Universal Wants to Be Your Week-Long Vacation (Ep. 92)
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey unpack Universal’s latest ticketing survey, the studio’s continued confidence in Wicked, and the surprising Epcot-inspired expansion that reshaped Universal Studios Hollywood in the late 1980s.
NEWS
• Universal tests “Make it a week you’ll never forget” messaging in a new survey, hinting at a major push to reposition Universal Orlando Resort as a full-week destination
• Guest perception questions compare park counts at Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, signaling confidence in the four-park narrative
• Wicked crosses $1.2 billion globally across its two films, as NBCUniversal leadership confirms interest in expanding the Oz universe
• Universal Studios Hollywood named the official theme park partner of the LA 2028 Olympic Games
• Jurassic Park and Jurassic World props spotted backstage in Hollywood, fueling speculation about possible additions to Fan Fest
• All the Books You Can Read in Seuss Landing quietly closes, raising questions about retail strategy inside Islands of Adventure
FEATURE
• Why Universal executives studied EPCOT’s World Showcase before expanding the Hollywood upper lot
• The creation of “Streets of the World,” a $75 million expansion designed to let guests walk through detailed movie-quality sets
• How Parisian cafés, Sherlock Holmes’ 221B Baker Street, and even an Animal House façade briefly brought film environments to life
• The surprising ways these sets were actually used in production, including scenes for Beverly Hills, 90210
• How character encounters and celebrity lookalikes helped this area function like a Disney-style themed land
• Why much of this expansion eventually gave way to newer attractions like The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey | Website: strongmindedagency.com
FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency
SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Epic Universal listeners can take advantage of a limited-time ticket offer: get seven days in the parks for the price of five at Universal Orlando Resort. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to secure this special offer and start planning your next Universal vacation.
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