Video : Universal's Cinematic Celebration, Now in Rehearsals at Universal Studios Florida

Universal's Cinematic Celebration, the new Nighttime Show started its technical rehearsals at Universal Studios Florida and the first videos of it are posted on Youtube. Same technique than DCA World of Color fountain show, this new show brings thrilling and fun moments inspired by characters from popular Universal Orlando Resort attractions and blockbuster films to life with popular franchises such as Jurassic World, Harry Potter, E.T, Despicable Me and the Minions, and Fast & Furious.

The show feature full panoramic water screens – including multi-layer water screens – pyrotechnics, projection mapping and more than 120 dancing fountains. Definitely watch the video below full screen!




From Universal: Get excited because “Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration” is opening soon. In preparation, you might have the chance to experience the nighttime lagoon show during its technical rehearsals at Universal Studios Florida.

You may have some questions about what technical rehearsal means, so here are the answers from Universal:

What is a technical rehearsal?
Technical rehearsal is a time for us to offer a limited number of guests the opportunity to preview our newest show as we make finishing touches in preparation for its official opening.

What can I expect during technical rehearsal?
During technical rehearsal, “Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration” will open on a limited, unscheduled basis. Also, some of its elements may not be operational as we continue to test and refine all technical aspects of the show.

What are operating hours for “Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration” during technical rehearsal?
Operating hours will not be set in advance and will vary as the show opens on a limited, unscheduled basis.

What can I experience during a technical rehearsal? During the technical rehearsal, you may be able to experience the entire show or certain elements as we work on putting the finishing touches on the show. Please keep in mind some elements of the show may not be operational as we continue to test and refine all technical aspects.

Get ready for an epic cinema under the stars during “Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration,” starting this summer. You can view the show from the new permanent, dedicated viewing location in the Central Park area of Universal Studios. There you’ll be able to watch the lagoon come to life.

Video: copyright Rix Flix

Universal Studios Florida Celebrates One Million Riders on Hogwarts Express!

Universal Studios Florida celebrates the first one million riders on Hogwarts Express! Already? Yep, just one month after Diagon Alley opening a milestone has been reached and cheers from guests filled the air at Hogsmeade Station!

And to celebrate this milestone, Universal orlando gave to two hundred guests complimentary Butterbeer ice-cream, which was probably very welcome during a hot summer day in Florida!`

Pictures: copyright Universal Studios Orlando

All Aboard Diagon Alley "Escape From Gringotts" As We Have Finally A Decent Video Of The Ride !

I was waiting for it since last month press event and thanks to Ryan Newman we have finally a quite decent video of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ride! It couldn't be better to start the week !

Now, before you watch the ride video it might be a good idea to walk inside Gringotts and to see the pre-show, right? Just to enjoy the attraction as a regular guest of USF Diagon Alley does... Good news, i've found a perfect video of it filmed by The DIS, and here it is.




Before watching the video of the ride itself, you must also watch this short other video filmed by Attractions Magazine in the queue before boarding as it shows the movements that the vehicle is doing during some scenes of the ride, it'll help you to understand what happen during the ride when you'll see Ryan video.




And now, here is Ryan video which starts with the first scene of the ride, happening shortly after the vehicle left the boarding room. The video is the best available so far and one could say it would have been better a little bit more sharp but remember that the projections are in 3D and that it's pretty dark all along the ride, so i think Ryan did a good job. Definitely watch the video full screen, but before you'll launch it here is some additional details about the ride provided by Ryan that you must keep in mind while you'll watch the video:

First scene - The ride vehicle moves forward until the track ends at the first scene ( Ndr: the one with Bellatrix Lestrange throwing thunderbolts ). As the 3D projections are happening, the track begins to tilt down. The vehicle then goes into a drop and a few small twists until you reach the second scene.

Finale - During the finale in the volcano scene, the screen actually opens up and the car is launched forward in the dark.

The ride vehicle goes through a few twists and the cars move 360 degrees.

Picture: copyright Universal Studios

Videos: copyright Ryan Newman, Attractions Magazine, The DIS

What about a 3D visit of IOA Wizarding World of Harry Potter ?

Let's end the day with a bit of magic (more magical than the new Apple IPad, see my article below!). USA Today released today a map of the awaited Harry Potter land at Islands of Adventure. The good idea is that the map is in fact a support for augmented reality, i.e that once you have print it, just put it in front of your webcam and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will appear magically in 3D on your computer screen!

And the good news, specially for my non U.S residents readers is that you don't need to buy USA Today as the map that you need is just in front of you, at the top of this article! Just click on the picture to get it in big size, then print it. Once it's done, go to www.harrypotter3d.com/ and follow the instructions. Very simple.

