The studio was used for filming popular shows on the network such as Double Dare, Nickelodeon GAS, Guts, and Figure It Out. Other scripted shows were also filmed on the soundstages such as All That, Clarissa Explains It All, and the first two seasons of Kenan and Kel. Later the area was expanded where Slime Time Live was filmed on an almost daily basis.

For all that attended Nickelodeon Studios when it was opened, children and adults alike loved it. The tour of the studios was a favorite and the possibility of being slimed had all of the children excited and on their toes. I was lucky enough to be a contestant on Slime Time Live when I was eight years old, and it is a memory I will never forget.

While I did not win the vote to be put in the chair to get slimed on national television, I was able to get slimed on the mini game show hosted inside the studio tour.

Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Orlando: A history

In November of 1988, Nickelodeon joined up with Universal Studios and they began to break ground for the building of the Nickelodeon Studios. The construction was completed in June of the following year and filming began on the infamous Stage 21 for their first program filmed in Orlando, Super Sloppy Double Dare. When Universal Studios Florida opened their doors officially in June of 1990, Nickelodeon Studios welcomed the public. In October of 1990, the famous Slime Geyser was unveiled and officially opened. Minimal changes were made between then and 1999 except for some exterior changes to the building and additional shows being taped at the Studios.

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By 1999, Universal was expanding to be more as a theme park than a film studio and no new shows were being taped in Orlando. New studios were being added in California and only a few shows were still being taped in Orlando. The studios had minimal finances at the time so many props had to be auctioned off and the studio tour went from a 45 minute long spectacle to a shorter version with less sets and interactivity. Slime Time Live was eventually cancelled in 2003 after a five year run and by 2004, only one show (U-Pick Live) was being filmed in Orlando. In the summer of 2004 they decided to add SPLAT!, which was the final show filmed at Nick Studios. In April of 2005, they did their last tour of the studios and Nickelodeon Studios officially closed. In September of 2006 it was announced that Blue Man Group would take over the former Nick Studios, and exactly 17 years after the Studios grand opening Blue Man Group held their first show.

Today, the Nickelodeon Suites Resort contains some of the last remnants of Nickelodeon in the Universal/Orlando area. The hotel hosts a Double Dare Live! show incorporating audience members described as, “Studio Nick’s modernized LIVE Double Dare combines the exhilaration of the Original Double Dare television show with our new twists and turns, provided by state-of-the-art technology, plus updated content incorporating pop culture like only the Nick Hotel can.”

The hotel also offers rooms decorated with Nickelodeon themes in the Suites. Character breakfasts are offered featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and other well-known Nickelodeon characters. A favorite at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort is the daily “Orlando Mass Sliming” in which 400 gallons of slime are dumped from their lagoon slide tower directly onto their guests.

Why I’d love to see Nickelodeon Studios come back

Nickelodeon was such a huge network in the early 1990’s and 2000’s, and it still is a large enterprise today. While many of the original shows are no longer filmed and the network has moved in a very different direction than their original programming, they’re still a leader in the children’s television industry. The memories of the original Nickelodeon mixed with the contemporary Nickelodeon of today would set up a scenario that would be perfect for Universal. Taking a step into one of the best television channel’s background and learning about the television shows — and being part of them — is what Universal Studios Florida is all about! Bringing back Nickelodeon Studios would bring this happiness to a whole new generation of children.

There are many movements to bring back Nick Studios including several Facebook pages and petitions. Rumors have circulated over the years of plans to bring the Studios back but nothing has been confirmed — and with the way things look (with Blue Men having taken over the Studios and a lack of interest in the original Nickelodeon), it is doubtful that an entire film studio will reopen. Possibilities for bringing back a retro Nickelodeon themed area or ride is a popular topic of conversation, but nothing has been confirmed by Nickelodeon or Universal Orlando.

Here is one more video. It shows the entrance to Nick Studios while it was open and after it was replaced:

[youtube_video]KOzMPq4pwIs[/youtube_video]

If you have memories you’d like to share, please leave a comment below! Or, read more blog posts about Universal Orlando’s history.

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The post Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Orlando: A cherished history & our hope for its return appeared first on Orlando Informer.

[youtube_video]X2QekXgGivg[/youtube_video]

Many of us also fondly remember co-host Jonah Travick (@thisBeJonah), an integral, hilarious part of the broadcast. Jonah was best known for being the quirky and comedic part of the host trio, which also included Dave Aizer and Jessica Holmes.

Recently, I caught up with Jonah to recall some of his favorite memories about Slime Time Live and Universal Studios Florida, and to find out what he has been up to since his days of sliming and pieing.

What is your most-missed memory of working on Slime Time Live?

The kids and families literally begging, even offering money, for us to pie or slime their kids. Sometimes parents wanted to be slimed and pied! There were even a few celebrities that were pied or slimed by their kids, even though they were not mentioned by name on air.

I wanted to yell “Babba Boey!” so bad live on the air when we slimed and pied Gary Dell’Abate from The Howard Stern Show, but the producers wouldn’t let me. He even talked about it the next week on Howard Stern.

Was there one specific show or guest that you enjoyed the most?

The most memorable guest impressions I have were from the ones that I had the opportunity to socialize with behind the scenes and between takes. The guests that were really down-to-Earth and would share great stories and moments included Dana Carvey, Robin Williams, Ziggy Marley (son of Bob Marley), and David Arquette. They were very laid-back and cool. Jerry O’Connell and Anthony Anderson were just a riot and out of control!

Do you still keep in touch with Dave and Jessica at all?

Yes! Dave and Jessica will be lifelong friends of mine. We were all very close. We are still friends with many of the crew, as well. Dave and I see each other more often and have even worked together on recent television projects since he is still living in Florida. Jessica, however, is in Los Angeles, so I only see her if I go to LA.

