Author: Jonathan Green

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced EVE – a New Year’s Eve event featuring music, dancing, drinks and a special countdown celebration at midnight. As we recently reported, there will be a special countdown celebration to midnight to ring in 2018 with three synchronized fireworks displays throughout the park. The park will be open from 9:00am to 1:00am. EVE entertainment will begin at 9:00pm and conclude with fireworks at 12:00am midnight. Universal Plaza, Simpsons Plaza located adjacent to “The Simpsons Ride” and an area near “Jurassic Park—The Ride” will transform into three uniquely-themed electrifying party hubs that will culminate simultaneously at…

On November 16, Universal Studios Hollywood lifted the veil on its newest addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter by introducing “Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter”. Beginning November 24, guests can stroll through Hogsmeade and enjoy festive holiday décor, merchandise, special food offerings and all-new entertainment capped off by their new nighttime spectacular “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle”. Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Studios Hollywood, was on hand to welcome everyone to the night’s festivities. “We are delighted to welcome ‘Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ as a new holiday…

Universal Orlando Resort just announced all-new details for their new holiday offering Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Beginning November 18, in Hogsmeade The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle will light-up the night as Hogwarts Castle will be transformed in festive decor, candlelight and moments inspired by the films with the use of projection mapping. According to the Universal Orlando Blog you can expect to see “The ghosts of Hogwarts singing carols, students riding broomsticks and creating snowmen, a moment inspired by the Yule Ball and many more surprises.” Along with the all-new nighttime show, the Frog…

We’re back for this month’s photo update! In this update we’ll be taking a look at Christmas in the Wizarding World, Studio expansion and CityWalk Hollywood. Let’s jump right in… Park Update Index » CityWalk Hollywood » Holiday Decorations » New Animation Studio Store » Grinchmas » DreamWorks Theater » Christmas in the Wizarding World » StarWay Refurbishment » Fire Station 51 » Studio Expansion » Lower Lot Expansion » Holiday Merchandise » A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That CityWalk Hollywood CityWalk Hollywood continues is transformation as two locations are currently awaiting new tenants. Magnet…

In 2006, John Murdy – Creative Director for Halloween Horror Nights – was tasked with bringing the spectacular Halloween event back to Universal Studios Hollywood after a six-year hiatus.  Now with twelve consecutive years under his belt, Murdy and his team have turned Halloween Horror Nights into the go-to haunt event on the west coast. John Murdy was gracious enough to do an interview with Inside Universal, talking about the creative process and the level of teamwork involved in executing a haunt event in a theme park that coexists with a fully-operational movie studio.  With other similar Halloween attractions within…

For the last few months, Universal Studios Hollywood has been conducting firework tests for the new holiday show “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle”, Inside Universal has learned. The new show is set to debut on November 24 along with the newly re-branded Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood. If fireworks do end up being used in the show, it will mark the first time since 1994’s Spectrablast that fireworks have been used in a nighttime show at Universal Studios Hollywood. Be sure to follow Inside Universal for continuing coverage of Universal Parks and Resorts.

We’re back for this month’s photo update at Universal Studios Hollywood. In this update, we’ll be looking at several closures in CityWalk, Studio expansion and Christmas is coming early this year. Without further ado, let’s jump right in… Park Update Index » CityWalk Hollywood » Christmas Preparations » New Animation Studio Store » Dreamworks Theater » Plaza Grill » Lower Lot Expansion » Fire Station 51 » StarWay Refurbishment » Studio Expansion » A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That CityWalk Hollywood Upstart Crow and Magnet Max have both closed inside CityWalk Hollywood. Both shops were…

Knott’s Berry Farm has officially transformed and kicked off the 45th Anniversary of Knott’s Scary Farm. This year, Knott’s boasts a haunt line-up of nine mazes, two shows and one ride overlay. Knott’s understood the bar needed to be raised since the market is saturated with haunts, and this may very well be Knott’s Scary Farm’s best line-up in recent memory. Of the nine mazes this year, three of them are brand new – with “Dark Ride” being perhaps one of the best theme park mazes in Southern California. Let’s take a look at all that Knott’s has to offer.…

Halloween Horror Nights 2017 has kicked off at Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal graciously invited us to attend the event and experience all that they have in store for guests during this year’s Halloween season. This year’s line-up boasted some of the most popular names in horror – including films from Blumhouse, The Shining, Saw and the original “Titans of Terror”, Freddy, Jason and Leatherface. Since the event’s resurgence in 2006, Creative Director, John Murdy, and creative partner, Chris Williams, have turn Universal Studios Hollywood’s event into the leading haunt experience in Southern California. As each year passes, the event has…

In part two of our inside look at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, we take a look at The Shining with Creative Director, John Murdy. During our tour, Murdy mentioned that they’ve wanted to do The Shining for ten years now. The amount of detail that went into the construction of The Shining maze goes to show the love, dedication and respect Murdy and his team have for the mazes they create. “Like the Exorcist, it’s an incredibly difficult property to translate into what we do here at Halloween Horror Nights or any live experience. That’s…