Universal Studios Hollywood is putting their Taste of Universal event in a to-go box as it concludes, and reopening their gates to California Residents on April 16th with their newest attraction, The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! Opening that same day!
What’s Happening:
- Universal Studios Hollywood has announced an official reopening date of April 16th, with tickets available online only beginning April 8th, including the sale of new annual passes.
- Due to state guidelines, only California Residents will be allowed to enter the park, and party size is limited to a maximum of three households and ten people.
- Universal’s official website says that most rides will be operational, but some rides, attractions and shows will reopen at a later date as the theme park complies with these government restrictions.
- Aside from the reopening date, the big news is that the new attraction, The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!, will be opening with the park on April 16th. The attraction was close to opening when the park was forced to close due to the global pandemic. The attraction will allow guests to enter the exciting world of Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets to join Max, Duke, Gidget and Snowball on a journey through the streets of New York City as you get ready to be welcomed into your new home.
- This impressive new ride combines 64 technologically-advanced animated figures with hyper-realistic media and projection mapping designed to take guests on a journey to meet some of their favorite Illumination characters from the movies, including Max, Snowball, Gidget, Chloe and Duke, along with a host of other animal friends, who have all been transformed and transported into the live-action world. From blinking eyes to eyebrow movements, from head tilts to head nods, from moving mouths to smiles, from ear curls to lip curls, from full torso twists to physically walking, the depth of mobility and function programmed within each of these loveable characters creates an experience unlike any other theme park ride.
- Classic Universal Studios Hollywood attractions will also be available, including the world famous Studio Tour and Jurassic World: The Ride. Universal has also promised a “spectacularly realistic new dinosaur,” the Indominus Rex on the attraction, “as she stalks you through the jungle.”
- Breaking new ground with highly complex innovations, this fully-articulated lifelike Indominus injects intense new thrills, excitement and intrigue to the already dynamic ride. Spanning nearly 55 feet horizontally from head to tail and over 22 feet vertically, the Indominus’ imposing presence will be amplified by the fluidity of her motions and synchronized movements that deliver an unprecedented level of authenticity. From the subtle blinking of her eyes, the flexing of her arms and claws and clenching of her jaw as she bears her razor-sharp teeth, the colossal Indominus rex will lunge from her hillside setting, stalking guests just before they descend the giant waterfall drop to escape her grasp.
- These new experiences are among the many welcoming attractions and themed environments that await guests upon their return to Universal Studios Hollywood, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, home to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff, Transformers: The Ride-3D, Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, Despicable Me’s Super Silly Fun Land, and Springfield, U.S.A., home of America’s favorite animated family, The Simpsons. The theme park’s signature attraction and world-renowned Studio Tour, which takes guests behind-the-scenes of an authentic production movie and television studio and where they can experience Fast & Furious—Supercharged and King Kong 360 3D, will also open.
- Universal Studios Hollywood also plans to celebrate their Pass Members—who will be among the first to visit—with a series of complimentary Bonus Days on select days from Thursday, April 15 (a special Pass Member Preview day!) through Sunday, May 16; these Bonus Days can be reserved online starting on Monday, April 5. Pass Members will be able to resume regular use of their passes starting on Monday, May 17.
- When Universal Studios Hollywood reopens, specific procedures and practices that are in line with CDC guidelines for the safety and health of our Team Members and guests will be implemented. These new procedures will cover three areas – screening, spacing and sanitization – and key measures include:
- Guests and Team Members are required to wear face coverings.
- Guests and Team Members are required to undergo temperature checks. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be able to enter Universal CityWalk or Universal Studios Hollywood.
- Limiting and reducing daily park attendance and ridership for the Studio Tour and rides and seating capacity for shows.
- Increasing cleaning and disinfection of food locations, ride vehicles and other frequent “touch points” that go beyond our already-aggressive cleaning procedures.
- Physical distancing at all locations through the park, including at rides, shows, and attractions, in queues and at restaurants.
- Offering contactless payment options and “no touch” policies where possible.
- Right now, Universal Studios Hollywood is still hosting the limited time event, Taste of Universal, and Universal CityWalk and the Universal Cinema are open.
What They’re Saying:
- Karen Irwin, President & COO: “We are incredibly thrilled to finally be able to open Universal Studios Hollywood, return team members to work and welcome guests back to enjoy our amazing rides. It has been a very challenging year and we are overjoyed to have arrived at this moment.”