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P1040978NBA City at Universal Orlando CityWalk has officially closed and as of this week crew was on site removing items from the interior. Plus, I saw someone from Universal Creative's wrecking crew checking out the site. While NBA may have left Universal, they are opening a brand new "experience" at Disney Springs (formally known as Downtown Disney) at Walt Disney World Resort. The new facility will be several times the size of their CityWalk location and will take over the building currently occupied by DisneyQuest. The indoor video game "theme park" will be closing next year to make way for The NBA Experience.

No word yet on what will be replacing their former CityWalk location. Rumors of its replacement have ranged everywhere from The Cheesecake Factory to Willy Wonka's Candy Factory. Stay tuned for news as it happens. See photos of the closed venue below as well as an official statement from NBA City.

NBA City's doors adorned with a plain piece of paper simply stating "Closed" and another paper with a sad face
NBA City's doors adorned with a piece of paper simply stating "Closed" and another paper with a sad face

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Fast-and-Furious-featured-900x563The rumors can finally be put to rest, Fast & Furious: Supercharged has been officially announced for Universal Studios Florida. To make way for the new thrilling ride, Disaster: A Major Motion Picture Starring You! will close permanently on September 8, 2015, with Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue closing later this year. All indications are that the area will remain themed as San Francisco, which not only will save Universal a lot of money, but will retain the area's existing restaurants and sights, (which is good, considering this is where they chose to move the picture spot of Bruce the shark from Jaws.) This new attraction is slated to open sometime in 2017, the same year Universal's new water park Volcano Bay is scheduled to open.

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The announcement comes just a few months after Fast & Furious: Supercharged opened as part of the tram tour at Universal Studios Hollywood (watch a ride video here). It uses a similar style of technology as Kong 360 where the tram travels through a large corridor of 3D screens while wind and motion base effects help create the illusion of high speed. Currently it is not known how the Florida version will differ, but considering the attraction's name has not changed, and the fact that they're building it on the site of the Disaster ride, it's quite possible that the ride video will remain relatively, (if not entirely) the same. The biggest difference will be the ride vehicle. Perhaps, to save time and money, a modified version of the Disaster (formerly Earthquake) subway tram will be used, as it is a similar shape as the Hollywood tram tour vehicles. Personally I'd like to see something new for the Orlando park, but it's definitely time for Disaster to go away, although I will miss Christopher Walken as Frank Kincaid, you're welcome. Read below for full details about the new attraction and stay tuned for more Universal news! ...continue reading →

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Hulk-blog-900x563Universal Orlando's official blog has just announced that The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure will undergo major enhancement and refurbishment work beginning September 8th. And it will not re-open until NEXT SUMMER! There had been rumors that the refurb would happen in stages, reopening the ride during peak times of year, such as Christmas and Spring Break, but now it looks like the entire ride will remain closed for the better part of a year.

Universal says the beloved coaster will be getting some TLC in the form of some great, new enhancements to its storyline, ride vehicles and overall experience. Rumors have the entire queue building being completely rebuilt from the ground up, entire sections of track being replaced, and most importantly, hulklaunchthe launch system being upgraded from tires to an electromagnetic (LIM) launch system. This will not only offer a smoother launch, but cost less in maintenance for park operations, without having to replace tires every few weeks. When the Hulk first opened electromagnetic launch systems were not yet up to the task for such a big endeavor, but as time went on the technology has improved, and the time has finally come. I for one am excited to see an updated queue building and improved storyline... Although I may miss the techno-rave party feel in the queue.

See the entire blog release below and stay tuned for more theme park news. ...continue reading →

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P1040770Last month, when the long construction period was over and the dust had settled, the NBC Media Center was finally opened inside of Universal Studios Florida. As I have previously reported the new state-of-art media center will be used for market research involving multiple forms of media, including previewing new television programs. Now, Orlando Theme Park News is reporting that an article posted to an internal publication has released further details for industry insiders, boasting the Media Center as the largest biometrics facility in the country. See the press release below, and do check out my full report on what it's like inside the new Media Center along with many photos of the completed compound.

The NBCU Media Center (or NBC Media Center) recently opened in Universal Studios Florida in the Garden of Allah area. The center is a state-of-the-art research facility which is available to all NBC Universal businesses and Comcast. The facility, which is the largest biometrics facility of its kind in the country includes the following research capabilities:

  • Dial Tests for video content (programs, pilots, promotions, and movies);
  • Advanced tools for measuring personal engagement and response to content;
  • Focus Group Facilities for qualitative research;
  • “Living Room of the Future” which enables research on consumer use of new technologies in a “real life” environment.

 
The facility will be open only when research is being conducted. During that time, the facility will open one hour after official park opening and close one hour before official park closing. The NBCU Media Center is a facility built to support research across the company and is not open to the public unless a guest has been accepted as an applicable research participant.

