Universal is 100 years old - But what will that mean for the theme parks?

January 10, 2012, 2:59 PM · Universal Studios will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012, and the movie company has announced a new logo and series of film releases and special events to commemorate the birthday. Here's the press release.

Universal 100th logo
Now, with more Comcast!

The highlight so far is the announcement that Universal will restore 13 of its top films this year, releasing many of them on Blu-Ray special editions. But what will Universal do at its theme parks? Here's the release, again:

Universal’s Parks and Resorts will help highlight the campaign with centennial specific content and merchandise throughout both the Orlando and Hollywood locations. The Orlando resort will soon announce a specially themed entertainment experience that will celebrate Universal’s heritage. At the iconic Hollywood park, the world-famous Studio Tour features expert guides that will take guests on a tour through 100 years of moviemaking history on the Universal Studios production backlot. Tours are conducted daily, visiting TV and movie sets ranging from the early Universal Studios monster film classics to current productions.

The TL/DR? A new movie-history exhibit in Orlando, new logo T-shirts, and... they'll keep running the Studio Tour in Hollywood. Ho..kay. To be fair, the 100th anniversary of the Universal City complex isn't until 2015, so there's time to do up something big for that. (Hmmm, I've got an idea.)

What would you like to see Universal do in Orlando and in Hollywood to celebrate its 100th birthday?

Replies (8)

January 10, 2012 at 3:09 PM · one idea could be a year of a million dreams type of give-away like night in a universal hotel,fastpasses, free gifts or a back stage tour of some of there rides or shows would be good. oh and i hope the jaws blu-ray will have extra content celebrating the now closed ride
January 10, 2012 at 3:09 PM · Since you said their bringing back the top 13 films, I think they should bring back the classic attractions or pay tribute throughout the parks.
January 10, 2012 at 3:16 PM · I'm hoping they make some Universal Creative stuff. I like to see books and t-shirts about Universal Creative past or MCA planning know back in the day. I just hope Back to the Future, King Kong, Hitchcock, Battlestar Galactica, and Fast and the Furious.
January 10, 2012 at 7:02 PM · I'm wondering what they mean by "specially themed entertainment experience" for Orlando. That kind of sounds like the old Universal 360 that they did in the Lagoon. There were plenty of clips honoring Universal's movie history in that. I wonder if the new lagoon show has anything to do with the new specially themed entertainment experience? Just a thought?
January 10, 2012 at 9:51 PM · They should do an overlay of the House of Horrors castle featuring characters from Universal Studios' worst movies: Patch Adams, Cat in the Hat, The Chronicles of Riddick, American Pie Presents Band Camp, Evan Almighty, Mamma Mia, Little Fockers, Cowboys & Aliens, Battleship, Xanadu, The Wizard, the cops with walkie talkies instead of guns the 20th Anniversary of ET and Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates from the Psycho remake.
January 11, 2012 at 10:38 AM · Re-open all the classics.
January 11, 2012 at 10:56 AM · These anniversary events are old. I don't care for them. I do think if they do plan for one, a new ride or show would help.
January 13, 2012 at 10:53 AM · They need to update some things at Universal Orlando. This park is rapidly declining. I used to love Universal, but Disney really rolls out great events, parades and shows. Universal should also lower their admission when they have several attractions closed for updating. Right now Jimmy Neutron, Jaws and Fear Factor are not running or are being updated. That is three major attractions in a small park.

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