Welcome back to another Universal Orlando photo update. It’s been a month since we last took a lap around the resort, and there’s a lot to see. We’ll start things off at Cabana Bay with a look at the ever-growing Sapphire Falls construction site. A look at 2017’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park is next before we pass through CityWalk and into Islands of Adventure. A quick peek at The Incredible Hulk Coaster, or lack thereof, and an extended look at Skull Island Reign of Kong will end our visit to IOA before we back into CityWalk for a look at construction on the former NBA City restaurant. Over at the Studios, we’ll finish this week’s update with looks at the former Lucy: A Tribute, Disaster, and Twister locations. Lot’s to get to this week, so lets get going!
Towers are rising quickly all over the Sapphire Falls site..
..........On the other side of Cabana Bay, Volcano Bay Water Theme Park progress is a little slower.......It wasn’t the nicest day out, but the rain held off long enough to grab all the photos for this week’s update.We’re currently in that lull between the end of Halloween Horror Nights, and Thanksgiving week....The refurbishment of The Incredible Hulk coasters has closed the walkways along the lagoon in Marvel Super Hero Island...The lift hill tunnel looks less like part of a roller coaster, and more like a giant human canon.Storm Force Acceleration, the parks tea cup style ride is also currently behind construction walls.Work on the station facade continues..The entire coaster has been removed. Two months ago, this view would have contained a mess of green steel track..A bit of work in the street across from the coaster site.Storm and Rogue out meeting guests..As I was passing though the island, Spider-Man was down, leaving Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall as the only operating attraction..Work has slowed on the King Kong facade, as the crew’s move inside to build the attraction itself.............And that’ll end our look at Islands of Adventure.Recently CityWalk has been featuring a graffiti artist on Friday and Saturday nights. Over the course of two nights, they put together a Universal themed piece ranging from CityWalk logos to character designs.Work is starting to ramp up at the site of the former NBA City restaurant.....Heading into the Studios, construction walls are up on the former Lucy: A Tribute building. A new Hello Kitty retail location will open up in this spot later this year...All signs of the “Icons” scare zone from Halloween Horror Nights have been removed from Hollywood.Most of the stage that held “The Carnage Returns” show has been disassembled. Nothing but the canopy remains.Lighting rigs still in place in the “Evil’s Roots” scare zone.Duff Gardens in Springfield has been featuring a seasonal Dufftoberfest brew.The Bill and Ted sign has been removed, but the Fear Factor Live sign has yet to be uncovered..No walls up in front of Disaster. They later had their in-house graffiti artists cover them in art....The Beat Builders show is still going strong in New York.Some facade work happening in New York.The end of Halloween Horror Nights, also brought the end of “Twister: Ride It Out” at Universal Studios. The attraction will reopen in 2017 as “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon”, a Soarin’ style simulator attraction that will have guests soaring through the streets of New York City....Lighting and sound equipment is being installed at the Music Plaza Stage is anticipation of this month’s installment of the Universal 25th Anniversary Concert Series...And that’ll do it for this week’s update. Thanks so much for following along, we’ll see you next time!
Tryg is a new resident Florida after moving from Minnesota at the end of 2013. You'll find him at all of the parks quite often, as he puts his annual passes to all the major Orlando theme parks to good use. Most comfortable with a camera in his hand, he's been a huge theme park fan ever since finding the ValleyfairZone fan forums back in 2006. His love of theme parks grew through many trips to parks all throughout the Midwest, with occasional trips to Orlando. In the past he’s worked as a scareactor and grown an appreciation for the Halloween season.
4 thoughts on “Universal Orlando Photo Update, November 16, 2015”
iPad/iPhone; 53 photos without captions.
Thanks for cutting it off at the usual level so readers didn’t have to scroll through the entire post each time. 🙂
Captions for the photos, please. Otherwise it’s just a lot of pictures. Context matters.
And please cut it after 2 or 3 photos to a “click for the rest” like all the other posts as it wastes a lot of bandwidth downloading the entire post in wifi.
Thank you.
iPad/iPhone; 53 photos without captions.
Thanks for cutting it off at the usual level so readers didn’t have to scroll through the entire post each time. 🙂
Captions for the photos, please. Otherwise it’s just a lot of pictures. Context matters.
And please cut it after 2 or 3 photos to a “click for the rest” like all the other posts as it wastes a lot of bandwidth downloading the entire post in wifi.
Thank you.
I see captions under most of the photos. What browser are you using? They show up fine in Safari.
Great pics Trygve!
I like Jimmy Fallon fine; but the theming for that ride around him sounds terrible.