Updates! Universal Orlando Continues Adding

What are they doing now? Hey, what's going on everybody Ricky Nicky here, and here are your updates for Universal Studios, Orlando Let's take the escalator to the second level of CityWalk I thought more would have been done with the Red Coconut Club by now, but not they are painting right over there they're a fresh paint job as Oh, also. I see some lighting up there for its transformation into the Dead Coconut Club Harvest which will be it's Halloween Horror Nights persona At Pat O'Brien's you can get hurricanes to go Have fun For some reason they have this section of the stairway blocked As we were driving in today Nicky was watching a video about Hollywood's Fast and Furious poster I think she has some thoughts she wants to share What did you say to me as you were watching that video? I said oh no It looks like it's gonna make me sick. I mean because it was a POV of the ride and Yeah, and our track layout. I think is different than the one in Hollywood, California but Even just the amount of spinning. I was like oh man, and they weren't spinning a whole lot, but I don't know I haven't seen the POV version. I did see some people on it like yesterday I saw a video with people riding it. Yeah It it was spinning inverted Lee And I think they have more inversions than we're gonna have. I'm not sure though inversions meaning upside down upside down Okay, upside down is spinning, but oh I bet the the POV was a unique view It was and they were in the front And I mean it looks like a fun ride and it didn't look fast But sometimes that could be a little misleading But um, no, there was some spins and I thought ooh with the g-force and a spin I don't know. Well, we'll see how you handle it next year here in Orlando. Oh And we have something we really need to share with you about the NBC grill We came here after the Sunday stroll livestream and Nikki had the best. This is the best hamburger you ever had That's about the best hamburger I I think that's what I said at the time but like that I can remember it's up there It is up there the Wisconsin smash It's two butter seared all-beef patties. Yes, Wisconsin cheddar cheese on a brioche bun And now Nikki had that for her order. Oh, you missed the best part. What's that? Oh the cheese curd It had cheese curds in it to like little baby cheese curds. Oh my gosh The platter is $21.95 it's worth it. It was a phenomenal hamburger there the Wisconsin smash The archery painting process has begun All that scrim and construction wall over there. I hope it's done in In like a month's time We need it done and completed by the start of Halloween Horror Nights and at the moment of this recording It is 31 days until opening night of Halloween Horror Nights The entrance structure for Halloween Horror Nights has added the words at signage up there Halloween Horror Nights Look at all the new VIP tour guides get some training a couple groups of them We'll head down Hollywood Boulevard where we should see some new HHN props There's this prop here as Scooby Shaggy and the gang unload from the mystery machine They're gonna go solve some mysteries watch out for monsters. Yeah, what's out for monsters? Then there's this here with a fog machine what you doing Nikki put your face in there Few feet away another stage for HHN scare actor performers It's weird Step on it big boy Oh my gosh, Oh burn And then there's this prop over here And then there's this over here. We have some cats and rats so cat Yes from last year's cat lady and then some toxic rats From that was that a New York City scare zone those rats. Oh, we've got a big old fly here Oh, and the worst thing about this Nikki looks like they put ketchup on a hot dog those bastards Big old cockroach over here. What was that house that had all the big bugs that one year Nikki? Could be from that house. Yeah. Oh, yeah This is this is not very sanitary. This is your favorite Nikki. It has a carousel horse So a lot of little Little props added we got the big stages that have been added But for today a lot of these smaller props are new for us that we haven't even seen in a live stream Here's a big stage We saw this on a live stream, but first time on a video little ticket booth over here a two-headed swan ride That kind of looks like a clown. I'm gonna call it a clown just because Nikki doesn't like clowns creatures There's another little carousel for you Nikki carousel horse and a big J Can we just assume that stands for Jack? That performance stage there and another little prop over here That's like a like a clown thing like Bozo the clown I'm excited to see what the scare actors look like for the scare zone. They should be pretty freaky looking. Don't you think? I mean, I was just saying I like the color scheme and I like the vibe of this area I don't know. I was during the day. It's great Scary, you know It's gonna be great. It's gonna be great during a chicken another fog machine The facade of this building just kind of goes with HHN as well this little window display inside We have the Phantom of the