Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Harry Potter construction continues at Universal Studios Hollywood2/4/2014
This week we continue looking at the ongoing construction of Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, Wizarding World of Dirt ... err, Harry Potter, Springfield and whatever the heck they are doing where the Curse of the Mummy's Tomb was on the Studio Tour. We also have some pictures of a production getting ready to take place on the Backlot for one very popular show. Despicable Me: Minion MayhemA look at what Despicable Me looks like as of February 1st. It seems we are always a couple of days early as last update the sign was installed a day after our pictures were taken and apparently the wall in front of Gru's house was removed since Saturday. We hope to have a couple of updated pictures of this later in the week. A close up of the sign. No different than the one in Orlando. You can win tickets to the Grand Opening of the ride. We've made it easy for you to enter, just click here. Due to some issues I was having with my camera this is the closest look we'll get at Super Silly Funland this update. From down below (on the tram actually). Hopefully we'll get to see more soon. All indications are that the ride and land will be ready to open sometime in April. Wizarding World of Harry PotterNot really a whole lot of change with WWoHP since our last update. Once vertical construction begins in a few months it should get a bit more exiting than just "dirt". Some more dirt and steel. And lots more dirt for good measure. Studio TourFor those fans of The Voice, here you go. If you thought the show was taped in some amazing concert venue and all of those pre-performance videos were shot on the streets of LA ... well, I'm sorry. They are all done on the Universal Backlot and the show is taped on Stage 12. Peace Out ... or is that a "V"? If you are in Southern California or will be visiting and would like tickets to The Voice (or many other shows) you can visit 1iota. Really great resource for free tickets. We've done a few live concerts for Jimmy Kimmel Live. Something we missed on our last update, Fast and the Furious has thankfully been closed (looks like for good). No word on what may be replacing this. It appears all of the "themeing" has been removed. Not sure if the cars and robot arms are still there. Who says it never rains in Southern California? A picture that nobody has ever taken before in the history of picture taking. Sadly this is not in preparation for Halloween Horror Nights but for some new show they are filming on the backlot. Hello Mother Jaws is still closed for what is a pretty extensive rehab. Reports are that the tilting pier effect is not coming back. Maybe something different? They've cleared even more land where Curse of the Mummy's Tomb was. Still no indication if this is going to be a future attraction for the tram or for the theme park. I see no reason why this can't be an expansion for Wizarding World utilizing the Hogwarts Express concept they are using in Orlando to get people out to this area of the park. Around The ParkDecorations celebrating the Year of the Horse were up in Universal Plaza. Even though it was bright and sunny it was a pretty chilly day. Not sure why they had the fountains on. Still a temporary entrance for Shrek 4D. Walls heading all the way around towards Flintstones BBQ which will hopefully be on it's way out soon. We'll finish with one of the many amazing walk-around face characters at the park. We'll try to feature a different one for each update. These individuals are great and really are the heart of the park. That's going to wrap it up for this update. We hope to have some updated Despicable Me pictures in the next few days and if anything major changes with either Despicable Me or Harry Potter we'll be sure to head to the park. We are very excited to bring you the first of what we hope will be many updates for the upcoming Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. The area doesn't open until 2016 so that gives us lots of time to follow all aspects of construction. As if Harry Potter wasn't enough, the new for 2014 attraction "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" is inching closer to opening this spring. There is also a lot of work going on around The Simpsons Ride. Wizarding World of Harry PotterBefore we get into what the area for Wizarding World of Harry Potter looks like now, let's take a look at what the area looked like just a few short months ago on September 13, 2013. Thanks so much to CoasterMatt for the following "Before" pictures. And this is what that same area looks like today. What is at the moment big piles of dirt will eventually be the highly themed world of Harry Potter. Big machines that punch holes in the ground are on site as well as the crane that can be seen from well outside the park. Isn't there some kind of spell that can just make this be ready to open tomorrow? As seen from outside the park. Lots of stuff in the staging area. From inside the park you can get an idea of just how big the crane is. The size and scope of this project is, quite simply, the biggest project in the parks history. This is going to change the park, not only expanding the size of the upper lot but most likely changing the way the park is seen from a local and tourist standpoint. While other parks have had a lock on the local Southern California market for years, Universal Studios was always seen as a park for tourists with only an occasional visit for locals. This project will expand the local market for the park unlike anything else in the parks history. Despicable Me: Minion MayhemThe park is also hard at work on the new for 2014 attraction, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. Unlike it's Florida Counterpart this attraction brings with it an entire new "mini-land" that is rumored to include a spinning ride. Given how popular the franchise is (especially the Minions), and considering the lack of major attractions in the local market, this is probably going to be the biggest attraction opening in Southern California in 2014. It looks like the crane is mainly being used for the "Super Silly Fun Land" area. The facade for Gru's house is only one of many things featured from the movies. And this is only what we can see so far. I'm sure this guy was doing something pretty important. Actually, since these pictures were taken the sign for the ride has been installed (just to the left of where the crane is in the picture below). From the lower lot you can see some of the work being done on "Super Silly Fun Land" A lot of Despicable Me merchandise has already started to show up in the stores both inside the park and at CityWalk. It's so FLUFFY!!!! Once we get some firm opening dates for Minion Mayhem we will be sure to share them Around The ParkAs if Harry Potter and Despicable Me weren't enough, there is a lot of work going on around The Simpsons Ride for the long-rumored Springfield makeover. The queue for the ride is also getting some work done. However, no official announcement has been made. There are walls from the entrance of Shrek 4D all the way to the entrance of the Studio Tour. As a result, Doc Brown's chicken and a few other restaurants and stores have closed. If you haven't been to the park for awhile, some big recent changes include the removal of the Wild West arena and the addition of the new Universal Plaza which really opens up the park. A couple of tidbits from the Studio Tour. Always make sure to check the production board to see what's filming, you never know what you might see. Beware of Norman Bates The Avalanche Tunnel/Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is completely gone, opening up a huge plot of land. Not sure if this is going to be part of Harry Potter or something different. An overhead view of just how much has been cleared. Looks like Jaws finally got what was coming to him. That's going to wrap it up for this update. Considering how fast Harry Potter and Minion Mayhem are progressing we are likely going to have pretty consistent updates from the park. Make sure to take our poll below. |
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