Author: Brian Glenn

Here’s a look around at what’s happening at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, from June 19, 2023, to June 26, 2023. Universal Orlando Minion Cafe and Minion Land  – which includes Bake My Day, Illumination Theater Meet & Greet, and Freeze Ray Pops – has officially soft opened! A soft opening is a technical rehearsal where all the major components are operational but some tweaks, changes, and updates will occur prior to the grand opening. Operating hours can vary, and an opening is not guaranteed until the area officially opens – which hasn’t been announced yet. Villain-Con Minion Blast…

MonsterGram Pictures Studios has arrived at the All Hallows’ Eve Boutique in Universal Islands of Adventure for the Summer. The store now features the iconic Universal Classic Monsters, who are all on set to film “Revenge of the Red Planet”. https://youtu.be/C3cjTrCpIic The year-round Halloween store is located in The Lost Continent and features Halloween merchandise, including preview merchandise for Halloween Horror Nights. The store rotates its theme seasonally. Stay tuned to Inside Universal for all the latest news on Universal Parks & Resorts and follow along on our forums & discussion boards.

Universal Orlando has released the full menu & prices for their upcoming Minion Cafe, opening in Minion Land this Summer. Universal states that Cafe will be an “immersive dining experience” – featuring three themed areas designed after beloved Minions Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto. The Minion Cafe will also feature an express window with a limited menu for guests looking to grab and go. Here’s a look at the menu, with prices and description. Despica-Bowls Kevin’s Chopa Chopa Salad – $14.99 purple cabbage and arugula, tomatoes, cucumber, edamame, crispy pork belly, pulled rotisserie chicken, green plantain chips and a mustard ale vinaigrette El…

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced dates for Halloween Horror Nights, taking place on select nights between September 7 through October 31, 2023. This year, the event will feature 8 haunted houses, including the recently-announced – The Last of Us, the Terror Tram, scare zones, a live show, and of course, the chance to ride some of Universal’s awesome attractions. Universal Studios Hollywood offers a variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, the new Early Access Ticket, which provides access to select haunted houses prior to the scheduled event opening (starting at…

Universal Parks has announced that Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and Hollywood will feature a haunted house based on Naughty Dog’s popular video game – The Last of Us. Set in a ravaged civilization, where Infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s “The Last of Us” video game, which celebrates its 10thanniversary this year, has captivated audiences since its release. And now, guests can immerse themselves in a real-life experience that puts them directly into the game’s frightening world. “The Last of Us” haunted houses on both coasts will propel guests into a world of carnage and…

Here’s a look around at what’s happening at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, from June 12, 2023, to June 18, 2023. Universal Orlando Universal Orlando Resort is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film, Jurassic Park, with a Jurassic June celebration; featuring special, limited-time experiences – including the Jurassic Park Tribute Store, which is currently open, and Jurassic-Themed Menu Items, which will be available starting June 1. Refurbishments Please keep in mind refurbishment dates can change. The Nighttime Lights At Hogwarts Castle is currently on an extended closure for “future show enhancements”. No reopening timeframe has been given at…

Evil Shop, the gift shop for the upcoming new attraction Villain-Con Minion Blast, has opened at Universal Studios Florida. The all-new retail location features Villain-Con and Minions merchandise; including villain-specific t-shirts to Con-Inspired tchotchkes. The store features several Minions cosplaying as their favorite villains – including Scarlet Overkill, Vector, and Balthazar Bratt. The new land expands upon the wildly popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction and will debut a new collection of experiences for guests of all ages inspired by the beloved Minions franchise. More details, including an opening date, about Villain-Con Minion Blast will be revealed soon. Stay tuned to…

Universal Studios Hollywood has finally begun to roll out their Mobile Ordering feature on their Universal Studios Hollywood app. As of now, guests can only order from Hollywood & Dine and Minion Cafe but it is expected that more locations will be added throughout the Summer. https://twitter.com/insideuniversal/status/1666259732045103104?s=20 Guests will be able to store their payment information, as well as apply Pass Member discounts. In addition, guests who have already created an account and have added wallet information on Universal Orlando’s app will have that information automatically transferred to the Hollywood app if the same login is used. It should be…

UNIVRS merchandise has arrived at Universal Orlando. Sold at Silver Screen in Production Central at Universal Studios Florida, UNIVRS marries popular brand designs with current fashion silhouettes and trending styles, driven by favorite characters and iconic on-screen moments – such as Illumination’s Minions, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic Park and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and classic characters like Felix the Cat, Universal Monsters and more. A UNIVRS Store opened at CityWalk Hollywood in September 2022. Stay tuned to Inside Universal for all the latest news on Universal Parks & Resorts and follow along on our forums & discussion boards.

Here’s the latest look around Minion Land on Illumination Ave., which is set to open this Summer at Universal Studios Florida. Recently, some of the construction walls came down around Villain-Con: Minion Blast. Several posters and cutouts can be seen, playing off some tacky Convention tropes. No official opening date has been given other than this Summer. More details should be coming soon. Over by Minion Cafe, the Bake My Day sign has been installed. The new land expands upon the wildly popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction and will debut a new collection of experiences for guests of all…