Time for a another stroll around the Universal Orlando resort with a full update of what is happening with the big CityWalk changes, and we look at all the other large projects happening around the resort. Grab your Nimbus 2000, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover today.
CityWalk
We have a full update at CityWalk as this redevelopment hits it stride, and most of the facilities are now in various stages of construction:
Coldstone Creamery
The new ice cream shop in CityWalk is entering it’s final stages, as they get ready to open along with the Starbucks next-door.
Menchies
The Candy Store has closed down, and has been gutted, and will soon be transformed into the frozen yogurt franchise Menchies.
Bread Box
A favorite of Universal employees, Cigars, has closed, along with the TCBY that was next-door. Inside, the stores have been gutted and are being prepped for construction of what will soon be a chic sandwich shop.
Vivo
What was Pastamore, is demolished, gutted, and now ready for construction. The floor above it will be CowFish, but will open after Vivo opens. There is a lot of construction that will be taking place as they build out the front of the restaurant, and build a 2nd story, along with a grand entrance for CowFish.
World Famous Hot Dogs
Across from Antojitos will be World Famous Hotdogs, where guests can sit outside, listen to the live Mariachi Band next door and eat some of the world’s best hotdogs. Currently they are cleaning up a lot of the staging area that was used for Antojiots as they get ready to build some of the large fixtures that will be used for this area.
Over at the studios we take a quick look around the park
Diagon Alley
Diagon Alley gets more beautiful by the day. The London Facade is nearing completion and will really give guests a true sense of place. This addition, coupled with the new Springfield area directly across from the lagoon, has dramatically elevated this side of the park. Once the detail work is complete, they will move the construction walls closer to the facades, and then close off access to the walls by the lagoon as they will be repaving that area and installing some great London props.
Refurbishments
Across the park in the San Francisco and New York streets, refurbishments are continuing as facades are wrapped behind printed scrims allowing for minimal impact on the guest experience.
Guest Services
In the front of the park, the guest services window is closed as they begin to update this area to better accommodate guests.
Employee Parking
Behind the park, the Team Member parking structure continues to move forward at a dizzying pace. In just a matter of weeks it has gone from a flat lot to a 4 story tall structure.
Hogsmeade Station
The games in the lost continent have now been demolished. Guests are now being funneled through a walled corridor that is reminiscent of the Springfield construction. Beautiful themed details have been added to the top of the Hogsmeade station, with a Weathervane now topping the structure.
That wraps up this weeks update! We now leave you with another great episode of the Unofficial Universal Podcast with your hosts Lee, Tracey, Darren and Hunter as they explore all the latests, news, rumors and information about the Universal Parks from around the world.