Author: Brian Glenn

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has shared new details about their new event, Bier Fest, blending the local Tampa Bay craft scene with the park’s renowned thrill rides. The event will be held on weekends from August 25 through September 16, including Labor Day. More than 100 beers from 60 different breweries around the world will rotate through the four-weekend festival. Bier Fest is included in park admission and also features live entertainment and flavorful fare.  Guests can explore some of Florida’s best-known craft beers, featuring the following breweries: 3 Daughters Brewing 7venth Sun Brewery Big Storm Brewing Company Cigar City Brewing Company Coppertail Brewing Company…

Chris Lord and Chris Glass are joined by Inside Universal’s newest contributor, Sydney Newman, to discuss the latest around Universal Studios Hollywood; including the Globe Theater’s demolition and future of the area, the Lower Lot’s future, Halloween Horror Nights 2018, and how the Fox/Disney merger could impact Universal Parks going forward. Direct Download and iTunes You may download this episode directly here. You may also subscribe to the Inside Universal Podcast on iTunes. In addition, you can also follow us on Spotify to listen to podcast episodes on their app.

It’s been no secret that Universal Parks has been looking to expand their presence in Orlando, especially since acquiring over 570 acres of empty land just South of the current Universal Orlando resort – but they have never outright confirmed anything until today’s Comcast Q2 Earnings call. During the call, NBCUniversal’s CEO Steve Burke was asked about future plans of expansion, stating “In terms of a new gate in Florida, we are looking at it. We filed, basically, a name registration.” Recently, several names – including “Epic Universe” and “Fantastic Worlds” – have been registered by Universal, indicating they are…

We’re back with another photo update around Universal Orlando Resort. In this update, we take a look at the redo of the Revenge of the Mummy entrance, the finishing touches on Aventura Hotel, the reopening of Wimpy’s at Toon Lagoon, and more. Park Update Index » Emeril’s Orlando » Deal or No Deal » Revenge of the Mummy » Halloween Horror Nights 28 » Universal’s Cinematic Celebration » Wimpy’s » Harry Potter Coaster » Aventura Hotel » Universal’s Endless Summer Resort » A Little Bit of this, A Little Bit of that Emeril’s Orlando The signage is down and walls…

Universal Orlando has announced their next maze that will be featured at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights 28 – Carnival Graveyard: Rust in Pieces. This original house is set in a dilapidated carnival, where guests who trespass will find a maze of decayed rides and games – and soon discover they are not alone. Universal teases that the haunted house will include horrifying guard dogs, a grotesque ‘tunnel of love’, gleefully vicious performers loaded with deadly weapons fabricated from old rides and more. “These carnies won’t stop until they’ve had their fun-filled revenge.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2gocJLSYBo

This year, from September 7 to November 4, 2018, Universal Studios Japan is adding exciting new experiences to the park’s classic “Universal Surprise Halloween” event, with upgraded entertainment and new shows that redefine the celebration. Since 2002, the park has hosted events that celebrate and symbolize the growing popularity of Halloween festivities and costuming in Japan, with events and celebrations catered to both adults and/or children. This year’s “Universal Surprise Halloween” features new unique experiences for guests to enjoy. During “Otona (Adult) Halloween,” guests will find themselves in a mysterious world of dark and dramatic horror at “Hotel Albert.” Set…

Construction is coming to a close at SeaWorld Orlando as Infinity Falls as the record-breaking new attraction was “topped off” over the weekend. Cranes lifted the final piece of the ride’s blue and gray tower structure into place. The tower reaches a height of 67 feet and surrounds the attractions unique vertical lift. The 41-ton steel tower, made up of 10 pre-fabricated segments, took crews five nights to install. When it opens, Infinity Falls will feature the world’s tallest drop on a river raft ride. The innovative vertical lift is designed to transport the rafts to the top of the…

Universal Orlando’s all-new nighttime lagoon show, Universal’s Cinematic Celebration, officially debuted last night at Universal Studios Florida. Featuring films such as Jurassic World, Harry Potter, and characters from DreamWorks and Illumination films; the show seamlessly blends panoramic water screens with pyrotechnics, lasers, projection mapping and more than 120 dancing fountains to bring to life a celebration of Universal parks & films. In order to ensure that every guest watching the new night show enjoys the same, singular experience, Universal constructed a new dedicated viewing area in the Central Park area that overlooks the Studios lagoon. The redesign of Central Park’s viewing area…

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced today that a maze based on the latest film, The First Purge, will be featured at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. The First Purge is a prequel depicting the origins of how “The Purge” event started; wherein all crime including murder becomes legal within a 12-hour period. The film was released earlier this month on July 4th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=C7qwLQUPMbg This will be the 6th year in a row that the Purge franchise will be featured at Halloween Horror Nights. The maze will be located in the Metro sets on the Universal backlot. More details on the maze…

This Friday, July 13, Universal CityWalk will be hosting a free concert at the “5 Towers” stage to celebrate 25 years of its illustrious Street Performers Program – a successful platform for emerging artists from around the world to showcase their talent and be discovered. Hailing from across the globe, an array of eclectic artists will take to the stage to perform original and cover songs as well as collaborated sets in front of an enthusiastic, standing-room-only CityWalk audience. Universal CityWalk’s renowned Street Performers program has emerged as a beacon for aspiring talent who migrate to Los Angeles in the hopes of finding fame…