Whether you are a long-time Walt Disney World guest looking to switch theme parks on your next trip or you are visiting Orlando for the first time, planning a visit to Universal Orlando Resort poses a lot of questions. In this article, we will cover CityWalk, compare it to Disney Springs, and help you avoid crowds.
What is CityWalk?
CityWalk is Universal Orlando’s dining, shopping, and entertainment district. It is comprised of 11 full-service restaurants, over a dozen counter service restaurants and snack stands, half a dozen shops, live entertainment, theaters, and clubs.
Where is CityWalk?
CityWalk is located in the heart of Universal Orlando.
CityWalk is sandwiched between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks. All guests must pass through CityWalk when arriving and leaving the two theme parks. CityWalk is accessible by walking paths, boats, and buses from Universal Orlando hotels.
How Does CityWalk Compare to Disney Springs?
At first glance, both seem similar but there are two big differences between them: size and location.
Disney Springs layout (left) and CityWalk Orlando (right). CityWalk can fit into the upper left most part of Disney Springs, The Marketplace.
Disney Springs is a sprawling 120 acres over three districts while CityWalk is a compact 30 acres, roughly the same size as Disney Springs Marketplace District. This means fewer shops, restaurants, entertainment, and people can fit in there. Example: CityWalk has 11 full-service restaurants while Disney Springs features 21 options. Shopping is more prominent at Disney Springs with dozens of shops while CityWalk mostly features gift shops for the parks and restaurants.
Second, Disney Springs is not located within walking distance from the theme parks or most resorts and must be reached by car, bus, or boat (from select resorts). Compare this to CityWalk which is located immediately outside of the two theme parks and within walking distance from the parks. This makes CityWalk a great place to escape the theme parks during the afternoon and to grab a quick bite to eat.
Both CityWalk and Disney Springs offer live street entertainment, movie theaters, and have a signature stage show (Cirque Du Soleil Drawn to Life in Disney Springs or Blue Man Group in CityWalk, although these shows have been paused during the COVID-19 pandemic). One aspect CityWalk beats Disney Springs is with nightlife by featuring several clubs, live-band karaoke bar, and a large live concert venue.
CityWalk Establishments
This list is accurate as of January 2021. Offerings frequently change; check TouringPlans’ page or Universal’s CityWalk website for the most accurate list.
TouringPlans users give the CityWalk establishments positive reviews. Their favorite table service locations are Vivo, Toothsome, and Bigfire while their favorite quick-service locations are Breadbox, Hot Dog Hall of Fame, and Red Oven. For snacks and treats, our readers loved Voodoo Donuts, Cinnabon, and Cold Stone Creamery.
Cinemark Theaters recently received a large refurbishment of the theater making it a good place to catch a movie. Hollywood Drive-In Golf is fun but expensive; if you are looking for miniature golf consider getting an Uber to a location on I-Drive. Blue Man Group is a fun, rambunctious, and colorful show that combines music and comedy; it comes with my personal recommendation.
Touring Tips
CityWalk is the most crowded in the evenings starting at roughly 6:00 p.m. until two hours after park close. Fridays and Saturdays are the most crowded with locals and conventioneers milling around the clubs. We suggest visiting CityWalk during lunch for shopping, or eating an early lunch. Most establishments open at 11:00 a.m. with the exclusion of Starbucks, Cinnabon, and Voodoo Donuts which open with CityWalk in the morning.
COVID Note: Restaurants are running at a reduced capacity, and shops are socially distanced. Limited outdoor seating is available at Cowfish, Margaritaville, NBC Grill & Brew, Toothsome, Hot Dog Hall of Fame, Red Oven, Starbucks, Lone Palm, BK Whopper Bar, Moe’s Southwestern Grill, Panda Express, and Fusion Bistro.
Do you have questions about Universal Orlando Resort? Leave your questions and comments below!
