Hello, and welcome to Dateline Universal Studios Florida! This week, we’re taking a look at the updates around Studios park which include Race through New York with Jimmy Fallon and the Fast and Furious Ride, as well as venturing to the hotels to check on some projects there as well.

 

Welcome to Universal Orlando!
Welcome to Universal Orlando!

_DSC8168

_DSC8169

Free pro wrestling happened this weekend.
Free pro wrestling happened this weekend.
The Fallon ride is nearing exterior completion.
The Fallon ride is nearing exterior completion.

_DSC8172

Architectural details.
Architectural details.
Gotta have that corporate synergy!
Gotta have that corporate synergy!

_DSC8175

_DSC8176

Clever name for a storefront.
Clever name for a storefront.
Main marquee for the ride has been installed.
Main marquee for the ride has been installed.

_DSC8179

Race Through New York opens this spring.
Race Through New York opens this spring.
The main Christmas tree is one of the only holiday decorations still up in the park.
The main Christmas tree was one of the few holiday decorations still up in the park.

_DSC8182

_DSC8183

Walls up around the convenience store on the corner in New York.
Walls up around the convenience store on the corner in New York.

_DSC8185

_DSC8186

_DSC8187

Fast and Furious - Supercharged is slowly rising.
Fast and Furious – Supercharged is slowly rising.

_DSC8189

_DSC8190

_DSC8191

Dominic Torretto and the gang make their way to the park in 2018.
Dominic Torretto and the gang make their way to the park in 2018.
Time to head into Diagon Alley!
Time to head into Diagon Alley!

_DSC8194

_DSC8195

_DSC8196

_DSC8197

_DSC8198

_DSC8199

_DSC8200

_DSC8201

The temperatures dropped into the 30's in Orlando this weekend, a perfect time for Hot Butterbeer.
The temperatures dropped into the 30’s in Orlando this weekend, a perfect time for a Hot Butterbeer.

_DSC8204

_DSC8205

_DSC8206

_DSC8207

_DSC8208

This Coca-Cola project took forever to complete, and is just a large indoor space with some Coke Freestyle machines.
This Coca-Cola project took forever to complete, and is just a large indoor space with some Coke Freestyle machines.

_DSC8210

_DSC8211

_DSC8212

_DSC8213

You can see from across the water the perspective impact the Fast and Furious ride building is having on the San Francisco area.
You can see from across the lagoon the perspective impact the Fast and Furious ride building is having on the San Francisco area.
A new Secret Life of Pets themed float is part of the parade now.
A new Secret Life of Pets themed float is part of the parade now.

_DSC8216

_DSC8217

_DSC8218

_DSC8219

Promotion for Sing on the windows in the Hollywood section.
Promotion for Sing on the windows in the Hollywood section.

_DSC8222

Toothsome has been packing people in with hour plus long waits on certain days.
Toothsome has been packing people in with hour plus long waits on busy days.
Time to take the watercraft over to the resorts.
Time to take the watercraft over to the resorts.
The approach to Sapphire Falls is beautiful from the boats.
The approach to Sapphire Falls is beautiful from the boats.

_DSC8226

Over at Cabana Bay, two new towers of rooms are under construction.
Over at Cabana Bay, two new towers of rooms are under construction.

_DSC8228

From the 7th floor of Cabana Bay, you get a nice view of Volcano Bay, which opens this summer.
From the 7th floor of Cabana Bay, you get a nice view of Volcano Bay, which opens this summer.
Lots and lots of slides.
Lots and lots of slides.
Universal has started the hiring process for this park, which is roughly 1700 new jobs. They've also started including it in their marketing, advertising the resort as having three theme parks.
Universal has started the hiring process for this park, which is roughly 1700 new jobs. They’ve also started including it in their marketing, advertising the resort as having three theme parks.
Universal-Volcano-Bay
Volcano Bay

_DSC8232 _DSC8233

Time to head back home!
Time to head back home!

That wraps up this week’s column! Are you excited for the Fallon ride? Ready for Fast and Furious? Do you feel like Volcano Bay is more than just a water park, and registers as a theme park? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

If you appreciate what we do here and would like to support Dateline Disney World, you can shop at Amazon.com using my link (please CLICK HERE before you do). It won’t cost you any extra, and it’ll help out the column!!

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.