Travel Archives – Page 4 of 26

2018 Halloween Horror Nights: Universal Studios Hollywood adds maze featuring Universal Pictures monsters

August 21, 2018

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights — (Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood)

The following is a press release from Universal Studios Hollywood:

It’s alive! Inspired by Universal’s original cinematic Monsters and the studio that invented the horror film, Universal Studios Hollywood unearths an all-new “Halloween Horror Nights” maze based on the original “Universal Monsters”…with a terrifying contemporary twist on these classic horror icons.

The new maze will also feature an original score produced and composed by celebrated GRAMMY®Award-winning musician Slash, long-hailed as one of the 10 best electric guitar-players of all time.

“Halloween Horror Nights” begins on Friday, September 14, 2018.

At its core, “Halloween Horror Nights” is an extension of the horror film legacy originated by Universal Pictures and introduced to audiences in the 1920s…with a staple of classic Universal Monsters that dominated the silver screen, including Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein’s Monster and The Wolf Man.

“Halloween Horror Nights” continues to pay homage to these creatures of the night in this new maze by reawakening more than a dozen of these iconic classic Monsters. The essence of the maze will underscore each of their unique attributes and reimagine them into terrifying modern day characters. At a glance, resurrected monsters will include The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, The Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, Dracula’s Bride, Frankenstein’s Monster, The Bride of Frankenstein and The Mummy, to name a few.

By giving each character a unique, complex composition, SLASH’s original score will add a haunting dimension to the experience and help define each of the characters.

“As a fan of horror movies and of ‘Halloween Horror Nights,’ I jumped at the chance to once again collaborate with Universal Studios Hollywood to produce what might be interpreted as a soundtrack for the maze,” said SLASH. “Similar to the way music affects a film, I wanted to compose a score for the legions of infamous characters featured in the maze to elicit a greater sense of terror for the guests. In the end, the goal is to ultimately make the guests feel as if they are playing an integral role in a classic Monster movie.”

“This maze is the ultimate melding of two of history’s greatest icons – classic monsters and the top guitar player of all time,” said John Murdy, Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights.” “SLASH’s intuitive understanding of the characters’ struggles brings enormous depth to the maze to epitomize a living-movie experience for our guests.

“This is the second time we’ve had the great fortune to collaborate with SLASH on a ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ maze,” Murdy continued, “and it is a distinct honor to bring his expertise to the event where guests can enjoy a truly exclusive opportunity.”

“Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror. Featuring an all-new slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes, frightful scare zones and a fully re-imagined “Terror Tram” experience uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties, “Halloween Horror Nights” will taunt, terrorize and torment guests with spine-chilling haunted attractions as part of Southern California’s most extreme Halloween experience.

For exciting updates and exclusive “Halloween Horror Nights” content, visit Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com, like Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood on Facebook; follow @HorrorNights #UniversalHHN on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat; and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.

Universal Studios Hollywood is The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour. As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows. Recent additions include “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” which features a bustling Hogsmeade village and such critically-acclaimed rides as “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™”. Other immersive lands include “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” as well as “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, located adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons Ride™” and the “The Walking Dead” daytime attraction and the all-new DreamWorks Theatre featuring “Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest.” The world-renowned Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s signature attraction, inviting guests behind-the-scenes of the world’s biggest and busiest movie and television production studio where they can also experience such authentic thrill rides as “Fast & Furious—Supercharged.” The adjacent Universal CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex also includes the all-new multi-million dollar, redesigned Universal CityWalk Cinema, featuring deluxe recliner seating in screening room quality theatres, and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert stage.

2018 Halloween Horror Nights: Universal Orlando Resort adds haunted house Scary Tales: Deadly Ever After, unveils final lineup

August 21, 2018

The following is a press release from Universal Orlando Resort:

Universal Orlando Resort has added two event dates to Halloween Horror Nights 2018 due to popular demand – giving guests more chances to brave the most intense event in history, featuring more haunted houses than ever before. The added dates – Wednesday , September 19 and Wednesday, September 26 – make this year’s event the longest in history with a total of 36 nights.

Universal also revealed details about the final haunted house that will be featured at Halloween Horror Nights 2018 – ScaryTales: Deadly Ever After.