When the map will appear in 3D on your screen you can turn it to have a look at all the different sides of the land. However, note that Dragon’s Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff rides are only represented by icons on the map. But you can even make the waving banners wave faster simply by blowing into your computer microphone! Have fun!

Picture: copyright Universal Studios

Universal release new " Wizarding world of Harry Potter " Artwork

A little artwork for the week-end, as Universal has released on the "Wizarding world of Harry Potter" web site a new rendering showing the Dervish and Banges shop, located in Hogsmeade.

I remember you that the previous rendering released on the Harry Potter site was the one of the Three Broomsticks restaurant.



This highly-awaited new land of Islands of Adventure is always supposed to open in 2010.

Artwork: copyright Universal Studios

Universal officially announce " The Wizarding world of Harry Potter " land at Islands of Adventure !

That's it! Universal Studios officially announced today the opening in late 2009 of the awaited Harry Potter land at Orlando's Islands of adventure !
And here are the three renderings released by Universal showing this future land.




WOW! It looks great, doesn'it? Here is more about it with the press release:

Universal and Warner Studios are partnering to "create the world’s first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment envisioned as a theme park within a theme park, based on the best-selling books by J.K. Rowling"
Barry Meyer, the chairman of Warner Bros Entertainment said "Working with Universal Orlando Resort, we are confident that we’ll be able to provide Harry Potter fans with an incredible experience that upholds the richness of J.K. Rowling’s books and delivers on the authentic detail portrayed in our films.”
Ron Meyer, Universal Studios president and COO declared: "We will rely on our company’s rich movie heritage and expertise in transforming film concepts into theme park entertainment experiences. The Harry Potter stories are among the most compelling of our time. The millions of people who have read the books and seen the movies will now be able to experience the world of Harry Potter in person.”
Guests will be able to visit some of the most iconic locations found in the books and the films including the village of Hogsmeade, the mysterious Forbidden Forest, and Hogwarts castle itself.
"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said J.K. Rowling . The "Wizarding world of Harry Potter" as the project is called will include immersive rides and interactive attractions, as well as experiential shops and restaurants that will enable guests to sample fare from the wizarding world’s best known establishments.
Universal said " we're planning a collection of rides and attractions specifically designed to bring the magic and adventures of Harry Potter to life in an exciting way that guests have never experienced before. That will include a new state-of-the-art attraction"
Stuart Craig , Potter's Movies production designer will collaborate with Universal creative's team in designing the park and J.K.Rowling hopes this will provide fans with another way to experience the world beyond the books and films.
The "Wizarding world of Harry Potter" fully immersive experience will be located at Islands of adventure, a portion of what is currently the Lost Continent will be devoted to the new environment, as well as an undeveloped area that is currently not in use. The new environment will be comparable in size to other islands within Islands of Adventure and will open late 2009 or early 2010. An here is the best: although Universal didn't mention any budget for this new land , the cost is supposed to be of 1 BILLION dollars!
The BIG question, now, is how is going to react Disney at this major announcement. This is where it becomes interesting, as this billion dollars Harry Potter land will be a major danger for WDW when it will open in 2009. No doubt that everybody coming to Orlando will rush to IOA to see it. So, my feeling is that we can expect in a while some major announcement from WDW. Hmmm...what about a "Narnia" land in Animal Kingdom where WDI was supposed to built the Beastly-kingdom-that- never-was? Or a real - at last - Star Wars land?

Here is some additionnal infos from the Orlando Sentinel article:

"Universal plans a 20-acre "Wizarding World," a little bigger than the average size of its themed "islands" at Islands of Adventure. Part would be carved away from what is now "The Lost Continent" island, and the rest would be land now used for employee parking and park support, outside the back fence.

The new, "seventh island" would feature reconstructed and rethemed attractions, and all-new ones, Scott Trowbridge, vice president of Universal's Creative Studios, said in an interview. The Hogwarts castle and locations from Rowling's Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village will be created as backdrops to attractions, shops and restaurants.

Three-time Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who designed sets for all the Harry Potter movies, leads the "Wizarding World" design team.

Much of "The Lost Continent" island, including Universal's award-winning Mythos Restaurant, will be retained as a separate themed area, just smaller. The island is to remain open during construction as well.

Some current "Lost Continent" attractions such as The Dueling Dragons roller coasters and The Flying Unicorn coaster ride likely would be adapted to fit the Harry Potter story. Trowbridge would not discuss specific attractions, but did say that Universal intended to "leverage some existing infrastructure." He said that would have to include far more than a new paint job and a new sign, because too much is at stake.

"We do have a responsibility to all the fans that are out there in the world that have followed the Harry Potter saga through the films and the books," Davis said. "We're taking that very, very seriously. We're going to be true to the books and the films, and make sure that when people come here they're going to be very, very happy with what they see."


Artwork: copyright Universal Studios.