UniversalParksBlog News for March 17th, 2024
The calendar may say March, but we’re already thinking about Halloween.
We’ll talk about the Halloween Horror Nights speculative map for 2024 in the latest UniversalParksBlog News.
Let the Speculation Begin!
Welcome to #HHN Season! We see your excitement! This is for YOU, the FANS, from FANS! We've been doing this a LONG time for FUN! Here is V1 of our Speculation Maps! #HHN33 #HHN2024 #BeAFAN
🚨This is based on CURRENT SPECULATION and WILL CHANGE! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/6KX6twcKht
— Horror Night Nightmares (@HNNightmares) March 12, 2024
We aren’t quite Halfway to Halloween, but we’re close enough that the first HHN speculation map of 2024 has arrived.
I won’t lie to you. This one’s got a distinct “fill in the blank” vibe to it, which is understandable.
Last year’s first map really only got three things right, although some have argued for more.
One House was speculated as “guitar,” and we did get The Darkest Deal.
The Darkest Deal queue
Others like a Krampus House were total misses, but The Last of Us did prove correct.
So, the speculation map should be taken with a grain of salt, albeit a fun one.
Jungle of Doom
These debates pass the time while we’re awaiting the official word on what Universal Studios will offer during the 2024 HHN event.
As was the case last year, some Houses feel a bit obvious. For example, we’ll likely get a Ghostbusters House.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire comes out next week, with Sony marketing the film heavily.
Presuming that this title doesn’t bomb, Ghostbusters as a franchise feels like a natural fit for HHN.
The catch is that it’s a Sony release rather than a Universal Pictures one.
That fact didn’t stop Universal from hosting a Ghostbusters House in 2019, though. So, I buy this rumor…as long as the film doesn’t underperform.
More HHN Speculation
Vamp ’69
The map also hints at another movie-based House, and it’s another one that isn’t Universal’s conceit.
A Quiet Place: Day One debuts in theaters on June 28th. As the third film in a successful franchise, it should do well.
The Last of Us
Also, the premise of an entirely soundless House is an exceptional premise, although it’d probably be a challenge to accomplish.
Still, if done well, this House could rival The Last of Us in terms of quality. It’s a foolproof concept as long as the jump-scares are well-positioned.
Vamp ’69
There’s one other film that merits a House this year, and this one should be a foregone conclusion.
When Five Nights at Freddie’s debuted in theaters last Halloween, it more than doubled box office estimates.
Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream
The modest $20 million production grossed roughly $300 million in global box office. And it’s a Universal Pictures release.
If we don’t get a Five Nights at Freddie’s House in 2024, somebody should get fired. It’s a no-brainer.
Image: Universal
As an aside, I’d expected a Twisted Metal House this year, as the Peacock series has performed quite well.
Even reading these tea leaves in the most generous sense, there’s no hint of it unless that car isn’t for Ghostbusters. And it’s for Ghostbusters.
Photo: Universal Orlando
So, I wonder whether Sweet Tooth would have cut into Jack the Clown’s territory too much.
Welcome to Butterbeer Season!
Photo: Universal
We’ve got a surprise announcement from Universal Studios.
Earlier this week, park officials declared the start of “Butterbeer Season,” and we’ll celebrate it on both coasts!
Starting on March 15th (this past Friday), guests will enjoy butterbeer in entirely new ways.
This variant on a food and wine festival is small-scale and limited-time in nature, ending on April 30th.
From now until then, guests at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort can get with the butterbeer goodness.
The must-do from this event isn’t a drink or a snack, though. Universal is selling a limited-edition silver stein, and I WANT it!
Photo: Harry Potter New York
You can add it whenever you buy a cold or frozen butterbeer, and you’ll find it at both Orlando parks.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Station at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – King’s Cross Station at Universal Studios Florida are both participating.
Photo: Universal
As part of Butterbeer Season, guests can purchase butterbeer-flavored caramels, an idea whose time has come.
Notably, the caramels are only available in Orlando, not in Hollywood. So, please keep that in mind.
Universal has also promised something called an “ice lolly” with a butterbeer flavor.
Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour will lean heavily into the premise as well.
Starting on March 29th, guests can purchase ten different butterbeer-style flavors of ice cream.
I’ll level with you. Some of the combinations sound like they’ll taste like evil, but I’m gonna try each one anyway.
To a larger point, Butterbeer Season sounds like an idea whose time has come.
I’d love for Universal to expand the premise in future years to make it more of a total Potterverse food and drink festival.
Universal Miscellany
Universal Studios Florida
This hasn’t happened in a while, but we’ve had a relatively quiet news period at Universal Studios.
The most significant thing happening is a limited-time character greeting.
Universal Studios Florida
Right now, you can meet characters from Kung Fu Panda 4. In the process, you’ll get a sneak peek of sorts at DreamWorks Land.
Po will take up permanent residence at the themed land this summer.
Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood
For the next little while, you can meet him at Universal Studios Hollywood.
In refurbishment news, Universal’s Islands of Adventure will close a Seuss Landing attraction for a while.
Photo: Universal
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish will undergo maintenance from April 27th until May 24th, presuming all goes well.
Lately, Universal has reopened rides a bit quicker than the scheduled maintenance, which may happen here, too.
Photo: Orlando Informer
In a perfect world, Universal wants all its attractions running well before the start of Memorial Day Week, which falls on May 27th this year.
A May 24th return would be cutting it close, but we won’t know for sure about the timeline until mid-May.
Finally, in wholly unsurprising news that will make you so happy, Universal Pictures will release a Mario sequel in 2026.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned $1.36 billion last year, which makes a sequel automatic.
If anything, the only shocker here is that Universal can create a new film in just three years. Then again, they’re quite motivated.
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Feature Photo: Universal Orlando