This week’s SATURDAY SIXtakes a look at recent theme park news via memes! 2021 is just three weeks old, but boy has a lot happened during that time. Thankfully, the heroes and heroines of DisTwitter are making sure we get all the news we need to know along with a dash of lighthearted fun.
# 6 – Disneyland Cancels Annual Passes
One thing that many theme park fans thought *should* happen, but never thought actually *would* happen is the Disneyland Resort doing something about their annual passholders. Unlike Walt Disney World in Florida – which has a much smaller amount of APs compared to regular day guests – Disneyland has a lot of APs because of the sheer amount of people that live within driving distance to the parks. That fact, along with Disneyland being the one park Walt himself walked in, helped Disneyland sell a ton of annual passes, despite having some huge price increases over the past few years.
With no clear end point for the coronavirus in sight, Disney needed to do something to prepare for when their California parks finally reopen, presumably with a limited capacity. When Walt Disney World instituted a park reservation system, it drew the ire of many annual passholders. Disneyland is surely going to implement a park reservation system to help handle capacity as well, and they would have a lot more angry APs if they didn’t rip the band-aid off now. To the shock of just about everyone, on January 14th Disney released the following statement:
DisTwitter created their own statements.
This statement would actually make Tom Bricker’s day. (meme by Gratuitous Disney Memes)To get across how angry someone is about a certain topic, a popular meme format uses a moment from the movie Marriage Story where the character played by Adam Driver punches a wall during an argument. (meme by @ropedropchris)
Others brought back popular meme formats to use with this story, such as the “how it started/how it will end” meme comparing the Disneyland AP to another relic from a long ago era.
Sometimes you have to look at the bright side though. Yes, your annual pass is gone, but the good news is that you’ll soon* have that pre-paid money back in your bank account. (*Soon being a relative term as it took months for many WDW APs to get their money refunded when Disney allowed guests to cancel that option in 2020.)
And if Disneyland doesn’t reopen to theme park guests, well we can still repurpose it into something useful..
Earlier this month Joe Rohde officially retired from Walt Disney Imagineering after 40 years with the company. With a resume that includes being the lead designer for the Animal Kingdom theme park, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Aulani Resort in Hawaii, Joe is possibly the most well known Imagineer to the today’s casual theme park guest. For hardcore theme park fans, Rohde would be in the mix to be on the Mount Rushmore of Imagineering, along with names such Rolly Crump, Mary Blair, Marc Davis, Tony Baxter, Harriet Burns, and X Atencio.
In recent years, Rohde has been tasked with what could be considered impossible projects, and instead made them immediate fan favorite hits. When Pandora: the World of Avatar was announced for the Animal Kingdom, some scoffed at the idea at adding such an IP-driven land into a park based around conservation. However, from the moment Pandora opened, it was a huge hit with guests, with Flight of Passage becoming one of the most popular rides in theme park history. Meanwhile, after Disney bought the rights to Marvel, it was tasked to Rohde to shoehorn a comic book IP onto the Hollywood Tower of Terror attraction in Disney’s California Adventure. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! took everyone by surprise by delivering a ride experience that was much more fun than its predecessor along with having great appeal to theme park, comic book, and movie fans with all the cameos, references, and Easter Eggs throughout the queue.
Expedition Everest along with its main creative force, Joe Rhode, and the Yeti. (artwork by @SonderQuest)Joe Rohde incorporated into the Tree of Life. (meme by Gratuitous Disney Memes)
There’s niche and then there’s niche. This is the latter. (artwork by @SonderQuest)
On the day of Rohde’s retirement, some of DisTwitter went down the rabbit hole after discovering the Pokemon character Klefki bares more than a passing resemblance to Joe’s iconic earrings.
Readers of this fine blog series are used to delays in Disney construction projects. Hearing that the TRON coaster in Disney’s Magic Kingdom won’t open in 2021 wasn’t a huge surprise to most, but it was weird to see an opening in the large show building completely sealed off. Blog Mickey got the photo below which shows the track for the TRON coaster that appears to be going straight into a wall (which, granted, would probably still be more fun than riding Primeval Whirl again). Before it was sealed off, this area had a large opening and was a “portal” that guests will go through when entering the show building.