The twisted minds of Universal Orlando’s Entertainment team are bringing back a fan-favorite with a whole new twist in ScaryTales: Deadly Ever After. Guests will encounter The Wicked Witch of the West, who has seized control of the fairytale realm and is tormenting treasured storybook characters in hideous and cruel alternate storylines. As guests venture through this nightmarish bedtime story, they’ll see familiar characters now turned evil including Hansel and Gretel salivating for human flesh, a splattered Humpty Dumpty and more.

For more information about ScaryTales: Deadly Ever After, check out the Universal Orlando Blog.

Halloween Horror Nights 2018 will run for a record-breaking 36 select nights from September 14 to November 3 and feature the most haunted houses in event history. Cinematic greats, slasher films, cult classics and original nightmares inspired by the past will come to life as guests face 10 disturbingly real haunted houses, five sinister scare zones and more. See below for the full lineup of experiences at this year’s event.

Due to the event’s popularity, tickets for this year’s highly-anticipated Halloween Horror Nights should be purchased in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets and packages, click here.

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2018 – Content Overview

HAUNTED HOUSES

Stranger Things

Halloween Horror Nights takes you deep inside the twisted world of STRANGER THINGS. From a vile, secret lab to the terrifying Void to the monstrous reality of the Upside Down, you try to escape—but The Demogorgon is moving closer.

Poltergeist

Restless spirits have overrun the infamous house atop a cemetery, and they’re drawn to your light. You’ll be lured up into the house by the TV’s glowing whisper and cross into the light. Enter a surreal landscape, where your brief sense of wonder will soon shift to horror as you’re menaced by the Beast. Don’t get lost in the light.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Evil has returned in an all-new house. The infamous Michael Myers has escaped, and he’s out for blood. Wherever you turn, he’s moving in for the kill, ‘til your heart is screaming out of your chest. Your only hope is Dr. Loomis, Myers’ fire-scarred former psychiatrist, but will he get there in time? This masked maniac is unstoppable, and there’s nowhere to hide.

Horrors of Blumhouse

The haunted minds behind Happy Death Day and The First Purge have spawned another horror house. Your shock shifts to alarm as you go from a campy thriller to a brutal world. It’s the last day of the rest of your life as you witness a college student try to break a murderous cycle. Then enter the testing ground for a barbaric experiment, where all crime is legal for twelve hours. Will you live to see tomorrow?

Trick ‘r Treat

It’s Trick ‘r Treat time. In this maze you have play by the rules or pay the ultimate price. Your dread will grow as Sam, the vengeful trick-or-treater, waits for the moment he can treat rule-breakers to his favorite Halloween surprises: razor lollipops and sweet revenge. As you find your way through the five twisted stories of Trick ‘r Treat, you’ll recoil in terror when you witness the fate of those who didn’t honor the tradition. Don’t be caught dead breaking the rules.

Dead Exposure: Patient Zero

The world doesn’t get any darker. The planet has been infected with the ultimate pandemic. A ghoulish biological outbreak is turning swaths of humanity into a plague of vicious, swarming zombies. In a flash, you’re lost in darkness—but the zombies can still see you, and soon your growing unease will turn to screams and despair. If you’re not already afraid of the dark, you will be.

Carnival Graveyard: Rust in Pieces

The caramel-coated carnivals of yesteryear have long died, but something sinister has festered within the decay, waiting to torment trespassers. Enter a dilapidated salvage yard, a maze of rides, games and carnival parts tainted with rust and blood. Gleefully vicious performers stalk you from the shadows as your panic rises. You’ll be overwhelmed with disgust and terror as you encounter gory games a-plenty, brutal automatons that ensnare you and a grotesque tunnel of love. You’re in for a show-stopper.

Slaughter Sinema

It’s showtime at the local drive-in, where you don’t just catch a movie; the movie catches you. Fear flickers on the screen, filling you with a mixture of dread and delight. As each 80s B movie screams to life, you’ll shriek with terror as you try to escape werewolf bikers, alien cannibals and a ravenous swamp yeti. When the credits roll, heads roll.

Seeds of Extinction

Humanity is extinct, wiped out by a cataclysmic meteor. In its wake, something monstrous has taken root. You’ll be unnerved by familiar sights that have been overtaken by invasive vegetation. But soon your horror will ripen as you realize these plants are predatory, and you’re easy pickings. Fear is fertile in this gruesome garden.

ScaryTales: Deadly Ever After

The realm of the fairies was once peaceful, but the Wicked Witch of the West has seized control and afflicted the land with a dreadful curse, twisting beloved fairytales beyond recognition. You’ll shudder as you discover the horrific new reality of the stories you thought you knew. There are no fairytale endings here.

