Universal Studios Update: 'U360' Globes Gone & More

We have had a very busy beginning of the week, with the more than 300 pictures of LEGOLAND Florida that we posted for your enjoyment (by the way, you can start enjoying the photo-gallery by clicking here!), but this doesn't mean that we don't have any more photo-reports to share with you. Indeed, we have a nice Universal Studios Florida update to show you, so let's get started!:

First of all, the Jimmy Neutron logo on the "How Tall Are You" sign near the entrance  is now blank, waiting for a new Despicable Me logo:

See you in 2012, Minions!:

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit was closed for maintenance:

Work continues on the front facade of the Universal Studios Store:

It previously had a big artwork representing the movie-making experience:

Work also proceeds on the future Despicable Me attraction:

New directional signs tell guests where to go:

The news is that since a few weeks ago, Universal Studios' secondary entrance has started opening at 11:00 a.m., while the park actually opens at 9:00 a.m. (you can use the main entrance in that case, of course, even though it is much more crowded:

A look at Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit:

As we said before, it was closed for refurbishment:

You can clearly see they were working back there:

Twister:

The Street Breakz have relocated:

FINALLY, the Hop mini-show/meet-and-greet is gone:

It was supposed to be around only until May/June 2011; instead, it lasted until October!

Meet Doc:

Great to see him, despite the fact that the Simpsons have bought his former laboratory:

Notice something different since our last update?:

Yes, all the Universal 360 barges are gone! It is rumored that a brand-new nighttime show will debut at the end of the year ( or next summer, depending on Universal's schedule):

But, the barges are still hidden near the New York City area of the park, docked, and waiting to be either removed or (*sigh*) refurbished:

A close look at one of the Universal 360 barges:

Mel's Drive-In:

The photo-op is still missing:

The wooden pieces have not been replaced yet: 

We are starting to wonder if they will just keep them like that, even though it looks very tacky:

As you may have read last week, the Hard Rock Cafe' has recently been demolished (click on the following links to see some photos and videos of the building's demolition), and is now just a pile of rubble:

Nearby, the main sign of the Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster was missing:

It is currently under refurbishment:

Mandatory Simpsons' shot:

The quite seaside village of Amity...

Disaster! had some technical problems:

Also new: The moving cylinder on the Richter's Burger Co. sign finally spins again!

Nothing major, but it's the attention to these details that makes a difference, when guests get inside a theme park:

And, that is all for now! Thank you very much for reading, and enjoy the rest of your day!

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