Shortly after part of the Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot burned down in 2008, the park announced they would be rebuilding the King Kong portion of the Studio Tram Tour. Universal Studios says that it will utilize 3D technology to make guests feel like they are in the movie with King Kong. It is said to be the biggest 3D experience in the world.
Universal’s tech wizards are hard at work to animate a giant life like ape that the studio tram will encounter. During the huge sequence, guests will not only be able to see King Kong, but also smell his breath and feel the gusts of air. In this newly re-imagined segment of the Studio Tram tour, King Kong will be in an epic battle against a huge Dinosaur and guests will be right in the middle of it.
King Kong 360 will debut in just a few months as construction is coming to an end. To get people excited for the soon to be opened attraction, Universal Studios Hollywood has released a trailer showing that King Kong has arrived to Universal Studios. After seeing this, all I can say is watch where you park your car at Universal Studios!
Universal Resort Orlando is gearing up for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter land to finally open in just a few months at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Construction is wrapping up on everything from the elaborate town of Hogsmeade, to the mighty castle of Hogwarts. The park has closed Dueling Dragons so it can now be transformed into Dragon Challenge.
As construction comes to a close, Universal has gone into marketing mode to the extreme. They have launched a massive amount of commercials and TV Spots. I live on the West Coast and see an advertisement for the new area at least once a day. And now, the new resort guide has been posted online. It clearly shows that Harry Potter is being infused into the park’s collection of characters such as Spiderman, the Hulk, and Shrek. Along with Harry Potter, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is also prominent in the guide with the notorious ride
Also included in the new park guide is the 2010 version of the Park Map for both parks. The real interesting map is Islands of Adventure’s. This new map illustrates only a logo for Harry Potter’s new area but it also gives an idea of the down sized Lost Continent area. It can now be confirmed that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the area’s signature attraction, will have a height limit of 48′ inches, perfect for enough thrills but still so younger riders can enjoy it.
Image from Brian Orndorf
It seems like just yesterday, it was big news that Islands of Adventures will be turning on of their most lavish areas into a new land based on the hit books and movies of Harry Potter. Now we are just months away from the first lucky visitors to enter the area. I am truly excited to see what kind of ride system Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey will bring us and can’t wait to see the interiors of the unique shops and restaurants. Unfortunately, I will not have the privilidge of attending the new land until Spring 2011 but I am still excited! Are you? Leave a comment with your Park Thoughts below.
Universal Studios Japan continues to pus the envelope with Space Fantasy, a new roller coaster/dark ride hybrid set to open March 19, 2010, in Universal Studios Japan. Space Fantasy, the Ride, appears to be a Mack Spinning coaster and features a whopping 4 and a half minute ride during the over quarter mile journey.
This intergalactic adventure takes home of the former site of ET Adventure, a very popular dark ride that opened along with the rest of the park in 2001. The new ride’s story is that each guests boards a space ship and goes on a mission to save the sun. Space voyagers will get up close and personal with the stars and asteroids that could explode at any given moment. The finale of the ride will be an encounter with the sun where guests go into the blazing ball of gas.
An article was just release and it features a picture of the coaster’s station. Here you can see the extremely well themed trains (2 cars per a UFO), and it is also visible that the park will be utilizing the new system of the moving station platform. After doing some investigating on Mack’s Spinning Coaster page of their website, it becomes even more evident that the ride is a Mack creation. The web page advertises “Spinning – the combonation of free or controlled”. Knowing Universal Japan’s love for high quality, I am sure that the ride will feature some dark ride portions in the beginning of the ride with controlled spinning before going into the main coaster portion with free spinning. Also, early concept art of the ride shows an a like character. Characters + 4.5 minute length + Controlled and Freely Spinning Cars must equal a very in depth story. Unfortunately still very little is known about this ride, but in these coming weeks as we get closer and closer to it’s March 19th opening, more videos, pictures, and information will surface. I for one, cannot wait to see this ride.
Space Fantasy comes after a long history of additions in the past year. In 2007 the park opened Hollywood Dream: the Ride, a B&M Hyper coaster and last year the park debuted the massive Magical Starlight Parade. So will this be a good addition? Leave a comment with your Park Thoughts below.
Universal Studios and Korean Officials recently held a confrence discussing the new Universal Studios Korea set to open in 2014. The massive new resort complex will be built on Korean waterfront and will be the biggest ...
Universal Studios Singapore construction continues to move along as the soft openings begin and the official opening approaches. It appears that all the park has left is minor details and it is just about ready for opening! Get ready, for an amazing park.
Also included in the new park guide is the 2010 version of the Park Map for both parks. The real interesting map is Islands of Adventure’s. This new map illustrates only a logo for Harry Potter’s new area but it also gives an idea of the down sized Lost Continent area. It can now be confirmed that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the area’s signature attraction, will have a height limit of 48′ inches, perfect for enough thrills but still so younger riders can enjoy it.
Image from Brian Orndorf
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