It has been a long time since our last look at the merchandise of Universal Studios Hollywood. But we are back and just in time for the holiday season! Highlights in this Update include Grinchmas goods, imports from the Mushroom Kingdom, and magical wizard-y merchandise. There’s also a peek at some holiday decor. Let’s get a move on!
[Please note: This was my first trip to the Universal Studios since the closure and while some of the merchandise included here isn’t brand-spanking-new, it is new to me and worth noting.]
Merry Grinchmas
Universal Studios Hollywood incorporates the world of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas into its holiday festivities with Grinchmas, complete with themed merchandise.
There is a variety of loungewear and pajamas, including onesies in both adult and kid sizing.
Adult apparel offerings include a raglan shirt, a women’s cold-shoulder tee, and several traditional T-shirts.
Kids have additional pajama top options, both of which have graphics with a Grinch-y tone to them. There are also matching pajama bottoms, sold separately.
There is also a dog shirt with the same print as the kid’s pajama bottoms.
A variety of Grinch-themed accessories are available, including fleece beanies, scarves, two kinds of gloves, and two styles of costume hats. In regards to the costume hats, only one of them (the one with the Grinch eyes) was created for Universal Studios. The other one is by Elope, a costume company.
There are several huggable plushes of the Grinch and his canine companion, Max. The toys in the first two images below were created for Universal Studios theme parks and have a branded hangtag. The one is the last picture is made by a third-party company called Aurora.
There are also two ornaments, designed by Jim Shore. I particularly like the first style, which envisions the Grinch as a nutcracker.
Pin collectors will be pleased to discover two themed pins and a matching lanyard. There are also keychains and magnet sets that would make fun stocking stuffers.
Those shopping at Universal Studios Hollywood should keep in mind that discounts don’t apply to Grinch and Seuss merchandise. There are also signs near the related items with a similar message.
It’s-a me, Universal!
Hollywood’s Super Nintendo World, an area themed to some of Nintendo’s beloved video game characters, may not be completed yet but that hasn’t stopped the merchandise from being stocked. These goodies can be found at the Upper Lot’s Studio Store near the entrance.
Character Merchandise
The majority of the Super Nintendo World merchandise is based around the individual characters from the Super Mario series. Characters that got the merchandise treatment include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, and Bowser Jr.
Mario and his brother Luigi share some similar merchandise styles. Both have a hoodie, inspired by their plumbing overalls, in their corresponding color scheme. The costume gloves would work with either outfit. There are also character plushes (in several sizes) as well as ringer shirts and cinch bags with art of either character on the front.
Mario, being the titular character, gets an additional fanny pack with his face on it.
Mario’s sweetheart, Peach, also has character art on a ringer shirt and cinch bag. The princess of the Mushroom Kingdom also has a pair of socks and a plush in several sizes made in her likeness.
Other Mushroom Kingdom citizens have some representation as well. Like the characters before him, Mario’s dino pal, Yoshi, is featured on a ringer shirt and a cinch bag. The spikey-shelled, big bad Bowser has his own shirt and his henchmen Goomba is available in the form of a plush costume hat.
Bowser Jr., fittingly, is available on a kid’s sized ringer shirt.
Mario Kart: Grand Prix
There is a line of apparel with the phrase “Mario Kart: Grand Prix,” which may be referring to the upcoming Mario Kart-themed ride planned for the land. However, the Japanese version of the ride in their Super Nintendo World (which has already opened) is called Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Whether that means that Hollywood’s version will have a different name is unclear. It could also be a reference to the Grand Prix mode found in Super Mario Kart games. Only time will tell.
Several standard T-shirts include this theme. The graphics used on the garments fit well and include Bowser in his kart, tire tracks, and the checkered finish line.
Beyond those shirts, several items incorporate a red color scheme.
These boxers, lounge pants, and hats feature a print full of Mario Kart imagery.
Miscellaneous Themes
Among the Super Nintendo World merchandise, these fashion shirts, designed for women and girls, might be the most interesting.
And finally, fashion goes old-school with these pixel art shirts. There are designs for Player 1 (Mario), Player 2 (Luigi), and just a general Mario character one with “Super Nintendo World” at the bottom.
A Short Stop at Hogsmeade
I love the look of these fashionable hoodies. There are four styles, one for each Hogwarts House. The fabric is a light and stretchy polyester.
These leggings are made from the same material and would match any of the hoodies. Running down the left ankle are the mascots and names of each House.
