The holidays at Universal Orlando bring special decorations, the annual Tribute Store, entertainment and more. But this year they’ve started something new. Now you can spot hidden references to defunct attractions that have been mixed in with the decor around the park.
Here are 12 Easter Eggs to search for during the winter season! Be sure to check out the video version of this article for additional visuals!
1. The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera
Our first stop is located at a gift shop just to the side of the exit for Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. Hidden in the garland around this outdoor kiosk is Rosie the robot from The Jetsons. This is a reference to the park’s opening day attraction: The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera.
2. Kongfrontation
Over in the New York area, if you look up above the Sahara Traders, the exit gift shop for Revenge of the Mummy, you can spot King Kong himself. Before The Mummy moved in in 2004, this was home to the park’s classic ride: Kongfrontation.
3. JAWS
At the edge of the New York area facing San Francisco, look along the front of the Starbucks in the middle of the street. You may spot a great white shark, a nod to the former JAWS ride which was replaced by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
There’s a second shark in the garland along the side facing the lagoon as well, and this one is looking directly towards its old home of Amity Island.
4. Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular
Near that second shark, also facing the lagoon on the side of Starbucks, you may have seen a jet ski ornament along the railing. This is a tribute to Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular, which was a pyro-filled nighttime show that played prior to park close for the park’s first ten years.
5. Ghostbusters
Head to the old firehouse facade for our next Easter egg. This wreath features marshmallows mixed into the decorations, as well as some green slime. That’s because this building used to be the entrance for Ghostbusters Spooktacular. The show featured Slimer and of course the Star Puft Marshmallow Man.
6. Macy’s Balloons
You can spot monkey decorations all along the Metropolis Tribune facade where the standby entrance for Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon is located. These are an homage to the former Curious George balloon that used to sit above the awning during the holidays.
Years ago, many balloons that were previously used in the actual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade would be displayed around the park, but they have since been retired.
Curious George balloon as it used to appear on this building, years ago
7. Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho
Before it was Shrek 4-D, this area was home to Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies. Across from the exit, where Shrek and Donkey meet with guests, you can find a knife sticking out of one the ornaments, as a tribute to the former show.
8. Xena: Warrior Princess
Hidden among the vinyl records in the decorations around Mel’s Diner is a cleverly hidden tribute to the Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen show that used to be located where the Transformers ride is now.
9. Terminator 2: 3D
Over in Hollywood, just to the left of the entrance to The Bourne Stuntacular, if you look really closely, you can spot a silver skull with red eyes hiding in the decor. This is a nod to the former T2-3D: Battle Across Time show that resided here before Bourne.
10. I Love Lucy
Across from this area, along the brim of the Brown Derby hat shop, you can find a medicine bottle. Looking at the label, it is Vitameatavegamin, just like the one Lucy tried to stomach in a classic episode of I Love Lucy.
In addition to meeting guests in this area, there used to be Lucy: A Tribute museum exhibit where the Hello Kitty store is now.
11. Tribute Store Easter Eggs
You’ll spot more classic attraction Easter eggs inside of the Holiday Tribute Store near the Mummy. In the first area, themed as Santa’s Workshop, there’s a train encircling the room. If you can catch a glimpse, you’ll see that the train is pushing a DeLorean, just like in Back to the Future: Part III.
And it seems like the elves have been hard at work creating wooden toys that look an awful lot like ET’s spaceship, the DeLorean, and the Orca from JAWS.
12. Earl the Squirrel
And of course it wouldn’t be the holidays at Universal Orlando without the ultimate Easter egg, Earl the Squirrel. While he’s branched out and started his own Tree Farm last year, and Christmas-themed roadside attraction this year, Earl got his start by hiding in the big tree at Universal Studios Florida.
Legend says he’s based on a real squirrel that team members found while setting up decorations one year, and now you can always find him in a new spot hiding in the tree yourself!
That’s all for now, but for the perfect holiday gift check out Souvenir Scents for candles and wax melts that smell like your favorite theme park experiences. You can find ones that’ll remind you of the ET ride, Butterbeer, and even Halloween Horror Nights! Use my promo code PARKSTOP to save 15% off this holiday season at SouvenirScents.com.
If you’d like to see more Easter eggs around the parks, be sure to check out our last Easter eggs article about hidden things at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT. And you can see all of the hidden things articles here.
Don’t miss the video version of this article for additional visuals. Subscribe to the news feed or enter your email below to never miss an update. Photos by Alicia Stella | Special Thanks: @tarahchieffi, @mrfurious32821, & @magiccitymayhem
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