Grab some popcorn and sunscreen — it’s time to head over to Universal Studios Florida for their summer of blockbuster fun! With two new nighttime shows, an exciting and interactive Epic Universe Preview Center, a newly reimagined land perfect for kiddos, and their [biggest ever] parade on the way, let’s take a look at the latest and greatest happenings at Universal Orlando Resort.
Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular
The new nighttime spectacular lagoon show at Universal Studios Florida soars to new heights with over 600 drones accompanying towering water fountains, screen projections, and fireworks. The entire show weaves iconic music scores and blockbuster visuals from brands inspired by the resort’s attractions from the past, present and future: E.T., Back the the Future, Jaws, King Kong, Jurassic Park (and World), Harry Potter, Trolls, Universal Monsters, Ghostbusters, Shrek, The Mummy, Transformers, How to Train Your Dragon, and… dare I say… more.
This isn’t solely a drone show, as they really enhance the rest of the spectacular as a texture, forming sparkling silhouettes of beloved characters and scenes, fading in and out. The E.T. moments give me chills!
Cinesational is like Disney’s World of Color, but with the addition of fireworks and drones. There’s also great use of state-of-the-art digital mapping projectors on the buildings around the back of the lagoon to enhance the effect.
Cinesational is absolutely the new must-do for the end of your Universal park day! Like any nighttime spectacular, photos and video can’t compare to experiencing it firsthand for yourself.
Clocking in at around 22 minutes, you’ll want to secure a prime viewing spot to take it all in. Universal Studios’ lagoon shows are best viewed from the Central Park area; we recommend standing 3 or 4 rows back for the best sightline of the screens, fountains, pyro, and drones high in the sky! The new spectacular is now playing on select nights through August 25th — just a few nights before Halloween Horror Nights 33 kicks off! Perhaps a new HHN lagoon show is in the works?
Here’s a little tease of the show:
Hogwarts Always
Cheer on your Hogwarts House in the new castle projection show, now playing at Islands of Adventure. The show takes you through moments of a school year at Hogwarts – from receiving your acceptance letter, boarding the Hogwarts Express, Sorting Ceremony, Quidditch matches, performing spells, and competing for house points. The show has four different endings, each inspired by one of the Hogwarts houses!
Utilizing updated projection systems, the imagery is super clear and vibrant!
Hogwarts Always is now showing several times on select evenings, from dusk to park close, through August 25th (Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle will likely return for the Halloween season).
And here’s our one minute clip of the show:
DreamWorks Land Now Open!
The reimagined and improved KidZone is now DreamWorks Land, featuring three beloved franchises: Shrek, Trolls, and Kung-Fu Panda.
DreamWorks Land is home to two attractions, including the Trollercoaster and a live show, character meet and greets, playgrounds, and snack stands with land-exclusive treats. Check it out here:
Epic Universe Preview Center
The Epic Universe Preview Center located in CityWalk is NOW OPEN! Check out the massive model of Orlando’s newest theme park, and pick up some exclusive park-branded merchandise.
https://www.micechat.com/378877-universal-reveals-the-5-lands-of-epic-universe/
Coming Soon…
Universal’s largest daytime parade is about to debut on July 3rd, featuring favorite characters from E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World, Minions, Sing, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda.
Universal Mega Movie Parade will include nearly 100 performers and 13 floats, including a 16-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man atop the Ghostbusters float, the colorful Caterbus on the Trolls float, and a Gyrosphere, Raptors, and Tyrannosaurus rex aboard the Jurassic World float (breaking the record for largest figure featured in a Universal Orlando daytime parade). Stay tuned for our coverage once this parade steps off in July!
Summer is just getting started, but spooky season will be here before we know it! Universal has unveiled 7 out of 10 haunted houses for the 33rd Halloween Horror Nights event in Orlando, with 6 original stories from their own creative team. Check out what’s in store for 2024:
Ultimate Guide to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024: Must-See Mazes, Tips & Tricks
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Let’s Hear From You!
How does Universal’s summer lineup look to you? Parades, nighttime spectaculars, and previews of things to come.