What was your favorite part about working at Universal Studios? Did you guys ever get to go into the park before opening or after closing to enjoy the rides?

Yes, we did! One of the many great perks at the time, especially since we had assigned parking right next to the soundstage. I could park and literally be just yards from the park. Our studio is now the home of Blue Man Group. Our parking was right there!

Do you still visit Universal?

Yes, my sister and daughter both work at Universal, so I get tickets from them, and there has been a few times that I have been on the backlot working on various production projects.

Do you prefer Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure?

Universal… I still have a thing for movie-based rides.

What was your favorite ride when you worked at Universal? Has it changed with the large expansions since then?

My favorite ride was Back to the Future, which is still my all-time favorite movie. That is the movie that made me want to be a filmmaker. The ride spot is now a Simpsons-themed ride.  I rode it a few months ago and, as the nerd I am, spent most of the time looking for aspects of the ride that came from the original Back to the Future ride. I will say Spider-Man and Transformers, though, are pretty darn amazing. I think for the overall “fun factor,” Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the most fun of them all.

I was lucky enough to meet you when I was eight and on Slime Time Live. Do you still get stopped by people who remember you from the show?

Not so much anymore, now that I have aged 10 years and gained 10 pounds, but it happens sometimes when I meet people and they make the connection when they hear my name. I am a video producer now, and once, when I was shooting a golf promo, one of the young golf instructors on set heard my name when we were introduced, he made the connection. He said he was a huge fan of me and the show. To meet this twenty-something-year-old man, who said he was a fan when he was a “kid,” that really made me feel old, but it is a nice feeling to know you had that type of influence on someone’s life, and they remember you years later by name.

I have also had a few people find me on Twitter and Facebook. They post photos they have of me with them as kids, and that’s always a hit with me! We took hundreds of photos and signed autographs each day after the show with people from all over the country.  It’s mind-boggling to imagine how many family vacation photo albums I appear in. Remember photo albums?

What are you up to now?

I am a digital media producer now, and I specialize in video promos and commercials. I travel the state and the country doing projects. I am truly blessed to make a living at doing what is essentially my hobby and what I have always dreamed of doing. I also am producing an episodic series that is now in post-production, currently without a title. I’m very excited for everyone to see it once it is done!

Important question: sliming or pieing?

Hmmmm… I got them both several times a day for four years. They are both just as messy and sticky. However, anyone can make a pie at home and throw it in your face. There’s something special about being slimed with genuine Nickelodeon slime made personally by our resident Gak-Meister!

Anything else you’d like to add?

My time on Slime Time Live was the most amazing time of my life. I never intended to be a television personality, but I am forever thankful that the producers at Nickelodeon gave me that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m rich with memories that, honestly, I can’t even put the feeling in words. I wish I had a digital camera or smart phone back then.  My only regret is not taking enough pictures.

Thanks to the wonderful Jonah Travick for taking time out of his busy schedule to conduct this interview and share some of his favorite memories about Universal Studios Florida and Slime Time Live. To keep up on what Jonah is up to, follow him on Twitter at @thisBeJonah.

You can view more blog posts about Universal’s history, or you can start planning your next visit right now.

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The post Talking Slime Time Live with Jonah Travick: Sliming, pieing & Gak-filled laughs at Universal’s Nickelodeon Studios appeared first on Orlando Informer.

This part of the park came about as a means to showcase the wonders of the world, such as time travel in the opening-day attraction Back to the Future: The Ride and later the marvels of alien lifeforms in MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. The latter attraction fits in quite well with the World Expo theme; its iconic replica of the observation towers featured in the 1964 World’s Fair, which played an important role in the original Men in Black movie, towering above the USF skyline.

The 1964 World’s Fair actually had a major impact on Orlando’s theme parks. Walt Disney and his Imagineers created multiple attractions for the 1964 World’s Fair, and the elements designed for those attractions became staples at Disneyland in California and eventually Walt Disney World.

The replicas of the World’s Fair observation towers have become a landmark of Universal Studios Florida.

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The design details of the entire MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack building and attraction area are themed with 1960’s sci-fi details.

The age of America’s romance with space travel is carried well into the merchandise shop and surrounding food and beverage outlets. In fact, the restroom entrance is one of my favorite design elements with simple, clean, and modern lines.

Additionally, the MIB attraction itself is one of my favorite examples of great pre-show and post-show theming. The “Universe and You” storyline is carried throughout the queue and at the unloading platform of the ride.

However, if there is one detail that does not match the sci-fi theme at all, it is the background music. Don’t get me wrong, I love the late 1990’s music that is played here, but, even though the music matches what was playing on the radio when the original movie came out, it’s a bit jarring. It also has the unpleasant effect of making the attraction (and original movie) feel dated.

Before moving onto Springfield USA, you absolutely must take a moment to enjoy the awesome panoramic view of the park from MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. You can practically see each and every single section of the park when you stand by the MIB attraction sign and look out along the water. And before you leave the park for the day, look for the MIB walk-around characters in USF’s Hollywood backlot — although you might easily miss them, as they are masters of anonymity.

Springfield USA, our next destination, is technically still a part of the World Expo area of Universal Studios Florida. Guests may find this confusing when consulting a map because Springfield is larger — and features many more venues — than the MIB area. World Expo also includes the Fear Factor Live amphitheater, but since it features no theming other than a sign for the show, there are no details to share here. What we can observe from this hodgepodge is that Universal Creative hasn’t quite figured out a good road map developing the back corner of Universal Studios Florida, at least in terms of an overall theme. “World Expo” worked when the area just included MIB and Back to the Future. But, with the addition of Diagon Alley, Springfield USA, and Fear Factor Live (which used to be classified as part of San Francisco/Amity), “World Expo” really only seems to fit the MIB attraction area now.