# 3 – The Absolutely Incredible Story of Another Caballero Dying at Gran Fiesta Tour (Seriously, This. Actually. Happened.)
You would think the Theme Park Turkey Award Winning story of Jose Carioca going down at Gran Fiesta Tour in EPCOT would be the last time we’d hear about that attraction for a while. NAY NAY. In the first week of January, Donald Duck was physically propped up due to some issues the audioanimatronic was having.
DisTwitter created a meme showing Roger Rabbit holding Donald in place. Normally, that would be the end of the story…however we’re not even close to that.
While those in California got the surprise of AP cancellations, we in Florida got shocking news of our own with Disney announcing that the popular Magical Express bus service would be ending later this year. We’ll wait to see what Disney plans for a replacement, but right now this seems like a short sighted move to save money. Magical Express kept people in the “Disney Bubble.” A bus would be waiting for you at the Orlando airport and would take you straight to your Disney hotel, where you could then use the various forms of Disney transportation (including busses, Skyliner, monorail, and boats) to stay on Disney property for your entire vacation.
On Disney message boards and Facebook, this announcement went over about as well as you’d think it would, with people flipping out. Adding fuel to the fire, DisTwitter memesmith @SuperWeenieHtJr came up with an iconic photo.
This meme went viral, going everywhere on all forms of social media. Your Humble Author also shared it on Twitter.
The next part of the story is unfortunately “part of the game” when it comes to creating memes in today’s world. Because most people don’t watermark their work, there are times it can be hard to trace back who was the original creator of the photo. Other times people are much more devious, clearly taking someone else’s popular meme on Twitter and pretending it as their own when reposting on Facebook or Instagram.
Weenie’s WALK meme started appearing everywhere uncredited. Some of us on DisTwitter started to have fun with that fact, adding our watermarks onto the photo to drive @SuperWeenieHtJr even more crazy.
# 1 – Theme Parks Feel The Bern
This past week was a pretty major one when it comes to America, and there was no bigger sign that big changes are already here than “The Bernie Meme.” During Joe Biden’s inauguration, what caught many people’s attention was the sight of Senator Bernie Sanders, sitting by himself wearing a thick pair of Vermont-made mittens.
Tons of people immediately shared the above photo, adding a description of their own above it.
Others started adding Bernie to photos, and that’s when things REALLY got good. Theme Park fans hit home run after home run putting Bernie into various places in Walt Disney World.
Bernie on Splash Mountain. (meme by @SonderQuest)Bernie at the France Pavilion in EPCOT. (meme by @SuperWeenieHtJr)Bernie as the dog-with-the-keys in Pirates of the Caribbean. (meme by @hackermanjoe)Bernie as Sonny Eclipse in Cosmic Rays. (meme by Gratuitous Disney Memes)
“What year is it? Oh, right around the turn of the century. And believe me…”
Bernie as John in Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. (meme by @shanew21)When they choose you as “that guy” at Monsters Inc. Laugh Factory. (meme by @TGrahamMemories)
Going above and beyond are those who made videos. Below is a screenshot of Bernie in a Haunted Mansion Doom Buggy, but you can also watch the animated version. After seeing that, check out this one featuring Bernie in MuppetVision 3-D. AMAZING!
Sorry Bernie, only “happy” haunts here. (meme by @Yester_World)
Here’s what is most stunning about the Bernie meme. Normally a meme like this would catch fire and then be immediately forgotten about in a couple hours because some other next-level bonkers event happened in the world that we all had to worry about. The Bernie meme continued into the next day, something pretty much unheard of over the last several years. (I would say “four years” to be precise.)
Have to give major props to those who go the extra mile.
