Universal Studios Florida Update: Jimmy Fallon Ride, Fast & Furious, Toothsome and Secret Life of Pets Merchandise

00772.MTS.Still051It's time to take a look around Universal Studios Florida and see how some of the big construction projects are doing and what's new in the park! As soon as I got there I noticed a lot of new merchandise added to the main studio store for the upcoming film The Secret Life of Pets. There have been rumors of this property getting its own ride in the parks if the film is a success, (and I have a feeling the film will do just fine). One of the mugs caught my attention as it's actually branded with 'Universal Studios' on it! Over at Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon lots of work continues at a breakneck pace as facades get built, roofing gets laid, walls go up, and lots of interior work gets done. It looks like another rounded (screen-like) wall on the inside is being constructed too. See images below for more details. Not much is happening at Fast & Furious Supercharged. They took down the potted plants in front of the work walls. That's about it. And finally in City Walk, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium (formerly 'Chocolate Factory') is coming together nicely with new brickwork on the front. See the video along with lots of images with more information about these projects below and stay tuned for more theme park updates!


The Secret Life of Pets Merchandise

Arriving at the arch...
Arriving at the arch...
Visiting the Universal Studios Store just inside the park
Visiting the Universal Studios Store just inside the park
The Secret Life of Pets (SLoP) merch added right in the front entrance
The Secret Life of Pets (SLoP) merch added right in the front entrance
Shirt!
Shirt!
tervis!
tervis!
Look at me. Look at me. I'm the alpha now.
Look at me. Look at me. I'm the alpha now.
I really like this mug. If I like the film (which I'm thinking I will) I will definitely be picking this up
I really like this mug. If I like the film (which I'm thinking I will) I will definitely be picking this up
The bunny is hilarious in the trailer
The bunny is hilarious in the trailer
Sports bottles
Sports bottles
Not sure who this little guy is, but he appears to be lost
Not sure who this little guy is, but he appears to be lost
Max and Duke Pop! figures
Max and Duke Pop! figures
Gidget and Chloe Pop! figures
Gidget and Chloe Pop! figures
Buying wall decals at a theme park? Sure, why not?
Buying wall decals at a theme park? Sure, why not?
"First to arrive... Last to leave" sippy cup
"First to arrive... Last to leave" sippy cup
New Hello Kitty King Kong poster added across the street
New Hello Kitty King Kong poster added across the street

Jimmy Fallon Construction

Now that Kong walls are down, Jimmy Fallon wins the award for best looking work walls on property
Now that Kong walls are down, Jimmy Fallon wins the award for best looking work walls on property
Facades in the front's framework all looks done now
Facades in the front's framework all looks done now
Look at the side of the building. Work is focused on roof now
Look at the side of the building. Work is focused on roof now
Roof being weatherproofed
Roof being weatherproofed
Roof panels ready to be laid
Roof panels ready to be laid
Extended building near Rockit
Extended building near Rockit
Perhaps this extended area will be bathrooms again? We need some in this area, especially when concerts are going on
Perhaps this extended area will be bathrooms again? We need some in this area, especially when concerts are going on
Look at the facade steel on this side
Look at the facade steel on this side
Pipes leading to (probably) bathrooms
Pipes leading to (probably) bathrooms
Pipes and conduit being installed inside
Pipes and conduit being installed inside
View of the other side of steel for facades
View of the other side of steel for facades
Hard to tell in the image, but there appears to be a rounded wall here, perhaps the back of a large screen
Hard to tell in the image, but there appears to be a rounded wall here, perhaps the back of a large screen
Rounded screen?
Rounded screen?
Stairs added near ride entrance area
Stairs added near ride entrance area
Looks like this may remain the main ride entrance when it opens
Looks like this may remain the main ride entrance when it opens
Many believe these stairs will be temporary, but maybe they will be used for team members after ride opens?
Many believe these stairs will be temporary, but maybe they will be used for team members after ride opens?
View from down the street
View from down the street
Walls closing in building
Walls closing in building
Back wall being walled up
Back wall being walled up
Still working on closing it up
Still working on closing it up
Stairwell in corner still exposed
Stairwell in corner still exposed
Several levels of stairs in back corner for workers
Several levels of stairs in back corner for workers
Lots of panels of some sort ready to be installed
Lots of panels of some sort ready to be installed
All of the flat facades have been refreshed now and look amazing
All of the flat facades have been refreshed now and look amazing
At a time when Disney is removing their NY facades Universal has repainted theirs to brand new status
At a time when Disney is removing their NY facades Universal has repainted theirs to brand new status
These were the last to be updated and now they really pop!
These were the last to be updated and now they really pop!

Fast & Furious Update

A look at construction (or lack thereof) at the old Beetlejuice courtyard
A look at construction (or lack thereof) at the old Beetlejuice courtyard
One little forklift/crane thing was in opertion at the time
One little forklift/crane thing was in opertion at the time
This painted wall is all we have to remind us of Disaster, you're welcome
This painted wall is all we have to remind us of Disaster, you're welcome
Big pile of rubble has been carted off, but the view is still weird with Hogwarts Express in background
Big pile of rubble has been carted off, but the view is still weird with Hogwarts Express in background
Set Enhancements in slow motion in progress
Set Enhancements in slow motion in progress
Fountain and Graveyard Snacks remains untouched
Fountain and Graveyard Snacks remains untouched
Not much going on near former Disaster entrance, however the potted plants in front of walls have now been removed. Strange. Wonder why they were placed there in the first place.
Not much going on near former Disaster entrance, however the potted plants in front of walls have now been removed. Strange. Wonder why they were placed there in the first place.
Wondering if they will need to update the walls and remove "2017" if this doesn't speed up. Although, I did hear drills being used in the area while I was there, so work is being done inside
Wondering if they will need to update the walls and remove "2017" if this doesn't speed up. Although, I did hear drills being used in the area while I was there, so work is being done inside
No offense to the artists, but these work walls really clash with the surrounding area and are somewhat of an eyesore, at least in my opinion. Would much rather see framed concept art like they had at Mako or the current Toy Story Land walls
No offense to the artists, but these work walls really clash with the surrounding area and are somewhat of an eyesore, at least in my opinion. Would much rather see framed concept art like they had at Mako or the current Toy Story Land walls
No change at the former Disaster exit... Oh, and, Amity Island lives on!
No change at the former Disaster exit... Oh, and, Amity Island lives on!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Update

Toothsome's factory front is really coming along quickly
Toothsome's factory front is really coming along quickly
Lots of brickwork being done on front
Lots of brickwork being done on front
Bricks appear to be fake and are applied in prefab sections. I wonder if they will be painted after installed
Bricks appear to be fake and are applied in prefab sections. I wonder if they will be painted after installed
Work continues extending building on left-side and adding smokestack to tower as well
Work continues extending building on left-side and adding smokestack to tower as well
The name has been updated on work walls
The name has been updated on work walls
I love the new name, glad they are distancing themselves from the Wonka stereotype. Makes this its own thing and more special
I love the new name, glad they are distancing themselves from the Wonka stereotype. Makes this its own thing and more special
That's all for this update! Check out some of our previous updates for Kong and Hulk!
That's all for this update! Check out some of our previous updates for Kong and Hulk!

Fast-and-Furious-featured-900x563That's all for this update. See all USF updates here and subscribe to the feed for more continual updates!

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