Universal Studios Update - Simpsons, Harry Potter, Fast and Furious Construction

We headed up to Universal Studios Hollywood for a few hours on Easter morning and we have a pretty big update for you today. Things are moving so fast on the Upper Lot with all three major construction area's. 

We'll also have a quick look at Super Silly FunLand since this is the first time we've been at the park since that area opened. There is only one area left to open and it's the water play area. 

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Springfield 

Since our last update and the date it was announced, Springfield construction has kicked into overdrive. 

First lets take a look at all of the construction from the ground level. An entire second level has been added since our last update. 

The Springfield and Hogsmeade construction is going to start blending together so until the outsides of the buildings  are added we may not know which is which. 

From up top you can see just how big this area is. The Flintstones looks so out of place now and will look more out of place once Springfield opens. I still say this is going to be removed or rethemed. 

There's still a LOT of room between where they are currently building the area and the Shrek 4D queue. Not sure if this is going to be an open area or if they are going to somehow build another attraction here. 

Considering a big open space is already just feet away I'm not sure another is needed in Springfield. Obviously we won't be getting Kang and Kodos (don't need 2 spinners 100 yards apart) but wouldn't a Springfield themed Carousel be amazing? 

The construction area is huge and it should be exciting as Springfield is constructed over the next year or so. 

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

An overview of Forbidden Journey/Hogwarts. 

From the Tram you can get an idea of just how big the building is, but this isn't even the tallest part. 

Hogsmeade or Springfield? 

Still a LOT of room and a lot of work to be done over the next two years. 

A look from the other side. 

Fast and Furious: Supercharged

Even though I still have issues with this being called a "ride" and I'm nowhere near the biggest fan of Fast and Furious, anything that can make the tram better is a good thing. 

A couple of shots from the tram

The best view of the construction is actually from outside the park

It's a good sized construction area

Super Silly FunLand

We got our first look at the completed Super Silly FunLand and it really turned out well. 

The playground area

Minions roasting marshmallows for some reason

No idea what this is but it's going to give me nightmares

Minions on the wall doing minion stuff

They've done a good job on the Boardwalk theme. Once the water play area opens it should make feel even more like a boardwalk. 

Silly Swirly is also open

Lots of minions all around the place

The games in the area have also opened. We'll try them out one of these days to see if we can win a Fully Unicorn!!! 

The backside of Super Silly FunLand

I kept trying to make this one laugh but he takes his job very seriously. 

Around The Park

The Universal Experience is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Universal Studios Theme Park

Cylons are awesome!!! 

E.T.!!! 

There is a lot of great stuff to look at in the Universal Experience only about two of the display cases are dedicated to the Park. For an anniversary like this I kind of wish the entire Experience was dedicated to the Theme Park. Perhaps they are going to add more and promote it a bit more later this year?  

Still, for fans of the studio it's a great walk down memory lane. 

The arcade on the lower lot is closed and will soon be a Starbucks. 

Jurassic Park ... just because 

Looks like they are doing some work on the Collapsing Bridge

One of my favorite signs in the park

Waterworld just returned from it's rehab. We'll check out the show next time we are at the park.

Our face characters for this update. We just happened to find Kevin Bacon, Tom Hanks and Bill Paxton hanging around in costumes they haven't worn since 1995. (Wow, that movie is 19 years old ... Cue feeling like an old guy). 

That will wrap it up for this update. As I mentioned in yesterdays Six Flags Magic Mountain update, we are actually going to have some updates from a LOT of different parks coming up for the next 6-8 weeks as the summer park season kicks off. We'll try and get back to Universal one more time before we get too crazy busy though. 

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