Bernie at the Hollywood Tower of Terror. (meme by TequilaBecca)Bernie on one of the infamous nanny chairs at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. (meme by @brresler)Bernie on a monorail. (meme by Brad Starr)We LOVE this one with Bernie at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. (credit current unknown, but meme was discovered by SAT SIX’s own Megan Stump)
Crazier still was that the Bernie meme was shared by a lot of famous athletes, musicians, and movie stars. Currently on Disney+, the show WandaVision is a gigantic hit with fans and critics alike. One of the stars of the show shared a meme using Bernie in a moment from WandaVision episode 2.
Each episode of WandaVision pays tribute to television shows of years past, including homages to the openings of shows like Bewitched. One animated opening to WandaVision had an animated Bernie added to it!
You’ve heard the story talked about by Len Testa and Jim Hill on the Disney Dish Podcast, but here is Bernie at the “Save Mr. Toad” sit-in at the Magic Kingdom back in the day.
Bernie the honorary blogger. (meme by @hackermanjoe)
Of course the Universal fans had fun with Bernie as well, including added him to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Bernie nest on top of the VelociCoaster. (meme by @G_Prodigy)Bernie on the VelociCoaster ride vehicle. (meme created by one of those responsible for the actual ride vehicle, @G_Prodigy)Bernie splashing down on Jurassic Park River Adventure. (meme by Andrew Warner)
HHN Fans had to represent.
Jack, Chance, and Bernie. (meme by ThrillGeek)For me personally, this is ::Chef’s Kiss:: (meme by @HackermanJoe)Bernie at our beloved Voodoo Doughnut. (meme by @StitchThePomFL)I’d watch this show. (meme by Blue Man Group)
So there you have it: The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via MEMES!See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).
If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following:
A new year is a new start for many as we adopt resolutions and plans to make this coming year better than the last. Some people strive for new diets, more exercise, spending more time with loved ones, or finally finishing the Next Great American Novel they have been writing for years. For me, I am focusing on my diet, less alcohol, and being more social (safely, of course).
The Orlando theme parks should also consider their own resolutions as we march into 2021. Here are my suggestions on where they can start.
Security Processes
Security scanning before entering theme parks has previously been.. inconsistent.
For years, Disney has had its own private security poke your bag with sticks with select people being asked to walk through metal detectors. At Universal, all guests must send their belongings throughs a scanner and everyone walks through metal detectors. SeaWorld shakes it up by having bag poking sticks AND mandatory metal detectors. There has to be a better way!
Six Flags found a better way: Evolve Express security scanners. Instead of multiple checkpoints and long lines guests instead walk past a scanner, similar to the anti-theft devices at stores, and their bags are scanned. If there is a need for more checking an iPad will alert the employee.
Disney has already begun deployment and Universal is testing the units for Team Member security. Our resolution for the parks is for a full deployment of these new scanners – they are quick, efficient, and less invasive than other methods.
Disney Child Swap
Fast & Furious Supercharged child swap room includes a slot car game.
One of Universal’s smartest features is their themed child swap waiting rooms. For attritions with height requirements, the whole party waits in line till they reach the load area. When at load the parties not riding wait in an indoor waiting room at load with entertainment, restrooms, changing tables, and benches.
Our resolution for Disney would be for them to look into offering a similar option for their new attractions with height requirements. Instead of having to wait through a full FastPass queue alone to ride the whole party can wait together and then swap off riding right at load. We would love to see these waiting rooms start with TRON and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Universal Parking
Parking at Disney is a tactical deployment operation only rivaled by the repatriation of citizens from foreign countries, Air Force flight maneuvers, and your grandmother cooking during the holidays. The lots are fully staffed as Cast guide cars into spots quickly and efficiently. Universal’s parking on the other hand can better be described as herding cats or a team of five-year-olds trying to play soccer. One time when parking at their garages we ended up being directed back out of the garage and forced out and onto I-4!
Our resolution is for Universal to improve its parking signage and operations to match its world-class operations in the parks.
