along with Butterbeer-flavoured hard pack ice-cream and Chocolate Frog confections that are found inside “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” The Butterbeer beverages will be available for purchase in a cup or souvenir stein.  Gilly Water and classic cinnamon Churros will also be on the menu. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Sweets & Treats” will be open on weekends from…

Universal Orlando is offering some savings for Black Friday on November 27. Guests can save up to 40% on a Universal Orlando 4-Day, 4-Night vacation package combining theme park tickets and hotel accommodations. Guests are encouraged to purchase early as this exclusive deal is expected to sell out. The offer is only extended to U.S. Residents. Available for travel beginning November 29, 2020 through April 30, 2021, the package includes: Four epic days of park-to-park access to Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Guests who plan to visit after February 28, 2021, can add access to Universal’s Volcano…