UPDATES: On The Move At Universal Studios Hollywood!

There are lots of things happening “on the hill” as Universal Studios Hollywood navigates the sunny and very busy SoCal summer season with new things on the Studio Tour, new bites & sips, merchandise from the future, and a new set of wheels.

Studio Tour Adds Jupiter’s Claim

Universal is always adding something new. At the end of July, there will be a huge new film set you’ll be rolling through on the world-famous Studio Tour. Jordan Peele’s upcoming horror epic, “Nope,” will join the tour on July 22nd. This is the first time Universal has opened an attraction on the same day the film is released in theaters. The film’s set was disassembled and transported to Universal Studios Hollywood to be added to the collection of iconic sets on the Studio Tour. So, as you roll past Jaws, the War of the Worlds, and the Bates Motel, you’ll now see Jupiter’s Claim as well. 

Here’s an image of the portion of the set we hope to see on the tour:

“Jupiter’s Claim, set in Southern California’s Santa Clarita Valley, is a family-fun theme park and predicated on the white-washed history and aesthetics of the California Gold Rush. Owned and operated with evangelical pride by former child star Ricky “Jupe” Park, Jupiter’s Claim becomes a pivotal location as the characters seek to investigate mysterious, unexplained phenomena, leading them toward increasing danger and terrifying consequences.”

And, to get you in the mood, here’s a trailer from the upcoming film.   

That sounds like a great idea for a Halloween maze as well… right?!

Studio Tour Trams Go Electric

Speaking of the iconic Universal Studio trams…

For over 55 years, the world-famous Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour has taken guests behind-the-scenes of one of the world’s busiest working movie studios. The fleet of 21 Studio Tour trams also serves as ride vehicles for “on-tour” attractions such as “King Kong 360 3-D” and (love it or hate it) “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” (both stand-alone rides in Orlando).

As part of Universal Studios Hollywood’s continuing sustainability efforts, five electric Studio Tour trams are now rolling through the famous backlot streets (identified by their green lettering), the remaining 16 are expected to be converted from diesel-hydraulic engines to electric by early 2025.

This project helps reduce carbon emissions and improves the guest experience by reducing noise. Win-win. Tram riders will also notice a new video introduction aboard the Studio Tour trams starring NBC’s Today weather and feature anchor and 3rd Hour of Today co-host Al Roker.

“The Universal Studio Tour has always been a groundbreaking attraction with lots of thrills, excitement, and scary moments,” Roker said. “I’m honored to be part of an experience for adults and children to learn about these best-in-class electric trams that will transport them around this iconic studio lot and help the environment.”

The electric Studio Tour trams are among the first-ever and largest battery-powered off-road, high-torque, and low-speed mass people movers in the U.S., a fact, Universal Studios Hollywood Senior Vice President of Operations & Technical Services Glen Connally notes, will hopefully inspire others to take similar action.

Thanks to inductive charging technology, trams charge as guests load and unload at the start and end of the attraction route, so the guest experience isn’t disrupted. And (for once) Universal Studios Hollywood’s change in elevation – which Connally says is over 200 feet – is a benefit rather than a challenge because a regenerative braking feature allows the trams to continue to build up charge when they travel downhill, providing extra energy efficiency.

According to Connally, the park was looking to accomplish several things with this project:

“At Universal Studios Hollywood, we’ve always sought to be strong corporate citizens, and the company has a broad sustainability goal, so it fits clearly within that,” he said. “Then there’s the guest enhancement part of it as noise reduction enhances the onboard experience with the media and the tour guides that we’re so proud of.”

Last but certainly, not least is the fact that Universal is a working movie studio, so trams routinely pass active movie and television sets.

“When the tour is down there, there’s certainly a need to watch out where there’s production activity going on, so for us to have trams rolling through with less noise associated with them is certainly a benefit to the studio.”

