Universal Update: Fast & Furious Construction and Cars, Race Through New York, Pretzels and More

Let’s take a look around Universal Studios Florida! Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon is set to grand open April 6, 2017, but you can already experience the attraction during technical rehearsals, going on now! Virtual Line passes can be redeemed from the nearby kiosks or by using the Universal Orlando app. Some minor changes for the ride since our last visit include Express added to entrance, test seats have been placed out front, as well as a new digital information board.

Fast and Furious Supercharged construction continues at an increasing pace. The themed work walls covered in graffiti have been replaced with plain black walls. The fountain in the Beetlejuice courtyard has now been removed and the nearby refreshment stand has finally been renamed from “Graveyard Snacks” to “San Francisco Snacks.” The large show building is being painted to look like an old warehouse and scaffolding has gone up around the queue structure in front. Screen-used vehicles from the newest Fast and Furious film, The Fate of the Furious, are now on display in the park. This is becoming somewhat of a tradition, as almost every film in the franchise has had cars on display in the park.

Also going on in the park, work walls have come down around Doc’s Candy store in the New York section, revealing a brand new Auntie Anne’s Pretzels window. Work walls have gone up around the drink stand in front of the Universal Classic Monster’s Cafe for minor refurbishment. And Mardi Gras has ended, so all the signs, decor, and food booths are quickly being removed. Check out the video and photo update below for more details and stay tuned for more theme park updates coming soon!

Photo Update

Welcome to Universal on a clear sky, beautiful Spring day!

The giant Mardi Gras sign has been removed from the arch

Race Through New York merchandise added to the main store

Just a small assortment of items here, including Hastag the panda dolls

Work walls have gone up around the Monsters Cafe drink stand

No telling how long this will be closed. Probably just a minor refurbishment

Checking in on Race Through New York

Annual Pass previews going on in the mornings right now

Passholders checking in at end of the street

Check in stations

AP previews line redirected to outside patio queue (not front entrance)

Entering the 30 Rock lobby from outside patio on right-side of building

Both theaters are now in use during the day, keeping the wait time down

You can watch the entire pre-show and see live entertainment here

I noticed the back wall of the pre-show rooms are unfinished, with the back walls just exposed sound-proofing material, and temporary stanchions up

The mural over the exit stairs is back, after being painted over earlier in the month

Outside, let’s check out the main entrance

Express added to entrance sign. Express holders do not require return ticket and enter immediately

Test seats have been added outside

Close up of the side of seats

Test seats not doing so well outside, wood paneling already coming off

Moving down the street, reservation kiosks are on and working

Digital information sign added out front, currently explaining “technical rehearsals”

Virtual Line kiosks are easy to use with touch screen

You get a return ticket when using kiosk, but you can also use your phone to reserve a time

The ticket does mention that it’s a 30+ min experience

Moving on, the work walls are down around Doc’s Candy Store in New York

The store is now an Auntie Anne’s Pretzel window

Some of the yummy foods inside

One last look before moving on

Fast and Furious Supercharged ride construction

The Flying Fish street show has moved down the street, to accommodate the cars on display up ahead

This street show involves entertainers throwing (fake) fish and doing acrobatics

The themed walls with Graffiti have been replaced with plain walls, and the courtyard fountain has been removed

Not sure when it happened exactly, but this refreshment stand has finally been renamed

Originally “Graveyard Snacks”

Now named “San Francisco Snacks”

Scaffolding is up around queue structure

Building that takes you to pre-show after queue now taking shape, with triangle roof on right

Overview of queue structure, with pre-show behind it

You can see triangle roof of queue/pre-show building behind foreground steel

Good look at the backside of San Francisco facades with new structures being built behind them

Giant show building has been painted, and work walls extended out

Next step will be to add false windows over these darkened squares

The buildings are being themed to look like an old factory/warehouse

The building is being painted a different color on the London side to blend in better with King’s Cross Station

Where the two colors meet has not yet been completed yet. Also, roofing materials are being staged on top of the original Disaster exit structure (left)