Greetings internet dwellers!

It leaked early last week, but today Universal Orlando Resort, sealed the deal. Jurassic World: VelociCoaster will open in the summer of 2021. They released a nifty announcement video, to show off some of what the coaster can do. 

"Get ready for a new species of roller coaster. Speeding through the jungle, rising high above the terrain, it’s the Jurassic World VelociCoaster. Board your vehicle for a high-speed dash through the park’s raptor paddock. You’ll feel the rush of the hunt as you race alongside these nimble predators, twisting and soaring above the land and water. The Jurassic World VelociCoaster is coming Summer 2021 to Universal’s Islands of Adventure."

• Accelerate through two pulse-pounding launches, the fastest reaching 70 mph in 2.4 seconds
• Encounter a one-of-a-kind, 360-degree barrel roll right above the Islands of Adventure lagoon
• Experience a zero-gravity inverted stall that will send riders upside down across 100 feet of track in a jaw-dropping maneuver that is the first of its kind
• Go airborne during the towering “Top Hat,” which propels riders 155 feet in the air and then immediately into an 80 degree drop – Universal’s steepest drop yet
• Brace for a total of 12 heart-pounding seconds of airtime – the thrilling sensation of weightlessness riders feel when they’re lifted from their seats – throughout the entire adventure

This thing looked intense from the construction. Based on the stats, it will be a thrilling addition to Islands of Adventure. Summer 2021, can't get here quick enough.

Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

Halloween will be sticking around the Universal Orlando Resort. In a teaser video posted live on their Facebook page, Universal confirmed their "test" is no longer a test. Revenge of the Tooth Fairy and The Bride of Frankenstein Lives!, will be reopening this weekend. Starting on October 3rd, the houses will be open for daytime guests on a regular basis. The Halloween festivities will continue through November 1st.

Based on the wording on the site, it appears, you may be able to enter the house queues without a Virtual Line. However, the Virtual Line will still be available for the houses. Sticking around as well, are the Scarecrow Stalk, trick 'r treating, the Skeleton Bar, and being able to wear costumes. Also included are the Tribute Store of course, the Horror Make-up Show, and Beetlejuice meet and greets.

This should come as no surprise, especially given how successful this weekend was. Anyway, there you have it. You can experience the houses all season long if you wish, and get your Halloween on at Universal.

Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

Many Halloween and HHN fans, got their wishes granted this past weekend at Universal Studios. Friday, Universal allowed Team Members and Premier Passholders, access to two HHN houses during the day. Saturday the houses were opened to regular guests, with Virtual Queue access. The resort also had a plethora of seasonal activities, and decorations around the parks. 

Saturday, was very busy. It was so busy in fact, that all three Universal parks closed due to their limited capacity. Many people arrived at the parks dark and early, to attempt to snatch up spots in the Virtual Queue. I personally, wasn't able to get their early and had to wait and see if the parks would reopen. They did indeed reopen, and I made my way down.

Universal is calling this a "test". If the demand on Saturday is any indication, I would say the test was successful. Besides the houses, Universal also adorned parts of the park with decorations. The La Bamba Cafe, was also transformed into a walkthrough themed bar, called The Skeleton Bar. There were food trucks, with some traditional HHN fare, like Twisted Taters. Islands of Adventure allowed trick r' treating for kids, and anyone could dress up in costumes. 

It was nice to have all of this stuff. I don't need to stress how shitty 2020 has been. I've said it a million times. HHN, is a lifestyle for a lot of people. Myself included. To have just a small smattering of Halloween and HHN, is a nice welcome sight. However, I do have to make some personal observations. 

I was able to do both houses, thanks to a lovely gesture. My favorite of the two, was The Bride of Frankenstein Lives!. I am very partial to the Universal Classic Monsters. Last year's house was my favorite for the event. I love the twist on the Bride story going on. It's a bit of a pseudo sequel, or continuation of The Bride of Frankenstein movie. The scenic was really top notch, and there were quite a few effective scares. There were some really neat nods, to other Classic Monsters as well.

Revenge of the Tooth Fairy, was an interesting original take. There is definitely a Scary Tales vibe, and I love the dark and twisted take that's happening. The "facade", or first thing you see, is really nifty. I went through the house during a cast change, so I missed a lot of the scares. The scenic is really great, and the house is solid.

While I appreciate everything that Universal, Art & Design, and the Scareactor's did to allow us to experience all of this, the houses just don't hit like they usually do. It's understandable with the pandemic and the precautions that have to be taken. For me, seeing Scareactor's behind plexiglass, just hurts. It's a constant reminder of how fucked up everything is. That's not to say the experience, isn't great. It's a welcome breath of fresh air to be able to walk through an HHN house; hell, any haunted house. 

My thoughts are in a constant battle. I really love being able to do all of this. However, at the expense of the pandemic, I just can't help but feel a little sad. The state of affairs, continues to be awful. I worry about next year with all of this. The crystal ball is still murky, and it's hard to say what HHN will look like next year at this point. People are still losing their jobs. It's nice that the houses will offer at least, some financial benefit. However, I feel like this should be it. Just these two houses. Keep others in the back pocket, but cap it at these two. Yell at me all you want. I don't care. 

That being said, if able to do it again I probably would. I really want to do Bride again. For a brief moment this weekend, I was wrapped in a bit of joy. Even if the shadow of darkness that is the year 2020, stalked me from behind. 

​Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

"Seasonal Experience Testing" is what they are dubbing this weekend. Universal Orlando will open two HHN houses, that were supposed to be featured at HHN 30. Both The Bride of Frankenstein Lives and Revenge of the Tooth Fairy, will be accessible to daytime park guests.

Universal will also offer some other seasonal options, like trick or treating at Islands of Adventure, and being able to wear costumes at the park. TM previews for Friday, are already at capacity. I think it will be busy and very difficult, to try and access these houses. Universal will be utilizing their virtual line option, to allow guests to experience the houses. We shall see. 

Anyway, I will be down there this weekend to try and see if I can get in. 

​May the odds ever be in your favor.