Author: Brian Glenn

Universal Beijing shared the first looks and details behind all the amazing lands, hotels, and experiences coming to the Resort; set to open in May 2021. Universal Beijing Resort is a widely anticipated theme park destination that will feature the Universal Studios Beijing theme park, the Universal CityWalk Beijing retail, dining and entertainment complex, and two hotels. The hotels include the Universal Studios Grand Hotel, the first-ever Universal-themed resort hotel, and the first NUO-branded resort hotel from Beijing Tourism Group. The Universal Studios Beijing theme park will feature seven highly themed and immersive lands that include several all-new attractions along…

Universal has announced that Universal CityWalk is teaming with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to serve as an official voting location for the upcoming General Election. Any Los Angeles County voter can securely cast their ballot in-person beginning Saturday, October 24 through Tuesday, November 3, 2020.  Free self-parking will be available to all visitors during this voting period. The Vote Center at Universal CityWalk will also serve as a Vote by Mail Dropbox for all voters who prefer to return their voted mail-in ballot in-person. Voting will take place in an area of the Jurassic Parking structure. All visitors…

Mario Cafe & Store opened at Universal Studios Japan today for the first time, allowing guests the chance to check out all the new food & drink items and merchandise. “Mario Cafe & Store” is a restaurant and retail store where guests can enjoy food and goods inspired by the world of Super Nintendo. Mario and Luigi were on hand to celebrate the opening. Inside, much of the decor features familiar iconography from the popular video games; with colorful Mushroom tables, bricks, and Mario & Luigi’s hats. All the food & drink are inspired by the world of Super Mario Bros,…

Karl Strauss Brewing Company appears to have closed at CityWalk Hollywood. While no official announcement has been made, all signs point to its closure; including its removal from the CityWalk directory, the phone number being disconnected, the removal of the outside menus from the entrance, and tables and equipment that have been removed inside the restaurant. We reached out to the restaurant for comment but have not received a response. The restaurant had been closed since March when CityWalk originally shut down due to the pandemic. In 1989, Karl Strauss Brewing Company was the first craft brewery to open in…

We’re back with a photo update around the Universal Orlando Resort! This month, we take a look around the Resort on a cloudy day; including the progress of the VelociCoaster, Halloween at Universal, and the arrival of Holiday merch *cat hiss*. Park Update Index » CityWalk » Halloween at Universal » Holiday Merchandise » Jurassic World VelociCoaster » Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey Locker Expansion » New Face Masks » Socially Distanced Dining » A Little Bit of this, A Little Bit of that CityWalk The former homes of P!Q, Fossil, Fresh Produce, and Island Clothing Co is still…

Universal Studios Japan has announced that Super Nintendo World is set to open in Spring 2021. In addition, a new Mario Cafe & Store will be opening in the Hollywood section of the park on October 16, 2020. 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 – a Mario Kart attraction and a Yoshi omnimover attraction. The land will also be highly interactive, allowing guests to hit power-up blocks and collect coins – just like the video game. Opening…

Howl-O-Scream is back at Busch Gardens Tampa and is a little bit different this year. Many haunts in Central Florida adjusted to the safety procedures due to the pandemic, with some events getting outright cancelled. This year, Busch Gardens is foregoing the traditional haunted house line-up and now features 10 scare zones located throughout the park. Not to mention, the chance to ride their world-class roller coasters in the darkness of the night. So what did we think of the modified event? The scare zones are obviously the star and are a big improvement compared to other years, especially as…

Universal Orlando has announced they are extending their Passholder Appreciation Days to October 31st. In addition, they’ve announced an all-new AP-exclusive VIP Tour. The new VIP Thrills Tour offers passholders front of the line access to several rides. Guests will also receive a commemorative lanyard and more. The tour includes: The Incredible Hulk Coaster Revenge of the Mummy Transformers: The Ride 3-D Green Eggs & Ham Café This guided tour was “specifically chosen by the UOAP family”. The Passholder rate starts at $59.99 + tax. You can reserve a tour at the UOAP Lounge or through the VIP call center…

The Habit Burger Grill is coming to CityWalk Hollywood. A new marquee was installed on Saturday. No timeframe has been given for an opening other than “Coming Soon”. Habit Burger Grill features a menu of charbroiled burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries. The burger chain replaces Smashburger, another burger chain that closed in CityWalk earlier this year. Stay tuned to Inside Universal for all the latest on CityWalk Hollywood and Universal Parks & Resorts.

Universal Orlando Resort has announced that they will be closing Universal’s Volcano Bay water park on November 2, 2020. Universal states that this is a seasonal closure and they will look to reopen the park on or around March 1st, 2021. The closure is due to expected lower demand in the cooler winter months, especially as the Resort navigates their way through the pandemic. Universal will use the closure to perform annual maintenance on the water park. This is the 2nd adjustment to Volcano Bay’s operating schedule. Earlier this month, the park began a new park schedule with closures on…