Check out our full report and photo update on the Media Center here and subscribe to the feed for more park updates!

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d69dd917b1afdf7a1d568d0ddf415d621c55445e1a88d4893ed5591b61fc7d45_ originalThese characters are better suited to being on the sideline of a larger film. Sure they sell merchandise, and the kids in the theater seemed to be having a good time, but this film doesn't begin to compare to the quality of the heartwarming and funny Despicable Me films. The best part of the film happens during the end credits, when it starts to feel a bit more like a real Despicable Me film. I guess I knew going in that a feature-length film starring gibberish-speaking yellow blobs wasn't going to be very good, but even with my hopes so low it still managed to be a bit of a disappointment. Maybe catch it on Netflix for the few cute laughs it offers.

2.0 Stars (out of 5)

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P1040811With the blockbuster film Jurassic World stomping all over box office records, Universal Orlando is wasting no time slapping the film's logo all over the parks, especially in the Jurassic Park area at Islands of Adventure. So far you'll find Jurassic World banners and logos plastered all over the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant and Jurassic Outfitters gift shop. There's signage for all the different attractions you can experience at Jurassic World, such as the Gyrosphere ride seen in the film. Unfortunately though, there isn't (yet) an actual Gyrosphere ride here in Orlando. Maybe one day. There's also a few new pieces of merchandise for Jurassic World at the parks, including some exclusive items. Jurassic World theming has not yet made its way to the Discovery Center or River Adventure, perhaps to keep those attractions in line with the original film, but who knows how far they'll take the theming in the future. See the entire photo report below and stay tuned for more Jurassic sized updates!

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P1040895During my recent trip to Universal's Islands of Adventure I was able to get a bunch of new pictures of the construction progress of Skull Island: Reign of Kong, opening one year from now. The entry arch is starting to actually look like King Kong's head, which matches the previously released concept art (see below). Other work continues at a rapid pace including more facade paint work, walls going up around the queue building, and land being cleared around the front of the structure to prepare for an outdoor track. And who knows how much work is being done inside the building! Check out the full photo report below and stay tuned for more theme park news!

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P1040763The Garden of Allah Villas construction is finally complete and we now have the brand new shiny NBC Media Center. What's the NBC Media Center you ask? Why it's the new home for fall TV previews and focus groups of course! I just happened to be walking by today while they were looking for volunteers, so I was able to be one of the first people to experience the new Media Center. They've been doing TV previews in the parks for years, but this is a new, more high-tech approach. And having a neat storefront building helps convince people to volunteer, as opposed to taking folks to the back of a dark alley somewhere off the path. Check out my report and lots and lots of photos below!

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terminator-genesis-poster-arnoldI actually enjoyed this film. I am, however, a big fan of the first two films in the franchise, and given that this entry plays out like the ultimate fan-fiction, fan-service fan-film, it isn't surprising that I enjoyed watching it. The first act was especially good, showing us what went on before the Terminator and Kyle Reese were originally sent back to 1984. It was inventive and the attention to detail from the original story was incredible. If only the other two-thirds of the film were as worthy. I'm afraid the casting of Reese and Sarah Conner were the film's biggest mistakes. These actors brought nothing to the film and might as well have just been placeholder dummies posed in front of the camera. Schwarzenegger is good in his iconic role. He was more believable in this one than the third film if you ask me. And J. K. Simmons stole the show, when he was on screen that is. It was a small part, but it was the best part. The final act of the film was awful, predictable, and despite all the explosions and special effects, ultimately uneventful. As a huge fan of the first two Terminator films, I enjoyed this reboot/prequel/sequel/remake, but I can't imagine anyone else really caring at all. It was at least better than the last two in the franchise, and just like Jurassic World, that's all we can really hope for anymore.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

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inside-out-posterFinally a return to the original Pixar we used to love. Inside Out is extremely clever, maybe sometimes to a fault, but also as heartwarming and moving as Pixar gets. I have not been a fan of some of their recent films: Brave, Cars 2, and Monsters University. I'm happy to finally see an original film again (even if it is reminiscent of Herman's Head or Cranium Command). The voice casting was impeccable for the film, with Amy Poehler as the perfect 'Joy', Bill Hader as a hilarious 'Fear', Lewis Black as the fitting 'Anger', Phyllis Smith as 'Sadness', and my favorite, 'Disgust' played by Mindy Kaling. It's like a SNL/The Office crossover with this cast, and it couldn't have been done any better. My favorite things about the film are how it attempts to explain how the mind works in both grand and small fashion with clever and unique concepts. Everything from how we get a commercial jingle stuck in our head to how we grow and mature from an adolescent with simple reactionary emotional responses to an adult with a more nuanced emotional outlook. A beautiful movie, let's just hope they don't go and make a sequel.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)