Universal’s Movie Summer

By Simon & Susan Veness

Attention film fans! Get ready for a summer of movie magic in Orlando this year as Universal Orlando rolls out a brand new series of promotions and attractions geared around the release of the latest summer blockbuster. From Steven Spielberg to those comical Minions, there will be plenty of film fun on offer, and it all starts later this month.

Regular film-goers will already be familiar with the idea of the summer blockbuster. It all started with the first Jaws movie in June 1975 and continues this year with the latest Spielberg epic, Disclosure Day, which promises to bring the idea of E.T. into a frightening new dimension.

OK, so we’re big fans of the summer blockbuster, and Universal has hit upon a great idea to boost their appeal at this time of year when we’re all trying to combine a typical summer holiday with all the latest movie sensations. The only surprise is that it’s taken them this long to come up with the idea.

What’s it all about?

Here’s what Universal are telling us about what’s in store:

“Guests can step into Spielberg summer blockbusters and discover Disclosure Day; strike their best pose at new Jaws-inspired photo ops; meet and greet all-new characters from the upcoming Illumination film Minions & Monsters in July; and much more. Plus, guests can take advantage of new featured special offers to plan a thrilling summer getaway.”

OK, so we can forget about the final part. UK visitors will already have made plans for their summer Orlando holiday, hence we only need to focus on the movie-related elements of this imaginative promotion. And there is genuinely a lot to look forward to in this premiere of limited-time experiences designed to celebrate iconic films at the home of theme park movie story-telling.

It all starts on May 23 and runs until August 10 with a series of cinematic-inspired experiences and what Universal calls “interactive activations,” as well as an assortment of new menu items and the inevitable exclusive merchandise collections. These limited-time options – coupled with the second year of Universal’s Epic Universe park – mark this out as an exciting addition to all the rides and attractions themselves.

What are the details?

Here is an overview of all the excitement that awaits guests in Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk this summer, as well as special offers guests can take advantage of to plan their visit. From an exhibit celebrating one of the most legendary filmmakers in history to snap-worthy photo ops inspired by everyone’s favourite town of Amity, guests can enjoy:

• Spielberg Summer Blockbusters featuring Disclosure Day limited-time exhibit (Universal Studios): Explore a collection of props and behind-the-scenes stories commemorating some of the most iconic movies from legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

• New Jaws-Inspired Experiences (Universal Studios): Guests can celebrate their fandom for Universal Pictures’ blockbuster classic Jaws with interactive experiences that include a series of photo ops highlighting iconic elements and settings from the film, along with speciality “bites” and drinks. Guests can also shop a new parks-exclusive merchandise collection that includes limited-release apparel, accessories and more.

• Illumination’s Minions & Monsters Experiences (Universal Studios): Fans can get a glimpse of this highly-anticipated new film with interactive photo ops featuring two new Minions that will be introduced in the film, Henry and James, as well as special menu items at the Minion Cafe inspired by the film, including Irene’s Creamsicle Cheesecake Fold Over and Monster Marshmallow Lemonade, plus exclusive merchandise such as Minions & Monsters blind box collectible figures and a shoulder pal of Goomi, one of the adorable new characters from the film.

• Summer Movie Series (CityWalk): On select dates from June 20 through August 26, guests can go back in time and revisit some of their favourite films with screenings of beloved movies at Universal Cinemark in CityWalk, including Back to the Future, Jaws, E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial and more (movie ticket required).

Popular Seasonal Entertainment

It’s also worth remembering that Universal also offers its regular fan-favourite seasonal experiences, which all return this summer on select nights, providing additional opportunities to celebrate these blockbuster movie, including:

• Universal Mega Movie Parade (Universal Studios), which combines iconic movies like E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World, Illumination’s Minions and Sing, and DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. There are more than a dozen floats, nearly 100 performers and special effects to create a jaw-dropping experience that revives classic film moments in a whole new way.

• CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular (Universal Studios), which takes guests on a cinematic adventure through sentimental soundtracks and memorable moments from blockbuster films, all brought to life in a riveting night-time lagoon show.

• Hogwarts Always in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure), an awe-inspiring projection show that takes guests on a journey through the iconic moments of a school year at Hogwarts, all set against the majestic Hogwarts castle, returning on May 30.

And There’s More!

There’s even more summer fun to be had at Universal’s CityWalk district, with additional special offerings that include:

The World’s Biggest Football Games: Here’s a way to watch all the action from the FIFA World Cup while still enjoying the parks, with the NBC Sports Grill & Brew screening all the games while also featuring speciality food and beverage offerings and live entertainment.

Re(d)tro Nights at Red Coconut Club: On select nights from now until July 18, the Red Coconut Club will host Re(d)tro Nights, an 80s and 90s-inspired overlay with arcade games, photo opportunities, and a DJ spinning throwback hits.

Summer Music Series: Guests can enjoy live band performances every Saturday night from June 20 through August 15 throughout CityWalk, featuring themed genre experiences like Broadway, Legends of Rock, EDM and more.

July 4th Celebration: Celebrate America’s Independence Day with festivities that span the entire destination and include character meet and greets, live DJs, entertainment and special pyrotechnics.

Simon and Susan Veness are Orlando-based travel experts and guidebook authors writing exclusively for Debbie’s Villas.