Universal Orlando - Universal Studios

The curtain goes up, the projector turns on, and there's the big Universal logo.


Opening Title

 

You can get any kind of hat you want, as long as it's a derby that's brown. Or am I misreading the sign?


A Question of Color

 

This building used to be the entrance to Earthquake! Now it's the exit to Fast and Furious and has become an anachronism. Click the photo to go to Flickr and read the details.


Est. 1887

 

Marilyn and the Diamond Bellas give their all to entertain the troops. The troops of vacationers in Universal Studios Orlando, that is.


Entertaining the Troops

 

I found an article on the Interwebs pointing out tributes to well-known movies along the New York streets in Universal Studios. This one is Little Orphan Annie's temporary home in the movie Annie!


Will The Sun Come Out Tomorrow?

 

A tribute to the Jaws attraction, now buried under Diagon Alley.


Accio Bigger Boat

 

The queue is probably the best part of Fast & Furious - Supercharged, which, quite frankly, isn't saying much.


Furiously Fast

 

Fans of The Godfather may recognize the name of the proprietor of this restaurant: Kelly O'Rourke.


Tribute to a Film Victim

 

One of Marilyn's Diamond Bellas.


Diamond Bella

 

Here's another scene from the Fast & Furious queue. This is where the Fast comes from.


Make It Faster

 

Did you know that The Seven Year Itch was first shown in theaters in 1955? It seems like something else important happened that year.


Grand Finale

 

Here's another hidden movie tribute in Universal Studios: The Empire Hotel was the home of Kim Novak's character in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. The actual hotel in San Francisco still exists and has been renamed Hotel Vertigo.


Don't Look Down

 

I'm sure some of you can verify that this is a replica of the Macy's entrance on West 34th Street in New York. Some people say that miracles happen there.


Synergy Store

 

It's time for another edition of Spot the Movie Reference. I couldn't find anything for Douglas and Clark Tobacco, but the Kitty Kat Club is purportedly a reference to Cabaret's Kit Kat Klub.


Come to the Cabaret

 

Believe it or not, the real obvervation towers from the 1964 New York World's Fair are still standing.


Observing, Always Observing

 

One of Gru's minions is taking inventory during Universal's Superstar Parade.


Item 1

Universal Orlando's reply to this on TwiXter: That's the level of dedication banana studies requires, Dennis. [banana emoji]

 

I think Edith likes me.


Mischievous Troublemaker? That's Me!

 

Gru needs so many minions now that he's had to use humans of low intelligence.


Experimental Minion

 

The Secret Life of Pets? Looks like they've revealed all of their secrets.


No Secret Here

 

Every 5 year-old knows this guy. I'm in my 60s, so I didn't have clue. I had to do research to find that he is Dora the Exporer's cousin Miguel.


Diego to the Rescue