CityWalk Hollywood

[Allen The Actor]

I love that you can see Hogwarts from so many areas! Multiple places on the freeway, parking, from Burbank and WB Studios, the Universal backlot, the entrance, everywhere! Gonna be a new icon for LA!

 

[Alexshow.]

I know it's probably going to be a while; but the corporate side of USH would love to have NBCSports Grill Brew. It does look good considering the odds but who knows.

 

[Aaron]

I'm honestly surprised Saddle Ranch is still at USH. 

 

[William]

Looks like Smashburger should be open next week.

 

[JPLA]

The work on the fountains is quite extensive.  I don't know it it's maintenance or if they'll be all different when done.  Anyone?

Smashburger looks very close to being done but my battery died so no photo.

 

[Jon Fu]

^ They're advertising "new fountains" for what it's worth. I'd be curious what they can do with that area, given the size of that plot of land.

 

[JPLA]

Shoe Palace is inching along, Wetzel's Pretzels is renovating and Jody Maroni's is gone for good.

Large new planter with trees across from Saddle Ranch.  Sorry it's so dark.

 

[JPLA]

Universal giveth...old Things From Another World space is open as studio store.  The crashed spaceship is still up there, too.

And Universal taketh away...much of the older portion is now closed for remodeling.

Looks like progress but toward what I don't know.

 

[William]

Looks like they might be switching out the Minions section of the store for Potter.

 

[Wesker69]

In regards to the walls in front of A&F, it specifically says on the walls that there is a "new" fountain being added.

 

[Freak]

So in case you want to know how Smash Burger is…especially the bacon cheeseburger…..

https://www.youtube.com/embed/igCPFiXTKas?feature=oembed
You're welcome. 

 

[JPLA]

Fountain is coming along.  And the portions of the entrance plaza that are done are looking very nice.  Love the new large planter and additional trees.  Once the pavement is done uniformly it'll look really good.

 

[Wesker69]

What I noticed while up there on Saturday was that it appears the new fountain will actually be a legit fountain. No more flat surface with water blasts... which means, NO MORE STUPID KIDS PLAYING IN SAID FOUNTAIN!  At least that is what it looks like...

 

[Allen The Actor]

What I noticed while up there on Saturday was that it appears the new fountain will actually be a legit fountain. No more flat surface with water blasts... which means, NO MORE STUPID KIDS PLAYING IN SAID FOUNTAIN! At least that is what it looks like...

You must've had a very sad childhood....I was one of those "stupid" kids playing in said fountain a few times when I was very little.... -____-

To bring back some positivity, I think it's because the fountain within Universal Plaza pretty much mimics this during the summer. Also, aesthetically it'll look very nice now.

 

[William]

The Santa Claus meet-and-greet has been temporarily relocated to 5 Towers Plaza while work continues on this new fountain.

 

[Jon Fu]

CityWalk and their sister company NBC4 will hold a special event at 5 Towers Plaza this Friday. More information below:

NBC4 Presents The Wishing Tree at Universal CityWalk, Granting Holiday Wishes to Guests and Viewers Live
 
Visitors and Viewers May Make Wishes, Beginning Friday, November 27
 
Universal City, California – November 23, 2015 – During this joyful season of giving, Universal CityWalk and NBC4 Southern California are collaborating to present the first-ever “The Wishing Tree” event, inviting the public to pay it forward by making a wish for someone deserving.

From Friday, November 27 through Tuesday, December 22, Universal CityWalk visitors may place their wishes for friends and family next to the decorative trees adorning Universal CityWalk’s “5 Towers” plaza.  NBC4 viewers can also share their wishes at www.NBCLA.com/wishingtree.

Wishes will be granted live weeknights from December 9 – 23 during the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Universal CityWalk with longtime NBC4 Weathercaster Fritz Coleman.

Those visiting The Wishing Tree are encouraged to post photos and video using [HASHTAG]#NBC4You[/HASHTAG].  Updates and a schedule of the Holidays at Universal CityWalk can be found at www.CityWalkHollywood.com as well as on CityWalk’s Facebook- Universal CityWalk Hollywood, Twitter and Instagram @CityWalkLA. Viewers can tune in to NBC4’s Today in LA at 4:30 – 7 a.m. and News at Noon, and follow @NBCLA on Facebook and Instagram for highlights of the surprising moments.

“NBC4 is pleased to collaborate with our family at Universal CityWalk on The Wishing Tree and inspire a tradition of giving during the holidays,” said Steve Carlston, President and General Manager of NBC4 Southern California.  “The Wishing Tree aligns with the station’s legacy of supporting the community through several philanthropic initiatives.”

In addition to The Wishing Tree, Universal CityWalk will ring in the season with a wintertime transformation from Friday, November 28, 2015 through Friday, January 1, 2016.  A spectacular 40-foot tall Christmas tree will glisten with 200,000 LED icicles choreographed to the lights and sounds of the season in the “5 Towers” plaza, plus Santa Claus will make nightly appearances and offer special photo opportunities. Each evening, snow falls hourly at the heart of CityWalk. Admission to Universal CityWalk is free.

 

[JPLA]

Another view of fountain progress.

Construction walls are down around entry gate but pavement surface is far from done.

And some of what is "done" sure doesn't seem right.

Even the construction walls around these turnstiles are down.  Not sure what changed though.

 

[JPLA]

No matter how done Hogsmeade might be they can't open it early if only because all the ancillary projects aren't done, yet.  Access roads, pedestrian bridge, new parking structure, oodles of construction walls, unfinished walking surfaces, incomplete retail and restaurant renovations, signage that isn't updated, etc.  Here are some CityWalk projects still in progress.

Significant portions of CityWalk and the ticketing area are still behind walls.

The fountains aren't ready.  (Gosh they look complicated!)

Even Pink's is closed for renovation.

Shoe Palace is moving slowly, too.  No pic.

What do you think, might this be for valet?  This is just to the right of Buca di Beppo and one level below the pedestrian bridge coming from the new parking structure.

 

[Allen The Actor]

^ I agree. That'd be like Disneyland opening a visually complete Star Wars land when the parking and infrastructure isn't ready yet.

 

[JPLA]

Some recent construction walls have gone.  The pavement is done but not well.  They'll fix that, right? 

Realized today that the Things From Another World sign is still up there.

Remember how several of the palm trees were poking through the atrium ceiling?  Well, they're replacing them all to an attractive height.