Author: Brian Glenn

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls has reopened at Toon Lagoon at Universal’s Islands of Adventure after a lengthy, unplanned closure. The attraction has been closed since the park’s reopening after Hurricane Ian. While Universal never confirmed the reason for the closure, it’s believed the Ripsaw Falls sustained some damage due to Hurricane Ian – and Universal bumped up its seasonal Winter maintenance schedule to fix the issues and refurbish the attraction sooner. With the weather being cool and cloudy, the wait time was much shorter than usual. Stay tuned to Inside Universal for all the latest on Universal Parks & Resorts.

With the Holiday Season in full swing, travelers are about to descend upon Orlando for their Holiday vacation; and if you’re staying at Universal Orlando – you’ll be able to enjoy Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s activities across its eight awesome hotels as part of the destination’s Holidays celebration – running now through January 1, 2023. From holiday meals and special ceremonies to parties, entertainment and so much more, guests can partake in memorable holiday festivities while surrounded by dazzling décor that perfectly complements each hotel’s individual theme. Here is a look at what guests can enjoy throughout the remainder…

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced Pass Member Preview details for Super Nintendo World before the official grand opening. The Pass Member Preview dates are January 29, 30, and 31; February 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11. An advance online reservation is required. Reservations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations will open here starting Jan 5, 2023, at 1:30 pm PT. Check-in will be located at the Globe Gardens, located outside the Park on the pathway between Frankenstein Parking and the Security entrance. Universal is recommending Pass Members check in one hour before their allotted reservation…

Universal Orlando has replaced the old on-ride photo pick-up desk with an arcade area inside Men in Black: Alien Attack’s exit shop, MIB Gear Shop. The move comes as Universal is now encouraging guests to use self-service kiosks to order their on-ride photos from MIB: Alien Attack. The arcade area is small but does have a few marquee games – including a MIB shooter game front and center. Stay tuned to Inside Universal for all the latest on Universal Parks & Resorts.

The Prop Shop is back! A new limited-time Prop Shop has opened in the recently-refurbished Brown Derby Hat Shop in Universal Studios Florida. The shop features a lot of items for sale that were used at Universal Orlando during the last couple of years, especially Halloween Horror Nights. Some of the big ticket items included the Monsters Cafe banners, which were already sold by the time we visited this morning. Each banner was going for $1,500. There has been no timeframe given as to how long the shop will remain open, but we’d recommend if you were interested in any…

Universal Orlando has opened Shakes Malt Shoppe, a new ice cream shop, at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort – serving milkshakes, smoothies, sundaes, baked goods, and more. Shakes Malt Shoppe is located right next to the Bayliner Diner seating area. Smoothies are $7.50, with the option to add either Whey or Pea Protein for $3. Milkshakes vary in price, but for $1 extra you can make it a Malt. You can check out the menu below: There is also the option of just ordering a good ol’ scoop (or two, or three) of Ice Cream. Stay tuned to Inside Universal…

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that Super Nintendo World will officially open on February 17, 2023. Super Nintendo World will feature the groundbreaking “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” ride, as well as many thrilling and interactive activities. Along with themed dining at the Toadstool Cafe and shopping at the 1-UP Factory retail store, Super Nintendo World will be an inspiring, game-changing addition to the world-famous theme park. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2K4JzHVxpM Per Universal, “from the moment guests pass through the iconic green pipe, a journey filled with exploration, discovery, and play awaits that is entirely unlike anything they’ve experienced before. Their journey begins as…

To celebrate its longtime partnership with the Central Florida community, the Universal Orlando Foundation this week awarded more than $1 million in grants to 30 charitable organizations. The grants will help provide everything from school supplies to innovative, after-school programming – and more. The grants were announced as the Universal Orlando Foundation enters its 25th year of serving the community. The Foundation gathered 30 community partners at a first-ever, “Celebration of Giving,” event. The event will return in 2023 and become an annual celebration of giving. Since its inception in 1998, the Universal Orlando Foundation has delivered more than $30 million in grants…

Universal’s Great Movie Escape is now officially open at Universal CityWalk – bringing an entirely new level of escape room experience to Universal Orlando. Universal’s Great Movie Escape is comprised of two distinct, cinematic escape adventures inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s iconic Jurassic World and Back to the Future films – each boasting eight immersive environments that feature state-of-the-art challenges, detailed sets and captivating storylines that allow guests to step into blockbuster films like never before. Universal’s award-winning entertainment team partnered closely with escape room industry experts and Jurassic World and Back to the Future filmmakers to create this innovative experience that goes beyond the…

Universal Orlando has announced a new Minion Land is coming to Universal Studios Florida, which will include Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, a new Minion Café, and the just-announced Villain-Con Minion Blast. Per Universal, the new “Minion Land on Illumination Ave” will also feature other surprises inspired by popular characters from Illumination’s blockbuster franchises. Minion Café will replace Monsters Café, which closed in late 2022. No other details have been announced other than the new area will open when Villain-Con Minion Blast opens in Summer 2023; including the extent of the change and how that impacts Production Central going forward. More…