Never Too Soon For Halloween

Halloween will be here before you know it, and tickets are already on sale for Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 2022 – running September 8th through October 31st this year. You’ll find 8 haunted houses, the Terror Tram, scare zones, a live show, and special event food and beverage. HHN can also be a great opportunity to experience lower attraction waits, as everyone else is in line for the mazes. 

While Universal painfully reveals this year’s mazes drip by drip, we have learned a few things. Already confirmed for HHN 2022 are… 

The Horrors of Blumhouse – this maze is really two in one. Guests will be terrorized by The Grabber from the “The Black Phone” in a clever funhouse setting. And then they’ll be transported to the world of “Freaky,” where a brutal killer has switched bodies with a sweet high school girl. If looks could kill…

A perennial favorite returns… Halloween! This time around, HHN recreates the 1978 original and we couldn’t be more excited for the retro vibes. 

And the last of the confirmed mazes (so far) is Legends Collide, a classic Universal Monsters maze. They’ve been doing classic monster mazes for a while now and they are always among the most satisfying. Last year’s Bride of Frankenstein was a standout. 

More info coming soon on Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights 2022. You can catch up on everything Universal Studios currently has planned for Halloween Horror Nights in California and Florida here: Monstrous Treats Coming to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando & Hollywood in 2022

And… in case you missed it…

Chick Chick Chicken and Choc Choc Chocolate

If you get hungry walking “all the way” from Jurassic Parking to the main gates, Chick Chick Chicken is there for you. Formerly LudoBird – and a Wizarding World oasis last year, where for the first time (and apparently the last) Butterbeer could be procured outside the park – CityWalk’s new counter-service fried chicken spot offers sandwiches and strips, both classic fried chicken and Nashville Hot N’ Spicy (available as hot, hotter, and hottest).

On the other side of CityWalk, construction is underway to transform the former Hard Rock Café into the west coast version of Universal Orlando’s popular Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. No opening date has been announced, but if the chocolate gods are smiling on us, we’ll be sipping decadent milkshakes before too long.

Hollywood & Dine

The upper lot’s Hollywood & Dine quick-service restaurant was transformed into a Noodle House for the park’s limited Lunar New Year celebration (sadly without Mr. Ping). However, unlike many seasonal overlays that come and go in the blink of an eye, this one still has the eye of the Tiger with an expanded menu of “Asian Culinary Favorites” that includes a massive Cinnamon Tiger Tail Donut and a colorful Mango Blue Tea Boba drink.

 Wizarding World of Harry Potter

There’s always new magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and this time, it’s in the form of Honey Mead at Hog’s Head Pub. According to ye olde barkeep, the delicious honey-fermented wine has 14% alcohol, which may explain why the relatively small glass will set you back about 15 muggle dollars.

The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle (Through August 14th)

While not new, the first-digital projection mapping show created for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is certainly a welcome return. The show that actually made its debut at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 takes guests on a spectacular tour through the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor. Be sure to check the mobile app and in-park digital display boards for showtimes.

Full video (first produced by Universal Studios Hollywood for the premiere of the show): 

 

Super Nintendo World is Coming to Town

Universal Studios Hollywood has opened a Super Nintendo World Store on the upper lot to tease fans about the upcoming new land. And while we still don’t know an exact date for the grand opening, it is promised for “Early 2023.” If you want to have your looks ready to go, you can start shopping now…

For more about this store, take a kook at our comprehensive walkthrough with us here: Universal Studios Hollywood Opens Super Nintendo World Store & Construction Update

AND, for everything we know about the upcoming Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, don’t miss our deep dive: Universal Studios Hollywood Super Nintendo World Coming Early 2023

Let’s Hear From You!

Ready for Halloween? How does Jupiter Claim sound to you? Did CityWalk’s new establishments catch your eye? Does Nintendo World opening in 2023 make you want to wait or hurry and visit before the crowd crush next year?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

That’s a wrap! 

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A version of this article first ran on April 19th (SDF) and was updated on July 7th (DS) to add information about Jupiter’s Claim and Halloween Horror Nights.