Tag Archives: Universal Studios

News

Opening Date Announced and Tickets Now On Sale for “Universal Horror Unleashed” In Las Vegas!

Image February 19, 2025 Patti PaulterGeist Leave a comment

As previously reported, Universal Studios is broadening its horizons in the US beyond Hollywood and Orlando and bringing a much-needed breath of Halloween and horror air to the bright lights of Las Vegas with a YEAR-ROUND Horror theme park the likes this city hasn’t seen since the late 90s with MGM’s SCREAM PARK.

As a Vegas native and local, Thank PAZUZU for this.

Dubbed “Universal Horror Unleashed,” Universal said the attraction will open its doors on August 14, 2025, at Area15. According to the company, the attraction will feature four haunted houses, each offering a “unique and fully immersive horror experience.”

The company said previously that the four haunted houses would be comprised of Universal Monsters, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scarecrow: The Reaping and Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer.

“Universal Horror Unleashed” comes from the team behind the Halloween Horror Nights experiences at Universal Studios theme parks and will also feature areas with spooky eateries and bars with live entertainment experiences for the company’s first year-round horror immersive experience.

Tickets for “Universal Horror Unleashed” can be purchased here at this link so join me in Vegas for a drink and some spooky shenanigans. Just don’t go overboard with those souvenir cocktails.

Editorials

Let’s Ride The Greatest Amusement Park Attraction Of Our Generation: The King Kong Encounter!

Image March 8, 2023 Patti PaulterGeist Leave a comment

Universal Studios and its many theme parks around the globe are fairly well-known for their amazing theatrics, imagery, and excitement that comes along with the rides and attractions of the beloved theme park. As time rolls on, the attractions change over to the next “big market” draw for the masses- but one that will never change is the tragically lost King Kong Encounter that I refuse to let anyone forget about.

I mean, it’s pretty hard to forget a 30-foot-tall Kong screaming in your face with banana-scented breath. I know I never did!

I remember my first “Kongfrontation” quite vividly in the Summer of 1993 on a trip to also my first visit to Universal Studios Hollywood. The whole thing was actually videotaped but alas, just as with the fate of this ride, it got destroyed by the flames of injustice. So I only have my memory of watching said videotape several hundred times as a kid and of course, ye’ old faithful Yous of Tubes to light the way of a core attraction memory that seems so long ago.

The ride served as a spectacular ending to the now-infamous Universal Studios Tram ride and debuted in June of 1986- 10 years after the Dino de Laurentiis version bedazzled audiences with a bloody, scarier version of the eighth-wonder-of-the world, and was a prodigal ambition for the time paving the way for the complex themed attractions we know today. Kong’s animatronics were designed by legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr with Kong’s design itself was tackled by Tom Reisenbach. This duo along with the muscle and brains of many others gave the 7-ton, 30-foot-tall, banana-scent-breathing Kong figure in the attraction the reputation of being the largest and most complicated animatronic figure in existence for many years, weighing in at 14,000 pounds and able to perform 29 different types of movements.

Pretty ground-breaking stuff for the mid-80s!

Getting on the tram ride was a real treat for guests at the park and an essential at that. After riding by lots used for Back to the Future and the real Psycho house, JAWS would pop up and give you a scare after riding over a bridge of murky waters and a couple of explosions popping off. Kong was the climactic event to seal the tour’s deal as the must-ride list at Universal Parks. The show began as the tour tram entered the soundstage into a world of New York City where they stopped in front of an apartment building, while a breaking news report about Kong’s rampage on television monitors located inside of the building’s windows showed live coverage of the destruction, informing us Kong is loose, and slightly pissed in the city.

Then, there he was- in all his goddamn 7 million-dollar animatronic glory.

With a news chopper circling overhead giving us a play-by-play, like we really needed that but still cool nonetheless, we were put at eye-level with the eighth wonder of the world and a sweet sniff of that Chiquita banana breath. Police choppers start to fire at Kong to protect us passerby citizens, but this enraged the King even more who then shook the bridge and ripped the suspension bridge cables apart in an attempt to grab us. But, of course, by the grace of RKO pictures, we escaped the giant ape and made it out safely.

It was an extraordinary experience to have and it really is a shame that a fire took out this beautiful piece of history. The infamous Universal Studios fire of 2008 began when a worker used a blowtorch to warm asphalt shingles being applied to a facade. The worker left before checking if all spots had cooled, and a three-alarm fire broke out. The fire lasted a total of 24 hours and damaged the Park quite severely, most notably destroying over 150,000 master recordings of music and, of course, the King King Encounter.

Nine firefighters and a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy sustained minor injuries. In the aftermath of the fire, only four walls remained of the entire Kong part of the attraction, with the only option to demolish this innovative piece of Universal history. Eventually, we got King Kong: 360 3-D, which opened on July 1, 2010, and was based on Peter Jackson’s Kong film, but it really wasn’t the same as a giant head of Kong staring directly at you with the mouth the size of a truck.

At the very least, we have our memories of what once was, and by the grace of giant monster Gods of Skull Island (well actually YouTube), we can remanence in the treasure that was the King Kong Encounter.

RIP to the coolest part of the Universal Tram ride.

