Author: Brian Glenn

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced the final details on what guests can expect at Halloween Horror Nights 2023; including information on all-new scarezones and 2 new shows. “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” takes the blockbuster film franchise into an entirely new environment…open waters, in an all-new live show. Located in the WaterWorld venue and features adrenaline-filled action sequences, stunts, spectacular lighting and laser effects, high fall fire burns, and massive explosions. Universal states the show will center around a politician and his entourage escaping to an island to avoid The Purge; but “Sanctuary is fleeting when the island is quickly overrun…

Universal Orlando has opened the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store – an immersive retail location designed to celebrate Horror Nights, with themed rooms decked with specialty merchandise, a variety of unique treats, and more. During yesterday’s Previews, team members and passholders were able to get a sneak peek at the store. This year’s theme is a horror comic book come to life – which seems like it’s safe to say that the Tribute Store is heavily inspired by the horror anthology film, Creepshow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C12WllNzoNE Each room features a different tale: Grave Consequences, False Idols: Part 1 – A Boris Shuster…

Universal Orlando has released a new talking, light-up, interactive Chucky Popcorn Bucket just in time for Halloween Horror Nights 32. The bucket costs $44.99 with the first fill of popcorn free. The popcorn bucket reacts to the guest by simply saying “Hey Chucky!”, the figure will respond by blinking and moving his head. He utters three different phrases – “Hey, wanna play?”, “I like to be hugged.”, and “Play Time is Over!” (the last phrase makes his eyes glow red). The popcorn bucket can be found throughout the Resort, most notably at the newly-opened Horror Nights Tribute Store. Stay tuned…

More Halloween Horror Nights merchandise has arrived at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, including this year’s Stranger Things line – featuring Vecna. In Orlando, Stranger Things merch can be found at the Universal Studios Store in CityWalk and Universal Studios Florida, and the All Hallows’ Boutique in Islands of Adventure. The mech line predominantly features Vecna, Season 4’s iconic villain – which includes t-shirts, lanyards, pins, keychains, and mugs. In addition, a merch line focusing on the Hellfire Club is also available. Additional merchandise is expected to be released when the Halloween Tribute Store opens on Wednesday, August 31.…

Universal Orlando has adjusted the song selection process for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, now limiting the choices of 30 songs to 5 new tracks. The new tracks represent each genre of Rock, Pop/Disco, Country, Rap/Hip Hop, and Club/Electronica. The songs are: Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance Waterloo by ABBA Man! I Feel Like a Woman! by Shania Twain Humble by Kendrick Lamar Sandstorm by Darude Before the change, guests were allowed the option to choose from 6 songs per genre, which had been the same since the roller coaster opened in 2009. Don’t worry, though -…

Here’s a look around at what’s happening at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, from Aug 28, 2023, to Sept 4, 2023. Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 32 kicks off this Friday, Sept 1, 2023, featuring a line-up of haunted houses that include Stranger Things, The Last of Us, Universal Monsters, Chucky, and more! Minion Land – which includes Villain-Con Minion Blast, Minion Cafe, Bake My Day, Illumination Theater Meet & Greet, and Freeze Ray Pops – is officially open! 2023’s Passholder Appreciation Days, which includes discounts, benefits, and menus exclusive to Universal Annual Passholders, continues through September 30. Refurbishments…

The medallion has risen! The Universal Studios Florida archway is now decorated for Halloween Horror Nights, which starts next Friday, September 1, 2023. The photos come courtesy of the RIP Tour Podcast. The archway features the headliners of this year – such as Stranger Things, The Last of Us, Chucky, the Universal Monsters, and The Exorcist: Believer. Each of the posters features zodiac symbology, tying it into this year’s theme. We recently did a guest appearance of their latest podcast talking the history of the Universal Monsters at Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. You can find the podcast at the following…

Universal Orlando has announced that the Death Eaters will appear for the first time ever in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley on select dates from September 1 through November 4. Once inside Diagon Alley, guests will encounter the villainous Death Eaters – devoted followers of Lord Voldemort and practitioners of the Dark Arts. The interactive experience puts guests face-to-face with the Death Eaters as they roam through the streets of London, Diagon, and Knockturn Alley. A variety of Death Eater-themed merchandise will also be available for purchase. The Death Eaters first arrived at Universal Orlando in 2019, appearing as…

Universal Orlando has announced the theme for 2023’s Dead Coconut Club, the seasonal overlay for the Red Coconut Club in CityWalk, with this year being called “Revenge of the Dead Coconut Club in 3D”. Per Universal – “The frightful fiends of Monstergram Pictures have completed their latest B-movie epic: Target Planet Coconut, and they are premiering it at the one and only Dead Coconut Club.” If you visited the All Hallows’ Eve Boutique at Islands of Adventure during the Summer, you’d recognize that this continues the story of the Universal Monsters filming their B-movie. Universal Passholders will be amongst the…

Universal Orlando has scheduled Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges at Islands of Adventure for refurbishment. The attraction will be closed from February 5, 2024, until March 8, 2024, for its annual winter maintenance. Please keep in mind that these dates can change. Universal usually schedules maintenance for its water rides during the colder months, especially as attendance is softer. Stay tuned to Inside Universal for all the latest news on Universal Parks & Resorts and follow along on our forums & discussion boards.