SCARE ZONES

Revenge of Chucky

Chucky, the world’s deadliest doll, is back for more after 30 years of mayhem. Chucky has brought a toy fair to gruesome life on the streets of Hollywood and twisted your favorite childhood toys into nightmares. You’ll be dying to play.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

An interstellar circus tent has landed and a madcap invasion has begun on South Street. Step right up to the big top, where the sweet smell of cotton candy delights you. You soon realize this grotesque treat is not spun with sugar but from victims like you. Otherworldly clowns giggle madly as they zap people into cotton candy pods with ray guns and devour every grisly strand. At this circus of fear, the joke’s always on you.

Vamp 85: New Year’s Eve

It’s December 31, 1984. As the ball drops in New York City, this New Year’s Eve bash is about to bite. Literally. A blood-sucking DJ counts down the biggest hits of the 80s as fanged punks, big-haired blood-suckers and lace-gloved vampires hunt down partygoers. The howl of synthesizers masks your growing screams. When this year ends, so will you.

Twisted Tradition

An ancient evil has been reawakened in Central Park and transformed Halloween into an abomination. Vines coil like vipers around iron fences. Rotting pumpkins molder upon the cursed ground. You’re horrified to discover the larger ones hold human victims whose decayed flesh has mingled with pumpkin guts. You cringe in horror, but the worst is yet to come. Beings of blood and vine seek out human sacrifices. And you’re ripe for the taking.

The Harvest

An old barn is the setting of every kind of horror, its walls decorated with objects from each house. Pose at this foreboding photo op along the Avenue of the Stars, but be wary. This barn is not as abandoned as it seems. Foul creatures lurk between the hay bales, ready for a harvest of flesh. Will you survive the reaping?

LIVE SHOW

Academy of Villains: Cyberpunk

With a wicked mix of dance, acrobatics and theatrics, Academy of Villains is back with an all-new performance. Prepare for maximum overload in this test of humanity versus technology. Set in a dark and distant city of the future, Academy of Villains hack into a world of pounding synths and neon lights.

2018 Halloween Horror Nights: The Horrors of Blumhouse has mazes for ‘Happy Death Day,’ ‘The First Purge,’ ‘Unfriended,’ ‘Truth or Dare’

August 20, 2018

The following is a press release from Universal Studios Hollywood:

“The Horrors of Blumhouse” makes an encore performance at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, bringing leading producer of horror Jason Blum’s blockbusters to life in all-new mazes at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, beginning Friday, September 14.

Partnering with the creative minds at Blumhouse Productions (Get Out, Insidious, Split), Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort will unleash a series of Blum’s most terrifying films at the nation’s most intense and immersive Halloween events.

(Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood)

At Universal Studios Hollywood, “The Horrors of Blumhouse: Chapter Two” maze takes guests on a terrifying journey that begins at the entrance to a dilapidated movie theatre, where a compilation of horror films play out in real life. In Blumhouse’s “Truth or Dare,” guests will succumb to an ancient curse that has been unleashed by a group of unsuspecting college students….forcing them to play a game where the stakes are life and death. In “Unfriended,” guests become pawns to a supernatural entity that has invaded a chat room. Drawing inspiration from Blumhouse Productions’ infamous opening title sequence, the final feature will lure guests into a creepy old house to answer desperate cries of help…only to discover that they have actually entered a paranormal world where real-life nightmares threaten to trap them forever in misery.

At Universal Orlando Resort, “The Horrors of Blumhouse” maze will bring guests face-to-face with the most gruesome scenes from the déjà vu thriller “Happy Death Day,” as well as from “The First Purge,” the newly released prequel to “The Purge” series. In “Happy Death Day,” guests will be transported to the film’s college town, where they will be forced to relive the last day of a student’s life over and over again…until she breaks the murderous cycle. Then, in “The First Purge,” guests will run for their lives as menacing citizens from the film hunt them as part of the first barbaric government experiment where all crime is declared legal for 12 hours.

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 25 years, guests from around the world have visited Halloween Horror Nights to become victims inside their own horror film. Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories come to life season after season. And, the streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.

For more information about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com. Additional details about the events will be revealed soon. All tickets and vacation packages are now on sale.

