I had one day on my trip to Orlando this past weekend to visit Universal Orlando Resort. The last time I visited was in the Spring of 2013, and with so much going on at the park, I wanted to break my visit into two posts, first, a photo update of various construction projects currently happening across the Universal Orlando Resort, and second, a trip report from my seven hour mad dash around the parks with one day park-to-park ticket.
Universal Orlando Resort Construction Update
NBA City
After its closure in August of 2015, Citywalk’s former NBA City Restaurant is still behind construction walls. Though the giant basketball player out front is gone, you can still see a nod to the former basketball theme of the restaurant with the “Never Stop Playing Ball” clocks on the corner of the building.
Incredible Hulk Coaster
After closing in September 2015, with all track and trains being scrapped, the Incredible Hulk Coaster is currently being rebuilt to open later in 2016.
It was definitely a strange sight to see the Hulk’s launch tube with no B&M track spiraling out of the end. It was a visual that was noticeable from across Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Some classic Hulk Comic scenes are located on construction walls around the coaster.
Work being done on the bridge that the Hulk’s track dives under.
Supports and track are starting to come back into place. While riding Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall, I noticed a portion of the latter half of the Hulk’s track was already in place.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Coming in Summer 2016, Skull Island: Reign of Kong has a very impressive facade from the outside.
A few shots of the rock work, as well as work being done close to the construction walls.
I would have had more photos, but was told that I couldn’t take photos from a certain angle, despite being in an area of path accessible to everyone by the former Jurassic Park entrance to Toon Lagoon.
Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges/Me Ship, The Olive
Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges and Me Ship, The Olive were both closed for seasonal maintenance.
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
In October, Jimmy Fallon announced on his show that an attraction bearing his name and likeness would be replacing Twister: Ride it Out at Universal Orlando. Twister closed on November 2, and work is underway to transform the building into the new 3D attraction.
The location of Twister’s former sign. Not sure why there’s a door there.
Images of Jimmy Fallon on the Construction Walls
Twister’s former Gift Shop being gutted.
Fast & Furious: Supercharged
Also announced this fall were the closures of Disaster Studios and Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Review to make way for Fast & Furious: Supercharged. Graffiti’ed construction walls block off the two attractions, which closed on September 8 (Disaster) and January 5 (Beetlejuice).
Tough to tell in this photo, but you can still make out the words “Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Review” on the former entrance to the show.
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Be sure to check out Part Two, a full trip report from my one-day, two-park tour of Universal Orlando!
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