Universal Joint Podcast: Battle of Galactica, Park News, and Running Events

Universal Orlando Parking Incident

• ⚠️ A false report of a gunman on Saturday, July 20th, led to a 90-minute lockdown of Universal Orlando Resort's parking garages, causing significant guest delays.
• 💡 The report came from a motorist on I4 who contacted Orlando police around 8:30 p.m., shortly after sunset, raising questions about the sighting's accuracy.

Jurassic World: The Ride Grand Opening

• 🚀 The grand opening ceremony for Jurassic World: The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood occurred on July 22nd, featuring stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.
• 💥 Bryce Dallas Howard was audibly startled by a surprise fireworks display during the event, though she handled it professionally.
• 🎭 The walkaround dinosaur characters, like Blue and Juliet, were built by puppeteers from Michael Curry's team, known for their work on Broadway's The Lion King.

Universal Studios Florida News

• 🎬 Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem has transitioned from 3D to 2D, a move attributed to ease of use and cost savings.
• 👻 Halloween Horror Nights will feature a Ghostbusters maze in Sound Stage 22, with Stranger Things mazes potentially in Sound Stage 25.
• 🤡 The Killer Klowns from Outer Space, a popular scare zone, is confirmed to be a full-blown maze for Halloween Horror Nights.

Battlestar Galactica Tram Tour Attraction

• 🌌 The "Battle of Galactica" attraction debuted on the Universal Studios Hollywood tram tour in the summer of 1979, inspired by the TV series.
• 💰 Universal invested nearly $3 million into the 2-minute, 45-second attraction, which featured laser effects and a 16-track soundtrack.
• 📉 Ironically, the Battlestar Galactica TV series was canceled in April 1979, just weeks before the tram tour attraction opened.
• 🦖 The attraction building was demolished in 1992 to make way for the Back to the Future ride, though one Sylon animatronic is rumored to have been taken by a fan.

Universal Parks Financials and Events

• 📈 Comcast reported a 7.5% increase in revenue for Universal Parks & Resorts in Q2 2019, reaching $1.5 billion, attributed to higher attendance and guest spending.
• 🏃‍♀️ Running Universal events are expanding, with a Jurassic World-themed 5K and 10K scheduled for November 16-17, 2019.
• 🎢 A dueling coaster themed around Battlestar Galactica at Universal Studios Singapore, which opened in 2011, has faced significant technical issues and closures.