PHOTO REPORT: Universal Orlando Resort 8/22/20 (Saturday Crowds, Food Locations Reopen, Chocolate Hazelnut Milkshake, Retro Universal Studios Florida Candy, and More)

Annie Wilson

PHOTO REPORT: Universal Orlando Resort 8/22/20 (Saturday Crowds, Food Locations Reopen, Chocolate Hazelnut Milkshake, Retro Universal Studios Florida Candy, and More)

Welcome to a busy Saturday here at the Universal Orlando Resort. We decided to make our way over to the parks late in the day and we were prepared for crowds.

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As we arrived, we noticed that Volcano Bay was at capacity, which isn’t unusual, especially for a Saturday. Don’t forget Volcano Bay will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting next month.

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Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is using Virtual Line only today and the line starts back in The Lost Continent.

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Welcome to Hogsmeade on a Saturday.

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The Wizarding World is always the busiest section of each park, and today we found a lot of crowding in Hogsmeade. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure was closed last weekend after a backstage fire, so we’re not surprised there are many people trying to experience the attraction.

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Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has been experiencing some technical difficulties lately, and even though the ride was not open, guests were allowed to enter the queue and wait for the attraction to reopen.

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This guy went to great lengths to photo bomb us, so we’ll allow it.

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Stanchions were set up for the Forbidden Journey queue since the entrance usually gets very backed up due to the locker situation. We can’t wait for those new lockers to get finished!

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The end of the line crept right up to the edge of Jurassic Park.

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Approaching Jurassic Park River Adventure, we could see crowding around the entrance. The attraction was using Virtual Line only, which seems to add a little bit of chaos to the area.

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Between checking Virtual Line, checking Express passes, and explaining to guests that there is no standby and how to use the app, the entrance seems to be very busy.

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The locker lines are usually long, including the line for The Incredible Hulk Coaster lockers. These lines tend to move slowly, but Team Members use megaphones to give guests tips on how to make things more efficient.

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Several restaurants have reopened around the parks and CityWalk, including Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches. We stopped in and got a Chocolate Hazelnut milkshake for a quick snack.

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Over at Universal Studios Florida, we stopped into Studio Sweets and found some samples of their new fudge and roasted nuts.

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Inside the Universal Studios Store, you can now find some retro candy.

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A lot of people were just hanging out near Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. At least people were social distancing.

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The line for the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store is crazy now that the new rooms have opened. Because of the crowds, the line wrapped around through the extended queue for Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.

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This “King of the Silver Screen” shirt is available at multiple locations, including the Tribute Store and Universal Studios Store, for $28.

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That’s all for this visit to the Universal Orlando Resort. Thanks for following us and be sure to stay tuned for more updates!

5 thoughts on “PHOTO REPORT: Universal Orlando Resort 8/22/20 (Saturday Crowds, Food Locations Reopen, Chocolate Hazelnut Milkshake, Retro Universal Studios Florida Candy, and More)”

  1. This would make me NOT want to go to Universal. It’s crazy they are allowing that many people in. At least by your photos it looks as though this would be a normal August crowd. Either they are handling it all wrong, or they are being greedy in trying to get crowds back. Even having a water park open seems strange. Yes, it’s highly treated water but folks, especially kids are still going to be knocking into one another. And I’m not so sure having food samples out at the one shop is the right thing to be doing at this time.
    By what I’ve seen here and on other blogs, I think Disney is handling all this a bit better, less crowding and more open areas.

  2. 10 points for each Universal guest you spot in each picture not wearing a mask, and 5 points for each guest not wearing it correctly! Its like the 2020 version of Where’s Waldo, just a lot easier. :)

  3. Can we please have an article focusing on how people at universal are just allowed to wear any kind of facemask! I was there Saturday and I was literally APPALLED at the number of neck gaiters allowed. At Disney you would be stopped immediately… So maybe if you all report on the improper wear/type of mask they’ll listen.

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