For now, let’s set our criticisms aside and enter the silly, zany cartoon world of The Simpsons. You’ve got to get into the mood to read because some of this area’s best details are in the many puns and satire found on various signs and placards. The easiest examples of this are the names of the midway games found near The Simpsons Ride. Some of my favorites are Sledge Homer, Eye Carumba, and Help Santa’s Little Helper. You’ll find plenty more puns if you take a moment to read the signs throughout Springfield USA.

Speaking of signs, many guests pass right by the intersection of Fast Food Blvd, an actual satirical street in The Simpsons TV show, and Evergreen Terrace, the street on which the Simpson’s humble abode resides. It’s on this corner that you will find the Kwik-e-Mart, home to one of my favorite details, the payphone.

Here, neighborhood bully Nelson Muntz beckons you to answer the phone. Wait around for it to ring and make sure you answer the call. And don’t miss the graffiti along the side of the payphone.

Speaking of phones, if you’re ever in Moe’s Tavern and the phone rings be sure to answer that call too.

Inside the Kwik-e-Mart are signs for the lottery and other advertisements you just have to read — any retail employee will greatly appreciate the sign pertaining to satisfaction guaranteed and refunds.

The entire Fast Food Blvd is a Simpsons lover’s dream: The Krusty Burger, Moe’s Tavern, and Comic Book Guy’s storefronts are perfect recreations of these fictional destinations. Of course, inside Moe’s Tavern, you will find some fantastic details, like the picture of the barbershop quartet known as the “B Sharps”. Also inside the Fast Food Blvd restaurants, there are multiple murals to behold. My favorite is actually the smallest, which is hanging above the condiment bar. It has some of the best details, but you have to look closely. For example, the sign for the Sleep-Easy Motel is only partially lit, spelling the word “sleazy.”

Back outside, there are plenty more silly sights to behold. Bart Simpson’s sneaky behavior is evident: can you spot the handiwork of his alter ago “El Barto”?

The centerpiece of Springfield USA is the statue of Springfield’s founder, Jebediah Springfield, perfectly recreated from the cartoon series. And anyone who had the pleasure of visiting Springfield USA during its first few weeks will notice that Officer Wiggam’s car has gotten a makeover. When Springfield USA first opened, Wiggam’s car was a true black-and-white. But kids were quick to climb on the photo op, and, in the Florida heat, the black part of the car became near scolding temperatures. So the car was repainted solid white.

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After chowing down on an indulgent Krusty Burger and washing it down with a frosty cold Duff (imagine Duff Man’s voice “OH Yeah!”), comic book geeks — and really geeks of all kinds — should stop by the window of Android Dungeon Baseball Card Shop.

Unfortunately, Comic Book Guy is not around to keep the shop open, but if you read his “closed” sign, you’ll know he has a good reason to be out of town.

Sure, it takes a little extra work to catch all the puns and details within Springfield USA, but I love that it echoes the same level of detail found in the show itself.

It is this element that makes World Expo different than the backlot sections of the park (including New York, Hollywood, and San Francisco). While these three “cities” are beautifully detailed and layered, they do not convey or recreate the feeling that one particular movie or show expresses. The area surrounding MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack and Springfield USA envelope guests into the overall mood and atmosphere, bringing you “into the movies”.

If you would like to learn more about MIB and Springfield USA, you can find more details, photos, videos, and real guest reviews of each attraction and venue in the World Expo section of the OI Universal Center:

• MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
• Welcome to Springfield USA
• The Simpsons Ride
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
• Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck (quick-service)
• Duff Brewery (limited-service bar)
• Moe’s Tavern (limited-service bar)
• Simpsons Fast Food Blvd (quick-service)

Finally, if you enjoyed learning the historical perspective of World Expo, then you’ll definitely want to see all of the UOR history blog posts on Orlando Informer, including:

• Hooray for Hollywood: A fascinating exploration of the themes, facades & history of USF’s Hollywood backlot
• Empire state of mind: Tour the incredible treasures & history of USF’s New York backlot
• The City by the Bay: Dive deep in the themes & inspiration for USF’s San Francisco backlot

USF World Expo – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

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The post From MEN IN BLACK to Springfield USA: The sci-fi & silly details of World Expo at Universal Studios Florida appeared first on Orlando Informer.

As it turns out, though, a successful, forward-thinking shopping/dining-combo venue has proven to be an elusive goal for the past 40 years.

Back to the beginning

When Walt Disney World first opened its doors in 1971, it was meant to be a multi-park, multi-hotel, multi-venue destination – some day. At the time, however, the 13,000-acre lot was occupied solely by Magic Kingdom and its raft of hotels and golf courses. The resort’s next major attractions, Discovery Island (the predecessor to the Animal Kingdom theme park in the middle of Bay Lake) and River Country (the world’s first themed water park), didn’t arrive until ’74 and ’76, respectively (and have since both been closed, incidentally).

With construction slowly creeping across Disney World, the need quickly became apparent for a common ground for all the visitors, locals, and, even, the residents that were expected to be living on-property, in the form of such dwellings as Celebration, Florida (which has long since been spun off into its own municipality). Taking its cue from the modern shopping malls that were, at the time, only 50-years-old, Disney crafted the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village in 1975. It was quaint, laid-back, and not destined to last long at all.

By ’77, Disney executives realized that grand hotels were the way of the future, not more-or-less permanent residences – even Epcot would be retooled from the living, working “city of the future” model that Walt himself envisioned in the ‘60s to a standard theme park in ’82. (And the idea of either a moderate or value hotel wouldn’t manifest itself until the late ‘80s/early ‘90s.) Since vacationers are primarily interested in souvenirs as opposed to amenities, the area was renamed the Walt Disney World Village and played up the merchandise angle heavily.

