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Universal Hollywood Springfield U.S.A. Now Open

March 27, 2015

Places everyone, places! The stage is set and we are about to see Universal Studios Hollywood transformed from “studio” park into full fledged theme park. It’s been a long road and after 50 years of actual tours through an actual, working movie studio, we are preparing to jump headlong into a new era for this park in the Hollywood Hills. The all new Springfield U.S.A. begins technical rehearsals (soft openings) today and will start serving up tasty vitals from the cartoon town of the forever running Simpson’s show. We’ll fill you in on all the goodness below. Next up we see that Shrek 4D may have a new lease on life (sigh) with a sparkling new queue. Then there is that little project towering over the rest of the park. It’s a little something called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. No, it’s not done yet, but it’s coming right along. We close things out by jumping onto the studio tour and keeping a sharp eye out for any changes along the route in preparation for the new Night Time Studio Tours starting this summer. Finally we bring you some fun news about the upcoming Furious 7 movie, and the movie marathon happening to kick off the movie debut. Lots to cover today so let’s get going.

Springfield U.S.A.

What was once a hodgepodge of eateries in the center of the park has given way to the brand new Springfield U.S.A. Starting today, guests will be able to eat a Lard Lad Donut, dine at Luigi’s, drink a Flamin’ Mo at Moe’s Tavern, or have a delicious, artery-clogging Krusty Burger in a highly themed, two-story grouping of food locations and dining rooms.

Lard Lad Donuts

First stop, Lard Lad Donuts. Yes they are as good as they look.

Universal Hollywood Springfield U.S.A.

Krusty Burger

Entering Krusty Burger we see a two-story entry that features a gigantic Krusty head.

From the second level looking down at the entry.

Stairways lead to the second floor where the theme is carried through each section of the connected second story.

In the second floor above Lard Lad is the “secret” back room lounge of Krustylu Studios.

Cletus’ Chicken Shack

Moe’s Tavern

Duff Gardens

The Duff Gardens and Phineas Q. Butterfat’s was not open today. It should be open by this weekend.

The Façade is filled with great gags.

In front of Cletus’ Chicken Shack we have sacks of day-old beaks.

Toward the Studio Tour entrance we see more Simpsons fun in the façades.

Here is a little video collage we made on iphone today out of images from the new Springfield.

Technical rehearsals (soft openings) started today. We’ve also been posting updates to Twitter, Facebook. Be sure to follow us.

Shrek 4D

We have good news and bad news. We’ll start with the bad news, it appears that Shrek is sticking around. However, the good news is that the new wooded queue is stunning.

They have placed these planters against the Hogwarts wall.

Behind the theatre the queue is still pretty open.

But there’s still a lot of planting and landscaping going on.

New Food and Retail Space

The large area to the left of the main entrance corridor is still piles of dirt at the moment. But like all Universal projects, it will rapidly take shape once the land is prepared.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

As Springfield begins serving its first batches of chicken thumbs, Harry Potter’s exquisite details are being crafted.

Once the pieces are sculpted and set, they are ready to be installed onsite nearby. Framework is almost done here for the gigantic show building that will house Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Inside the park we see the gate to Hogsmeade is finished and you can clearly see the town taking shape beyond this portal.

From the outside looking in, you can see a bit of the Springfield façades butting right up against Hogsmeade.

Going around the other side of the gigantic project we see a profile of Hogwarts.

The outdoor portion of the queue through the greenhouse will go here.

Guests will come out through this arch, circle around and level up to the second floor entrance.

From the Tram Tour exit, Hogsmeade looks great.

Studio Tour

Speaking of the Studio Tour, we are seeing maintenance and upkeep along the route. We are also beginning to see the first signs of light rigging for the Night Time Tram Tours that will begin this summer.

There is also a brand new intro being played aboard the tram that really drives home the history of the tour. . . Just in time for the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

In Courthouse Square these LED Floodlights can be seen along the rooftops.

Sidenote: Harry Potter from the lot below.

At the steep, left-hand turn just before the Flash Flood, they have repaved and surfaced the shoulder.

More lights can be seen in Little Europe.

Not much new at the Jaws Lagoon just yet.

The Pycho house refurbishment is all but complete and looks wonderful.

Fast and Furious Supercharged

Coming very soon is the new finale to the Studio Tour, Fast and Furious Supercharged. A new, next-level mix of 3DHD technology and practical effects will soon throw tram guests into the middle of the action, speeding along at “perceived speeds” of 120 miles an hour.

Outside at the AMC theaters, CityWalk is holding a special event to celebrate the arrival of the new Furious 7 movie. Universal CityWalk’s AMC Theatres will jump-start the excitement with advance screenings of Furious 7 starting at select times every seven minutes after the hour beginning on Thursday, April 2. The AMC Theatres will also bridge the gap to this latest film with a two-day movie marathon at CityWalk, featuring all previous six Fast & Furious films on Tuesday, March 31 and Thursday, April 2. The non-stop action and charged atmosphere shift into high gear as CityWalk’s state of the art outdoor concert venue, “5 Towers,” celebrates the Furious 7 takeover with a D.J. party spinning songs from the film series’ entire music library, including new sounds from the latest movie soundtrack as part of the opening weekend festivities from Thursday, April 2 through Saturday, April 4.

So, get ready for a summer filled with fast and furious fun, comic treats, and even more magic on the way.

That’s a wrap folks!