Universal’s Aventura Hotel opens in Orlando

August 16, 2018

Universal's Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida — Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

The following is a press release from Universal Orlando Resort:

Universal Orlando Resort’s newest Prime Value hotel – Universal’s Aventura Hotel – is now open to guests. Staying in the heart of Universal Orlando, guests at Universal’s Aventura Hotel enjoy exclusive theme park benefits and hotel amenities at a price perfect for value-savvy travelers.

The sleek and stylish hotel offers contemporary guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, and unique dining options such as the destination’s first-ever rooftop bar and grill and a modern food hall. The 600 room hotel is the destination’s sixth property in partnership with Loews Hotels & Co., giving guests the extraordinary experience they have come to expect at a Universal Orlando hotel.

Guests of Universal’s Aventura Hotel can stay in simplified style while experiencing exceptional amenities and benefits including:

Exclusive Theme Park Benefits – Guests who stay at Universal’s Aventura Hotel receive exclusive benefits including Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay, charging privileges with their room key, and more.
Bar 17 Bistro – At Universal Orlando’s first-ever rooftop bar and grill, guests can enjoy cocktails and small plates inspired by global cuisine. The venue will also feature stunning views of all three Universal Orlando theme parks – including the 200 ft. center piece of Volcano Bay, Krakatau as it spews blue lava at night.
Urban Pantry – Universal’s Aventura Hotel introduces something new and different to Orlando’s theme park food scene. Urban Pantry is a modern food hall where guests can enjoy diverse flavors, fresh ingredients and globally-inspired dishes such as teriyaki stir fry and smoked salmon pizza.
Tech Savvy Accommodations – Universal’s Aventura Hotel offers tech-savvy accommodations, including in-room tablets that allow guests to order pizza to their rooms in addition to controlling many of the rooms’ features like the TV and room temperature controls. The hotel also includes a virtual reality game room.
Prime Location – Universal’s Aventura Hotel is just steps away from all three Universal Orlando theme parks – Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay. A walking path connects the hotel directly to Universal’s Volcano Bay, and complimentary shuttle buses are available for resort-wide transportation.

Rates start at $116 per night for a four-night stay. For a limited time, guests that book a stay at Universal’s Aventura Hotel will receive a $50 hotel dining credit when staying for four nights or longer. To learn more or to make a reservation, call 1-888-273-1311 or visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/AventuraHotel.

Bary 17 Bistro at Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

Bar 17 Bistro at Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

Bar 17 Bistro Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

Urban Pantry at Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

Starbucks at Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

Bar Ventura Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

Universal’s Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)

2018 Halloween Horror Nights: ‘Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers’ mazes added

August 14, 2018

The following is a press release from Universal Studios:

Beginning on Friday, September 14, “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers,” from Trancas International Films, takes a stab at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, bringing the notorious slasher to Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort in all-new mazes inspired by the iconic horror film.

Based on the fourth installment in the classic slasher series created by John Carpenter, the mazes will transport guests to the suburban town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween night where Myers has escaped Smith’s Grove Sanitarium and is hungry for revenge. This time, he relentlessly stalks his niece Jamie as his next victim, stopping at nothing to kill her.

Guests will follow Myers as he escapes the mental hospital, encounters his first victims at Penney’s Gas Station and Diner, and wreaks terror on Haddonfield, all set to Alan Howarth’s ominous score. The maze will include horrifying scares by Myers in his classic featureless white mask and navy jumpsuit, with guests dodging his bloody knife at every turn. Halloween fanatics can expect a cameo by Myer’s psychiatrist Dr. Loomis and other famous characters from the film as they try to escape the bloodbath.

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 25 years, guests from around the world have visited Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood and Orlando to become victims inside their own horror film. Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories come to life season after season. And, the streets of each coast’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.

Additional details about Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights will be revealed soon. For more information about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com. All tickets and vacation packages are on sale now.

2018 Halloween Horror Nights: Universal Orlando Resort gets new haunted house Seeds of Extinction; ‘Poltergeist’ maze added in Hollywood and Orlando

August 9, 2018

The following is a press release from Universal Orlando Resort:

Universal Orlando Resort revealed the next terrifying, original content haunted house coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2018 – Seeds of Extinction. It is one of 10 haunted houses that guests will experience at this year’s event.

Seeds of Extinction places guests on Earth moments after a meteor has hit, causing immediate mass destruction across the entire planet. Guests will come face-to-face with horrific, humanoid plants, strangling vines, deadly blooms and more. They will have no place to hide as they find a way to escape the invasive vegetation overtaking the place they once called home.

