Park Journey
  • Home
  • Six Flags
  • Universal Studios
  • Disney Parks
  • SeaWorld Parks
  • Other Parks
  • Beyond The Parks
  • Industry News
  • Cruise Journey
  • Cedar Fair (Legacy)
  • Theme Park Art
  • The Other Side of the Tracks
  • Past Updates
    • 2021 Updates
    • 2020 Updates
    • 2019 Updates
    • 2018 Updates
    • 2017 Updates
    • 2016 Updates
    • 2015 Updates
    • 2013 and 2014 Updates
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Six Flags
  • Universal Studios
  • Disney Parks
  • SeaWorld Parks
  • Other Parks
  • Beyond The Parks
  • Industry News
  • Cruise Journey
  • Cedar Fair (Legacy)
  • Theme Park Art
  • The Other Side of the Tracks
  • Past Updates
    • 2021 Updates
    • 2020 Updates
    • 2019 Updates
    • 2018 Updates
    • 2017 Updates
    • 2016 Updates
    • 2015 Updates
    • 2013 and 2014 Updates
  • Contact Us
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Universal Studios

4/4/2016

A look back at Universal Studios Hollywood's "EPIC Transformation"

Picture
It's finally here!!! It's Potter Week!!

As you all know the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Hollywood this Thursday (April 7) and the star studded premiere is tomorrow night (April 5). We will of course be there on the red carpet so be sure you are following us for all of that fun. 

So while we're celebrating all things Wizarding World this week we thought it would be a good time to stop and take a look backwards a bit, to take a look at where the park was just a few short years ago and at the "Epic Transformation" they've made. Because it truly is EPIC. 

From a park that just a few years ago was giving a full year away for the price of one day to where today is commanding multiple visits for tourists and has definitely swayed the attendance habits of local fans who now have a choice between incredible theme parks to attend each weekend.

It truly is an AMAZING time time to be a theme park fan in Southern California. 

(keep in mind, we don't have all the older pictures we would have liked, but at the time we weren't thinking of taking them for posterity ... oh hindsight) ​
We'll start off at the front of the park since that's the first thing everybody sees when they enter. Remember when this was the new thing in the park? 
Picture
Of course, the iconic entry to the park hasn't changed much over the years. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
The rest of the entrance area has sure changed over the years though. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Sure looks different today 
Picture
Picture
Picture
All new Starbucks!! 
Picture
Picture
And they aren't even done yet, coming this Summer!! 
Picture

The Wild West Theater 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Now ... 
Picture
Universal Plaza decked out for Lunar New Year earlier this year. 
Picture
Picture
Picture

Let's take a left turn from Universal Plaza where we now have the amazing Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Super Silly Funland.

T2:3D. 
Picture
Picture
Now ... 
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Super Silly Funland
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Did You Know: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem was one of the first projects we started covering as a website? 
Picture

Continuing on through the upper lot of the park, who remembers when Marvel had a presence at the park? It really wasn't that long ago. 
Picture
Picture
Once Marvel left it was just "Comic Heroes" 
Picture
Photo Credit David Yeh/EndorExpress
Or when this was actually a thing? 
Picture

Even the Studio Tour entrance has undergone some pretty significant changes over the years: 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The tour itself has had some changes, some forced and two totally different Fast and Furious attractions. 
Picture
June 2, 2008 - The latest Backlot fire.
Picture
Have a tramtastic day ... 
Picture
Picture
Picture

But all of the changes weren't exclusive to the upper lot, the lower lot has received it's share of love recently. 

​Then ... Special Effects Stages (now on the upper lot)
Picture
Now ... 
Transformers The Ride 3D 
Picture
Even small changes to make the guest experience better. 

Then... 
Picture
Now ... 
Picture

But of course, none of that compares to the changes made to the upper lot in just the last few years. The thing that has finally made Universal Studios into a full fledged "Theme Park" and not just a "Studios" park. 

​Then ... 

Did you know: The Universal Amphitheater closed in September 2013? Not even 3 years ago. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photo Credit David Yeh/EndorExpress
Picture
Photo Credit David Yeh/EndorExpress
Anybody know what is in this spot now? Certainly looks much different today. 
Picture
Photo Credit David Yeh/EndorExpress
Picture
No Epic Transformation could be done without a LOT of Epic Construction. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Now ... we'll start off with the amazing Springfield addition that was made last year. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

And of course, none of that compares to what is opening in just a few days. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
So now it's finally here ... just a few short days away. Wizarding World opens for the world to see. 