Opera over there and the Invisible Man over here It's the theatrical cosmetics of Hollywood But we need a new sign there, it's just blank there I don't think we're gonna see too many new props added to the fort nightmare scare zone though Here is the entrance to the scare zone. We have the blue fencing there a stage or something added their Stage or something for effects. I think it's a stage Yeah lighting on trees we've got the big fans for the The fog machines these big blue fans multiple of these around There there's some over there some over there. Hey, thanks guys. Good to see you. Have a good day today Nikki just made an astute observation She nor I have noticed like at the NBC Media Center here Them asking for movie reviews or show reviews or commercial reviews anymore Right, yeah, you used to get like a like a gift card or something for reviewing thing Yeah, no, I mean haven't seen people out in a while for it. I you know what you're right I haven't noticed I'm doing that for a long time. Yeah So something has been added to this end of the scare zone. We've seen this in live streams But I think not in a video this little structure here for fort nightmares On this side of it, there's a little stage there for a scare actor and this is that like a No, I don't think it's a tentacle. I guess it's uh, some type of weird haunted fortnight vine At Epic Universe, they have the untrainable dragon studios the untrainable tree They cannot train this tree to keep from running away. The fencing has been around this tree for so long It runs away a lot doc. Yeah. Yeah, so they got to keep it contained. It's a runner Now when we get a little further along in the video here about maybe halfway around the park there is some clarifications I need to make around Halloween Horror Nights. I gave information in the last Islands of Adventure update video that I just I want to clarify a little bit Here we go into Springfield and it looks awfully quiet in Springfield. Oh my gosh, especially first thing in the morning The park opened at 10, which was just 20 minutes ago We got in the park as soon as it opened and Springfield other than the squad car is quiet We're even too early for the water. That's how early we are today The bartender said she should have water in there in nine minutes By 1030, they'll have it full of water ice-cold water Why do you think it's so quiet this section of the park in the mornings Nikki? You think everyone still rushes over to the Wizarding World first thing when they get here? Yeah Yeah more stuff open I mean the Simpsons ride is open I believe just like all of DreamWorks land not open I like walking this way in the mornings This is it open I think yeah, it is open so You know, you've got the Simpsons ride and it might be open this side of the park. So Yeah, I'm betting they go to the Wizarding World first. So not much changed over here from last week the trusses are still there the 2x4 looks like probably wall partitions are still there, but There is an entrance being built over there facade for one of the haunted houses with lighting rigging and everything So it's right there in the center of your screen now So some progress a little bit of a change from last week Another thing we saw during one of the live streams over here at the HHN Stadium They were doing some lighting testing for the show Let's pop into the Wizarding World real quick see what's happening in here and then we'll get to Sort of Fixing or further explaining the HHN news I gave last week The Wizarding World not a participant in Halloween Horror Nights, though They have sort of a fall Celebration that's when they add in the Death Eaters to Dagon Alley Here's a prop and a stage for those Death Eaters, which they roam all around They also do a little something on the main stage During their fall celebration Take a moment though To look around see Nikki. I told you the crowds came here first thing in the morning It's pretty empty in here right now Parks been open for almost 30 minutes But the wait time for Escape from Gringotts is 50 minutes, which is actually kind of high so I guess Everyone's in the queue right now That's where everyone is. I think the last time I showed that ride the wait time was like 25 minutes But as you can see Death Eater props all around Dagon Alley and Karkat Market now Enjoy a stroll down Dagon Alley A light crowded stroll, that's why I'm showing it right now because we don't have a big crowd Little easier to stroll Well, you're gonna have a new show soon to watch on HBO But we should point out that Islands of Adventure eats up a lot of the visitors first thing in the morning Oh for sure It opens earlier and has early park admission. So That's where the crowds are Getting ready to head into San Francisco over here Some rigging has been erected some lighting and such Right here by Pier 41. I Keep calling this club horror, but I honestly don't know I can't remember did they actually have an announcement for this yet, or am I still just assuming? A new soundtrack in San Francisco. No one's complaining about