For more information about Seeds of Extinction, check out the Universal Orlando Blog.

Halloween Horror Nights 2018 runs select nights from September 14 to November 3 and will feature more haunted houses than ever before. Cinematic greats, slasher films, cult classics and original nightmares inspired by the past will come to life as guests face 10 disturbingly-real haunted houses, five scare zones and more.

Additional details about this year’s event will be revealed soon.

The following is a press release from Universal Studios:

They’re Here. Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort will bring guests “into the light” as part of this year’s Halloween Horror Nightsevents featuring terrifying new mazes inspired by Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures’ (MGM) iconic supernatural horror film “Poltergeist,” beginning September 14.

Directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg, “Poltergeist” garnered critical and consumer success when it first premiered in 1982. Characterized as one of the scariest films of all time, this groundbreaking movie paved the way for a new era of supernatural ghost stories that will come to life for the first time ever at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. This living representation of the film will take guests into some of its most iconic scenes and encounter memorable characters that spawned their first true nightmares.

The mazes will lure guests to the Freeling family house built atop a cemetery where malicious ghosts threaten the lives within. From the underground graveyard to ghostly apparitions, guests will come face to face with infamous scenes from the film, including the iconic flickering TV screen, menacing Beast from beyond and pool filled with floating corpses. As guests cross into the ‘light,’ they will find themselves surrounded by a surreal landscape of vanishing walls, floating furniture and a creepy clown with a menacing smile. In a rush against time, guests will be forced to make it back to the world of the living or forever be trapped…

Additional details about Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights will be revealed soon. All tickets and vacation packages are on sale now. For more information about Halloween Horror Nights at either Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

About Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour. As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows. Recent additions include “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” which features a bustling Hogsmeade village and such critically-acclaimed rides as “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™”. Other immersive lands include “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” as well as “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, located adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons Ride™” and the “The Walking Dead” daytime attraction and the all-new DreamWorks Theatre featuring “Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest.” The world-renowned Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s signature attraction, inviting guests behind-the-scenes of the world’s biggest and busiest movie and television production studio where they can also experience such authentic thrill rides as “Fast & Furious—Supercharged.” The adjacentUniversal CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex also includes the all-new multi-million dollar, redesigned Universal CityWalk Cinema, featuring deluxe recliner seating in screening room quality theatres, and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert stage.

Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood are available online atHollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com and on Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood,” on Instagram at @HorrorNights and Twitter at @HorrorNights as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information. Watch videos on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube and join the conversation using #UniversalHHN.

About Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort is a unique vacation destination that is part of the NBCUniversal Comcast family. For more than 25 years, Universal Orlando has been creating epic vacations for the entire family – incredible experiences that place guests in the heart of powerful stories and adventures.

Universal Orlando’s three theme parks, Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay, are home to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative theme park experiences – including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels are destinations unto themselves and include Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, and coming this August, Universal’s Aventura Hotel. Its entertainment complex, Universal CityWalk, offers immersive dining and entertainment for every member of the family.

Universal Orlando Resort continues to unveil all-new guest experiences, including powerful attractions, incredible dining options and dramatically-themed hotels. Now open is Fast & Furious – Supercharged, where guests can join the Fast family and step into the blockbuster Fast &Furious films at Universal Studios Florida. And at Universal CityWalk, Voodoo Doughnut is now serving more than 50 types of delightfully weird and sinfully delicious doughnuts.

2018 Halloween Horror Nights: Universal Studios releases first image of ‘Stranger Things’ maze

July 30, 2018

Stranger Things - Halloween Horror Nights — (Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood)

The following is a press release from Universal Studios:

Things are about to get turned upside down at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights’ with the first look reveal of the “Stranger Things” maze key art designed exclusively by Kyle Lambert, the official illustrator of the mega-hit Netflix original series.

Featuring the series’ cast standing adjacent to the predatory Demogorgon, the ominous image depicts a nearly palpable account of what guests can expect to experience when the “Stranger Things” maze debuts as part of “Halloween Horror Nights” this fall.

The “Stranger Thing” maze, inspired by season one of the Netflix series, will come to life at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, beginning, Friday, September 14, and at Universal Studios Singapore, beginning Thursday, September 27, 2018.

The parallel universe, referred to as the Upside Down, that terrorized the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in “Stranger Things,” will bring the chittering, predatory Demogorgon to “Halloween Horror Nights” to stalk unwitting guests as they encounter iconic scenes, characters and environments from the mesmerizing series.

