We’re only a few days away from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening here at Universal Studios Hollywood, we had to check out the last technical rehearsals of course. Here’s a little update from our visit to the park this weekend, including potter sight-lines, back lot construction, new LudoBird on CityWalk, and other changes around the park! WE ALSO INCLUDED IMPORTANT OPENING DAY INFORMATION.
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LudoBird on CityWalk has officially opened. French Chef Ludo Lefebvre brought his famous buttermilk Provencal Fried Chicken-inspired menu to CityWalk, and has been doing so for a week now. 
Speaking of restaurants, the Hollywood Grille inside the park has opened and has 4 freestyle machines located outside on the patio. 
The patio, which has opened now, looks fantastic too. 
Across from the restaurant, a new patio has opened as well, offering even more seating. (Located next to WaterWorld), this extends all the way back past the bathroom building, near the back of the Shrek 4D theater. 
There doesn’t seem to be much change at the Walking Dead location, which is the new year-round maze that will open this summer. The line for the maze will be heavily themed. More in future updates. 
Moving to the Lower Lot, from one of the platforms of the Star Way, we get a look at the new sound stages that are being constructed next to the Metropolitan sets on the Back Lot, making room for other sound stages bordering the theme park to be used for new rides and attractions.
On the Lower Lot, construction continues on top of the Jurassic Cafe, at the seating section. I’m still entirely unsure what’s going on here. There are lots of materials laying all over the place, and it may very well be a general refurbishment. With the potter crowds they’re expecting this summer I can hardly imagine no return of seating on this patio.
Back to the Upper Lot, in front of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we find that the Special Effects Show has received a new sign, displaying show times and other announcements. 
Moving on to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which was opened for the General Public during the last technical rehearsals before it officially opens on Thursday, April 7th. (Speaking of which, tickets for April 7th are about to sell out). More IMPORTANT OPENING DAY INFORMATION BELOW.
There’s a temporary stage for the grand opening, as well as large platforms for news media to stand on, and for John Williams and and musicians for the live harry potter theme music. 
All around the castle/ Forbidden Journey there’s lighting equipment set up for the grand opening. 
Regarding the sight-lines that Universal Studios Hollywood has been working on recently, the Forbidden Journey show building, on the side of the green-house section of the line, has been painted white/ light gray. I’m unsure if anything else will be added to it, but it looks a tad odd. Maybe we’ll see trees being painted on it, like they did to Shrek 4D’s theater. 
The maintenance bay part of the Forbidden Journey show building has received the exact same type of castle wall that we see elsewhere around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and looks neat. 
Here’s the Shrek 4D theater with the new mural. Though I wasn’t a fan of the idea initially, the mural of the trees turned out great and is probably the best shot at covering up the theater. Note that on top more lights and equipment for the grand opening have been placed. 
A quick few notes regarding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening day, April 7th:
- All tickets bought through the Universal Studios Hollywood site for April 7th (selling out quickly), grant access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at 6:30am. The park has a short ceremony at 6:15am.
- People who have passes, or are purchasing tickets at the park/ elsewhere. The park won’t open ’til 8:00am, and that’s when everyone else gets to enter the park.
- Universal Studios Hollywood will open their parking structures at 2:00am that morning, and requests no cars line up/arrive before that time.
- Universal Studios Hollywood also asks that visitors do NOT bring tents or chairs to the park while waiting to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter/ Universal Studios Hollywood.
That was it for this quick update, for those of you visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter soon, enjoy your time, it’ll truly be magical! 
Thank you for checking out this quick Universal Studios Hollywood Update! Our brand new Six Flags Magic Mountain Update is also LIVE!
We were at The New Revolution’s Media Day, check out our report of it, which includes videos, pictures of the new station, entrance, trains, etc, as well as a review of the experience! We’ll have more potter, very soon!
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