Universal Orlando Resort (USO, IOA) Discussion Thread

[HomerAWESOME-O-SAURUS!!!]

Hey everybody!

This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at the Universal Orlando Resort, this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. For pictures and videos of the park as well as past updates, see TPR's Park Index Pages: Universal Studios Florida & Universal Studios Islands of Adventure

Official Park Website

Below are some links to past updates from the park, you may be interested in. Enjoy!

--Robb

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2005
March 2005 - Nickelodeon Studios to leave Orlando - SEE BELOW!

2006
September 1st, 2006 - Blue Man Group coming to Universal?
September 7th, 2006 - Confirmation that Back to the Future is closing

2007
February 1st, 2007 - Harry Potter coming to IOA
March, 7th, 2007 - Concept art for Blue Man Group
March 12th, 2007 - Back to the Future's final day announced as March 30th
April 7th, 2007 - Universal confirms budget for 2007 is $120 Million
May 31st, 2007 - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter announced
November 5th, 2007 - Earthquake closes at Universal Studios

2008
January 14th, 2008 - Universal Orlando gets approval for Maurer Sohne's "Project Rumble Ride Project"
Mar 18th, 2008 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit Announced (Hidden Song List Revealed)
Mar 22nd, 2008 - Rising Star opens at Universal Orlando's City Walk
June 19th, 2008 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit layout revealed
October 30th, 2008 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit construction update
November 18th, 2008 - Poseiden's Fury's "Water Vortex" feature shut down
November 25th, 2008 - More Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit construction progress
November 28th, 2008 - Additional Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit concept art leaked
December 30th, 2008 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit lift & station construction goes vertical

2009
February 2nd, 2009 - Universal gives away 100,000 tickets on Superbowl Sunday
February 5th, 2009 - Universal cutting hours at some attractions
February 12th, 2009 - More Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit trackwork completed
February 23rd, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit lift construction rises
March 6th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit non-inverting loop construction begins
March 12th, 2009 - Significant amount of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit track work completed
March 18th, 2009 - Universal and Royal Caribbean form partnership
April 5th, 2009 - Another Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit update
April 29th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit lift hill complete?
June 4th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit animated POV released
June 6th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit lift being removed
June 24th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit lift complete, testing begins
June 25th, 2009 - Halloween Horror Nights 'Ripped from the Silver Screen' announced!
July 6th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit official song list released
July 7th, 2009 - Halloween Horror Nights 'Ripped from the Silver Screen' logo released
July 24th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit ringy dingy ding-a-ling dings installed
August 15th, 2009 - Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit soft opening review
August 24th, 2009 - Official Halloween Horror Nights Facebook Page launched
August 27th, 2009 - Halloween Horror Nights Saw & more details revealed
September 8th, 2009 - More HHN 19 details revealed
September 17th, 2009 - HHN 19 Dracula & Frankenstein house details
September 22nd, 2009 - HHN 19 The Usher background details revealed
September 23rd, 2009 - HHN 19 partners with Fangoria for two houses
September 24th, 2009 - HHN 19 Blood Day!
September 26th, 2009 - HHN 19 Media Preview Reviews
October 28th, 2009 - HHN 19 Sting Alley HHNXX Preview Scare Zone "Shadows of the Past"

2010
July 14th, 2010 - Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear announced
August 2nd, 2010 - Halloween Horror Nights Legendary Truth Collective returns!
August 13th, 2010 - HHNXX house teaser images released
August 25th, 2010 - HHNXX full details released!
August 26th, 2010 - HHNXX conference call details
November 28th, 2010 - Universal Orlando VP, Jan Stratton dead

2011
January 1st, 2011 - Universal's Islands of Adventure Ripsaw Falls is on Fire!!!
March 16th, 2011- Blackstone to sell its stake in Universal Orlando
July 19th, 2011- The Thing house confirmed for HHN 21
August 3rd, 2011- Halloween Horror Nights launches Twitter account
August 17th, 2011 - Dueling Dragons will no longer "Duel"
August 30th, 2011 - HHN 21 full event details released
September 15th, 2011 - Ghost Hunters to return to Universal for HHN 21
September 23rd, 2011 - HHN 21 Media Night Review
November 1st, 2011 - Holiday offerings for the Universal Orlando Resort announced!
November 2nd, 2011 - JAWS to close forever on January 2nd, 2012
December 6th, 2011 - Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion confirmed!

