We’re back with another round of construction and park updates from Universal Orlando. This latest photo update takes a look at some of the work happening throughout the resort. At CityWalk, work has begun at the former Hot Dog Hall of Fame as the restaurant is prepared for a new dining offering. Over at Islands of Adventure, Thunder Falls Terrace has closed, while demolition work continues to reshape parts of The Lost Continent, including new activity centered around Poseidon’s Fury.
At Universal Studios Florida, the iconic entrance archway may be receiving a fresh coat of paint, with more construction walls continuing to appear around the structure. Construction has also slightly progressed on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, while additional preparations are underway for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Along with these major projects, this update covers facade work and more.
- CityWalk Cleared of World Cup Setup
- Work Begins at Now-Closed Hot Dog Hall of Fame
- Construction Walls Shift Around Port of Entry
- Thunder Falls Terrace Officially Closes for New Full-Service Restaurant
- Another Statue Removed During Poseidon’s Fury Demolition
- Universal Studios Arch Sees Additional Construction Walls for Potential Repainting
- More Track & Supports Installed for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
- Construction Walls Now Surround the Music Plaza
- Halloween Horror Nights Preparations Continue
- Facade Work at Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- A Look at Some of the New Merchandise
TOC
CityWalk Cleared of World Cup Setup
The FIFA World Cup concluded on Sunday, and by the following day, Universal had already begun removing booths and other event-related setups from CityWalk. Many of the World Cup offerings were located in the central area across from the Universal Legacy Store, but the space has now been cleared.
Work Begins at Now-Closed Hot Dog Hall of Fame
Minor work has begun at the now-closed Hot Dog Hall of Fame at CityWalk. Barricades have recently been placed around the quick-service restaurant, while the large screen, logo, and tagline above the ordering counter have been removed. Additionally, the logo was taken down on the dome. The restaurant operated for the final time last Saturday, July 18. It’s being replaced by Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, a restaurant founded by *NSYNC member Joey Fatone and his manager, Joe Mulvihill.
Construction Walls Shift Around Port of Entry
In Islands of Adventure’s Port of Entry, part of the facade for the candy and Christmas shops is behind construction walls and scrim. These were expanded a few days ago to cover a larger area for renovations. Several facades throughout the Port of Entry area have recently undergone renovations.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, construction walls have been removed from around Croissant Moon Bakery following the completion of facade refurbishment work.
Thunder Falls Terrace Officially Closes for New Full-Service Restaurant
Thunder Falls Terrace in the Jurassic Park area of Islands of Adventure officially closed on Monday to make way for what Universal describes as the park’s new signature full-service restaurant. The restaurant is being developed to replace some of the dining capacity that will be lost when Mythos Restaurant permanently closes next year.
The new offering is scheduled to open in 2027, although Universal has not shared any additional details about the restaurant.
Another Statue Removed During Poseidon’s Fury Demolition
The temple facade of Poseidon’s Fury remains intact as demolition continues at the abandoned walk-through attraction, which closed in May 2023. However, another large foot statue in front of the attraction has been removed. The statue on the left was taken down since our last visit on Sunday; the statue on the right had already been removed during that trip.
Although the facade looks to be largely untouched, demolition work has been happening backstage on the attraction’s show building. Much of this work, however, is not visible from guest areas.
Across from Poseidon’s Fury, several trees have been cleared alongside Mythos Restaurant.
This work is part of a larger redevelopment of The Lost Continent into a new themed land. Universal has been permanently closing the area’s remaining offerings and blocking off sections in phases as the project moves forward. Details about what will eventually replace The Lost Continent have not yet been announced.
Universal Studios Arch Sees Additional Construction Walls for Potential Repainting
More construction walls have recently been added around the Universal Studios Florida archway, with a portion of the left side now blocked off. Several cracks are visible on the archway, which we suspect may be repaired as part of the work. However, we believe the project could involve more than just addressing the visible damage.