That rebranding lasted longer, but Disney soon became taken with an obsession that has lasted to this day (and has been the total rationale behind the company’s recent NextGen initiative): preventing guests from leaving the resort for any reason whatsoever. It became increasingly obvious that patrons were doing just that starting in the late ‘70s and progressing all throughout the ‘80s, absconding to Orlando’s Church Street Station to visit the area’s vast collection of nightclubs and bars. Disney needed an “adult playground” of its own, and in 1989, it got just that: Pleasure Island, an addition to the Village where 18-and-overs could celebrate New Year’s Eve every single night of the year.

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To commemorate the occasion, the area was once again rechristened, this time to Disney Village Marketplace.

Enter Universal

While it worked – Pleasure Island ended up becoming the de facto hangout for tourists and locals alike – it didn’t last for long, either. In 1993, Universal debuted its new CityWalk expansion over at Universal Studios Hollywood, taking elements from both Church Street and the Disney Village Marketplace and infusing them with a hipper, more modern ethos. It was so successful, the company announced that it would also be opening up a CityWalk chapter at its Universal Studios Florida location in ‘99 as part of its overall Universal Orlando Resort expansion. Disney World guests would once again be tempted to leave Eden.

There was also the hugely growing influx of guests for Disney to consider. By the mid-‘90s, Walt Disney World had finally started to come into its own, consisting of three theme and three water parks, with their attendant hotels nearby and a seventh planned park (Animal Kingdom, which opened in ‘98) down the road. The new external threat and the building internal pressure required a new outlet, and Disney obliged: it merged the Village Marketplace and Pleasure Island sectors together, greatly expanded the number of stores and restaurants on-hand, and rebranded it all as Downtown Disney in ‘97.

This time, it didn’t succeed. CityWalk became the after-hours destination for all Orlando denizens almost overnight – a mantle which it has maintained to this day, 15 years later. With demand dwindling away to nothing, Disney finally threw in the towel, shutting down Pleasure Island’s several comedy and nightclubs in 2008. (Though, for the record, the company refused to acknowledge that low attendance was to blame; instead, it stated that guests simply asked for more family-friendly venues, and it was, of course, happy to oblige.)

In keeping with post-Walt practice, the buildings weren’t demolished or (immediately) renovated – they were simply boarded up and abandoned, not unlike the aforementioned Discovery Island and River Country.

Springin’ to Disney Springs

With a main section of its Downtown Disney complex dead in the water and a goodly number of its customers jumping ship for their nighttime excursions, Disney has made several attempts to revitalize or otherwise revamp the area over the past six years. Only a number of these have been made public, but each, of course, was announced with much fanfare, whether it be Flamingo Crossings (which was actually intended to be a second Downtown Disney located across at the other side of the property) or Hyperion Wharf. All died very quiet, behind-closed-doors deaths.

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Until March 14, 2013, when a back-to-the-drawing-board expansion called Disney Springs was announced. The multi-year, opening-in-phases project, which is already under construction, will not only replace the discarded Pleasure Island, it’ll double the number of overall tenants (to 150 – blowing CityWalk’s lineup out of the water) and establish a new, “waterfront town” theme intended to grab all demographics, as opposed to just the nightlife crowd.

The company has been promising a mix of Disney and third-party outlets, including a balance of original creations and national chains, that will be connected via “open-air promenades, meandering springs, and waterfront charm.” Obviously, the adults-only crowd is now just one of a multitude, including the ever-more-important Disney Princess subset.

So far, though much of the Disney Springs project remains unofficial, it seems that Disney is keeping its word, with the latest rumor holding that none other than Apple will be making its presence felt at the new district, and in a major way – it’ll open the world’s biggest Apple Store (yes, even bigger than the one in Amsterdam). With an Observatory purportedly in the works along with food trucks (hello, Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck!) – not to mention, of course, all the concept art floating around – Disney Springs does, indeed, hold a lot of promise for all future Disney World visitors.

The question remains, though: how will it stack up to CityWalk, which is also getting its own (mini) expansion, one that should be fully complete at the same time that Springs opens its final phase? And the corollary: how will the black swan of the flock, the Orlando Eye, impact either of the grappling titans?

That’s where the story gets really interesting.

Next installment…

Rumor SPOTLIGHT for January 3, 2014: CityWalk 2.0 vs. Disney Springs vs. the Orlando Eye

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The post Rumor SPOTLIGHT for December 27, 2013: The legacy of Downtown Disney and the future of Disney Springs appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Perhaps the most iconic building in the San Francisco backlot is the Ghirardelli factory. A real icon in the Bay area itself, its Ghiradelli sign towers atop the building, visible from locations throughout the park (unfortunately, in more recent years, trees have grown to cover much of it). The sign has been replicated multiple times in many Ghirardelli chocolate shops throughout the country, and yet USF’s sign does not adorn any shop at all — it exists on top of a facade, purely to represent the famous Ghirardelli Square and one-time factory.

After entering the San Francisco area, and being greeted by the Ghirardelli clock tower, the Richter Burger Co. is hard to miss. This quick-service location really lays on the theming to match the area in which it is located. In fact, the entire San Francisco area heavily pulls from the 1974 movie “Earthquake” and the natural phenomenon itself. The movie “Earthquake” is considered to be one of the very first movies in the natural disaster genre, inspiring a linage of films that seems to grow every year. The menu at Richter Burger Co. has straight-forward selections named to match the theming, such as “After Shock” and “the Fault Line”. But the theme goes beyond cheesy names for cheeseburgers and such. Indeed, guests must only step one foot inside the doors and look to the right, and they’ll set eyes on a replica of the fallen statue of geologist Louis Agassiz. This statue became a favorite landmark when it tumbled down during the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, landing headfirst into the ground.

Located across from Richter Burger Co. is the Wharfside Cannery. This brick beauty is a replica of The Cannery on San Francisco Bay, which in the early 1900’s was recognized as the largest fruit and vegetable canning plant in the world. Along with The Cannery, many other less famous canneries also occupied the city, allowing the fresh catches of the day to be preserved, canned, and shipped efficiently. Many of the canneries no longer operate in the real San Francisco area and have been repurposed as dining and retail outlets.

