Universal Studios Florida Update: Jimmy Fallon Ride, Fast & Furious, Toothsome and Secret Life of Pets Merchandise

It’s time to take a look around Universal Studios Florida and see how some of the big construction projects are doing and what’s new in the park! As soon as I got there I noticed a lot of new merchandise added to the main studio store for the upcoming film The Secret Life of Pets. There have been rumors of this property getting its own ride in the parks if the film is a success, (and I have a feeling the film will do just fine). One of the mugs caught my attention as it’s actually branded with ‘Universal Studios’ on it! Over at Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon lots of work continues at a breakneck pace as facades get built, roofing gets laid, walls go up, and lots of interior work gets done. It looks like another rounded (screen-like) wall on the inside is being constructed too. See images below for more details. Not much is happening at Fast & Furious Supercharged. They took down the potted plants in front of the work walls. That’s about it. And finally in City Walk, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium (formerly ‘Chocolate Factory’) is coming together nicely with new brickwork on the front. See the video along with lots of images with more information about these projects below and stay tuned for more theme park updates!


The Secret Life of Pets Merchandise

Arriving at the arch...

Arriving at the arch…

Visiting the Universal Studios Store just inside the park

Visiting the Universal Studios Store just inside the park

The Secret Life of Pets (SLoP) merch added right in the front entrance

The Secret Life of Pets (SLoP) merch added right in the front entrance

Shirt!

Shirt!

tervis!

tervis!

Look at me. Look at me. I'm the alpha now.

Look at me. Look at me. I’m the alpha now.

I really like this mug. If I like the film (which I'm thinking I will) I will definitely be picking this up

I really like this mug. If I like the film (which I’m thinking I will) I will definitely be picking this up

The bunny is hilarious in the trailer

The bunny is hilarious in the trailer

Sports bottles

Sports bottles

Not sure who this little guy is, but he appears to be lost

Not sure who this little guy is, but he appears to be lost

Max and Duke Pop! figures

Max and Duke Pop! figures

Gidget and Chloe Pop! figures

Gidget and Chloe Pop! figures

Buying wall decals at a theme park? Sure, why not?

Buying wall decals at a theme park? Sure, why not?

"First to arrive... Last to leave" sippy cup

“First to arrive… Last to leave” sippy cup

New Hello Kitty King Kong poster added across the street

New Hello Kitty King Kong poster added across the street

Jimmy Fallon Construction

Now that Kong walls are down, Jimmy Fallon wins the award for best looking work walls on property

Now that Kong walls are down, Jimmy Fallon wins the award for best looking work walls on property

Facades in the front's framework all looks done now

Facades in the front’s framework all looks done now

Look at the side of the building. Work is focused on roof now

Look at the side of the building. Work is focused on roof now

Roof being weatherproofed

Roof being weatherproofed

Roof panels ready to be laid

Roof panels ready to be laid

Extended building near Rockit

Extended building near Rockit

Perhaps this extended area will be bathrooms again? We need some in this area, especially when concerts are going on

Perhaps this extended area will be bathrooms again? We need some in this area, especially when concerts are going on

Look at the facade steel on this side

Look at the facade steel on this side

Pipes leading to (probably) bathrooms

Pipes leading to (probably) bathrooms

Pipes and conduit being installed inside

Pipes and conduit being installed inside

View of the other side of steel for facades

View of the other side of steel for facades

Hard to tell in the image, but there appears to be a rounded wall here, perhaps the back of a large screen

Hard to tell in the image, but there appears to be a rounded wall here, perhaps the back of a large screen

Rounded screen?

Rounded screen?

Stairs added near ride entrance area

Stairs added near ride entrance area

Looks like this may remain the main ride entrance when it opens

Looks like this may remain the main ride entrance when it opens

Many believe these stairs will be temporary, but maybe they will be used for team members after ride opens?

Many believe these stairs will be temporary, but maybe they will be used for team members after ride opens?

View from down the street

View from down the street

Walls closing in building

Walls closing in building

Back wall being walled up

Back wall being walled up

Still working on closing it up

Still working on closing it up

Stairwell in corner still exposed

Stairwell in corner still exposed

Several levels of stairs in back corner for workers

Several levels of stairs in back corner for workers

Lots of panels of some sort ready to be installed

Lots of panels of some sort ready to be installed

All of the flat facades have been refreshed now and look amazing

All of the flat facades have been refreshed now and look amazing

At a time when Disney is removing their NY facades Universal has repainted theirs to brand new status

At a time when Disney is removing their NY facades Universal has repainted theirs to brand new status

These were the last to be updated and now they really pop!

These were the last to be updated and now they really pop!

Fast & Furious Update

A look at construction (or lack thereof) at the old Beetlejuice courtyard

A look at construction (or lack thereof) at the old Beetlejuice courtyard

One little forklift/crane thing was in opertion at the time

One little forklift/crane thing was in opertion at the time

This painted wall is all we have to remind us of Disaster, you're welcome

This painted wall is all we have to remind us of Disaster, you’re welcome

Big pile of rubble has been carted off, but the view is still weird with Hogwarts Express in background

Big pile of rubble has been carted off, but the view is still weird with Hogwarts Express in background

Set Enhancements in slow motion in progress

Set Enhancements in slow motion in progress

Fountain and Graveyard Snacks remains untouched

Fountain and Graveyard Snacks remains untouched

Not much going on near former Disaster entrance, however the potted plants in front of walls have now been removed. Strange. Wonder why they were placed there in the first place.

Not much going on near former Disaster entrance, however the potted plants in front of walls have now been removed. Strange. Wonder why they were placed there in the first place.

Wondering if they will need to update the walls and remove "2017" if this doesn't speed up. Although, I did hear drills being used in the area while I was there, so work is being done inside

Wondering if they will need to update the walls and remove “2017” if this doesn’t speed up. Although, I did hear drills being used in the area while I was there, so work is being done inside

No offense to the artists, but these work walls really clash with the surrounding area and are somewhat of an eyesore, at least in my opinion. Would much rather see framed concept art like they had at Mako or the current Toy Story Land walls

No offense to the artists, but these work walls really clash with the surrounding area and are somewhat of an eyesore, at least in my opinion. Would much rather see framed concept art like they had at Mako or the current Toy Story Land walls

No change at the former Disaster exit... Oh, and, Amity Island lives on!

No change at the former Disaster exit… Oh, and, Amity Island lives on!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Update

Toothsome's factory front is really coming along quickly

Toothsome’s factory front is really coming along quickly

Lots of brickwork being done on front

Lots of brickwork being done on front

Bricks appear to be fake and are applied in prefab sections. I wonder if they will be painted after installed

Bricks appear to be fake and are applied in prefab sections. I wonder if they will be painted after installed

Work continues extending building on left-side and adding smokestack to tower as well

Work continues extending building on left-side and adding smokestack to tower as well

The name has been updated on work walls

The name has been updated on work walls

I love the new name, glad they are distancing themselves from the Wonka stereotype. Makes this its own thing and more special

I love the new name, glad they are distancing themselves from the Wonka stereotype. Makes this its own thing and more special

That's all for this update! Check out some of our previous updates for Kong and Hulk!

That’s all for this update! Check out some of our previous updates for Kong and Hulk!


Fast-and-Furious-featured-900x563That’s all for this update. See all USF updates here and subscribe to the feed for more continual updates!

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