December 23, 2011: Universal Studios Florida Then and Now

[Werner Weiss]

I had fun putting together seven “Then and Now” photo essays about Walt Disney World for Yesterland in 2011. Figuring out the right location, camera angle, and focal length to match a photo taken many years earlier is quite a challenge.

Today, I have a “Then and Now” article about Universal Studios Florida. The “Then” photos aren’t as old as my Disney photos, but there have been some interesting changes.

Yesterland: Universal Studios Florida Then & Now

Please discuss it here.

[Dref]

"Visitors would want to visit both Potter worlds—so Universal would sell more multi-day, Park-to-Park Access tickets."

Not necessarily. I think a good majority of people already wanted to see both parks, long before HP. For myself, I don't like IoA too much, so I'm no hurry to return there even though I would like to see all the HP stuff there. I think it's more so that people who only like or can only go to USF but want to see some HP attractions can do so. Plus, it eliminates arguments between those who only or mainly want to go to IoA just for Potter and those who would rather go to USF for the overall experience.

[jpg391]

Werner, I have enjoyed all of your "Then and Now" articles. Have you done one about Disneyland in California?

[Werner Weiss]

Werner, I have enjoyed all of your "Then and Now" articles. Have you done one about Disneyland in California?

Thank you. Yes, I have four Disneyland "Then and Now" photo essays:

— http://www.yesterland.com/changes.html
— http://www.yesterland.com/changes2.html
— http://www.yesterland.com/changes3.html
— http://www.yesterland.com/changes4.html

[Timekeeper]

Hmmm, Seeing the Then and Now of Florida's "Time Institute" to "Krustyland", I much prefer the BTTF attraction, it looks cooler and makes me wish USH didn't change theirs.


Timekeeper

[jkh1978]

I love your comparison photo series.

Something was bothering me, so I wanted to confirm that the photos are correct. In the pairs of New York pictures, in the second set I see the Starbucks sign appear in 2011. In the first set, are the pictures in the right order? Was the Starbucks sign visible from this angle in 2003 but removed in 2011?

[Werner Weiss]

I love your comparison photo series.

Something was bothering me, so I wanted to confirm that the photos are correct. In the pairs of New York pictures, in the second set I see the Starbucks sign appear in 2011. In the first set, are the pictures in the right order? Was the Starbucks sign visible from this angle in 2003 but removed in 2011?

Great observation!

Yes, the photos are correctly labeled and in the correct order.

I took a closer look at the 2003 and 2011 photos. In 2003, Starbucks was on one side of the street. By 2011, Starbucks had moved to the other side of the street.

I took a closer look at the 2003 photo with the Starbucks logo. As the detail below shows, there were two round Starbucks signs and the Starbucks name on the awning above the door. By 2011, those references to Starbucks were gone. Instead, a Starbucks sign joined with Games & Amusements sign across the street — with no attempt to make those two signs represent the same period of time.

New York restaurants — detail (2003 photo)

[FultonFerry]

Great page. Would you happen to know who is portrayed on the statue that is outside the games building? Could it be Robert Fulton? That building is modeled after the Fireboat house at Fulton Ferry Landing, which now houses the Brooklyn Ice cream Factory.

[Werner Weiss]

Would you happen to know who is portrayed on the statue that is outside the games building?

It's former MCA Universal chairman and CEO Lew Wasserman.

[FultonFerry]

By the way, the Brooklyn Ice Company was modeled from the Eagle Warehouse on Old Fulton Street in Brooklyn, and the corner building in your New York restaurants photo was modeled from One Front (which now houses Grimaldi's Pizza). So there are 3 buildings at Universal which have originals in Fulton Ferry.