Universal Studios Hollywood has confirmed the closure of one of its attractions - as well as the theme for its first Halloween Horror Nights maze of 2020.
And they're both... The Walking Dead.
"After many years of thrilling guests, 'The Walking Dead' attraction will close on March 4," a Universal Studios Hollywood spokesperson said. "The area, now referred to as Pets Place, has been reimagined to accommodate the arrival of the new ride, 'The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!' We look forward to the return of 'The Walking Dead' as a focal point in our slate of Halloween Horror Nights mazes this fall."
So the new Pets Place land now includes among its "pets" Schrödinger's cat — something that it both alive and dead at the same time. (Perfect for a zombie-themed attraction, no?) The Walking Dead Attraction is finished as a year-round attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. But the park isn't going to remove the walk-through experience... at least not right away. It will live as the first announced maze for this fall's Halloween Horror Nights at the California park.
An opening date announcement seems imminent for The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!, the new dark ride that's taken over the site of the former Globe Theatre, located next door to The Walking Dead Attraction. With Pets and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem anchoring the western edge of the park's Upper Lot, a gory zombie walk-through just cannot coexist with the new Illumination Animation theme for that stretch of the park. So it's understandable that the attraction would have to go before Pets opens.
At the same time, if there's no pressing need to replace the attraction right away, Universal might as well keep it around for another run at HHN. With Super Nintendo World clearly next on Universal's to-do list after Pets, the park isn't going to be hurting for something new to offer, allowing it the opportunity to take its time redeveloping this space.
The Walking Dead Attraction opened in June 2016, and we were there for the debut and a full walkthrough:
Stay tuned for more information about The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! as well as other upcoming attractions at the park. For discounted tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood - cheaper than you can get from Universal's website - please visit our travel partner's officially authorized Universal Studios Hollywood tickets page.
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