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Park News - (11/18/09) A photo update from Universal Studios Hollywood has been posted to Universal Insider.
    (11/9/09) A new construction update from Universal Studios Hollywood has been added to Westcoaster this week. This includes a look at the King Kong construction site, HHN cleanup, Backlot reconstruction and even a peek at the new Samba brazilian steakhouse that just opened in Citywalk this week. You can see some good footage of the grand opening festivities of Samba embedded below.

    (10/30/09) A new update from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights has been posted to Amusement Insider.
    (10/15/09) A new private studio tour concept is being tested out at USH it seems, where small groups are taken into the heart of the studio and allowed to walk around some of their favorite set areas. Read more here.
    (10/9/09) NBC Universal has updated the old Vision Plan and given it a new name this week… now calling it the NBC Universal Evolution Plan. The $3 billion long-term plan around the Hollywood studio property focuses on upgrading and creating new production facilities, providing office space, bringing a new hotel to the property and continuing to provide vitality to Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and CityWalk.
    Studio plans include adding 308,000 square-feet or new production facilities, representing both new and relocated outdoor sets, sound stages, producer bungalows, a screening theater, a rehearsal hall and a film vault. Another 437,000 square-feet of production and post-production space is also planned along with 495,000 sq-ft of new modern office space, including a new Child Care Center and improved parking.
    The plans for the theme park and CityWalk include 146,000 sq-ft of attractions space at Universal Studios Hollywood and 39,000 sq-ft feet of retail/dining space at CityWalk. There is also a possible plan to replace the current amphitheater with a smaller venue to make room for a new 500-room on-site hotel at CityWalk. Be sure to check out the new official Evolution Plan website too. Compare the map on the wrong of the Evolution page to the old map we still have posted from the Vision Plan and there are lots of small differences here and there in the size and shape of some of the buildings in the backlot.
    (9/9/09) A source has confirmed to us that, for now at least, the plan is for the Creature From the Black Lagoon show to return to the stage following the end of Halloween Horror Nights.
    (9/7/09) We’ve heard a rumor that Universal is considering adding a few extra upgrades to Revenge of the Mummy sometime between next year and when the Transformers ride opens. This would also possibly involve creating a better looking Egyptian themed façade over the front of the existing soundstage building, to create a more themed exterior to the attraction as well, as it has always kind of stood out being across the path from the highly themed Jurassic Park structure. Given that Transformers is also going in behind the Mummy building, I would assume that they may give it a good looking exterior as well this time around. Anyone know more?

2010 - King Kong - Confirmed - (9/7/09) A reader (thanks Allen W.) sends word that Universal Hollywood has put up a promo poster near the Collapsing Bridge that is promoting “Survive Skull Island: KING KONG” in “360º - 3D” which will open Summer 2010. They managed to only get one quick picture of it
    (7/27/09) Peter Jackson revealed a bit more about the new King Kong attraction coming to the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot during an interview at the Comic-Con in San Diego this past week. The experience will be in 3D, though I’m not quite sure how they will give out 3D glasses in the middle of the backstage tour, and show off a dynamic fight between Kong and a couple of T-Rexes.
    According to the information posted at AintItCoolNews the tram will slide into a dark room which will suddenly thrust the riders in the middle of the action by surrounding the tram on all sides with 8 projectors and an army of 4D effects that will blast you with sound, wind, fire, foul smells and dino slobber.
    (5/20/09) According to a news report filed at Variety and Deadline Hollywood, Universal will open a new King Kong themed attraction in 2010. Even better, the article reports that the new version of Kong will be some kind of “ground-breaking 4-D multi-sensory marvel”. In kind of a confusing concept, the story claims that guests will put on 3D glasses as the tram enters a large soundstage and through projection effects, you are taken to Skull Island, as seen in the Peter Jackson film. Kong isn’t the only threat as guests will encounter giant bats and other dangers before they find themselves trapped in the middle of a colossal battle between Kong and a huge T-Rex.
    (4/1/09) A Screamscape source claims that Universal may make some kind of announcement regarding the future rebuilding of a Kong themed attraction as early as this May, if not later in the summer.
    (3/29/09) While I’ve got nothing firm on this yet, one reader has contacted us to say that they’ve heard that early approval to built a new “Kong” themed attraction for the tram tour has been given, though the new one would be different from the old one in more than just the building layout. Anyone know more?
    (2/5/09) According to a Screamscape source the plans to bring King Kong back to Universal Studios Hollywood are still alive, however the earliest we may see the big ape back in action would be 2011. The plans for the new Kong attraction are not finalized yet, though it has been decided that this time around the tram will drive straight through the building as it does with Earthquake, rather than make a giant U-Turn like before.