You will also find the area’s public restrooms here. Restrooms aren’t always a big talking point, but these are. As you approach the area, take time to notice the props and theming here. Resembling a break area for the cannery, there are details on the bulletin board, such as a newspaper clipping from 1974, the year the movie “Earthquake” was released. Take time to check out the time cards as well, marked June 23, 1974, the day the San Francisco Giants battled the Dodgers in the aforementioned newspaper clipping. The time cards also have names of Universal Studios’ members of management.

Next to the Wharfside Cannery, you will be in the heart of the San Francisco area. This is where the various modes of transportation, particularly the cable car, become a very strong presence. Throughout this area you can find references to Ferries & Cliff House Railway. This company was one of the largest cable car and transportation companies in San Francisco.

What would a representation of the City by the Bay be without a lovely waterfront? That is exactly what you’ll find here in the San Francisco backlot. Whether you chose to grab a cold beverage at Chez Alcatraz, bravely get a picture with Bruce the Shark (formerly of JAWS attraction fame), or dine al fresco at Lombard’s Seafood Grille, the waterfront of this area is a very lovely spot. In particular, the exterior of Lombard’s Seafood Grille replicates the buildings in San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf, while the restaurant’s interior is designed to have the look of a 1980’s laboratory used by a fictitious San Francisco-based marine biologist, Louis Lombard. (The name Lombard most likely comes from Lombard Street, another famous San Francisco landmark.) And of course, you can’t miss the replica of the famous Fisherman’s Wharf sign.

Cruising along the waterfront, it’s difficult to ignore the watercraft docked here. Some these boats are used for maintaining and accessing the elaborate machinery that brings Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular to life; others harken back to the 1990’s Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular end-of-day show at USF; and yet others promote a relatively new partnership between Universal and Donzi. While enjoying the breeze coming off the waterfront, be sure to look up. On the top of Richter’s Burger Co., you can spot the San Francisco Cordage company sign. This refers to Tubbs Cordage Company, founded in San Francisco as the first manufacturer of rope on the Pacific Coast (rope being an essential tool for the burgeoning commercial fishing industry in San Francisco’s early history).

While exploring the San Francisco backlot, I noticed something with a significant date on it; something I never noticed before. A rusty red control valve near the marina, with the year 1989 on it, sits unassumingly. The valve caught my eye because it is one of the few objects openly visible in the park that shows the year the park was built. I also took a moment to notice the cable car tracks and the circular turnabout. Sure, there aren’t any actual cable cars in the park, but this detail adds more richness to this area.

One of my favorite San Francisco landmarks is not as prominent as it was during the park’s early years. In actual San Francisco, The Buena Vista opened in 1916, on the first floor of a boarding house. In 1952, it became famous for creating the first Irish Coffee (hot coffee with Irish whiskey topped with cold whipped cream) served in the United States. This cafe and bar still operates today in its original location, serving classic cocktails, coffee drinks, and simple food. Unfortunately, the replica of The Buena Vista has now been taken over by a beer, pretzel & flavored nut cart, which blocks the window display depicting the cafe scene. During my research visit, I snuck behind the cart to peer into the windows to see the cafe scene and the Irish Coffee neon light (which is no longer lit). You too can view these sights by going behind the cart, as long as you’re willing to get a strange look or two.

As my visit to the San Francisco backlot came to an end, I sought out signs of the former Amity Island (this area, prior to January 2012, was labeled as “San Francisco / Amity” in USF’s guidemap). The most visible feature is the Amity Island Lobster Company tower.

As the new London / Diagon Alley area comes to life, it is easy to wonder what will happen to the few remnants of the Amity area. I walked along the waterfront and around the side of the San Francisco Pastry Company. In almost perfect symbolism, I snapped a picture of a lovely, little window labeled “Amity Shipfitters and Riggers”. Caught in the reflection was construction of the London / Diagon Alley area.

As Universal Studios Floria continues to evolve, the San Francisco backlot area sits in quite a unique position. One of the park’s original areas will now neighbor the park’s newest and most innovative area, a perfect comparison of the park’s past with its brilliant future.  

Did you enjoy this article? Then you’ll definitely want to see all of the UOR history blog posts on Orlando Informer, including:

• Hooray for Hollywood: A fascinating exploration of the themes, facades & history of USF’s Hollywood backlot
• Empire state of mind: Tour the incredible treasures & history of USF’s New York backlot
• From MEN IN BLACK to Springfield USA: The sci-fi & silly details of USF’s World Expo

USF San Francisco backlot – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

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The post The City by the Bay: Dive deep in the themes & inspiration for USF’s San Francisco backlot appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Universal Orlando is recognized around the world for their collection of first-class attractions. Unfortunately, as we all know, to make room for new attractions sometimes old ones have to be replaced. Over the years we’ve seen attractions that we hold near to our hearts disappear from Universal Studios Florida, the original theme park at Universal Orlando. In this week’s poll we take a look at the most popular lost attractions:

JAWS and the Amity backlot of Universal Studios Florida is the most recent area to close. Jaws gave it’s last voyage on January 2, 2012 to make room for the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley expansion. On the JAWS ride, guests would hop aboard a ship with the world-famous skippers to explore the wonderful Amity Island. But things took a turn for the worst when JAWS makes his presence known and its kill or be killed! This attraction thrilled guests until its closing, a true classic among park goers.

Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies was a mix of a 3-D movie and live action show. Anthony Perkins, who played Norman Bates in Psycho, was the narrator. During the show guests experienced scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and other movies. The classic shower scene from Psycho was a key point in this attraction. In January 2004 Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies gave it’s last scream to make way for Shrek 4D.