A Universal Unified Ticketing System
I am not the biggest fan of MagicBands, MyDisneyExperience, and FastPass+. The changes to the parks plus the added complexity of planning a vacation made something relaxing into a second job. Plus all the expensive technology has quickly depreciated (a wrist wearable that can open rooms, access tickets, and purchase things with – quick, am I describing MagicBands or the Apple Watch?)
But one universally great aspect is the unified ticketing system. When I’m at Disney all my passes, cards, and more are tied together and accessible through a MagicBand or card. But at Universal, it feels like we are back in the 1990s: room keys, Express Pass, park tickets, and more are all separate tickets or cards. My resolution for Universal will be to unify all those different items into one card or pass that is easily stored.
Reward Your Annual Passholders More
We know about food, merchandise, and room discounts at Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, and more. After a crazy 2020 with lots of changes to parks, we would like to see the return of more annual passholder rewards and benefits. Bring back lounges, special operating hours, attraction previews, and more. Reward your most loyal and fervent supporters with reasons for them to proselytize to the masses.
Do you have any resolutions you wish the parks would take up? Leave them in the comments below!
As we yeet 2020 off a cliff into oblivion it is finally time to look ahead to 2021. In addition to a year of change, firsts, and hopefully many vials of vaccines, 2021 also is bringing many additions and changes to the Universal Orlando Resort. In this article, we will preview the year ahead at Universal Orlando Resort.
Before we get any further, please consider donating to the Cast Member Pantry or other local food banks to help support employees let go in 2020.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster
Concept art copyright Universal Orlando.
One of the most anticipated coasters in the world for 2021, the Jurassic World VelociCoaster opens in summer 2021 at Islands of Aventure. This brand-new coaster combines all the elaborate theming and intricate design work from Universal’s recent projects, such as Hagrid, with the design of a modern steel coaster. VelociCoaster features two launches, four inversions, near missing “head-chopper” rockwork, and a 155-foot-tall top hat element.
Photograph copyright Universal Orlando.
You will be racing through the raptor paddock in style on slick, 24-seat coaster vehicles. The head-rest mounted spot-lights will illuminate our path while the lap bars will provide unparalleled freedom of movement during the ride’s sustained airtime.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster opens in summer 2021.
In early 2020 several CityWalk retail establishments closed for a new project. Throughout 2020 the stores were gutted and reconfigured into one large venue. While Universal has not confirmed the replacement, we believe the store will be a new, larger Universal Studios Store with more retail space and themed sections. Expect an official announcement sometime in early 2021 for a 2021 opening.
Mardi Gras 2021
Feet don’t fail me now. Mardi Gras 2020 was cut short due to COVID-19 but expect a return of a modified Mardi Gras in 2021. While we are not expecting any concerts this year, expect an updated Tribute Store, Mardi Gras float walk-through experience, more unique food and beverage options, and of course stilt walkers. Stilt walkers are Universal.
Universal has not announced Mardi Gras 2021 dates yet, but the event is likely to occur from February through April 2021.
Halloween Horror Nights 30
The biggest gut-punch this year was the cancelation of 2020’s Halloween Horror Nights in what would have been the event’s 30th anniversary year. Thankfully Universal provided a small taste of the event in September and October with a daytime Halloween event to satiate us. 2021 will bring us the full anniversary year with 10 houses, multiple shows, scare zones, and more. Universal even went the extra mile and teased us with a house debuting next year, Puppet Theater Captive Audience:
Due to 2020’s cancellation, expect Universal to keep announcements close to the vest for a while. We believe Halloween Horror Nights 2021 will run from the beginning of September through October 31, 2021.
Other Surprises…
Universal always has a few surprises up its sleeves for any given year, from new experiences like meeting dinosaurs, to new restaurants, and even all-new theme parks. We expect lots of additions and updates throughout the year and you can find all that coverage, and more, on the TouringPlans blog!