2012
January 1st, 2012 - Mummy & E.T. evacuated after technical malfunctions
January 2nd, 2012 - Jaws comprehensive coverage plus two on-ride videos!
January 3rd, 2012 - Huge photo & video report of Jaws closing day!
January 12th, 2012 - 2012 Mardi Gras Concert lineup, plus Jaws farewell
January 25th, 2012 - Huge announcement details revealed for 2012 additions!
February 4th, 2012 - Jaws behind walls plus a resort-wide photo update!
February 16th, 2012 - Spending continues to rise at Universal Orlando
February 16th, 2012 - Blue Man Group Re-Opening VIP Media Event Coverage
February 22nd, 2012 - Time lapse of Blue Man Group Theatre revamp posted!
February 26th, 2012 - New info on Hollywood Drive In Mini Golf revealed
March 1st, 2012 - Spiderman set to reopen on March 8th!
March 2nd, 2012 - Hollywood Drive In Golf opening photos
March 3rd, 2012 - More Spiderman reopening details released!
March 13th, 2012 - Hollywood Drive-In Golf officially open!
March 19th, 2012 - Amity Deconstruction Progress photos
April 3rd, 2012 - Cinematic Spectacular & Parade to debut on May 8th
April 9th, 2012 - Jaws corridor update, Despicable Me & streetmosphere
April 19th, 2012 - Sneak preview of the Universal Cinematic Spectacular
April 22nd, 2012 - Universal employees will begin testing Electronic Express Pass system at IOA on May 2nd/3rd.
April 23rd, 2012 - Pics of Jaws from the day AFTER closing!
May 2nd, 2012 - Two new entertainment dining packages announced
May 2nd, 2012 - Photos of Universal Express Q-Bots in Islands of Adventure
May 10th, 2012 - Universal's Cinematic Spectacular & Universal's Superstar Parade VIP Premiere Party photos & videos posted!
May 30th, 2012 - Ticket prices increase to become the most expensive in Orlando
May 30th, 2012 - Passholder previews for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem coming soon
May 30th, 2012 - Rock the Universe 2012 tickets now on sale
June 11th, 2012 - Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem in soft opening phase
June 12th, 2012 - Wet 'n Wild Orlando opens Blastaway Beach
June 14th, 2012 - Despicable Me Minion Mayhem to open on July 2nd!
July 2nd, 2012 - Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Grand Opening Coverage!
July 9th, 2012 - Cabana Bay Beach Resort Announced!
July 15th, 2012 - Shaquille O'Neal visits Despicable Me Minion Mayhem!
September 9th, 2012 - Huge resort-wide construction photo update
October 17th, 2012 - Update of future plans, including the fast tracking of Transformers
November 1st, 2012 - Transformers: The Ride officially announced for Universal Studios Florida!
November 14th, 2012 - New dining experience offerings announced!
November 25th, 2012 - Universal Orlando Holiday Pass now for sale!
December 4th, 2012 - Macy's Holiday Parade & Grinchmas Media Event report
December 11th, 2012 - New Harry Potter content being filmed for Universal

2013
January 2nd, 2013 - Is Universal talking to the Tolkien family?
January 8th, 2013 - Mardi Gras 2013 Concert Lineup revealed!
January 25th, 2013 - Universal hosting 'Days of our Lives' fan fest
February 10th, 2013 - Universal Studios Mardi Gras Media Night Coverage!
February 13th, 2013 - Comcast buying remainder of NBCUniversal ownership
February 20th, 2013 - Big Update from both parks.
March 4th, 2013 - Transformers Gift Shop Opens!
April 1st, 2013 - Megatron begins making appearances at Transformers
May 8th, 2013 - Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley details announced!
The Simpsons' Springfield is coming to Universal!
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Nickelodeon Leaving USF

ORLANDO -- The slime has stopped at Universal Orlando.

Cable network Nickelodeon has plans to abandon a television production operation at the theme park resort at the end of June.

At the same time, the theme park resort has shuttered the Nickelodeon Game Lab, an attraction based on a former Nickelodeon game show that ended with a contestant on the receiving end of a bucket of green goo.

Less than 10 people will be laid off from the Nickelodeon production unit, which has been at Universal Studios since the Florida theme park opened in 1990.

Nickelodeon culled an audience for its shows from the millions of tourists who visit Universal's two theme parks each year, but Nickelodeon has had a diminishing presence at the resort in recent years.

Also, its due to conflict of interest, Nick is owned by CBS and Universal is now owned by NBC. Along with that, Nick had little interest in the Orlando unit these days since no shows are taped there.

[MovieguyJar-Jar Binks smells like Donkey]

Man, I remember the old days of Nickelodeon, back when they used to film those game shows there all the time. Nick Arcade, Legends of The Hidden Temple, and GUTS were a few of my favorites.

So it doesn't surprise me that this place has closed other than the ownership issue. Today Nick is all about the Nicktoons, which is really a shame in some ways.

[YoshiFanDon't make me kick you in the donkey!]

I definetly understand why they did this. Last time I was there was 12/03 and during past trips there the tour took you upstairs where you could see the sets of shows. We were told the studio isn't even used for shows anymore (save for Slimetime Live or Spalt) so the tour doesn't go upstairs. All it went to was that Gamelab.

I remember when the studio opened and they always used to make a big deal about how certain shows were filmed there like All That or What Would You Do?

It's still sad to see it go though and I hope they preserve the time capsule that was burried there.

[PhishyBrewerDo you know where your wife is?]

Didn't they just open a NICK hotel near Universal like 2 months ago. Thought I saw something while watching Sponge Bob Square Pants

There still is Paramounts!

[YoshiFanDon't make me kick you in the donkey!]

The hotel opens up Memorial Day. They are going to have a game show there that is a little like the GameLab show that was in Nick Studios.

[Token Yankee GuySexing up the North Pole]

oh man, I remember touring the nickelodean studios back in 96. I saw the Keene and Kel set and I even got to try some slime.

Craiggers "it's really apple sauce with green food coloring" K.

[HattuchiliNot Everyone In Germany Wears Lederhosen and Eats Sauerkraut]

That sounds to bad. I remember the "Family Double Dare" show and the Barney set, down in the studios, in 1996. I really liked it.


Barney and Friends.

--Soeren

[RCTfanWDW's Newest Tigger]

There is a Nickelodeon hotel on 536 (a rode that leads to Disney). Its near a place called the World Gateway. Its very strange, its right next to Disney. There are pictures of Nick characters along the buildings and a big Nickelodeon sign at the Lobby. Very odd placed.

[JT3000The only thing better than a naked woman is a naked donkey!]

USF seems to be losing it's original attractions at a rapid pace, but this really was just a waste of space in the last few years. It was completely abandoned. Which is sad, since the golden years of the network were taped there. I still remember seeing the graphic of the studio at the end of practically every show. I know I'm not the intended audience anymore, but I think their current programming sucks quiet frankly, from what I've seen while channel surfing.

Hopefully this is turned into an attraction. There's actually room for several in there. Hell, they could even have a Nick theme, since it's just the studio that's leaving.

[M_Force_4_everBanned]

I remember going to the Nick studios back in '95 and I saw a set forsome show which I can't remember the name of now. yeah I hope they open some Nick themed attractions.