Welcome to another beautiful day here at the Universal Orlando Resort. Feet don’t fail us now, because we have a lot of updates. Let’s see what’s happening today!
Inside the Universal Studios Store in CtiyWalk, Mardi Gras merchandise has arrived. We found most of the same items we found yesterday, but there were a few new items. Stay tuned for our post with the new merchandise that dropped today.
Here’s just a quick sneak peek at some of the new items. The moon with the Mardi Gras mask is a personal favorite of mine!
There’s also a new Honeydukes scratch and sniff book. Take a scratch and sniff adventure through the Wizarding World, why not? The book has a $12.99 price tag. The front of the book is stamped for the Harry Potter store in New York, so it’s surprising to see it available in CityWalk.
The Villain-Con building looks like it’s being prepped for a fresh coat of paint. Wonder how many Mardi Gras beads are going to end up on the other side of the construction walls.
Speaking of the Mardi Gras parade, we’ve got the lighting trusses wrapped in Mardi Gras banners and some of the photo ops set up around Gramercy Park.
Food booths have gotten more details and labels. Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan, and more will be joining the food lineup for Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnaval.
Mardi Gras signs and garland have been added to the lamp posts up and down Hollywood Boulevard. Don’t forget the passholder previews of the Tribute Store are this Thursday!
Towards the back of the park, we spotted some people up in the catwalks of the old Fear Factor theater. Wonder if we could see something new in this space sometime soon.
The stage near the front of KidZone is gone and parts of Fievel’s Playland have been demolished. Take a final look at Fievel’s Playland in our detailed photo tour here.
Let’s check out what’s happening around Islands of Adventure next. Crowds have been really low today and we’re enjoying the perfect weather.
The Mardi Gras cup carriers were priced at $16 when we found them at Universal Studios Florida and CityWalk, but they’re $18 at Islands of Adventure. Be prepared for that price increase to be seen around the rest of the resort. These are really worth the investment, so we suggest you budget to purchase one of these if you’re visiting the parks.
Islands of Adventure Trading Company has a beautiful throw blanket with the mythical creatures artwork on it. We can’t wait to see all of the merchandise once Mardi Gras officially starts.
The 2 Mardi Gras booths at Islands of Adventure has gotten a little bit of decoration. We’re excited to see some Mardi Gras food at Islands of Adventure.
Wait times were extremely low for all the attractions around the park. Islands of Adventure felt way less crowded than Universal Studios Florida for some reason.
Life finds a way. Thunder Falls Terrace has reopened, but they’re only using half of the dining room at this time. The right side is still under refurb, but we’re glad to have it reopen.
VelociCoaster was experiencing an extended delay, so it was really peaceful and quiet in the area. The vehicles weren’t even cycling the track, so we could finally just listen to the background music without screaming.
Even with VelociCoaster closed, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure was only a 75 minute wait. That’s crazy! The attraction is closing for refurbishment at the end of February, so get your rides in while you can.
This is exactly how we like to see the parks. It’s so quiet.
Thanks for following us around the parks today. It’s been a busy day, but we’re getting ready for an even busier weekend with Mardi Gras! Stay tuned for more updates.
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The post PHOTO REPORT: Universal Orlando Resort 1/31/23 (Mardi Gras Merchandise, KidZone Demolition, Honeydukes Scratch and Sniff, Thunder Falls Terrace Reopens, and More) appeared first on WDW News Today.