Construction is moving right along at Universal Studios Florida. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon may be set to open April 6, but the gift shop, aptly named "The Tonight Shop," is looking more and more ready by the day. It's been my assumption that it will open much sooner than the ride, especially considering work walls are down around the store and we can already see merchandise showing up inside. I bet you can't wait to get your very own Hashtag the panda plush! Fast & Furious Supercharged construction continues as they have started building a large queue structure in front of the giant ride building.
Universal has been testing their new Virtual Line system at Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, (more details about that can be found here.) Also going on in the park, there's minor construction happening at the Candy store in New York, free phone chargers have been installed throughout the park sponsored by Coca-Cola, and The Simpsons Ride is temporarily closed for regular maintenance until January 22nd. Check out the video for full coverage as well as the complete photo update below! And stay tuned for more theme park news and construction updates.
Looking towards the bathrooms at Jimmy FallonDecorative elements now painted above the bathroomsSkyline windows near bathroomsSoundstage walls have been painted to match new facadeLooking towards the building front and The Tonight ShopDoor that is located between the bathrooms and the store"Stage Door"Looking through the "stage door" windowYay! Ride testing going on inside!The Tonight Shop entranceNBC logo in colorful lights on the ceiling of gift shopComing *how* soon?Some of the merchandise visible in the windowsHashtag the panda! Yes, that is a hashtag stitched onto its butt.Store windowOverall view of the entire buildingCorporate SynergyThere may be a lot of logos on the building, but in their defense that is how it really looks in New YorkTaking a look around the steps in front of the store...Temporary crates and flowers on top of what will eventually be lamps or lighting featuresHookup for one of the street lamps can be seen under this A-frame signCloser view of lamp hookupThis beautiful ground brickwork was accomplished using a rubber mold on poured concrete. An old Hollywood technique used throughout Universal's backlotsLooking towards the New York side of the buildingScaffolding is up around the ride entrance marqueeAn intricate ornate design element is being installed above the entranceLooking at the entrance marqueeA new stripe is beginning to be added along the side of the Fallon cutoutThe work walls that are now up are plain black, replacing the ones with jumping Fallon's on themThe ride is scheduled to open April 6, 2017!
Work walls up around the candy store in New York areaThis is only a small window for ordering snacks and drinksI wonder if this little shop will be expanded beyond a windowWork walls go down the alley a little waysAcross the street in front of the arcade a new phone charging station has been installedThese charging stations have been added in multiple places throughout the parkIt's completely free to charge your phone, with no time limitLooking to Fast & Furious Supercharged constructionA structure for the queue is being built in front of the show buildingA piece of the original building visible hereSome pieces of wall still missing on large show buildingThey're using two brick designs, one matching London on the right and one for San Francisco on leftWall being closed up on left side of show buildingCloser view of wall being closed upWhere they were working while I was thereInside the building you can see insulation has been installedThe fountain that used to be in front of Beetlejuice still remainsOverview of the areaOld Disaster entrance still has no changes visibleAlso no change at the old Disaster exitView of massive show building from London sideBuilding is completely closed in from this viewOriginal Disaster building is now connected to the new ride buildingView of the massive building as seen from across the lagoonThe Simpsons Ride is closed for regular maintenance until January 22ndWork walls are up along the left-side of the building
Construction is moving right along at Universal Studios Florida. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon may be set to open April 6, but the gift shop, aptly named "The Tonight Shop," is looking more and more ready by the day. It's been my assumption that it will open much sooner than the ride, especially considering work walls are down around the store and we can already see merchandise showing up inside. I bet you can't wait to get your very own Hashtag the panda plush! Fast & Furious Supercharged construction continues as they have started building a large queue structure in front of the giant ride building.
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