Universal Orlando News: Epic Universe, Halloween Horror Nights, and New Hotels

Universal Orlando Resort Updates

• 🏨 The Dockside Inn and Suites, the second part of the Endless Summer Resort, is set to open on March 17, 2020, bringing the total room count for the resort to 2,800 rooms, with rates starting at $85 per night.
• 🎃 Halloween Horror Nights 30th anniversary will run for 39 nights, starting September 10th and concluding on Halloween night, October 31st, featuring 10 houses, 5 scare zones, and reimagined haunts from past events.
• 🎢 Universal Studios Hollywood saw celebrity visits to its Halloween Horror Nights, including Lupita Nyong'o reprising her role from 'Us' and Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd visiting the Ghostbusters house.
• 🚗 A new $4 pickup fee has been implemented by Uber for rides originating at Universal Orlando parks, intended to fund new signage, additional staff, and a future lounge area.

Epic Universe Development

• 🏗️ Universal's Epic Universe, the fourth theme park, is now projected to open with a soft opening in spring 2023 and a grand opening around Memorial Day of that year.
• 🌳 The 1,300-acre site includes approximately 700 acres for the park and hotels, with 600 acres set aside for conservation and wetlands to act as a buffer for the surrounding neighborhood.
• 🚗 Traffic projections for Epic Universe are staggering, with an estimated 28,000 to 34,000 vehicles per day on Public Road A, raising concerns about becoming a good neighbor.
• 🗺️ While concept art exists, definitive details about the lands within Epic Universe, such as the rumored Universal Monsters Land, have not yet been officially released.

Holiday Offerings and Park Operations

• 🍩 Voodoo Donuts is offering holiday-themed donuts, including a stuffed Santa donut with Bavarian and white chocolate or peppermint chocolate cream fillings.
• 🍗 The Today Show Cafe at Universal Studios Florida is introducing Al Roker's mother-in-law's recipe for southern chicken biscuit sliders.
• 🎢 The Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges ride closed in early September for annual maintenance and due to construction for the VelociCoaster, with a planned reopening of December 22nd.
• 🚧 Significant construction fences are up in the Jurassic Park section of Islands of Adventure for the VelociCoaster, impacting the visual landscape and guest pathways.
• 🎬 The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood is nearing completion, with its exterior show building resembling a faux brownstone, and is on track for a spring 2020 opening.
• 💥 The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida experienced an incident where two cars got stuck on the lift hill, requiring guest evacuation.