For those keeping up with their Quidditch matches, there are these Keeper shirts (again, one for each House). Gryffindor and Ravenclaw also had matching hats. I imagine Hufflepuff and Slytherin do as well and they were simply out of stock during my visit.
This light-up lanyard features a crest that includes all four Houses.
The House mascots of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor have been turned into plushes and are now available for purchase. Like the Keeper hats, the Hufflepuff and Slytherin mascot plushes were not available when I was there.
Figures of the House mascots make up the base of these electric candles.
As you would expect, these Hogwarts Express steins were huge and hefty.
Speaking of the Hogwarts Express, there is also a mini backpack, wristlet, and wallet, all subtly themed to the train (or at least the train ticket).
This interactive wand, styled after the one that belonged to Seraphina Piquery of the Fantastic Beasts movies, is relatively new. I love the design. I feel like if any want looked like it fell out of a magical girl anime, it is this one (followed by Luna Lovegood’s, but I digress).
The Pygmy Puffs at Universal Studios now seem to come from The Noble Collection, a company that makes prop replicas as well as plush toys. There are still a few remaining Pygmy Puffs from the original Universal Studios-brand line at the Studio Store near the entrance.
Metal Earth also has a few different Harry Potter model kits available at Universal Studios Hollywood. There is Hogwarts in the Snow, the Hogwarts Express, Buckbeak, and the Golden Snitch. The first two are part of the Premium Series and are more detailed.
Hollywood for the Holidays
There is even more holiday merchandise merriment to share…
Ornaments
The majority of the ornaments I found around the theme park were themed to Harry Potter.
These two Harry Potter ornaments were particularly impressive.
Beyond the Wizarding World ornaments, there were a few stocked in the Lower Lot’s Studio store. Two were inspired by Universal Studios itself, one with King Kong (from the long defunct ride at Universal Orlando) and another with a rainbow star that reads “Love is Universal.” The other four were made to look like Minions in a variety of forms.
Other Holiday Merchandise
These Minion Popcorn Pails were popular. The base is plastic but the hat is fabric, which is a fun touch. Purchase of the pail gets you free popcorn refills on the day of purchase.
The crests of the four Hogwarts Houses are the focus on these rather classy woven stockings.
These ribbons can be used to decorate trees (as you can see in a bit from the example in Dervish and Banges) or to wrap a gift. The House Crest garland might be hung along a mantle or strung around a tree.
And you can coordinate seasonal outfits with festive face masks.
Decor
The Globe in the Studio Store in the Upper Lot is wearing an extra-large Santa hat.
Nearby, there is a display full of props from the live-action movie version of The Grinch.
Along the route to The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed, characters (in both hand-drawn and CG) create a festive backdrop.
Several Minion-themed holiday fixtures greet visitors next to the entrance to Super Silly Fun Land. Along with a large Christmas tree, Kevin and Bob are dressed in Santa caps.
Garlands and wreaths adorn many of the buildings in Hogsmeade. Dervish and Banges had a couple of trees, dressed in various House colors, inside its store as well.
Odds & Ends
Camp Cretaceous, the Jurassic Park kids show (who knew that would be a thing?) has a collection of kid’s merchandise, sold at Jurassic Outfitters in the Lower Lot. The items’ designs do a great job of capturing a “summer camp” sort of vibe.
Also sold at Jurassic Outfitters (among other places) is merchandise starring Mr. DNA, a cartoony character from the films (and also featured in at the new Velocicoaster at Universal Orlando).
It’s cool today, but was unseasonably (and, frankly, uncomfortably) hot for the past few weeks. But visitors can purchase a cooling towel to help beat the heat. These miraculous pieces of fabric have different art on both sides, themed to either Jurassic Park, Trolls, or the houses of Hogwarts.
If you are wondering if Universal Studios has bubble wands, the answer is a “yes!” These bubble wands may not be all that fluffy but they are based on Fluffy the Unicorn from Despicable Me.
Located inside The Pet Store next to The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed is this cooler full of gourmet frozen pops. Each of the five flavors is themed to characters from The Secret Life of Pets. There is Snowball’s Pina Colada Tajine Fruit Bar, Max’s Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Ice Cream Bar, Chloe’s Blueberry Lemonade Fruit Bar, Gidget’s Strawberry Cheesecake Fruit Bar, and Norman’s Strawberry Premium Fruit Bar. Which flavor would you try?
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Let’s Hear from You
That’s it for this Merchandise Update! What do you think about Universal Hollywood’s current merchandise mix? Let us know in the comments below. And merry Grinchmas everyone!
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