Universal Studios Update: Relaxing in the Park (PART 1)


The first few weeks of May are always a great time to visit the parks. During our latest visit to the Universal Orlando Resort, we were delighted to see lower-than-usual wait times and less crowds walking around both parks and CityWalk.
While it is surely a good sign when theme parks are filled, it is also refreshing to see that the slow season still exists for some of Orlando's theme parks (we are looking at you, Magic Kingdom). Join us as we walk around Universal Studios.


Let's start to explore the park by visiting Production Central:

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Work continues on the new building located by Despicable Me - Minion Mayhem:

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As we mentioned at the beginning, wait times were much lower than usual:

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Even Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit only had a 20-minute wait in the middle of the afternoon:

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By the way, work is still being done in the queue area of the attraction:

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The Universal Orlando logo is now displayed on the LED screens on either side of the Music Plaza:

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The new Race Through New York attraction continues to take shape nearby:

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The building is being extended:

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A new facade is expected to cover the majority of the soundstage:

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At the moment, the height of the steel frame only reaches about half of the walls of the soundstage:

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The corner of the building has a different frame:

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The Blues Brothers were patrolling the area:

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The future entrance of the new attraction:

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The majority of the New York backdrop has been refurbished:

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It looks like more walls will soon be installed on top of Soundstage 57D (Revenge of the Mummy):

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Let's walk around the rest of New York:

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Transformers only had a 15-minute wait:

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Interestingly, an extended queue was set up near the entrance:

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6 comments:

  1. I don't find anything relaxing about Uni parks at all.
    Too much rock music everywhere for starters.
    Just not an atmosphere I'd call relaxing.

    I like many of the rides, no qualms there, but the atmosphere is too edgy on my nerves.

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  2. i bet the transformers queue was extended for the recent "grad bash/grad venture" events.

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  3. I agree with Anonymous 1.
    I preferred it when Universal Studios was a more relaxed day of wandering around enjoying the Park and then jumping on a ride or attraction when you wanted. The " in your face" coaster that pervades large areas is a turn -off and it seems to have become more frenetic. Shame because the Studios used to provide a healthy balance between attractions and relaxed sightseeing.. Now it's a less enjoyable experience for me and I'm sure for many others.
    I miss things like Jaws and the Stunt Show which added to that easy going but no less fun day out.

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  4. Sadly, those days are gone for most theme parks. Bigger, badder, louder is now the name of the game... and the turnstiles keep clicking to record attendance.

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  5. Unknown
    You are right of course. The name of the game , I suppose, is being profitable so that the Park can continue to exist and to continue to entertain. They attract an increasing share of the paying audience so I can't argue with their strategy. Still it's sad that some of those qualities that I liked so much have bitten the dust. But times change and we'll have to change with them.

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  6. There are still plenty of places to relax around Universal. You're all not wrong that there are LESS of them, but they're not non-existent. You just need to know where all the cool, quiet nooks and crannies are in order to get the most out of a moment of relaxation. This goes for both parks, really.

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