This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at reasons we love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA! With the theme parks in Florida beginning to re-open from an unprecedented closure, we felt it was time to celebrate what draws us all to these wonderful places. Our first stop is a park celebrating its 30-year anniversary: Universal Studios Florida (USF).
# 6 – Dining
Forget rides, one of the biggest transformations that USF has had over the course of the last decade is in the area of food. There was a time when you could make a case that USF dining was hands down the worst at any Disney or Universal park, and now it has become one of the best thanks to the introduction of several unique and highly themed quick service venues throughout the park. From the great tasting and healthy options at Today Cafe to the hilariously and maybe a bit unhealthy options at Fast Food Boulevard (we’re looking in your direction The Clogger), there is something for everyone.
Today Cafe. (photo by Michael Carelli)Today Cafe. (photo by Alicia Stella)Today Cafe. (photo by Hedgehog’s Corner)Finnegan’s. (photo by Michael Carelli)Finnegan’s fish and chips. (photo by Michael Carelli)Finnegan’s webb burger. (photo by Megan Stump)Louie’s.A cheese pie from Louie’s. Attention Disney fans. This may come as a shock, but it turns out not all theme park quick service pizza has to be bad. Who knew?Mel’s Drive-In. (photo by Michael Carelli)Leaky Cauldron. (photo by Brandon Glover)Leaky Cauldron. (photo by Brandon Glover)Krusty Burger, part of Fast Food Blvd. (photo by Brandon Glover)Krusty Burger menu. (photo by Brandon Glover)The Clogger (photo by Brandon Glover)Themed napkins.Monsters Cafe. (photo by Michael Carelli)We have the meats. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)Monsters Cafe sides (Photo from Brian Carey)Lombard’s Seafood Grille. (photo by Michael Carelli)More themed napkins. We are truly #blessed. (photo by Brandon Glover)
# 5 – Photo Ops
In an Instagram world, pictures are becoming an even bigger part of the theme park experience. For the first-time visitor – or longtime seasoned theme park veteran – USF has a bunch of locations, characters, and other photo-ops that are going to make you stop in your tracks and get out the camera. In fact, it starts off right as you are approaching the park. Located directly in front of Universal Studio Florida’s entrance is the spinning Universal globe. The iconic globe is just perfect for photos from several different areas (including the bridge leading to CityWalk). Make sure that any camera rookies in your party don’t have an itchy trigger finger and be sure they wait for the “Universal” logo to turn around and frame the shot.
Universal Globe. (photo by Mike Sperduto)USF Arch. (photo by Brandon Glover)Jaws. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)Scooby Gang.Optimus Prime. (photo by Michael Carelli)Back to the Future‘s Doc Brown. (photo by Hunter Underwood)BTTF’s Delorean.Shrek. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Knight Bus conductor. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Hashtag. (photo by Hunter Underwood)
# 4 – The Shows
The most underrated aspect of Universal parks are the shows. Trust me, I get it. For years I avoided the Horror Make-Up Show thinking I wouldn’t like it. Personally I’m not a big fan of horror movies and “make up” isn’t that high on my list either. Once I was finally dragged into the theater and watched the show, I had a moment straight out of Arrested Development; realizing I had made a huge mistake taking a pass on the show for so many years. Turns out it is a fascinating look into the make-up (and special effects) of horror films and is absolutely hilarious. There are two hosts of the live show, and they spend much more time on “funny” rather than “scary.” They also throw in a whole bunch of pop-culture references for the crowd to enjoy. I could not recommend the show any higher and for me it is just as enjoyable as the big budget shows at Disney like Finding Nemo: The Musical or Festival of the Lion King.
Horror Make Up Show. (photo by Michael Carelli)Beetlejuice, making sure guests are properly following social distancing rules.. (photo by Megan Stump)Horror Make-Up Show. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Horror Make-Up Show. (photo by Hunter Underwood)
Enjoy live music? USF is gonna rock your world with several wonderful acts located throughout the park.