Kongfrontation gave guests an eye-to-eye encounter with a massive King Kong animatronic. Riders climbed aboard an ariel tram and went above the streets of New York City on the run from King Kong. There was plenty of destruction to see, courtesy of Kong, as riders tried to escape his path. Thankfully guests eventually made their way to safety and out of the city, where they were given the opportunity for a King Kong photo op. Kongfrontation closed in September of 2002 and was replaced by Revenge of the Mummy.

Back to the Future: The Ride was a simulator attraction based on the Back to the Future film franchise. Park guests were asked by Doc Brown to be volunteers as part of a time travel experiment. Riders boarded a DeLorean ride vehicle and soon found themselves in a crazy adventure across time, in hopes of capturing the movie’s villain, Biff. Back to the Future’s last time travel adventure was in March of 2007; it was replaced by The Simpsons Ride, which opened in May 2008.

Nickelodeon Studios was both a family attraction and working production studios that was with Universal from the beginning. Double Dare, GUTS and All That are just a few of the classic Nickelodeon shows that were filmed on-site. Sometimes guests were allowed inside to be a part of these show’s studio audience. There was a 40-minute behind the scenes tour that took park guests through various Nickelodeon sets and offered a look into the different production areas — and if you were lucky, you sometimes got a glimpse of your favorite Nick stars! Nickelodeon Studios permanently closed in 2005 and is now home to Blue Man Group.

We all have our favorite memories of past attractions, so now we want to know: if you had the power…

[socialpoll id=”15097″]

Upset your favorite wasn’t available as an option? Please tell us in the comments!

And after you’ve voted, here are a few fun blog posts to check out:

Remembering Universal history through memorabilia (plus, how to find the best stuff)

Nickelodeon Studios: A cherished history & our hope for its return

Rumor round-up: King Kong returns to USF & more

View all of our blog posts tagged with “UOR history”

Last week’s poll: The best place to party in Orlando? With 46 out of 73 votes, Universal CityWalk wins. I guess we should have expected that! View all of our reader polls

The post Reader poll: If you could, which closed USF attraction would you bring back? appeared first on Orlando Informer.

One of my favorite parts of Universal/Islands is the music played within the parks. Universal generally plays music from the movies that they feature within their park. Islands takes things to an entirely different level by having their own soundtrack for each of their six islands. I have been on a search for the music from within the parks for years. I wanted to have that magical feeling while away from what I consider to be my second home, but I found little to nothing on the Internet for help. Recently I dug a bit deeper to find out some information regarding the music played at Islands of Adventure.

In 1999, when Islands of Adventure opened its gates, along with it came a soundtrack featuring the music from each of its islands (prior to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter). There were two editions released, one which featured twenty songs and another ‘Special Edition’ (which came free if you purchased an annual pass) which featured only six songs.

In 2000, Universal re-released the longer edition with additional songs:  Island Skipper Tours, The Force of Storm, Seuss Landing Quartet, and The Flying Unicorn.

When I heard about all of this, I instantly began searching for a copy for myself. I was wildly disappointed when the only copies I could find on eBay or Amazon started at $60. The soundtrack is not in iTunes and is not available for MP3 download. Digging a bit deeper, YouTube became my search engine where the entire soundtrack was located. Twenty-four songs are featured on a playlist (twenty-three from the 2000 release and one additional song that was cut from the original 1999 and Special Edition release), and while they may not be in order and a few are incorrectly named, it’s absolutely amazing. The music brings you back to Islands like nothing else can. Here is a tune I bet you’ll recognize…

[youtube_video]5qS763EI1Nk[/youtube_video]

Photos may make you recall your trip, mementos bought in the park may remind you of your favorite ride, but the music makes you feel as though you are walking island to island without a care in the world.

To take a listen for yourself, here’s the full playlist.

Below are the playlists of each of the three soundtracks:

1999 Release:
1. “The Call to Adventure / Main Theme” 2:50
2. “Confisco’s Grill” 3:22
3. “Ocean Trader Market” 2:47
4. “Welcome to Seuss Landing” 3:31
5. “The Cat in the Hat” 3:09
6. “Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-Pendous” 3:39
7. “The Lost City” 4:37
8. “Sinbad Bazaar” 2:56
9. “Merlin Woods Plaza” 4:22
10. “Jurassic Park Calypso” 2:54
11. “Camp Jurassic” 4:20
12. “Thunder Falls Terrace” 3:24
13. “Toon Walk” 4:04
14. “The Wacky World of Jay Ward” 3:23
15. “Popeye’s Sweethaven” 2:13
16. “The Funny Business” 2:00
17. “Marvel SuperHero Island Main Street” 2:47
18. “Doctor Doom” 2:31
19. “Banner’s Science Park” 2:07
20. “The Adventure Lives On” 3:39

1999 Special Edition Release:
1. “The Call to Adventure / Main Theme” 2:50
2. “The Cat in the Hat” 3:09
3. “Sindbad Bazaar” 2:56
4. “Jurassic Park Calypso” 2:53
5. “The Funny Business” 2:00
6. “Banner Science Park” 2:06

Additional songs added to the 2000 release:
“The Flying Unicorn” 2:35
“The Force of Storm” 2:43
“Seuss Landing Quartet” 2:21
“Skipper Island Tours” 3:26
(“The Funny Business” was cut from this soundtrack.)

I have listened to the playlist at least 10-15 times after discovering it. My personal favorite is the “The Call to Adventure” which is the main theme of Islands when you walk in, but the entire CD is phenomenal. While I may not be paying $60 for my own copy, I’m sure to be asking for one for an upcoming birthday or holiday.

If you are interested in buying a copy and want a specific one, be wary! Be sure to double-check with the seller which edition they are selling and how many songs are featured on the disk. You don’t want to be disappointed if you are expecting twenty to twenty-three songs and the six song edition arrives. Also, always keep an eye out for additional copies added to eBay and Amazon as I have seen many copies taken down/added within the past few weeks. Enjoy!

