UPDATE: The Universal Studios Singapore auditions have been postponed/canceled due to H1N1/swine flu virus. Please visit this page for more information. Old information: The newest Universal Studios theme park is set to open in Singapore in 2010 and a worldwide audition tour for the park has begun, including a stop in Orlando. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BdVTy0NOk8 The remaining audition [...]

Let’s start our update with what’s most interesting to most people, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can compare the above photo with a part of the concept art below. It looks to be the entrance to the new “world”. I took this picture by the old entrance to Dueling Dragons. Just past that [...]

Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider has posted a question and answer with Dave Cobb, the creative director for the Men In Black Alien Attack ride at Universal Studios. Below are his tips for getting the best score. The interview also includes technical and creative details about creating the ride. Follow the link to read [...]

Although the opening date was pushed back a bit to late spring/early summer, Universal Studios will feature a radically innovative roller coasters – Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. The coaster combines customized hit music, breathtaking first-ever maneuvers and highly sophisticated audio and video for a one-of-a-kind ride experience. Riders will pick their own soundtrack and listen [...]

From the way it has been looking compared to SeaWorld’s new Manta coaster, you could tell Universal wasn’t as far along. Now word has come that the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster won’t be opening for another few months. From tampabay.com: Universal Studios Florida has stalled the opening of its Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit [...]

Recently, we have added downloadable high-definition versions of our most recent videos to our Videos section. These include: MC Hammer at Universal Studios Mardi Gras A tour through The Holy Land Experience Racing experiences at the Walt Disney World Speedway Zipline Safari at Forever Florida 2009 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival opening celebration The American [...]

Last night, April 4, 2009, I attended the MC Hammer show at Universal Studios’ Mardi Gras as my very first Mardi Gras concert experience. After hearing the horror stories of the massive crowds that showed up for Kelly Clarkson’s show last week, I was worried that I’d end up too far away from the stage [...]

I spend the later half of the day at Universal Studios yesterday. It was a Mardi Gras day and Kelly Clarkson was set to perform at 9:15 p.m. • For more pictures from Universal Mardi Gras, visit our Photo Gallery. • For more pictures of Kelly Clarkson and other American Idol stars, visit our American [...]

A design company out of California had posted (and has since removed) a compilation of images from apparent design work they created for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, slating to open at Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010. While I am personally not a big enough fan of Harry Potter to [...]

Volume 2, Issue 3 (April / May 2009) of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for preview and pre-Order. FEATURES: • COVER STORY: Idol Opportunity Visitors to Disney’s Hollywood Studios get into the act in the new American Idol Experience. • Unleash Your Inner Celebrity VIP tours offer a unique way to see Orlando’s theme [...]

From cruisenewsweekly.com: Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando Resort, are joining forces to introduce the Way More Than a Cruise vacation package. The land and sea vacation packages combine a three- or four-night stay at Universal Orlando with a three- or four-night Bahamas cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas, or a seven-night Caribbean cruise [...]

The Viva La Musica Festival is at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens this weekend. First up is Tito El Bambino at SeaWorld on Saturday. Busch Gardens will host RKM and Ken-Y on Sunday. The festivals start at 11 a.m. each day and the concerts are at 4 p.m. Visit vivalamusicafestival.com for more information. Also at Busch [...]

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia, his wife Amber, and their children Jaden, 3 (above), and CC III, 5, spent time with Homer Simpson while visiting Universal today, March 12, 2009. Sabathia, the 2007 Cy Young Award Winner, made Major League Baseball history when he signed a seven-year $161 million contract with the Yankees [...]

Guiding Light, the CBS daytime drama, will be taping on location at Universal from March 16 to 20. You can join the cast members listed below as they celebrate Mardi Gras at Universal Studios on Saturday, March 21 with a daytime autograph signing event and an evening appearance in the Mardi Gras parade. Signing Schedule: [...]

Here are some observations from my visit to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure over the weekend. There’s a new sign, a new skateboard shop and a three new restaurants in CityWalk. See my other blog posts for more information on these. A look at the new permanent stage. It’s currently being used for Mardi [...]

Burger King Corporation today officially opened the world’s first Whopper Bar restaurant at Universal CityWalk. The Whopper Bar restaurant offers guests a customizable Whopper-based menu. “The official opening of the world’s first Whopper Bar is designed to deliver the ultimate have it your way experience,” said Russ Klein, president, global marketing, strategy and innovation, Burger [...]

Atlanta Braves Right Fielder and Golden Glove winner Jeff Francoeur spends some quality time with his wife, Catie, (above) and her brothers Sam, 14, and Lee, 19 (below) at Universal while in Orlando for spring training on March 9, 2009. Shown here on The Incredible Hulk roller coaster, the Atlanta native began his major league [...]

While I was riding The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Universal’s Islands of Adventure over the weekend, the ride unfortunately stopped. We sat there for a while and the lights came on as we rode slowly through the rest of the ride. I had my iPhone with me so I snapped a couple of [...]

CityWalk’s newest store, Element, recently opened in a newly constructed space near NASCAR Sports Grille. The store is a skateboard shop with skater-inspired clothes, accessories and of course, skateboards. Element is owned by the same company as Quiet Flight Surf Shop, also in CityWalk. They said they hope to bring in some skateboarding stars for [...]

Guiding Light star Murray Bartlett (Cyrus on the show) poses with some of his fans and TV hopefuls during the open casting session yesterday (March 7, 2009) in CityWalk. About 300 people showed up to audition, some with their headshots in hand. Cast and crew will be in town taping scenes throughout Universal Studios, Islands [...]