2020 Holidays at Universal Orlando

[RevFreako]

Any word on interior theming? I assume the Grinch's lair is a lock but most of the other iconic locales I can think of are locked up by Sea World or Gaylord.

I mean, do they use any other properties for Christmas generally? Winter wonderland - Whoville - Mrs. Claus' kitchen for snacks - Santa's workshop. That's four fine rooms.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

That's my question. I'm assuming there's nothing to be done physically beyond the normal maintenance, so what would it take, maybe a dozen Steves working for five months or so, or is it more than that?

I don't think they have any knowlege in house (or if they did they were probably let go) so they'd contract it out, I forget who did the original show but it was contracted out with direction from Entertainment. So you'd have to bring on an outside firm to storyboard, design the show, program it, do video work, test, and deploy. Plus the legal team for any third party music or video. Not impossible but they'd have to start right when the belt tightening started.

Any chance the Grinchmas entrance is getting relocated? IIRC, the Seuss pathway is a little tight.

I'm thinking it might be something else, moving Grinchmas entrace just doesn't make sense.

 

[Tristan]

I'm guessing this is the first-ever holiday-themed tribute store?

 

[Brian G.]

I'm guessing this is the first-ever holiday-themed tribute store?

yes

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

yes

What exactly makes a store a tribute store versus a normal store? The HHN Tribute Store was a Tribute to HHN's of the past no?

I'm also okay if we just choose to call temporary stores tribute stores because the name lends an air of gravitas to the location.

EDIT: Reading what some people are suggesting about the theming, I guess it's a store that toes the line between a store and a queue/house?

 

[Brian G.]

What exactly makes a store a tribute store versus a normal store? The HHN Tribute Store was a Tribute to HHN's of the past no?

I'm also okay if we just choose to call temporary stores tribute stores because the name lends an air of gravitas to the location.

EDIT: Reading what some people are suggesting about the theming, I guess it's a store that toes the line between a store and a queue/house?

A highly-themed store. A “tribute” to the year’s event.

 

[darkridelover]

What the hell is this?
Have fast do you think they will rip out the insides and put in new ones? I am also curious what rooms could be featured...

From what I'm hearing they built the interior of the store inside a mock up and then are transporting it in pieces for a quick changeout.

 

[jarmor]

I'm guessing this is the first-ever holiday-themed tribute store?

Well, technically Halloween is a holiday so. . . lol

 

[Mad Dog]

Great to see Universal thinking outside of the box to try to enhance their covid limited Holiday celebration. :thumbsup:
....................................................................................................."It's A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood" ...Fred Rogers.....third day of beautiful Indian Summer, 70's and sunny, weather here in western Pa.
4 more days like this expected for now. Life is good.

 

[Shinigami]

And here is our answer for the entrance

 

[Shinigami]

Universal just released their plan for the holidays

Universal Orlando announces lineup of entertainment for the 2020 Holiday Season

Universal Orlando is ready to kick off the Holiday season. From November 14 through January 3, 2021, guests can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a slew of new entertainment and celebrations that have been adjusted for guest safety. Returning this year is Christmas in The Wiza

www.insideuniversal.net

 

[Nick]

I guess this is cool if you’ve never been a balloon handler. Lots of the Macy’s people from NYC are normally there to take care of the balloons so maybe they will be there to answer questions and such?

 

[Disneyhead]

Universal just released their plan for for the holidays

Universal Orlando announces lineup of entertainment for the 2020 Holiday Season

Universal Orlando is ready to kick off the Holiday season. From November 14 through January 3, 2021, guests can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a slew of new entertainment and celebrations that have been adjusted for guest safety. Returning this year is Christmas in The Wiza

www.insideuniversal.net

No "Grinchmas". Hmmm.

 

[Coolbfitz]

"Yes, and you say that you can't perform the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular show, despite the fact that you opened Bourne."

All jokes aside, I'm glad they're still trying to make the best of the season.

Also, it seems like the Holiday Tree Hunt brochures are no longer complementary. I'm honestly not surprised though; after the success of the Tree Hunt last year and the Scarecrow Stalk this year, the addition of a participation cost makes sense.

 

[krazyhorrorkid]

Gonna guess some room themes for the Christmas store.
There in the order as they appear as you walk through...

-Room one: Who-Ville
I think they will take advantage of there right holdings of the Grinch and have two dedicated rooms to the property, only because they don't have a super big amount of themes and property's to work with. Not saying that they can't get creative with more generic themes but I do know that they'll represent more well known themes that they have in there arsenal than just simple Christmasy generic ones.

-Room two: Grinch's lair
The second room is gonna be really truly instresting how they could pull it off, are they gonna go and just put up some stills (which is what I expect) or will they go all out. I'm gonna automatically assume this room is the safest guess of all my predictions.

-Room three: Santa's workshop/house
This is the perfect opportunity to continue the use of the treat case they have in there. The room would be themed to Santa's house and TM's would be dressed as Elves selling holiday themed treats in that room. Not really a merch room but a Photo op area with stills and Santa's chair, etc.

-Room four: A tribute to Macy's Christmas parade.
Idk how big or small some of the floats are but maybe they'll fit one in there and sell more of the generic Universal Christmas merchandise here. I could see them telling the story of how the parade originated all together and in the park through placks. I really want to see something dedicated to the parade beside the floats just laying dormant in a Soundstage.

And I am still curious about how Grinchmas will operate... Probably the same plan like all years but with VQ or seat reserving.

Edit: The fate of Grinchmas is unfortunate. And hey, I predicted the reuse of the treat counter before I read the articles. Which is not that hard to see anyway happening anyway.

 

[Jwhee]

Will the giant Christmas tree make an appearance..?

 

[Nick]

Will the giant Christmas tree make an appearance..?

Yes. It is being prepped backstage.

 

[Brian G.]

From November 14 through January 3, 2021, guests can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a slew of new and returning entertainment and celebrations at Universal Orlando @UniversalORL

Universal Orlando announces lineup of entertainment for the 2020 Holiday Season

Universal Orlando is ready to kick off the Holiday season. From November 14 through January 3, 2021, guests can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a slew of new entertainment and celebrations that have been adjusted for guest safety. Returning this year is Christmas in The Wiza

www.insideuniversal.net

 

[Legacy]

No "Grinchmas". Hmmm.

Grinchmas is one of the more expensive shows Universal produces, especially when compared to the length of its run. Combined with the distancing requirements for the audience and lowered capacity, I can understand why they would cut it this year.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

This will be my first year going for the "holidays"(Nov 20-23rd) and I was looking forward to Grinchmas but I understand. Still glad they are doing something!