Working collaboratively with Netflix, along with the creators and executive producer of the blockbuster series—Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy, the mazes will be authentic representations of “Stranger Things,” designed to transport guests into artfully recreated scenes and storylines. From the menacing Hawkins National Laboratory, under the U.S. Department of Energy, to the Byers home adorned with an erratic display of flashing Christmas lights and the eerie Upside Down woods oozing a shower of floating orb-like spores, the chilling new mazes will offer surprising twists and unexpected turns around every corner.

Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 25 years, guests from around the world have visited “Halloween Horror Nights” to become victims inside their own horror film. Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories come to life season after season, while the streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones with menacing scare-actors lunging from every darkened corner.

For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Gordon Ramsay and National Geographic partner on series ‘Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted’

July 25, 2018

The following is a press release from National Geographic:

National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe and Gordon Ramsay announced today during the network’s session at the Television Critics Press Tour the greenlight of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,” a series that draws connections between exploration, adventure and food – with a dash of friendly competition – starring Ramsay. Produced by his own Studio Ramsay, the celebrated chef will embark on anthropology-through-cuisine expeditions to unearth the most incredible people, places and flavors the world has to offer. “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted” will premiere globally in 2019 on National Geographic in 171 countries and 43 languages, with Studio Ramsay/All3 Media retaining rights in the remaining international territories. Production is set to begin this fall.

Food and adventure programming is familiar ground for Ramsay, whose 2010 U.K. series for Channel 4, “Gordon’s Great Escapes,” saw the venerable chef explore the food culture of India and Southeast Asia. An Ironman athlete and adrenaline junkie, Ramsay has long held the belief that learning is best achieved by doing – a philosophy for not only how he cooks but also how he runs his business. For his global restaurant chain Ramsay sends his Michelin-starred chefs around the world to hone new skills and flavors from the most unlikely people and places.

Each episode of “Uncharted” will include three key ingredients: unlocking a culture’s culinary secrets through exploration and adventure with local food heroes, no matter where they may lead him; tracking down high-octane traditions, pastimes and customs that are specific to the region in hopes of discovering the undiscovered; and, finally, testing Ramsay against the locals, pitting his own interpretations of regional dishes against the tried-and-true classics. The series moves beyond conversation to truly immerse Ramsay in all aspects of the local culture to better prepare him for the final friendly cooking competition with local chefs and foodies.

Join Ramsay as he scales roofs of caves to harvest fresh nests in Malaysian Borneo and puts fear aside to hunt tarantulas in Cambodia. Ramsay will travel through cities and remote areas, experiencing local challenges underwater, across mountains and through the jungle, and explore each location’s extraordinary cultures, to uncover what it really takes to obtain each special ingredient.

“My passion for adventure has made me not only a better chef but also a fearless apprentice of all cultures, which makes it so exciting for me to work with National Geographic, who’ve been taking exploration to the limit for their entire storied history,” said Ramsay.

The series represents an extension of Ramsay’s longtime partnership with the FOX family of networks, which has been home to his Emmy-nominated series such as “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Junior” since 2005.

“Fans of Gordon Ramsay know all too well the passion he brings to his work,” said Courteney Monroe, CEO of National Geographic Global Networks. “Armed with his relentless pursuit of finding the unexpected, Gordon is not only a bold chef and exceptional television talent, but he is also a fearless adventurer who pushes himself to the limit to fully immerse himself in new worlds and cultures. We’re thrilled to inspire the legions of Gordon Ramsay fans with a series unlike anything they’ve ever seen from him before.”

About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About Gordon Ramsay/Studio Ramsay

Renowned for highly successful and award-winning original programming, Emmy nominated, multi-Michelin-star chef Gordon Ramsay produces TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic that are seen by audiences worldwide, including his FOX shows “The F Word,” “24 Hours to Hell and Back,” “MasterChef,” “MasterChef Junior,” “Hell’s Kitchen” and “MasterChef Celebrity Showdown,” as well as Bravo’s “Best New Restaurant” and Food Network’s competition series “Food Court Wars.” In the U.K., he’s produced “Gordon Ramsay Behind Bars” and “Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape” for Channel 4; food biography and nostalgia series “My Kitchen” for UKTV’s Good Food Channel; two instructional cookery series, “Ultimate Home Cooking” and “Ultimate Cookery Course” for Channel 4; and the first two seasons of “Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch,” all under his One Potato Two Potato banner.

