Christmas is in the air at Universal Studios Florida, as decorations are showing up all over the park. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon will be opening in Spring of 2017 and it’s starting to look more ready every day. The front facade is quickly beginning to match the concept art released nearly a month ago. Fast & Furious Supercharged construction is finally in full swing as a gigantic show building has been erected. The Roboasis near the Men in Black ride has closed to make way for a new enclosed Coca-Cola Refreshment Station! Not only can you purchase and fill up your souvenir Freestyle cups here, but this is the first location at the Universal parks where you can purchase a single use fountain cup for the Coke Freestyle machines! The RFID sticker on the cup’s bottom only allows for one fill-up, which is great for folks that aren’t willing to carry around a plastic cup all day but want a Freestyle flavor (like me!) Check out the video and snapshots below and stay tuned for more updates!
Construction Updates
Welcome to Universal Studios Florida!
View of Jimmy Fallon construction from Music Plaza Stage
The completely renovated restrooms have re-opened
Restrooms match the rest of the new building exterior’s style
Work continues extended the facade above restrooms
Things are looking more complete towards front of the building where NBC gift shop will be
Welcome to NBC Studios, New York
Concept Art for the finished building renovation and ride entrance
No windows placed yet in tall part of facade
Only wall can be seen through window spaces
I’m guessing thin fake window panes with LEDs behind them will be placed in these gaps
Closer view of a window gap. Notice it has a hole on side for wiring to pass through
Real windows ready in front of NBC store
Looking down the road
A look at the marquee and ride entrance
Closer view of marquee, in the same spot as previous entrance for Twister
Moving down the road you can see the expanded roof has been enclosed behind facades
Work walls with printed scrims have gone up around Guggenheim cutout
I’m not sure, but maybe Guggenheim museum cutout is receiving some more love?
Entire back wall of Fallon ride now completely finished
Most air vents from Twister have been covered and plastered over
Hashbrowns#
Opening Spring 2017! (NBC Store may open earlier)
Welcome to Fast & Furious Supercharged construction, now in progress!
A massive show building has appeared
Interior work has begun on left-side of structure
Warehouse style walls going up to enclose the structure
Air ducts and pipes already in place for this half of building
Work going on inside
Only steel framing has been finished for right half of building
Hogwarts train station can still be seen, barely, and not for much longer
Large empty space between ride entrance and show building where Beetlejuice once stood may become extended queue, made to look like a large car garage
Old Disaster/Earthquake exit still boarded up with temporary work walls
Huge show building can be seen bordering up next to Diagon/London
Many back of house staff just lost their parking spots to make way for this baby
Crane seen overhead
Former Disaster entrance mostly still intact
High voltage generator thingy seen out front
San Fransisco seen in work wall artwork
Hashbrowns# 2018
Welcome to the old Roboasis, out is the robot alien with soda machines, and in are some indoor Freestyle machines
Old Roboasis Before
Coke Station now
Style matches Universe and You MiB retro theming
Inside the new building
You can purchase all day Freestyle souvenir cups, or one-time fill paper cups
Put your name in for a photo op with your name on a CGI Coke bottle
A robot will be right with you
Photo op with your name on a bottle!
Freestyle machines are better than vending machines
The holidays have arrived to Universal Studios Florida!
Parades start next week!
Hello Kitty says bye bye, until next time!
That’s all for this update. See all USF updates here and subscribe to the feed for more continual updates!
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Alicia Stella has been covering new attractions since 2015, with her work cited by The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, and more. She specializes in reporting on new attraction development, and always looks forward to upcoming changes to the Orlando theme parks. She is also co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando.
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