As always, we'll start off with the entry arch, they are doing some work up on the roofs and chimneys. 

Down near the Studio Tour, a look at a portion of the queue for Forbidden Journey, the greenhouse. 

Looks really tall from this angle. 

Behold, Hogwarts!! 

More of the scaffolding is coming down. Only bad thing is once the outside of the buildings are done there won't be much to update until Wizarding World actually opens. 

The Greenhouse

A look at Flight of the Hippogriff. For those that don't know, USH is the only park that's getting the MACK version of this ride, not Vekoma like the other parks. 

Moving on from Wizarding World, let's take a look at HHN construction. Here we have the set up for Insidious: Return to the Further. 

The maze is in the same spot as the original Insidious Maze, but John Murdy has stated on Twitter that the maze will be very different than the first go around. 

Looks like a new maze will be coming to the former location of Stage 28. 

Lots of work going on near Terror Tram, not sure if this is going to be a part of the experience or if it's just coincidence. Rumors are that big changes are on the way for Terror Tram this year. We'll have to just wait and see. =)

Maze on the Upper Lot. It's looking like this will be the only maze up on the top this year (other than the Terror Tram). 

The new Retail/Dining location at the front of the park is looking great, most of the framing looks like it's completed and they are starting to work on the fronts of the building. 

A couple of random park notes ... Am I the only one who's looking forward to this movie? 

A new piece of themeing near King Kong 360 3D, they didn't mention it on the tram though which was odd. 

Lots of Fast and Furious Cars in Universal Plaza. Kind of miss the water fountains though. =)
(Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version)

And lastly, some of the great streetmosphere at the park. These two are always fun to watch. 

Alright, that's going to wrap it up for this update. We'll try to get back up to the park soon for another update, but it's looking like the construction on the outside of Wizarding World will be slowing down. But we've definitely got a lot from HHN to see. =)

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The Selfie Stick ... a way for the already vain to continue to be that way (no, that song isn't about you). An easier way to get group pictures when nobody is around to take a picture for you? A general annoyance for those who are easily annoyed? Yet another way to encourage anti-social behavior? Generally ok when used appropriately? Absolutely dangerous when used inappropriately? 

If you said "All of the Above" then you'd be absolutely correct. 

It's these last two that we are going to take a look at 

Appropriate ways to use a selfie stick: 

• You are hiking alone or with a small group and you'd like to get some decent pictures of you and nature
  
• You are doing a fly-by of Pluto and really tired of people ooohing and aaahing at the planet but not the awesome technology that allows us to see the awesome planet
• That's about it ... 

Inappropriate ways to use a selfie stick: 

• In a crowded place like a theme park, sports stadium or museum
• In a plane, train or automobile
• On an actual ride like a roller coaster, dark ride, water ride, flat ride, train ride ... pretty much anything that would be considered a "ride" or "attraction"
• To get pictures over people's heads during any kind of show or parade
• Any way that generally impacts another persons enjoyment of something else (shouldn't this pretty much apply to everything ... we're looking at you taking a picture with your iPad)

It's also important to note, we aren't talking about "selfies", while most selfie pictures aren't great (as you'll see below) for the most part you aren't going to smack anybody with your arm or cause a ride to break down. 

So now that we've likely pissed off about 60% of our readership with the above list, let's take a look at why the Selfie Stick has somehow become popular ... Kim Kardashian. 

(We were totally going to put up a picture of her in one of her millions of selfies, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it. I mean, she has a "selfie book", do you REALLY want to be associated with that?) 

For some reason, this "celebrity" has generally made it ok in our society to think only about oneself (it's called a SELFie stick after all) and it's producing a generation of self involved people who apparently are unable to ask somebody to take their picture. 

I'll be the first to admit I've taken selfies while running, a few times almost falling flat on my face while doing it (it's a sight to see I'm sure), but if I'm at a park or event and I'd like to get a good picture taken with friends or family I'm asking somebody to do it for me. 

It's really not that difficult. 

