Universal Studios Hollywood is set to explode next year with a flurry of new things to see and do.  Today we’ll share the latest pics and news from the park. Among them is the new parking structure being built at the far end of CityWalk.  This thing is huge.  Next we share the most recent pictures from the Entry Plaza as new shopping and dining moves in.  Of course we see that Halloween Horror Nights is slowly creeping into the park and there is a full update and tracker article on HorrorBuzz.com to fill you in on all of the gory details. Speaking of demise, we see that Mel’s Burgers on the upper lot may have finally served its last burger.  Too bad. However, the biggest news here is the remarkable progress of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  We can taste the butterbeer already!

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Parking Structure

At the far end of CityWalk, the gigantic parking structure is slowly being finished up adding thousands more spaces to the mix.

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The structure will be connected to the others via raised walkways.

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Entry Plaza

At the entrance to the park we see that the new shopping and dining location is shaping up and really does help this park create a more substantial entry shopping/dining/services street.  It’s a shame that we had to lose the House of Horrors for this, but it really does make sense from a operations point of view.

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The building is already framed up.

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The WIzarding World of Harry Potter

It’s time to check out the progress at the WIzarding World of Harry Potter.  Hogsmeade is going through the final stages of installation and refinements are even being made on what has been installed.  We can see that the Hogwarts Express prop train has taken its place at the entrance too which is AMAZING. As you can see, it looks all but done.

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Hot pink spray paint marks where Universal Creative wants changes made.

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LOOK! The Hogwarts Express!

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The show building for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is nearly complete.
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The green house portion of the queue under construction.

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The detail on this show building is absolutely amazing.

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Mel’s Diner

With the construction of the all-new maze, Halloween: Michael Myers Comes Home, we see that we are losing another eatery.  Mel’s Diner seems to be going away as the entire location is surrounded by construction walls.  What’s more, the neon lining the roof is being disassembled.

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No Crowds

If you were thinking of coming out to try the new Fast and Furious Supercharged attraction on the Studio Tour, now is this time to do it.  School is back in session and the crowds are manageable, almost nonexistent.

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Even Jaws was taking it easy.

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Norman is still up to his old tricks.

That’s a wrap for Universal Studios Hollywood this week.  We are gearing up for Halloween Horror Nights and right after that Harry Potter will be flying in. Stay tuned for more news right here on MiceChat.


Now’s the time to grab your ticket to the biggest Halloween Event of the year! Do it soon before the Early Bird Discount ends on September 7th at midnight!

Ghouls and boys it is time once again to return to the foggy, moldering streets of Ghost Town as we gather for the annual MiceChat Knott’s Scary Farm Meet! In an annual tradition that is reaching its ninth year, MiceChat.com and our partners at HorrorBuzz will be leading a group through the granddaddy of haunts with VIP treatment and the chance to meet Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

What makes going to this event different from just buying the tickets and going on your own?  A LOT!  We will start the day off at 2:30 in the afternoon.  After checking in we will enjoy a backstage tour through the inner workings of Haunt.  We will be walked through a maze before opening, with the lights on, by the designers themselves.  Then we will feast on a private, all you can eat, buffet!

After gorging on amazing Knott’s fried chicken dinner, roast beef, turkey, and boysenberry pie we will get early entry into Knott’s Scary Farm.  Then the real fun begins. The world famous Maze Death March starts.  Here we go through each and every maze in Knotts Scary Farm as a group, because there is apparently safety in numbers.  But we won’t have to wait in lines.  Straight to the front of the priority access queue for everything. Of course we’ll catch the Hanging and VIP early entry into Elvira’s Asylum stage show extravaganza.  Nowhere else will you get VIP treatment like this for such a low price.

logoroundBKBGVIP Package
Early Bird Discount – $130 (Ends Sept. 7th)

  • Backstage Tour of maze and meet and greet with Haunt Designers
  • All-you-can-eat Boo-ffet
  • Early Admission into Knott’s Scary Farm
  • Early entry to Elvira’s Asylum*
  • Front of the line for MAZES ONLY

Universal Hollywood, Universal Studios Hollywood Harry Potter and More

This year we have added even more ways to experience the biggest, most original haunt in Southern California.  We have two options that will get you closer to the fear, closer to the madness, and closer to the fun, but act fast, tickets won’t last.

logoroundEVElvira’s BIG Package – Early Bird Discount – $230 (Ends Sept 7th) 

  • ALL features of the VIP package above, PLUS the following:
  • Front of the line for all RIDES & ATTRACTIONS
  • Special Meet and Greet with Elvira
  • Special Elvira Sovenier pack (a $50 value)

Universal Hollywood, Universal Studios Hollywood Harry Potter and More

Do yourself a favor and grab a ticket now.  This is the ULTIMATE way to see haunt and the tickets will sell out quickly. Ticket Prices go up at midnight on September 7th, so don’t delay!

Grab a ticket and get ready for the best time you will ever have being scared.

 

We will see you In The Parks.

Norman Gidney
Norman Gidney, also known as Fishbulb, has produced and edited many of the articles on MiceChat over the years.