UniversalParksBlog News for February 7th, 2022
There are plenty of updates for the UniversalParksBlog News. Over the last two weeks, we learned why Hogwarts Express wasn’t running. Hint: NOT Dementors.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
Also, Universal updated its vaccine policies once again. I’ll talk about these things and some returning park features in the latest UniversalParksBlog News.
Hogwarts Express Back in Business
Photo : Erin Wingard
The last time we spoke, I mentioned that Hogwarts Express had turned mysterious. Universal Orlando Resort stopped running the ride on several dates, which was a setback for park guests.
After all, they rely on Hogwarts Express to change parks from Universal Studios Florida to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and vice versa. With Hogwarts Express offline, people had to walk to the front of the park and switch entrances.
Photo: Universal Orlando
Presuming they wanted more Harry Potter, they then had to walk to the back of the park once again. It’s a lot of unwanted exercise. Oddly, Universal wasn’t confirming the cause of the problem, either.
Eventually, word leaked that the pull cable system required an overhaul. Even though Hogwarts Express looks like a train, it’s more of a pulley system. And the framework had grown erratic.
So, Universal shut down Hogwarts Express until it could find replacement parts. Sadly, that proved challenging due to supply chain issues.
Not many businesses manufacture the parts Universal needs. In addition, there was a delay in transporting the new pull cables, forcing an extended delay. Thankfully, the Hogwarts Express has operated without incident since the replacement.
You can safely and conveniently travel back and forth between the two sections of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter again!
Another Pandemic Change at Universal
Photo:worldnews.net
Okay, I realize that you need a scorecard to keep up with the various rule changes at Universal over the past few months. The sudden Omicron outbreak forced unexpected re-thinking of existing park policies. Now that Orlando’s pandemic numbers are under control again, Universal can return to prior policies.
However, some of them don’t make as much sense now. For example, Universal had previously announced weekly testing for its unvaccinated workers.
You may recall that Universal set a hard deadline of February 9th. If workers hadn’t taken the vaccine with a booster by then, they had to prove their good health. Universal had planned this before the Supreme Court ruling on vaccine mandates.
Photo: County10.com
You may recall that the high court decided that only healthcare officials must take their shots.
So, Universal has stepped back from its announced policy. As a result, unvaccinated workers at the parks don’t need to take weekly tests. Obviously, Universal still expects workers to take their shots. In fact, the company rewards employees with compensation if they miss work due to vaccine side effects.
Photo: Universalparks.com
Still, the company has no legal recourse to demand vaccination. So instead, Universal has asked its employees to update their status. Then, workers are expected to call in sick if they show symptoms of COVID-19.
I would expect Universal to maintain this policy until the pandemic ends. The only thing that would change it is another outbreak. And none of us wants that to happen!
Epic Universe Gets a Release Date of Sorts
Photo: Comcast NBC Universal
For the longest time, Comcast wasn’t making any money. Of course, that’s a problem with a corporation that has more than $100 billion in debt. The pandemic wiped out the company’s finances and forced a retreat in several areas.
Photo:skillastics.com
Specifically, capital expenditures at Universal Studios went out the window. This is because Comcast owns NBCUniversal and simply didn’t have the cash to spend on the parks. That strategy wouldn’t have made sense anyway since park attendance was down.
Note that I’m using the past tense there. The latest earnings report showed Universal Studios having its best quarter ever for revenue. Not coincidentally, Comcast has loosened the purse strings for park enhancements.
Photo: Universal Orlando Resort
Specifically, the Epic Universe project has begun in earnest. Here’s a recent Orlando Sentinel article featuring construction images.
Yes, Universal has grown serious about its next Orlando theme park. In fact, NBCUniversal’s President pinned down a release date. Well, it was more of a release year. Epic Universe is coming in 2025! Based on the current photos, it shouldn’t have any problem making that date, either.
Photo:themeparx.com
The project is in a more advanced stage than any of us had expected after its pandemic shutdown.
Universal Park Miscellany
Photo: Universal Orlando
Okay, I’ve got several park updates for you. For starters, Jurassic Park River Adventure has reopened after maintenance. The dinosaur river ride was supposed to return on January 28th. Alas, Universal took 72 more extra hours to perfect it, though.
Photo: Discover Universal Blog
It was back by February 1st. While you’re visiting the Jurassic Park themed land, you can buy something new and fun at the gift shop.
Universal is selling Jurassic World I.D. badges. It’s an automated kiosk that allows you to personalize a badge. So, you can wear your badge and tell people you work for Mr. DNA!
Photo: Facebook/Universal Orlando
Elsewhere at Islands of Adventure, Marvel Super Hero Island has brought back an old favorite.
The Avengers are once again driving their tiny cars! Yes, the superhero motorcade has returned. So if you like three-wheelers, this is the show for you!
In weirder news, the price for Prime Parking has changed again. You may recall that Universal jacked up the price by $10 a few months ago.
I guess this move proved unpopular, as Prime Parking has dropped back to its earlier price of $50. Now, you may still think that’s too expensive, but it’s better than what we saw at the start of 2022!
More Universal Park Updates
Photo: Universal Orlando Resort
In other Universal Orlando Resort news, the mercurial weather has wreaked havoc on Volcano Bay. If you missed the stories, Orlando careened between temperatures in the 40s and 80s last week.
Tourists needed to wear layers one day and shorts the next. That’s not even an exaggeration. Obviously, the sheer volume of cold spells forced the water park to close. The worst appears to be over, but I take nothing for granted after recent events.
Meanwhile, at Universal Studios Hollywood, happy changes are afoot. The ride photo is back after an extended absence on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
Meanwhile, DinoPlay for Kids is remodeling to freshen it up a bit.
Photo: Universal studios hollywood
Finally, the beloved Studio Tour that started it all for Universal Studios has turned modern. There’s an electric tram now! In fact, there are four of them!
Who killed the electric car? Not Universal!
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Feature Photo:instagram/universalorlando