this soundtrack. I think people like it right now We have the Eagles in Hotel, California She Alcatraz getting several HHN drinks this year and for the first time ever a Halloween Horror Nights shot Will be available Bartender Josh comes up with the drinks Murph comes up for the names For the drinks. Don't forget the last day to ride supercharged is August 16th The beat builders is getting ready to start their performance and I have stuff to tell you I need to clarify Some HHN news for you, and I have I have an experience to share with you that happened yesterday Cloudy day, but it's still too hot for the rocking spiel Okay into New York City. They do have a few new HHN props and Now this would be a perfect place to share that or clarify that HHN news This blue structure here is new since last week Scary actors in there. I'm sure and you know, it's it's themed to like a carnival wagon So in the islands of adventure update video, I gave the information about stay and scream How houses are going to start opening at 2 p.m. And then at 4 p.m By 15 p.m. And then everything will be open at 6 30 p.m Yeah, just to clarify some things You would get a wristband as soon as you enter the park if you have an HHN ticket Like if you're a day guest, you can't go in a house at 2 p.m Right, right So you in order to be in the park you have to have a day ticket In order to go through a haunted house, you need to have your Halloween Horror Nights wristband Yes, now if you only have your HHN ticket then you can't get into the park at 2 p.m I thought this was self-evident, but I had some questions right now. Am I clear? Since we have the big tent here now Because they're building out the Halloween Horror Nights tribute store. They they don't have the indoor extended queue. There's a problem with seeing the wait time It's back there on the wall They just need to move like an a-frame out here before we can you know, see the wait time easily Like I have to get all the way over here to be able to see it's a 35 minute wait not much change to the stage they have for this scare zone here and Downtown Clownville Gonna be a lot a lot of clowns gonna be around here, but we do have The the Halloween Horror Nights tribute store facade coming along nicely I think I don't think it's changed since last week though No, they know they had the ticket booth Yeah The ticket booth has been there along with the the little stage over here Nikki, which I like this as a feature for the tribute store a live action prop for the facade I don't well, well shoot. I would want it to be like a scare actor there That's what I would want. But now you have me questioning Yeah Well, shoot. Well, we'll see when HHN starts. I want it to be a scare actor up there Yeah, it looks like a stage to me I mean it has steps if there was something I was just gonna stand there Statically all the time they wouldn't need the steps I sure do hope I'm right because I think it's a good idea What I want chance, okay. Yeah, that'd be nice I would love chance there. Yeah So after I show you this little bit of construction for fast and furious we need to go find a quiet spot So Nikki and I can share the experience we had yesterday I'm gonna keep teasing that But it's gonna happen just in a second. We look at that a little bit of construction still happening on this side and I Guess now we'll move on Find a quiet spot to talk Check out the posters Nikki, which car would you want? Which ride vehicle would you want? When you're on Hollywood Drift Take a look at that one The big quiz at the end Nikki take a look at that one then we have this one here and This one The first car the front one that's a good that's good thinking do you recall from your video you saw? Okay, but do you have a personal favorite Really I'm feeling the blue this year. Okay. Okay. I like the Dodge Charger We'll see if that's a front car it could be because is that supposed to be the fastest car I don't know So yesterday we went to Volcano Bay We did we took our daughters We usually do it an annual water park tour. We always finish up with Volcano Bay their favorite They said so now it was the first time we've had this experience Being at Volcano Bay without the tapu tapu. Yeah, that was interesting They're like, oh you wonder how it's all gonna go. And I mean we kind of got lucky with the weather Yeah, it was overcast and it was raining in the morning. So, um, but everything was open and going And everything was smooth like we got in lines and just like how a normal water The only question that I had was do you want to say something? Yeah Well, we went to the aqua coaster first crocodile Yeah, the aqua coaster first, which I think is always a smart thing to do It is the most popular ride and it just gets the wait gets longer. Yeah And I didn't time it but it seemed like we waited maybe 20 minutes for that Yeah, yeah for sure and the longest wait I saw during the day I didn't check on it often, but I did notice it got up to like 45 or 50 minutes, right? And the other slides don't have ride time, right? So you just get in