This is the very first post from our newest contributor, Ally. I want to take this opportunity to welcome her to the OI contributor team. We look forward to sharing your experiences and insights with our readers!

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The post The soundtrack to your adventure: Listen to Universal’s Islands of Adventure music right now appeared first on Orlando Informer.

But there has been no (large-scale) movement to upgrade and integrate the final critical section of the themed experience: the transition back out into the everyday world of the park, with its blistering sun and throngs of people and parked cars. What nearly 60 years of theme parks have given us is leaving the fun and magic of the ride to immediately be dumped into a gift shop; indeed, exiting through retail has become such a ubiquitous phenomenon that books and even companies have been named after it. There has to be more to offer here.

But what, exactly? It’s admittedly easy – or, at the very least, obvious – to discern what the role of the first two areas of attractions should be and, from there, how to improve upon them to maximize guest enjoyment. The transition back is, by its very nature, more nebulous – what is the fundamental goal, let alone its mechanics of integration?

An early – and still-developing – school of thought on this is to theme-to-distract, which Disney in particular has been spearheading at Magic Kingdom: “play” musical instruments while waiting to venture into the Haunted Mansion or unleash your children in a giant playground to kill time waiting for your restaurant-style buzzer to go off for Dumbo. And, indeed, Universal has picked up this idea and run with it for Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, which allows guests to engage in a color-saturated dance party with costumed MCs and computer-generated overlays on the screens around you after exiting the ride. (Don’t worry – the gift shop is still there, patiently awaiting riders to finish busting their moves.)

These approaches, of course, aren’t entirely superfluous in terms of their theming; Dumbo, for instance, did prominently feature a big-top circus, and the Despicable Me characters did dance their way over to the credit sequence. But there still remains the question of how these activities advance the story, that mysterious and driving force of any themed enterprise. How do visitors walk out of these areas better understanding the characters or the world or theme of the universe they had just spent up to an hour or two of their lives inhabiting?

While waiting in line for Disaster Transport, a somewhat unique – and thoroughly underwhelming – enclosed bobsled rollercoaster at Cedar Point here in Ohio, a friend of mine noted the completely unenthusiastic employee stuck with manning a barebones gift stand that sold ‘80s-style glow-in-the-dark paraphernalia. While we lamented her job – Disaster Transport should have been closed some 10 or 15 years ago, and not just this past summer – the sight did instigate a rather interesting conversation. Why don’t more designers implement gift shops before the ride instead of at the end? There’s no better definition of a captive audience, one that moves sluggishly along predetermined lanes as opposed to being unleashed in timed torrents to zigzag randomly through the store. Yes, baggage considerations must play a role here (particularly if we’re talking about such stringent rides as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey), but if Disney and Universal can implement a system that delivers packages to the park’s front gates or, even, to your hotel room clear across the resort, why can’t they route a customer’s package to the other end of the ride building, on your way out the door? And while waiting to pick up your package, why not then have the chance to soak up some last-minute theming – music, audio-animatronic figures, actors, even movie clips? It would be the difference between a kiss goodnight and being booted out of the bed.

In story terms, this after-the-ride narrative space would be called the epilogue or tag, a brief chapter that puts a cap on the plot or a final chance to say goodbye to the characters. Brendan Fraser’s bit with the cup of coffee at the end of Revenge of the Mummy would feel much better placed in the transition rather than being forced into a somewhat awkward position in the ride proper. Having a gaggle of reporters and groupies swooning over you, taking your picture (which, of course, could be purchased at the gift shop a bit further on) after finishing the music video that is Hollywood Rip Ripe Rockit would be sublime. And just think what Harry and friends could do at the Wizarding World…

Call this exiting through narrative.

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The post Exiting through narrative: How theme parks can improve an attraction’s final moments appeared first on Orlando Informer.

It’s been a lot of fun presenting the 20 years of changes I’ve seen at Universal Orlando over the last couple of weeks, and now I finish with part three. Before we talk about Islands of Adventure, let’s quickly look at some old Universal tickets.

Did you know Universal Orlando Resort has actually had its name changed a couple of times? With the addition of CityWalk, on-site hotels and Islands of Adventure in 1999, Universal became Universal Studios Escape. Like many people back then, we thought that Islands of Adventure was part of Universal Studios Florida proper, so we were surprised to learn that we needed to buy a 2-park ticket to go to both parks. Because people were confused, the resort was simply named Universal Orlando Resort in 2001. However, that same confusion seems to have caught up with Universal again with the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s one of the comments I see on different Potter social sites and will give the writer the correct information – the Wizarding World is the newest island within IOA.

Now the question is, how much more confusing will it be once Harry Potter can be found at both parks? I can see it now: “What do you mean I need a 2-park ticket to see all of the Wizarding World?” But that issue is for future posts. Back to our retrospective…

For several years, beginning with our first annual passes in 1999, when you presented your paper ticket your picture was taken and a plastic credit card type of pass was issued. I wish they’d bring them back as paper can so easily be damaged, especially if left in a pocket on a water ride or when the clothing goes into the wash.

Universal’s name changes are also represented on the tickets I have saved: The first is actually my ticket from Halloween Horror Nights in 1999; the next two are from 2005 and 2012, respectively.

Now let’s take a look at the changes in Islands of Adventure since its May 28, 1999 opening. The celebration of Grinchmas in Seuss Landing began in December of 2000. The streets are full of merriment and music, the Whos singing in several performances of a stage show named for the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and it’s a lot of fun for the whole family. Until 2005, the Grinch actually had his own Lair in the ground-level attraction that soon after became the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. I have a 2001 picture of the lines waiting to get into the lair (they were always LONG), with the queue decorated to look just like the lair in the movie. At the end you could visit with the Grinch in a Santa costume and have your photo taken. Although there was no celebration in 2006, the photo op with the Mean One moved to a gift shop across from the Caro-Seuss-el. I so wish they’d figure out a way to bring back the Lair. Now, as then, the actor who plays the role always treats our daughter with his bigger heart while blasting barbs at everyone else with his smaller.

