Universal Studios Heats Up the Summer (and New Maze Chills for Horror Nights)

Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, CA

#FunFilledFriday? #FireworksFriday? #FrightfulFriday? It’s a trio of Universal Studios Hollywood announcements as we play a little catch-up on what news has been coming out. This summer, guests can cool down at the park and enjoy a variety of attractions, such as Jurassic World - The Ride, the Secret Life of Pets ride, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and more. Plus, nighttime entertainment has returned with the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle show.

Speaking of nighttime, next Fourth of July weekend will see fireworks on all three evenings of the long weekend. Live musical performances will also entertain the big crowds, and it’s all part of regular park addition.

Of course, come fall, the nights will cool down to a chilling scare, as Halloween Horror Nights once again takes over the park on select evenings, and Universal announced their third maze yesterday—another Blumhouse catalog in the form of Blumhouse of Horrors. We’ve seen a few of these in the past, serving as a collection of two or three mazes themed to recent Blumhouse movies. This time around, it’s The Black Phone, which just came out today, and Freaky, which came out two years ago. Also, tickets to Halloween Horror Nights are now on sale! As we know, the event brings in plenty of crowds, so make sure you get your spot by purchasing today!

From the press releases:

Universal Studios Hollywood Delivers Nonstop Summer Fun with Its Blockbuster Rides, Attractions and Lands, Including “Jurassic World—The Ride,” “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” and Illumination’s “Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem” and “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!”

Universal City, California – The Best Day in L.A. starts at Universal Studios Hollywood as the popular theme park brings some of the most popular franchises in film history to life and readies for nonstop summer fun with its blockbuster rides and attractions, including the return of “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts TM Castle” in "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”

(Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood.)

As the hottest movies of the year hit the big screen, Universal Studios Hollywood is the only place in L.A. to catch the action after the credits roll and become immersed in one-of-a-kind blockbuster attractions. After watching the epic conclusion of Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World Dominion, which opened as the #1 movie in the world, guests can experience “Jurassic World—The Ride” where they will be caught in the middle of an extraordinary battle between the Indominus rex and her arch-rival, the Tyrannosaurus rex.

Minions continue to run amok at Universal Studios Hollywood as the theme park prepares for the theatrical release of Illumination and Universal Picture’s newest film, Minions: The Rise of Gru, on July 1.

From Monday, June 27 through Sunday, July 17, mischievous Minions will take center stage at Universal Plaza, where guests can meet the newest Minion, Otto, along with fan favorites Jerry and Dave before they set off on an adventure aboard the “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” ride. The Minion activation also features exclusive experiences for guests, including interacting with a 16-foot Minion squishy and engaging in a specially-created Minion-themed game through Sunday, August 14.

Family fun continues on Illumination’s award-winning ride The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” where guests become transformed into stray puppies looking for their forever homes, and within the immersive "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” land. For a sneak peek of an authentic movie and television production studio, guests can get a bird’s eye view on the world-renowned Studio Tour, which now features several electric trams in its current fleet.

Beginning today, “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” returns with a dazzling light and special effects projection display set against the backdrop of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As night falls on Hogsmeade village, guests can enjoy an awe-inspiring spectacle that showcases the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, accompanied by a special musical arrangement based on original scores from the film series.

This summer also sees the return of the “Special Effects Show,” a fast-paced and entertaining behind-the-scenes peek at the world of Hollywood movie-making magic. The Special Effects Show will run daily from Friday, July 1 through Sunday, August 14, then weekends only, beginning Saturday, August 20.

Preparing for a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood to experience the Best Day in L.A. is easy with a series of convenient online tools that range from Universal’s interactive mobile app and website and all-new Discover Universal hub, designed to help maximize trips for the ultimate visit.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter. Admission to Universal CityWalk is free. More information available at www.CityWalkHollywood.com.

Universal Studios Hollywood Extends the July 4th Celebrations All Weekend Long from July 2-4 Along with Spectacular Fireworks Display and Live Music Performances, All Included in the Price of Park Admission

Universal City, California – Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates 4th of July by extending its Independence Day festivities throughout the weekend from Saturday, July 2 – Monday, July 4, inclusive of dazzling nightly fireworks displays, live music performances, specially themed décor and more, all included in the price of admission to the theme park.