Universal has not officially confirmed what work is taking place, but the archway could be in line for a major update. The rest of the park’s entrance plaza has moved away from its salmon and beige color scheme in favor of white, raising the possibility that the archway could ditch its longtime beige color as well and be repainted white.
More Track & Supports Installed for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift has made some progress in the few days since our previous photo update on Sunday, with new supports and track pieces installed along the halfway section of the ride. This narrow strip alongside the production soundstages connects the ride’s starting point in the New York area of Universal Studios Florida to the larger plot of land next to the Hard Rock Cafe. Just past Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, a tall structure is taking shape to support another section of track that will race above the pathway.
Meanwhile, at the Music Plaza Stage, a new track section has been added to the left side and now nearly rises above the stage. The track on the right side was already in place in our last update. A closer look at the track shows it twisting as it begins to rise above the stage.
Construction Walls Now Surround the Music Plaza
On Monday, construction walls were put up around the Music Plaza in Universal Studios Florida, now enclosing nearly the entire area. Based on aerial photos posted online, part of the area appears to have been dug up for utility work. We’re not sure whether construction equipment for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will also be placed here to assist with track installation for the ride.
Halloween Horror Nights Preparations Continue
Additional theming and other elements have appeared around Universal Studios Florida as preparations continue for Halloween Horror Nights, which begins late next month. Let’s take a look at some of the latest additions, beginning in the New York area.
Work is underway on the facade of this year’s Tribute Store, which is returning to its traditional location after operating in a much smaller space last year. An aged marquee is being constructed above a ticket booth, while a platform to the left could potentially be used by a performer.
Also in the New York area, fog machines are being positioned around the land. We spotted one beside the Boris Shuster Private Investigations window decal. There was another one across from Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Heading over to the Central Park area, there’s now a themed set, and blue fence theming is being added to the trusses next to Central Park Crêpes, with a small platform beside one of them. Several fog machines with fans are positioned here, too, and red and yellow string lights are hung above the Cafe La Bamba patio.
In the Hollywood area, two new carnival-inspired set pieces have arrived.
Facade Work at Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
At the entrance to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, we noticed what appears to be a section of plywood painted to roughly match the color of the brick-style wall at Gru’s house. A barricade is also blocking off this portion of the facade. The work may be related to repairs addressing aging or damaged sections of the facade.
A Look at Some of the New Merchandise
Universal Orlando recently released new merchandise. We’re focusing on the Universal Orlando Resort-branded collection, along with merchandise tied to the newest Halloween Horror Nights announcement.
The new Universal Orlando Resort collection includes T-shirts, a hoodie, headwear, and a bottle. Let’s take a closer look at each item and its price.
There’s a simple navy blue T-shirt that features a two-tone embroidered Universal Orlando Resort logo. It is priced at $35. A pullover hoodie featuring the same design has a cream-colored lining inside the hood and is available for $60.
Another T-shirt featuring the two-tone logo is available in maroon and also costs $35.
There is a navy blue cap and a gray cap, each with an embossed logo. Both caps feature breathable mesh on the back and are priced at $30.
A navy blue Universal Orlando Resort bottle costs $30.
The collection also includes a three-tone youth trucker hat with maroon, white, and blue. It features a patch-style design with the words “Universal Orlando Resort” and the resort’s opening year, 1990. The hat is available for $27.
Unfortunately, we forgot to photograph the youth T-shirt. The cream-colored shirt featured the same two-tone embroidered logo as the other T-shirts, albeit in different colors, along with “Universal” printed in large maroon lettering across the chest above the logo. It was $35.
Now, let’s take a look at the merchandise for the Fortnitemares scare zone, which was announced for Halloween Horror Nights yesterday.
The collection includes a T-shirt priced at $30, stickers for $16, and an acrylic diorama for the infernal carnival collectible display for $15. These can be found at the Five & Dime store in the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Florida and at All Hallows Eve: Lost Emporium in the Port of Entry area of Islands of Adventure.
Thanks for checking out our latest photo coverage. We’ll be back soon with more updates.
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