Of course, there are exceptions to the "selfie" rule, but there is NEVER an exception to the selfie stick rule. =)

I'm not sure where we hit that wall as a society that we were no longer willing to "trouble" somebody to take our picture, I've even offered to take a picture of people using Selfie Sticks while at parks and 9 times out of 10 they've said no. What is it about selfies? Why would a selfie taken 2-3 feet away from your face be any better than a standard picture taken 7-10 feet away where you could actually see where you are and what you're doing? 

I think that's the point. It's no longer about "where" you are, it's about "you" being there. 

If I look back on our old family pictures from theme parks, before Digital or cell phone cameras, all of our pictures you can see Disneyland or wherever else we were. We weren't the focal point, the park was, we just happened to be there enjoying it. 

So now the backlash has begun, and it's coming very fast. 

I don't think this can be traced back to a single incident, but the signs have been there for months. Reports of people holding out their sticks on Big Thunder or Matterhorn (which were among the first rides to get such a sign installed). Shutting down of CA Screamin' due to somebody using a selfie stick. Companies like GoPro publicizing the use of a Selfie Stick on a coaster with a 153ft drop and 90 degree elements. 

There are of course other devices that are used without "telescoping", and there seems to be no issues with these as parks seem to not be banning them (which is good because our GoPro stick doesn't extend and we'd like to keep using it =) )

The problem with using these things on rides are these things called "ride clearance envelopes". We've all seen them when testing a ride before it opens. Sometimes they are made out of pipe, they move along the track to insure that a rider with hands up or out isn't going to have an issue if they should put their hands up or out. 

All those rumors about not being able to put your hands up on Space Mountain? Just that, rumors. 

But then you have a metal stick in your hand, with a camera on the end of it, and your arm is now extended another 2 to 3 feet, going 65mph and what happens should it strike something? This is the real issue with having selfie sticks in parks. 

You can't blame the parks, obviously just having signs and announcements about them wasn't enough. People figured that didn't apply to them. 

Oddly enough, Universal and Cedar Fair seem to be the only US chains that have yet to jump on the banning of Selfie Sticks. But with the recent metal detectors to prevent loose articles on rides like Hulk and the fact that a tourist was selling selfie sticks in the middle of Diagon Alley last week, the ban can't be too far off. 

It just seems that in the past 10 years society has become even more narcissistic, more about "self" and not about "us". And this goes way beyond any theme park or theme park chain banning selfie sticks, it's a societal issue. 

So yes, those who don't know the proper way to act in society have once again ruined something that most intelligent people could use the proper way. But considering what selfie sticks are used for, is it really any surprise this fad and it's backlash weren't very far apart? 

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A map of Disneyland in 1962

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About Universal Orlando Resort 
For 25 years, Universal Orlando Resort has been creating epic vacations for the entire family – incredible experiences that place guests in the heart of powerful stories and adventures.  Guests can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, grab a Krusty burger in Springfield, join the ranks of the Minions and so much more.

Universal Orlando’s two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, are home to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative attractions. Its on-site resort hotels, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort are destinations unto themselves.  Its entertainment complex, Universal CityWalk, offers dining and entertainment for every member of the family. And just minutes away is Wet ‘n Wild, a family water park.

Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled 18 new guest experiences in the past five years – powerful attractions, incredible dining opportunities and a dramatically themed hotel.  And more is on the way.  Coming in 2016 is Universal Orlando’s fifth on-site hotel, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort; and Skull Island: Reign of Kong, a groundbreaking attraction in Islands of Adventure.  And in 2017 will come Universal’s Volcano Bay, an entirely new water theme park experience. 

Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company.  Follow us on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram andYouTube.

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Roar opened in 1999 amidst a major revitalization effort, with several new shows and attractions, restaurants and shops opening simultaneously. Since that time, an estimated 11 million guests have experienced the 10-story coaster featuring six reversals, 22 crossovers, 17 turns and 12 breathtaking drops, in this 55 mph ride that was named for the thunderous roar of a California sea lion.

Roar is a traditional wooden roller coaster featuring a 3,467 foot-long wooden track. 

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