The Beat Builders. (photo by Michael Carelli)
Another moment of full transparency. I’m not a fan of the Blues Brothers film. I love Dan Aykryod and John Belushi, but the movie does nothing for me, so for a long time I had zero interest in seeing this live show.
Boy, what a mistake that was.
The Blues Brothers Show has energy and every Team Member I have seen play the characters of Jake and Elwood Blues seem to nail it each time. Each set they are accompanied by the singing waitress Mable and a sax player appropriately named Jazz. These two also bring it, every performance. The songs are for the most part well known (Gimmie Some Lovin’, Jailhouse Rock, Respect, and the headliner Soul Man), but it’s how the characters seem to channel their movie counterparts which makes this a must watch show. The show is so good it overcomes several of the things that I’m generally not a big fan of in theme parks, including 1) live music, 2) standing, and 3) no shade. Don’t be a fool like me and keep putting off this show during your touring of the park. The Blues Brothers play several times throughout the day, and you can fit a performance into your schedule. It will be worth it.
Blues Brothers.Blues Brothers. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Blues Brothers. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Blues Brothers. (photo by Hunter Underwood)
Over in Diagon Alley we have Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees belting out wizarding world tunes in a show that has quickly become one of the best live acts in theme park history. The character of Celestina Warbeck was one that was only mentioned briefly in the Potter books (J.K. Rowling has since gone on to write a small historical essay on Celestina for Pottermore), but Universal Creative took that small piece of coal and pressed hard enough to produce a true diamond.
Banshee. (photo by Hunter Underwood)Celestina. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Diagon Alley continues its theme park show dominance with the live performances of the Tales of Beedle the Bard. The Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts (WADA), a roaming street troupe, performs hourly in Diagon Alley to recreate the tales from Wizarding World’s equivalent of Aesop’s fables. Using Michael Curry puppets (Finding Nemo: The Musical, Tapestry of Nations, many Olympic performances), WADA brings to life the morality plays central to the Wizarding World.
The Tale of Three Brothers is a parable about the power of wishes and instant gratification (and the basis of the Deathly Hallows), while The Fountain of Fair Fortune is an inspirational tale about the rewards of overcoming one’s hardships and setbacks. Performances from the talented, comedic cast celebrate the many types of dramatic personas to create a real personality that melds with the stories. This unique style adds style and texture to an already realized world. Another highest possible recommendation.
Tales of Beedle the Bard. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)
# 3 – The Events
I mentioned my own trepidation about trying the Horror Make-Up Show, and I had the same fears about Halloween Horror Nights. For me, it was AMC’s The Walking Dead which got me through the door. Since that time, American Horror Story, Stranger Things, and Ghostbusters have been gateways to get casual fans to experience the event. Once you try HHN, you are almost sure to get hooked. While HHN is a separate hard ticket USF’s Mardi Gras and Christmas events are both included with park admission.
Halloween Horror Nights. (photo by Michael Carelli)HHN scareactor. (photo by Michael Carelli)HHN scareactor. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mel’s DIE-IN. (photo by Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog)Killer Klowns merchandise. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by Michael Carelli)Mardi Gras. (photo by @bioreconstruct)Christmas. (photo by Michael Carelli)Christmas. (photo by Mike Sperduto)
# 2 – The Attractions
One could make the case that USF was years ahead of its time. When it opened, USF’s concept of “ride the movies” was a stark contrast to what Disney had done with EPCOT several years earlier. As we all know, almost all theme park rides today are built with an Intellectual Property attached.