2011 - Transformers - Confirmed - (11/18/09) For those wondering just when the Special Effects Stages and Backdraft will close, you may have noticed that Labor Day has come and gone and they are still open.  Yes, we’ve heard that the closing dates for those attractions has been pushed back a bit to sometime in 2010, which makes me wonder if the opening date of Transformers has also been bumped back as well to 2012.  Anyone know more?
    (1/1/09) While we haven’t heard a peep about the Transformers ride since it was announced, one source did mention a few new details. From the sound of things, my earlier suspicion that this could be an off-shoot of the Spiderman ride system along with 3D projection technology could have been right on the money.  Now I’ve got to wonder if they will fully demolish the existing soundstage buildings for the new ride or if they would try reuse any of the existing structure. One extra comment made was that the new ride may have an extensive use of fire effects at one point, which the old Backdraft building was designed to handle with all that extra air-circulation equipment on the roof.
    (10/21/08) The big news today from Universal Studios and Resorts World at Sentosa was the unveiling of the plans to build a major theme park mega-attraction based on the Transformers film series that will open first at the new Universal Studios Singapore theme park, to be followed by a copy at Universal Studios Hollywood by 2011. While there are no solid details about the exact ride system itself, I’ve got to wonder if this may be the next evolution use of the ride system used on the award-winning Spiderman dark rides in Orlando and Japan. Certainly the omission of those two popular markets for the attraction does raise an eyebrow, though Orlando currently has it’s hands full with Harry Potter. Still... if there was any other movie theme that would really warrant the use of the Spiderman ride system, Tranformers would be it, allowing for a mix of real in your face special effects mixed with giant 3D projection technology to bring the giant battle-bots to life.
    According to the article in Variety, the Hollywood version of the ride will replace Backdraft and the Special Effects Soundstages attraction with construction set to begin ‘after Labor Day”, which I assume is Labor Day in 2009.
    Now for some quotes from the press release as well as an impressive piece of concept artwork.
    “The attraction will fuse 3D-HD media, mega special effects and stunning robotics with a ride system that will transform perceptions of theme park experiences. The rides are scheduled to make their debuts first at Universal Studios Singapore and then at Universal Studios Hollywood, both prior to summer, 2011.”
    In "Transformers," Earth’s humans are caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between the friendly Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations.
    Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts, said: "Transformers will be a jewel in our collection of world-class rides based on great movies. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Hasbro, DreamWorks, director Michael Bay and the film’s executive producer, Steven Spielberg, who has been responsible for so many of our signature rides and attractions."
    Tan Hee Teck, Chief Executive Officer of Resorts World at Sentosa, the mega resort that is home to Universal Studios Singapore, said: "It is great that Asia will be the launch pad for the first Transformers attraction. Transformers was introduced to the United States in 1983 but traces its roots to Asia. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron are familiar names to Asian audiences, who grew up with the robot toys and love the movie. When Transformers opens in Universal Studios Singapore in 2011, it will be the first of its kind in the world. We may see a surge of Transformers mania.’’
    Larry Kurzweil, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios Hollywood, said: “Transformers represents a perfect match for our theme park: an exhilarating blockbuster with a great story, clever humor, non-stop action and flawless special effects. It has all the elements necessary to become one of the world’s most exciting theme park rides and a centerpiece attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A." 

The NBC Universal Evolution Plan (Formerly the Vision Plan) -
All Details about the proposed Vision Plan that will trim nearly 125 acres from the famous Universal Studios backlot have been moved to it’s own page.