A Day at Universal Orlando: Wicked, Mega Movie Parade & Halloween Prep

Universal Orlando Resort Highlights

• 🎢 Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket is noted as closing on August 17th, with one of the hosts having ridden it with "Muppets Rainbow Connection" as a music choice.
• 🎯 Villain Con Minion Blast is highlighted as a favorite attraction, often a walk-on when Minion Mayhem has long lines.
• 🎃 Halloween Horror Nights preparations are underway for the event starting August 29th and running through November 2nd, with props and scare zones already visible.

Character Meet-and-Greets and Attractions

• 👻 The Scooby gang is seen interacting and discussing a mystery related to new street additions.
• 🐺 A photo op for The Bad Guys features a meet-and-greet with Mr. Wolf.
• 🚲 The E.T. Adventure was ridden twice back-to-back, with the area opening slightly early.

Dining at Lombard's Seafood Grill

• 🍽️ Lombard's Seafood Grill is a favorite dining spot, with a visit to the upstairs dining area noted as a new experience.
• 🥗 A Caesar salad with chicken was ordered and found to be a good entree option, with the chicken being the best part.
• 🍔 The crispy Asian chicken sandwich and a Black Angus beef burger were also enjoyed, despite being too full to finish everything.

Wicked Experience and Mega Movie Parade

• ✨ The Wicked Experience allowed for a meet-and-greet with Glinda and Elphaba, featuring costume and prop replicas from the film.
• 🎶 The Universal Mega Movie Parade, now at 2:00 PM, celebrates classic films like Back to the Future, E.T., and Ghostbusters, as well as animated features.
• 🎭 Performers in the parade are commended for their high-energy performances despite extreme heat conditions.

Jaws 50th Celebration and Park Updates

• 🦈 Jaws 50th celebration displays and merchandise were still available, extending beyond the initial July 6th end date.
• 📸 A photo opportunity at the Jaws mouth is a popular spot for pictures.
• 🦖 The Jurassic Park/World float is considered a favorite in the parade, though the gyrosphere was not present during this visit.

Upcoming Events and Park Closures

• 🎢 Buzz Lightyear at Magic Kingdom is closing for refurbishment, with today being its last day.
• 🎉 The Pixar Pals Celebration at Disney California Adventure is pausing.
• 🎃 Oogie Boogie Bash and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are approaching.