The next-generation multimedia production company Studio Ramsay was founded in 2016 by Ramsay and has a joint venture with All3Media to develop and produce both unscripted and scripted television shows, creating new formats and innovative programming that include a scripted arm focused on food-related themes and development of new talent on a global front. The catalog of programs that Ramsay has worked on historically with All3Media via One Potato Two Potato, together with new original content he’s currently developing, make for a unique and dynamic production and distribution partnership. Studio Ramsay’s first production, live “The F Word With Gordon Ramsay,” premiered last summer in the U.S. on FOX, and its second FOX series, “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back” currently airs of FOX. Its first daytime cooking series, “Culinary Genius,” premiered on ITV in the U.K. and was syndicated on FOX stations in the U.S. last summer. His documentary series, “Gordon on Cocaine,” premiered in the fall on ITV to critical acclaim. “Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch,” starring Tilly Ramsay for U.K. children’s channel CBBC, is also produced by Studio Ramsay. For more information, please visit www.gordonramsay.com or follow Gordon Ramsay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

2018 Halloween Horror Nights: Universal Orlando Resort adds Carnival Graveyard: Rust in Pieces

July 25, 2018

Universal Orlando Resort is making this year’s Halloween Horror Nights the most intense ever by adding a 10th haunted house to the event. This is the first time in the event’s 28-year history that 10 haunted houses will be featured – giving guests more scares than ever before. Today, Universal Orlando Resort revealed an all-new original content haunted house coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2018 – Carnival Graveyard: Rust in Pieces.

As guests trespass into a dilapidated carnival, they will find a maze of decayed rides and games – and soon discover they are not alone. Horrifying guard dogs, a grotesque ‘tunnel of love’, gleefully vicious performers loaded with deadly weapons fabricated from old rides and more will stalk guests’ every move as they trytheir best to escape.

Check out the Universal Orlando Blog for more information about Carnival Graveyard: Rust in Pieces.

Halloween Horror Nights 2018 runs select nights from September 14 to November 3 and will feature more houses than ever before. Additional details about this year’s event will be revealed soon. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Horrors of the ‘80s will invade this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Cinematic greats, slasher films, cult classics and original nightmares inspired by the past will come to life as guests face 10 disturbingly-real haunted houses based on the most terrifying names in pop culture – including Netflix’s sci-fi thriller “Stranger Things” and Legendary Pictures’ Halloween classic “Trick ‘r Treat” – and five sinister scare zones.

Universal also revealed some of the scare zones guests will encounter at Halloween Horror Nights 2018. As they venture through the park, they’ll be stalked by ravenous punk, material girl and metal head vampires in Vamp 85: New Year’s Eve, come face-to-face with beings of rotted pumpkins and fetid vines who are seeking out human sacrifices in Twisted Tradition, fall victim to foul and decrepit creatures in The Harvest and more. Plus, Academy of Villains will return with an all-new high energy performance.

More details about this year’s event will be revealed soon.

All tickets and vacation packages are on sale now for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Guests can save up to $52 on a Halloween Horror Nights single night ticket when booking online, maximize their visit with the Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass, which grants them shorter wait times at all haunted houses and participating attractions, and more. There are also Florida resident vacation packages available that include accommodations at the all-new Universal’s Aventura Hotel – opening this August – one-night admission to Halloween Horror Nights, tickets to Universal Orlando’s three theme parks and more.

Hard Rock International will open hotel in Dublin in 2020

July 17, 2018

Hard Rock

The following is a press release from Hard Rock International:

With a presence in more than 70 countries across the globe, Hard Rock International is expanding its hotel portfolio to Ireland, announcing plans to open Hard Rock Hotel Dublin in 2020. Working in collaboration with Tifco Limited, one of Ireland’s largest hotel companies, the highly-anticipated opening of Hard Rock’s first hotel in Ireland will shine a light on the musical vibrancy of the destination, past and present.

Located in Dublin’s city centre on Lord Edward Street, Hard Rock Hotel Dublin will comprise two structures; an existing listed property, built at the turn of the 20th century originally known as the Exchange Buildings and currently the site of the Parliament Hotel, and the adjacent Fashion House Building.

The Fashion House will be entirely rebuilt and transformed into the new hotel entrance and reception. Bringing a contemporary feel to the property, a new glass link bridge will connect guests to the refurbished Parliament building. While retaining and restoring the original red brick façade of 1912, the interiors of the Parliament building will be completely reimagined, creating a unique music-inspired city escape with priceless memorabilia adorning the interior of the property.

