Hello, and welcome to Dateline Universal Orlando! It’s been a while since we last visited the resort, and there’s a lot happening! Let’s head out there and see what it is.

Universal Studios Welcomes You

There is a lot of construction going on around Universal and we have some news to report, if you don’t already know.

  • Fast & Furious: Supercharged is headed to Universal Studios Florida in 2017 and will be located inside the San Francisco area of the park and not part of a tour like its Hollywood Counterpart.
  • Volcano Bay is still being built on a generous 53 acres south of Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
  • Jimmy Fallon is still on track to open in 2017. The 3D “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” will be a fun and funny adventure taking guests through the streets of New York.
Welcome to Universal!
Welcome to Universal!
Early mornings come with Starbucks.
Early mornings come with Starbucks.

 

Islands of Adventure
Even with the busy summer, Universal’s Islands of Adventure still looks great overall; you can already see hints of the Holidays being installed throughout the park and some new refurbishments happening at one of the quick serve locations. On a side note we do wish they would update the flat character displays around this area.

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Time for some adventure!
Time for some adventure!

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This quick service location is currently under refurbishment.
This quick service location is currently under refurbishment.

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Yes, those are Christmas trees in the Captain America Diner.
Yes, those are Christmas trees in the Captain America Diner.

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King Kong & Jurassic Park

Fog outside of Kong was pumping!
Fog outside of Kong was pumping!

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Torre Kong!!
Torre Kong!!

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A Jurassic Park Christmas.
A Jurassic Park Christmas.

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Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World has really grown into its own, you can see the foliage has grown in around Hogsmeade and surrounding areas giving you that great sense of escape that has always been somewhat lacking at Universal Theme parks.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t always room for change; this week, we noticed that the trees around Hogwarts were removed and reduced in size which keeps the forced perspective going.

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Hogsmeade is beautiful in the mornings.
Hogsmeade is beautiful in the mornings.
All the tall trees in from of Hogwarts were removed and replaced with the same type of trees, just very small ones.
All the tall trees in from of Hogwarts were removed and replaced with the same type of trees, just very small ones.

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An empty Hogsmeade is worth waking up for.
An empty Hogsmeade is worth waking up for.

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Time to head to Universal Studios Florida.
Time to head to Universal Studios Florida.

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Greeted by streetmosphere.
Greeted by streetmosphere.

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Halloween Horror Nights & Construction

Halloween Horror Nights were extended till November 5th this year so if you haven’t experienced this, get your last chance scare in before it scares away till next year!

Plenty of construction is going on around Disaster! For the new Fast & Furious: Supercharged you can also see large amount of construction where the new Jimmy Fallon Ride is going. Overall the style of the Jimmy Fallon ride is taking the New York theme to a whole new level for this area. Going to look great, we hope the ride is just as good but we will see.

Horror Nights props are still out because HHN has been extended to run until this weekend! Get your scares in while you can.
Horror Nights props are still out because HHN has been extended to run until this weekend! Get your scares in while you can.

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Nothing visible at the old Disaster entrance.
Nothing visible at the old Disaster entrance.

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But, a large building is growing where Disaster once stood.
But, a large building is growing where Disaster once stood.
Multiple cranes on site.
Multiple cranes on site.
It looks like the building could be two stories of ride, ala Transformers.
It looks like the building could be two stories of ride, ala Transformers.

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Over in New York, the Jimmy Fallon project continues.
Over in New York, the Jimmy Fallon project continues.

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Getting closer to the rumored 30 Rock entrance.
Getting closer to the rumored 30 Rock entrance.

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Big changes on the front side of the attraction.
Big changes on the front side of the attraction.
That is a lot of glass.
That is a lot of glass.

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New York skyline in the windows.
New York skyline in the windows.
The restroom signage gives us an idea of what to expect from this area.
The restroom signage gives us an idea of what to expect from this area.

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A wider view of the construction.
A wider view of the construction.
That's it for this week.
That’s it for this week.
Thanks for joining us!
Thanks for joining us!

There is a ton happening at Universal. And we didn’t even cover the Cabana Bay expansion or Volcano Bay construction! How do you feel about all of the new additions coming? Will you be taking a day from your Disney visit to see Universal next time? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

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Cory Disbrow
Cory likes Walt Disney World so much, he recently packed his bags and moved to Orlando. Cory is a photographer and writes MiceChat's Dateline Disney World columns every Friday.