News

New Ride and Cafe Details Emerge From Upcoming Mega Attraction Jurassic World: The Ride at Universal Hollywood

Image June 17, 2019 Patti PaulterGeist Leave a comment

A few days ago, I took my faithful every-10-years-or-so trip to Universal Studios, Hollywood to bask in the glory of my inner passion for cinema and film culture. I was 12 the first go-around and I’ll never forget the true Kodak moments (seriously, there are photos of it somewhere lost in my hoarder piles of ticket stubs) of meeting Dracula, the long-gone Beetlejuice show, and seeing JAWS along with the once upon time animatronic of King Kong on the Studio Tour for the first time.

Good times fellas. Good times inhaling that banana breath.

Image Via Pinterest

The second time around was in 2008 on my honeymoon with my husband. It was during Christmas Time and the park was decked out in Whoville and Grinchmas attire. It was also the first time I had feasted my eye peelers on the Jurassic Park ride! Of course, it was too cold and late in the day so we couldn’t get on it and this third time around- which was just a week ago- again I’m foiled into experiencing any dino drama. As the Jurassic Park turned World ride has yet to open to the public with still only an opening date of, “this summer.” Progress seems to be booming and nearly done, but my son here in the slideshow shows how I feel too about not being able to experience this wondrous attraction. A bit of a pout session is validated as again- I don’t get to go often.

Please note I’m VERY EXCITED about playing with Raptors in the future.

Anyway enough of my ramblings and onto why you’re here. Upon my visit, Universal Studios Entertainment sent me a bit of an update today on the highly anticipated ride on a couple of cool attraction features, the awesome new retail store, along with the new cafe and Isla-Nu-Bar that is going to add to the ambiance in nature of a true JP/JW fan experience.

Per Universal Studios:

Universal City, CA, June 17, 2019 – Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails served at Jurassic Café and all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar add to the dynamic guest experience as part of Universal Studios Hollywood’s new mega attraction opening this summer, “Jurassic World—The Ride,” based on the JURASSIC WORLD blockbuster films.

Along with an array of souvenir collectible, limited edition and one-of-a-kind dimensional dinosaur sculptures from the Jurassic Outfitters store, guests can savor a piece of this exciting thrill ride even after they’ve gone home.

Borrowing its name from the fictitious Central American island in the JURASSIC WORLD movies, the stand-alone, open-air Isla Nu-bar, complete with a thatched roof, serves up tropical-themed Tiki cocktails in three collectible cups: Etched Tiki, Bamboo-styled Tiki and Tiki God.

Whether blended or made-to-order with fresh juices, every aromatic blended drink is adorned with a pineapple leaf and edible orchid flower. Flavorable beverages include Tropical Margarita, Piña Colada and Painkiller, along with island cocktails such as Tiki Tai, Bird of Paradise, Ti Peach, Rum Runner and Mai Tai.

With Universal Studios Hollywood’s Executive Chef Marie Grimm at the helm, the new Jurassic Café caters to a selection of Costa Rican-themed cuisine, inspired by the location of the JURASSIC WORLD movies. Mouth-watering menu items include Sweet Corn Cakes with Slow Roasted Mojo Pork or Spicy Mojo Jackfruit, Citrus Glazed Chicken, Fresh Roasted Red Snapper and Isla Burger. Tempting starters include savory Chorizo and Potato Empanadas, Crispy Lettuce Leaf Roll with Shrimp, Tropical Fruit Salad and Pomegranate Guacamole with plantain chips. All entrees will be accompanied by fresh green papaya salad and Costa Rica’s national dish, Gallo Pinto – traditional rice and beans.

The Jurassic Outfitters store will feature a variety of collectible merchandise to commemorate the ride’s opening, including a selection of exclusive items. From limited edition t-shirts and hats to drinkware, pins, amber stones, and jewelry, Jurassic Outfitters will offer keepsake merchandise for every member of the family.

The shop will also carry a variety of custom-made, high-end collectible dinosaur sculptures and maquettes. These incredibly crafted statement pieces replicate the Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus, Styracosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus and Triceratops and range in price up to $1,000.

In addition to experiencing the exhilaration of the new thrill ride, guests will have the opportunity to become immortalized in one of the ride’s momentous scenes as they plunge down its treacherous 84-foot waterfall with the introduction of slo-mo video capture offered exclusively at “Jurassic World—The Ride.” The iconic moment will be available for purchase and received digitally for riders to share via their social media platforms so they assure their friends that they indeed survived the vicious dinosaurs. Keepsake digital images will also be available for purchase.

“Jurassic World—The Ride” features an original storyline that will take guests on a breathtaking excursion through the theme park as depicted in Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s film, JURASSIC WORLD. It will soar to new heights with the addition of iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus in her natural habitat. The ride also features the stars of the JURASSIC WORLD films – Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong who reprise their roles as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu.

The mega-attraction captures the essence of the blockbuster movies and comes to life in collaboration with the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award^®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.

When “Jurassic World—The Ride” opens this summer, guests will be welcomed to a dramatically reimagined space reflective of the hit films. A fresh entry statement, stonework landscaping, and a contemporary redesign of the iconic JURASSIC WORLD gates, illuminated with billowing flames, will create the framework for the all-new aesthetics.

And now I have to break my 10-year tradition because I literally can’t wait that long to see this. I just want to give Blue a hug and drink a Tiki cocktail.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, the new California Neighbor Pass invites guests to experience 175 days of fun for $149 when purchased online. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

*All images used belong to Universal Studios Hollywood and Nightmare Nostalgia unless otherwise noted.