Epic Universal with Eric Hersey

Dustin Fuhs and Jim Hill start off this podcast with an update on Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Jurassic World” ride. They also talk about how the merch and food program that Universal Parks & Resorts developed for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the late 2000s influenced the choices that Disney made with its “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” project Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the latest addition to “Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure” at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. They then discuss how the Universal Creative seems to be stepping away from producing rides, shows & attractions for the parks that make use of 3D glasses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing how Universal Creative is now in the process of buttoning up “Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.” They then talk at length about Dueling Dragons, the thrill ride that previously occupied this corner of the Lost Continent at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the operational & safety challenges that Universal Studios Hollywood is now facing, thanks to all of those show drones this theme park is using to create that patronus effect in its new “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” projection show. Jim also reveals the “Treehouse of Horror” -inspired storyline that “The Simpsons Ride” almost had Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill share what they’ve learned about the work that’s been going on down on the Lower Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood. They also talk about why – when it came time to turn “Jurassic Park” into the jumping-up off point for a theme park attraction – Universal Creative opted to build a boat ride rather than a jeep-based experience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the history of projection mapping at Universal Parks & Resorts. They then pay tribute to the longtime president & CEO of MCA who hung tough when The Walt Disney Company tried to stop Universal from entering the Central Florida tourism market in the mid-1980s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing everything that they’ve heard about Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. They also talk about “Dragon Gliders,” the “How to Train Your Dragons” -based storytelling coaster that DreamWorks Animation licensed to be built at Motiongate Dubai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing some of the foods that will be served up in USF’s French Quarter Courtyard during this year’s Mardi Gras celebration. They then offer up some theories as to what Universal Creative currently has in the works as a replacement for “Terminator 2: 3D -- Battle Across Time.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill talk about the Upper Lot at Universal Studios Hollywood is being transformed for that theme park’s Lunar New Year Celebration. Then Jim wonders why – when it comes to the rides, shows & attractions that Universal Creative creates for the parks – theme park fans tend to look past all of the dimensional sets, custom-built props & animatronics and only talk about the screens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Jim Hill & Dustin Fuhs put together a super-sized edition of their “Universal Joint” podcast to review the past year of changes & challenges that Parks & Resorts faced. Among the topics that they’ll be discussing is Universal Orlando’s decision to revamp USF’s operational calendar (i.e., shifting Rock the Universe from September to February, cancelling the 2019 edition of A Celebration of Harry Potter outright) so that that theme park could then expand the number of days it presents USF’s wildly popular Halloween Horror Nights.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how  Illumination’s new animated “Grinch” stacks up against the live-action version of this Dr. Seuss story  that Universal Pictures released back in November of 2000. Dustin & Jim also review recent filings that  Universal Parks & Resort has made with Orange County officials, which could reveal what’s coming next  to CityWalk and/or what’s in the works for Universal Orlando’s next theme park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill starts off this episode by pointing out that Universal Orlando Resort has been following Walt Disney World's lead when it comes to repeatedly the price to park at their theme parks. After that, Dustin & Jim discuss the huge boost that the sale of Butterbeer has given Universal Parks & Resorts' bottom line. Fuhs & Hill then close out this week's podcast by looking back at the time that MCAUniversal was able to swipe the theme parks to Rocky & Bullwinkle right out from under The Walt Disney Company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs and Jim Hill start off this week's show by talking about how the November 9th release of Illumination Entertainment's "The Grinch" may be impacting Universal Parks & Resorts' holiday plans.  Jim then talks about the movie version of "Wicked" that Universal Pictures is readying and the possible impact that this IP could have on the Parks. Fuhs and Hill then close out this podcast by talking about all of the hard lessons that the Universal Orlando Resort learned back in 2009 from the delayed opening of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First Jim Hill reports in on "The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad" 's final day of performances at Universal's Islands of Adventure. Then Dustin Fuhs weighs in on whether or not he thinks the Universal Orlando Resort will soon expand its HHN offerings to include a Zombie Run 5K. Finally Jim walks UJ listeners through all 10 houses & 5 scare zones that Universal Creative has brought to life (or should I say life-after-death?) for Halloween Horror Nights 28. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of year - late August - so of course Jim and Dustin are talking about Halloween in the theme parks. They also discuss Universal Orlando's future expansion and possible running events.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices