Recently, Universal Studios Hollywood (USH) updated its app and website with a 3D fancy new map and some interesting details about their new land arrangements. Perhaps, what is most interesting is what they did not include.
First, let’s list USH’s new land arrangement and then we will go over in detail what has changed and what is omitted from the list.
Now I know what you’re thinking, why is CityWalk a land? Well, I don’t know either so we are both scratching our heads on that one. If you are a fan of Universal’s parks, then you probably recognize some of these land names as they are used in the newer international parks such as Transformers Metrobase and Jurassic World, which are the exact names for those lands at Universal’s Beijing Resort.
Minion Land is also an interesting and confusing name as that area includes Secret Life of Pets and later on a rumored Illumination dark ride, so I would have preferred a name such as Illumination Lane or Illumination Ave. so it encompasses all Illumination properties.
Production Plaza now includes the New York and Paris areas as well as Mel’s Drive-In. They also mention that you can see the Animal Actors here which is very interesting because I did in fact hear they would be returning in some capacity potentially at a new stage that is rumored to be built in the plaza.
UPDATE: Animal Actors mention has been removed from the website.
The plaza is under construction and it will not wrap up until May according to Team Members so there very well could be a new stage in the plaza for a temporary summer mini Animal Actors show as well as a Halloween Horror Nights show this year.
What’s missing you say? Well, a glaring omission is the highly themed Springfield area as well as Revenge of the Mummy and Panda Express. The Studio Café has been lumped into the Transformers Metrobase but Mummy and Panda are in a land of nothingness. Now based on rumors this would make sense as I have heard from multiple sources Simpsons is on its way out next year and Mummy will eventually be replaced with the new Studio Tour loading area. We shall see if these areas get added into a land eventually or if this was really done on purpose.
UPDATE: Studio Cafe and Studio Scoop have been removed from the Transformer’s Metrobase land page. Springfield was also added to the page. It was waiting on legal approval from Disney.
So, a lot more to unpack than meets the eye right? What do you think of the new names for the lands at Universal Studios Hollywood? What do you think of the omission of major rides and lands? Mistake or was it done with a reason?
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Ethan Becker is a columnist for the Boardwalk Times