The hotel will feature 120 guest bedrooms and suites furnished to an exceptionally high standard using warm fumed woods, fresh stone surfaces, bespoke Ulster carpets and sumptuous patterned and vibrant fabrics. Hard Rock Hotel Dublin will also have an exciting all-day dining restaurant showcasing freshest Irish ingredients. There will also be a casual bar serving food accompanied by well-crafted cocktails and 24-hour in-room dining.

From the main reception and lobby, to the boldly unique restaurant and bar space, Hard Rock Hotel Dublin will bring a polished, vivid and fresh, new design experience to Dublin city centre. Communal areas will feature intimate booth seating and eclectic fittings and furnishings, while the variety of bedrooms will be furnished in visually appealing jewel tones and lush textures.

In true Hard Rock style, the hotel will entice guests with an array of signature brand offerings, including The Sound of Your Stay® music program, allowing guests to set the mood with complimentary vinyl players and records or rock out on a Fender guitar during an in-room jam session, complete with an amp and head phones. The property will also be home to the newly launched wellness program Rock Om^®, an in-room yoga experience providing a fresh take on a timeless tradition by fusing together the ancient serenity of yoga with the beat of music.

Commenting on the project, Todd Hricko, SVP & Head of Global Hotel Development for Hard Rock International, said, “Ireland has always been a place close to our hearts, and it only seems right to open a Hard Rock Hotel in Dublin, given the city’s musical roots. This is an exciting opportunity to extend our presence in Europe and elevate the one-of-a-kind offering at Hard Rock Hotels to the next level.”

Renowned for its famous pubs and restaurants, Hard Rock Hotel Dublin will be positioned within the commercial centre of the city, close to Temple Bar. Recognised as a cultural hot spot, Temple Bar is a stone’s throw away from the city’s most visited landmarks and attractions such as Trinity College, Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green and the world-famous Guinness Storehouse. The area is also home to many excellent Irish cultural centres and institutions including the Gallery of Photography, the Olympia Theatre, the National Library Photographic Archive, Smock Alley Theatre and the Irish Film Institute.

A city steeped in musical history that spans generations and styles, Dublin’s first Hard Rock Hotel will celebrate the pioneering artists of the past and present that have contributed to the city’s cultural vibrancy.

Speaking about the project, Enda O’Meara, CEO of Tifco Ltd. said, “Dublin’s vibrant cultural scene makes it one of the hottest European cities to visit, attracting over 5.5 million overseas visitors annually. Hard Rock Hotel is an iconic, global brand that will be bringing something very different in its own distinctive style to this vibrant part of the capital city.” Commenting further on the hotel itself Enda said, “The hotel’s custom design based around the existing handsome early 20th century building will be unique, modern and sophisticated, offering upscale 4-star luxury with a standalone F&B proposition that we plan to put on the map. Hard Rock Hotel Dublin will be the place to see and be seen with live music nightly, excellent food and cocktails, and authentic Irish service.”

Through music appreciation and an imaginative environment, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos delivers products for the varied aspects of life – work, play and personal sanctuary. For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com.

Hard Rock International:

With venues in 75 countries, including 182 cafes, 24 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Bali, Cancun, Ibiza, Las Vegas, and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include St. Petersburg, Fortaleza, Casablanca and Chengdu. New Hard Rock hotel, casino or hotel-casino projects include Atlanta, Atlantic City, Berlin, Budapest, London, Los Cabos, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Dalian and Haikou in China. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

About Tifco Hotel Group:

Tifco Hotel Group is one of Ireland’s leading hotel companies who currently own and manage a portfolio of 26 5-star, 4-star and 3-star hotels and resorts in Ireland.

The group owns and operates a number of international hotel brands (under franchise) including the Hilton Dublin Kilmainham, three Crowne Plaza hotels, the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport and the 12 Travelodge hotels in Ireland.

Through their management services agreements and contracts Tifco Hotel Group are also involved in Clontarf Castle Hotel, a unique 4-star castle hotel and winner of the Deloitte Best Managed Platinum Companies in Ireland, Hotel Killarney and The Innisfallen Hotel Killarney, the Athlone Springs Hotel, The Metropole Hotel Cork, Cork International Hotel and the Cork Airport Hotel.

For further information on Tifco Hotel Group see www.tifcohotels.ie.