And we all have heard the rumors, we know they aren't done yet. When the new additions will be announced is anybody's guess. Will they take the advantage of the world looking at the park this week to make another big announcement? We'll find out tomorrow night. 

We hope you enjoyed this look back at the park over the past few years. We of course had a lot more pictures that we could have shared, but we figured this was more than enough. It's still amazing how much work has been done in just a few years and we can't wait to see what the future holds. 


If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

If you have any comments, please share them below

9/12/2014

More props being put out for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood

Picture
Reader and good friend of the site Nico just sent us a plethora of pictures as Halloween Horror Nights continues to be set up at the Hollywood park. 

This next week is going to see a mad rush of preparation as the event begins next Friday and Employee Previews begin on Wednesday. 

We'll be at the park tomorrow to shoot a full update, I'm imagining that there will even be more than what is seen in the pictures below. 

Thanks for sharing the pictures Nico!!! If you ever have any pictures to share with us, just send us a message on Facebook, Twitter or email.  

Mask A Raid
Picture
Picture
This wasn't our choice during the whole "Fans pick a Scare Zone" contest, but it looks great. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Dark Christmas
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The Purge
Picture
Picture
From Dusk Til' Dawn

The "Twister" ... fans will know that a word is missing from here. =)
Picture
American Werewolf in London
Picture
Dracula Untold
Picture
Terror Tram
Picture
Picture
Picture
Alien vs Predator
Picture


If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter. 

If you have any comments, please share them below. 

9/10/2014

Universal Studios Hollywood and Halloween Horror Nights construction update

Picture
CoasterMatt headed up to Universal Studios Hollywood today with his trusty camera phone and sent us the following pictures. These are a compilation of the pictures we've been sharing on our Facebook and Twitter page over the last few hours. 

We'll have a full update early next week heading up to the Eyegore awards on Friday September 19th. 

Before heading into the park, they are doing some work on the center divider. 
Picture
The dancer cages (ie: the best parts of HHN) are being set up. They really should just have these all year. =)
Picture
The scare zone for The Purge Anarchy which will likely have a LOT of fire is being set up
Picture
Typical weather in early September, 100 degree temps keep the Universal Plaza open with lots of water
Picture
The Flintstones BBQ is now history ... 
Picture
Picture
Springfield construction is entering it's next phase as walls are being added. Remember, the Springfield expansion is due to open in 2015. 
Picture
Construction continues on what we hear is a new bridge to the tram. 
Picture
Preparations for "Terror Tram"
Picture
Picture
Diagon Alley ... I mean, Fast and Furious Supercharged is getting big. Looks like there will be two show rooms that trams will go through. 
Picture
The buildings are BIG!! 
Picture
Wizarding World ... pretty soon there won't be much to see here. 
Picture
You can start to see the lower walls of Hogwarts being built
Picture
Watch your nuts guys ... 
Picture
I need this for my front yard
Picture
Apparently this is a very popular photo stop for daytime guests. 
Picture
That will wrap it up for this update. I'll be back at the park on Saturday and we'll have a more extensive update early next week. 


If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter. 

If you have any comments, please share them below. 
<<Previous

    Categories

    All 2014 Attractions 2015 Attractions 2016 Attractions 2017 Attractions 2018 Attractions 2019 Attractions 2020 Attractions 2021 Attractions 2022 Attractions 2023 Attractions 2025 Attractions 2026 Attractions Bourne Stuntacular Cabana Bay Celestial Park Dark Universe Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem Diagon Alley Donkey Kong Country Dreamworks Theater Epic Universe Eyegore Awards Fast And Furious Fast And Furious: Hollywood Drift Fast And Furious: Supercharged Grinchmas Halloween Horror Nights Harry Potter Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey Helios Helios Grand Hotel Hogwarts How To Train Your Dragon Hulk Islands Of Adventure Isle Of Berk Jupiter's Claim Jurassic Park Jurassic World Lunar New Year Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge Minions Nintendo Nye Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon Reign Of Kong Secret Life Of Pets: Off The Leash Simpsons Springfield Studio Tour Super Mario Land Super Nintendo World The Incredible Hulk Coaster The Voice The Walking Dead Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Transformers: The Ride Universal Cinema Universal Citywalk Universal Horror Unleashed Universal Orlando Universal Running Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Studios Japan Volcano Bay Wizarding World

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    RSS Feed