CityWalk Orlando Updates & Changes General Thread

[SeventyOne]

It was pretty clearly designed to mimic Pleasure Island while avoiding actual turnstiles, thus being more welcoming. (With being easy to close off for conventions a fringe benefit). When most everything up there was designed to be a nightclub that happened to serve some food, it made a lot more sense.

Early on the design flaws started to show. They used to do a parade/circus show that would try to draw people up the Margaritaville ramp in the early evening (this would be early 2000s). As the nightclub complex aspect started to fade -- it's hard to keep any place "hip" for more than 5 years as Church St Station and Pleasure Island found out -- and Latin Quarter and Cowfish became straight-up restaurants, it became the current awkward situation.

 

[shiekra38]

It was pretty clearly designed to mimic Pleasure Island while avoiding actual turnstiles, thus being more welcoming. (With being easy to close off for conventions a fringe benefit). When most everything up there was designed to be a nightclub that happened to serve some food, it made a lot more sense.

Early on the design flaws started to show. They used to do a parade/circus show that would try to draw people up the Margaritaville ramp in the early evening (this would be early 2000s). As the nightclub complex aspect started to fade -- it's hard to keep any place "hip" for more than 5 years as Church St Station and Pleasure Island found out -- and Latin Quarter and Cowfish became straight-up restaurants, it became the current awkward situation.

From what I remember it has always been a struggle to get people up there before 8pm lol

 

[WAJAS]

They did before the shut down and during the start of it. Now that there are more crowds they've moed all of that to the larger waterfront stage. It's a frequently used stage.

I personally have not seen anything on that stage since the early 10s, which excludes some graffiti art demonstration that happened a while back. I understand it is used yearly for eVe though.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

The last time I recall seeing something on that stage was our first night of our trip in Fall of 2019.

 

[shiekra38]

Some fun updated props in the current store

Including a model of the Enchanted Oak that I want lol

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Weird timing - put new props in old store, announce new store the next day.

 

[JungleSkip]

Weird timing - put new props in old store, announce new store the next day.

Could be a retro store going into the old store.

 

[Alicia]

Could be a retro store going into the old store.

.... for now

 

[Scott W.]

 

[Brian G.]

New Universal Studios Store (2021)

Mod Edit Thread covering the closure, demolition, and construction at CityWalk Orlando for a new store and its replacement: the new Universal Studios Store. ----- Demolition in Citywalk picking up:

forums.insideuniversal.net

 

[Brian G.]

In regards to the old store, I do know there were plans last year for a 30th Anniversary Tribute Store that got altered cuz COVID. I'm guessing they may be putting some of those ideas to use now.

 

[Scott W.]

In regards to the old store, I do know there were plans last year for a 30th Anniversary Tribute Store that got altered cuz COVID. I'm guessing they may be putting some of those ideas to use now.

It seems like Universal is starting to indulge in nostalgia now. There's certainly an audience for it.

 

[belloq87]

I'd love a retro store.

It would be awesome if they could find a place for the FLY Telepods in there.

It seems like Universal is starting to indulge in nostalgia now. There's certainly an audience for it.

I thought it was telling that they've started using the classic park logo again even on some non-retro merchandise. The anniversary stuff last year must have sold well for them.

 

[RevFreako]

I'd love a retro store.

It would be awesome if they could find a place for the FLY Telepods in there.

what are those

 

[belloq87]

what are those

The original version of the Horror Makeup Show had a finale involving the teleportation devices (Telepods) from Cronenberg's THE FLY remake. After years being MIA, they turned up in the T2 (now Bourne) exit store during the phase where it was decorated primarily with horror items.

With Bourne now open, they've been removed again.

 

[RevFreako]

The original version of the Horror Makeup Show had a finale involving the teleportation devices (Telepods) from Cronenberg's THE FLY remake. After years being MIA, they turned up in the T2 (now Bourne) exit store during the phase where it was decorated primarily with horror items.

With Bourne now open, they've been removed again.

Oh right. I was thinking.some sort of VR gimmick

 

[belloq87]

I want nothing to do with any VR gimmicks!

 

[WAJAS]

The original version of the Horror Makeup Show had a finale involving the teleportation devices (Telepods) from Cronenberg's THE FLY remake. After years being MIA, they turned up in the T2 (now Bourne) exit store during the phase where it was decorated primarily with horror items.

With Bourne now open, they've been removed again.

Here's a vid of the version of the Horror Makeup Show with those telepods:
The Phantom of the Opera Horror Make-Up Show Universal Studios Fl 1992 - YouTube

 

[belloq87]

I loved that original version, which I think basically lasted more or less unchanged (except for the name of the show) until around 2004, when the robo-werewolf suit finale replaced the FLY finale as part of a nominal VAN HELSING tie-in.

The current show is still great, but I miss the old ending.

 

[graspthesun]

I wonder if we'll see the old store become the tribute store moving forward until they come up with a permanent solution for the spot. I also wonder if they had a plan for the space that either fell through or got postponed because of the pandemic.