From the moment guests walk along the iconic red carpet and enter the theme park, they will be immersed in July 4th festivities from themed décor to the sounds of a fife and drum band. Then, beginning nightly at 9:00 p.m., an elaborate fireworks display will splash across the sky, synchronized to a score of Universal-themed music and patriotic favorites from two locations inside of the theme park.

Universal Studios Hollywood continues to provide endless entertainment with one-of-a-kind blockbuster attractions; from the “Jurassic World—The Ride” mega-attraction inspired by the JURASSIC WORLD film series and featuring a stunningly realistic and fully articulating dinosaur, the Indominus rex, to becoming a stray puppy looking to be adopted on Illumination’s award-winning “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” ride and getting swept up in the excitement as you enroll in Minion training with Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes and the mischievous Minions on Illumination’s “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.”

The non-stop excitement continues as guests visit Springfield, U.S.A. and “The Simpsons Ride™,” take a behind-the-scenes look at an authentic working movie and television production studio along the world-famous Studio Tour, which now features several electric trams, or experience heart-pounding thrills on “Transformers™: The Ride-3D” and “Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride.”

Adding to the summer fun, guests can delight in the popular return of “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle,” featuring an incredible light projection experience, while they enjoy the magical land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™.” The program runs nightly through Sunday, August 14.

Halloween Horror Nights Unleashes “The Horrors of Blumhouse,” An All-New Haunted House Inspired by Blumhouse’s Freaky and Upcoming Supernatural Thriller The Black Phone, Beginning September 2 at Universal Orlando Resort and September 8 at Universal Studios Hollywood

All Tickets Now on Sale for Universal Studios Hollywood, Including the Popular Frequent Fear Pass for Guests to Experience the Scares Again and Again, and Select Tickets and Packages Available for Universal Orlando Resort

Click Here for a Petrifying Look and Here to Purchase Tickets

Universal City, CA & Orlando, FL – Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights features a double dose of terror inspired by the company regarded as the driving force in horror with “The Horrors of Blumhouse” haunted houses which bring to life Blumhouse’s upcoming supernatural thriller The Black Phone and horror-comedy Freaky. The frightening event begins at Universal Orlando Resort on September 2 and at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 8.

“The Horrors of Blumhouse” will transport guests into an alternate dimension where the scares are real and the stakes are life or death. In The Black Phone, which hits theatres June 24, “The Grabber” is a demented magician best known for his sinister trick of making people disappear – permanently. Guests will find themselves trapped in his “fun” house where the sound of ghostly voices whisper hints on how to escape, but guests must tread carefully to outwit and outrun “The Grabber’s” twisted magic. Freaky will challenge guests to outrun serial killer “The Butcher” who has switched bodies with a high school girl after being cursed by The La Dola Dagger, an ancient Aztec blade. Guests will learn firsthand that looks can be deceiving as they encounter the sweet-looking teen who is actually “The Butcher” – and she is determined to hunt for their next victims.

The countdown to the opening of Halloween Horror Nights on Thursday, September 8, begins as all tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood’s terrifying event are now on sale. Tickets purchased online or at the Universal Studios Hollywood front gate provide guests with early event admission and access to select houses, beginning at 6pm each night of Halloween Horror Nights (subject to change). Universal Studios Hollywood offers a variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2pm Day/Night, the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear, which allow guests to experience the scares again and again. Click here for more information about each ticket type and for Terms and Conditions.

(Image courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood.)

A variety of tickets and vacation packages are on sale now for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort, which begins Friday, September 2, and additional ticket products, including Frequent Fear Passes, will be available soon. Guests can now purchase single-night event tickets and a vacation package featuring one-night admission to the event, Universal hotel accommodations and admission to all three Universal Orlando theme parks. Package holders can also take advantage of theme park benefits exclusive to Universal Orlando hotel guests, such as Early Park Admission during the day and access to a dedicated Halloween Horror Nights entry gate at night. Plus, guests can take the scares to the next level by booking event upgrades, including the R.I.P. Tour, Express Pass and the daytime Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour.

Both events will run select nights through Monday, October 31, and more details and haunted houses will be revealed soon. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.