Rip Ride Rockit. (photo by Michael Carelli)Rip Ride Rockit.E.T. Adventure queue. (photo by Travis Terrell)Botanicus. (photo by Travis Terrell)E.T. (photo by Mike Sperduto)Escape From Gringotts.Transformers: The Ride 3D. (photo by Mike Sperduto)Social distancing in place.Revenge of the Mummy. (photo by Michael Carelli)Men In Black: Alien Attack. (photo by Michael Carelli)Men In Black: Alien Attack. (photo by Brandon Glover)The Simpsons Ride. (photo by Brandon Glover)Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl.(photo by @HateToFly)
# 1 – The Theming
For the longest time, the biggest knock against Universal parks was they were “just a collection of rides.” No matter how good the rides were, the level of immersion just wasn’t the same compared to other world class theme parks. Universal could have been considered a poor man’s Walt Disney World or a rich man’s Six Flags. However, to quote Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A Changin‘. Universal had already changed the game with the introduction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Viillage, but Diagon Alley took theming to the next level. With the London waterfront area outside leading into a jaw-dropping reveal of Diagon Alley inside.
London. (photo by Michael Carelli)London. (photo by Michael Carelli)The wonder of walking into Diagon Alley. (photo by Megan Stump)Diagon Alley.Diagon Alley.(photo by Michael Carelli)Fire! (photo by Mike Sperduto)Knockturn Alley. (photo by Michael Carelli)
The New York area of USF is a good example of how Universal is “fixing” some of its previous – for lack of a better word – “mistakes.” Replacing the Twister attraction was one based around The Tonight Show. This allowed Universal to create a facade that fits much more in line with the other New York theming in the area.
New York. (photo by Brandon Glover)Rip Ride Rockit passes through New York. (photo by Michael Carelli)Sting Alley. (photo by Michael Carelli)
As theme park fans, we are generally used to concept art being an “interpretation” of what we will actually see. Often times the finished result has huge differences from the concept art. However, over at Universal, the concept art is almost always spot-on, even to the tiniest detail. The transformation of the area of USF that became Springfield USA, is nothing short of phenomenal. If you are a fan of The Simpsons tv show, it’s a dream come true.
Springfield USA Concept Art.
Honorable Mention – The Merch!
Generic merchandise is a Nay Nay when it comes to Universal, as the park routinely delivers fantastic merchandise!
USF mask. (photo by @bioreconstruct)Chocolate frog. (photo by Hedgehog’s Corner)Bort keychain. This is referencing a fantastic moment from The Simpsons show when they visit a theme park and Bart can’t find his name on merchandise. Instead, he finds “Bort.”Jaws metal earth. (photo by hedgehogscorner)Hello Kitty/Jaws mashup. (photo by @HedgehogsCorner)Evac figure.I’ve always loved this plush based on a target in the Men In Black: Alien Attack ride.
Double Secret Honorable Mention – THE HISTORY
Just as Universal Studios Florida opened not long after EPCOT, both parks share another similar trait: extinct attractions which theme park fandom still clamor for. While Disney fanboys miss the days of Horizons, World of Motion, and Universe of Energy, the Universal stans want to bring back rides based around King Kong, Back to the Future, and Jaws.
Original logo, with E.T. art by Drew Struzan.You may be familiar with Drew Struzan’s work in the movie poster industry with his well known drawings for Indiana Jones, The Goonies, and Back to the Future.Doc Brown in Back to the Future: The Ride.DeLorean ride vehicle in Back to the Future: The Ride.Jaws.Jaws.Kongfrontation.Kongfrontation.
So there you have it: Six Reasons We Love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).
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GREAT MOMENTS IN THEME PARK HISTORY (CRUDELY DRAWN): For those who don’t know the backstory: when Universal was preparing to build USF in Orlando, it reached out to other movie companies to partner with. One of the companies they had a meeting with was Paramount, who at the time was led by Michael Eisner. Shortly thereafter, Eisner took a job with Disney and fast tracked Disney’s MGM Studios, a move clearly intended to cut the legs out from under the Universal park before it could gain a foothold in the marketplace. Eisner denies ever being at the meeting with Paramount, but everyone else at the meeting says he was there. Common sense tells you it wouldn’t make sense for a person in his position not to be there.
From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Halloween, Saturday Six, Universal Orlando Resort, saturday six