line and hope for the best. Yep We had many of those the slides were just walk on Sometimes I was like, I wish the line was longer so I could stop walking up steps Right up the steps no stopping I'm like I need a break but there was no line right it was just Right now yeah for sure. Now the thing is the rides themselves are the slides I guess I should say they don't have like a wait time sign, right? But there are boards throughout the park where you can stop and check. Oh, this is a ride now This is a five-minute wait Crocodile is 45 minutes. So there's those you just don't know when you're right there at the slide What the wait time is you're just gonna kind of have to look at one of those signs throughout the park and it's kind of Make a decision from there Yeah, I didn't I didn't even check I didn't even check I just checked the boards and plus we could tell the day was so Light that because we were just walking on things Are climbing up things? It wasn't a walk on it was a climb now They should change the phrase from right now to climb now But it was a super fun day and the wait times were really chill for us and it worked It worked it worked well without the tap-a-tap. Yeah that day Yeah, now my only question was which I didn't quite I forgot to get the answer to this was When you go on slides and you get pictures coming down the slide Like how is it facial recognition now because before you see the tap-a-tap you that they would just be like, oh here So that was the only thing that I thought was like a little because they have photo ops around as well where you would tap Tapu tapu the square and then do the picture right now. It's just press a button to take a picture Oh, yeah, I don't know. We didn't buy pictures. I don't know. Yeah, but otherwise Without tapu tapu our first experience. Yes move it easy. Yeah Nikki really likes the minions cafe at least one special dish in here. She really likes so let's go get it Here it is. She loves it. Nikki loves the Carl's crispy cauliflower for $18 and 99 cents crispy cauliflower florets with sweet and spicy chili sauce coconut blue rice Thai cucumbers and edamame Now as I was sitting here, I saw that Universal sent out a press release. I will share that press release Now as I was sitting here Universal sent out that press release I'll share that press release with you after lunch Okay, let's see what this press release is all about Universal Orlando Resort pass holders to enjoy even more benefits during fan favorite pass holder appreciation days Which will be from August 15th through September 30th Plus the complimentary after-hours event pass holder nights presented by coca-cola is back for two nights on August 15th and 16th I Think it's too late to sign up for those though So there's the pass holder nights There's special discounts on Universal Express passes mobile food and drink orders merchandise volcano bay cabanas and premium seating There's also a $15 merchandise credit when pass holders spend $100 or more at Select participating Universal Orlando merchandise locations. This credit can be used towards a future merchandise purchase There's the opportunity to be among the first to shop at the new illuminated global merchandise collection while at the UOAP lounge in Toon Lagoon and at the tonight shop in Universal Studios, Florida a complimentary limited time a special item which will be available for pickup at the UOAP lounge in Toon Lagoon and the tonight shop here at studios More details on this item will be shared soon enjoy extra hours at the UOAP lounge in Toon Lagoon a 35% discount on my universal photo annual pass photo package when purchasing the park What else? exclusive menu offerings Universal Studios, Florida It's gonna have a bruschetta and arugula pizza at Louie's There's gonna be the tipsy watermelon at Shea Alcatraz for pass holders Islands of Adventure will have a three cheese Bavarian pretzel at Pizza Predatoria Volcano Bay is gonna have the Kahuna Bowl City Walk's gonna have a chocolate peanut butter explosion at twosomes Rocky Road donut at Voodoo Donuts Chorizo at Ananjito's authentic Mexican food place Trangoletti a la vodka at Vivo kitchen Island fire chicken and waffles at Bob Marley a pork dumpling at cowfish Also Universal Hotels are showing love to pass holders during pass holder appreciation days with savings up to 40% Sunday through Thursday So that was the short and sweet Low down of pass holder appreciation nights, which start on August 15th and run through September 30th Well, I guess that could kind of serve as the cozy mosey Although I did walk by some updates down Illumination Avenue, so let me just go show you those real quick See, there's a fog machine and there's a bunch of these around Now these are not props yet But they're preparing to be props It's like six or seven of these around Be interesting to see See what goes on these these are like solid concrete foundations like right a couple tons so Maybe by next week's update video. We'll have actual props on those And I think that's gonna do it for today See you next time