The skyline at Islands of Adventure really changed in 2010 with the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! (You only need to check here on OrlandoInformer.com for more on the newest island in IOA.)

Dueling Dragons roller coaster became Dragon Challenge and the junior coaster, Flying Unicorn, was converted into Flight of the Hippogriff. Same rides, different embellishments. After two incidents last year when guests were injured by flying debris, the Dragon trains are no longer able to challenge each other, but the coasters are still a spectacular ride.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man had a major overhaul this year and the attraction now has highest HD resolution available, 4k high definition. The new films are amazing and a ride you do NOT want to miss!

We’ve seen many rides and shows come and go over the years, so there is no doubt there have been a lot of changes to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, with more to come. Although we have recently mourned the loss of Jaws, we did the same when Kongfrontation became the Revenge of the Mummy and Back to the Future morphed into The Simpsons Ride. Yet these new attractions have become hits for theme park lovers, and I am looking forward to the next generation of alterations — especially to the Wizarding World. They keep my interest elevated in returning to both parks and, like others, we revisit as much as possible.

If you haven’t enjoyed these parks in several years, it’s time you book a vacation and see for yourself. “I’ve been there” is no longer an excuse!

You can view part one or part two of this series, or view all of the posts on our blog tagged with UOR history.

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The post 20 years of changes at Universal Orlando: A pictorial history – part three appeared first on Orlando Informer.

As I continue my tour around Universal Orlando, my photos show a significant difference between 1992 and the present. I’m so glad I saved our printed pictures from so long ago! It has really been fun to see how Universal has developed since Universal Studios Florida first opened in 1990.

One of our daughter’s favorite rides is Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, which opened when the entire children’s area inside Universal Studios was renamed Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone in 1999.

Trees and vegetation have matured, but there is a building missing in the 2012 picture – the old Hard Rock Cafe. Although it had been empty since 1999, it was not demolished until 2011.

The large painted sets of the New York Public Library and skyline and the faux Guggenheim Museum are impressive, especially when viewed from a distance, but the subway tunnel is showing its age. It had a bronze finish when we first saw it in 1992; now has a beautiful green patina. The most obvious addition is the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit track jutting out of the sets.

The longer view of the street is even more spectacular. In the 2012 photo, you see the entrance for Twister on the left and another view of the Rockit track. Until the debut of the Universal Music Plaza, bands performed on the steps of the library.

The Boneyard was a part of the Backlot Studio Tour, but you could also walk around all the vehicles and objects used in many of Universal’s productions. But with the building of the Universal Music Plaza stage and viewing area, even more renowned bands are able to play for Universal guests during Mardi Gras and other special events. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit also gets its share of spectators even when bands are not performing.

Characters have also changed how they look. Back in 2001 this guy used to hang around the Villas at Gardens of Allah; now Shrek hangs out in front of his own attraction, Shrek 4-D, which opened in 2003.

You can view part one or part three of this series, or view all of the posts on our blog tagged with UOR history.

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The post 20 years of changes at Universal Orlando: A pictorial history – part two appeared first on Orlando Informer.

We didn’t take a lot of pictures because film and prints cost a bunch back in the day, but I did recently find a few of them from our first visit. I decided it would be fun to go back to the same spots and take new digital photos to see how Universal Studios Florida has changed in 20 years. We have been Annual Passholders for 14 of those years, so we also have pictures from our first year of having passes, 1999-2000, and many since.

I truly dislike the phrases “I’ve been there” or “I’ve seen it” when it comes to going to theme parks. Yet, when we ask visiting friends to go with us just one day, these are the phrases I most often hear. There is NO WAY anyone who visited Universal Studios a few years ago can say that they’ve experienced everything! I honestly wish I were able to treat all of these people to a second visit so they could see for themselves the changes over the years and how the park has expanded. Universal Studios is more fun now that it was in 1992, or even 1999! So, I’ve put together the few photos I have from 1992 with their 2012 images.

Part one: Central Park & World Expo

We stopped in Central Park to give our daughter her lunch in 1992. At the time we had to carry her prepared meals with us (she can’t chew) so we enjoyed this grassy knoll as a picnic spot.

We could see completely across the lagoon as the trees were all small and views were not obstructed. It is one of the prettiest spots in Universal Studios and I don’t understand why we rarely see visitors make use of it. We also took pictures from this area toward Lombard’s Seafood Grill and New York.

Opening as the Animal Actors stage in 1990, this attraction became Animal Planet Live in 2001 but was re-named Animal Actors on Location in 2006. Later in 1998, Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone was opened in the area behind the Animal Actors show. This is how the stage looked in 1992 and now in 2012:

I would have loved to have taken the picture from the same spot, but the area is now for electric scooter parking.

On the Studio Tour we went by the working set for Swamp Thing: The Series, a TV show that ran for three seasons beginning in 1990. MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack now occupies the land.

The Studio Tour was discontinued in the fall of 1995, but on the tram we also saw Universal’s first on-site motel, The Bates, was used in Psycho IV: The Beginning. It was also used for the Psycho Path Maze during Halloween Horror Nights until it was demolished in 1995 to make way for A Day in the Life with Barney. This park adjoining the Barney Theater is also a beautiful spot to rest.

Needless to say, every time we go to the Universal parks we notice something new, and it’s one of the biggest reasons why we continue to be Annual Passholders. The next time someone says they’ve been to Universal Studios but not recently, I’ll pull up this article and show them HOW the place has changed, and then challenge them to see for themselves. You should do the same!

You can continue onto part two of this series, or view all of the posts on our blog tagged with UOR history.

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