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Super Nintendo World in Universal Japan is Nearly Complete

Super Nintendo World in Universal Japan is Nearly Complete. Nintendo fans are gearing up for the opening of the first Super Nintendo World! An immersive experience that will bring guests into the world of Nintendo games.

Super Nintendo World will be an expansive, highly themed and immersive land featuring Nintendo’s legendary worlds, characters and adventures. Guests will feel as if they are playing inside their favorite Nintendo video games – in real life. It will be filled with incredibly fun rides, shops, a restaurant and interactive gameplay throughout the land. And there will be something for everyone, regardless of age or gaming experience.

Universal Studios Japan will be the first Universal theme park to feature Super Nintendo World, followed by Universal theme parks in Hollywood, Orlando and Singapore. Super Nintendo World will feature a new level of theme park guest experience that blends the physical world with the world of the video game – bringing the world of Nintendo to life in a whole new way for guests.

Photo Credit: ThemeParX

Guests can use a combination of state-of-the-art technology – a wearable wrist band called a Power Up Band – and a specially designed app. This will allow them to have interactive experiences, making use of their arms, hands and entire bodies as they explore the new area – making them feel like they are truly part of the video game world. Guests can download the Universal Studios Japan app on their smartphones and link it to a Power Up Band that can be purchased in Super Nintendo World to enhance their experience.

Photo Credit: Universal

While wearing the band, guests can collect digital coins just like Mario does in the games. They can even compete with other guests to see who collected the most coins, among other fun and friendly competitions. State-of-the-art technology is being used in the Super Nintendo World area to bring all of these interactive activities to life.

You can check out the promotional video for the new land in the video below:

Super Nintendo World will feature many interactive features that will be familiar to anyone that knows Mario’s world. This includes Question Blocks that will appear around the area. While wearing a Power Up Band, guests can hit a real-life Question Block and collect coins, just like in the video game. Guests can also obtain collectible items, such as character stamps, by achieving various goals. Coins are allocated for each stamp, with the total number of coins earned by each guest ranked with all other guests in the park, making the entire experience feel like competing for a high score in a video game. There are all kinds of ways to earn coins throughout the entire land, and guests can keep score, compete against each other and celebrate together when they win.

Photo Credit: ThemeParX

We can’t wait to see the first Super Nintendo World open soon, but we really can’t wait to see the new land to appear in Universal Orlando Resort in the coming years. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for all things Universal!

Featured Photo Credit: Nintendo/ThemeParX

Source: ThemeParX/Comcast

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland and More, Nintendo, Super Mario, Super Mario Bros., Super Nintendo World

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Universal Orlando Resort Announces Reopening of Select Hotels Beginning June 2nd

Universal Orlando Resort Phased Reopening

Beginning June 2, 2020, select Universal Orlando Resort hotels will reopen to guests. The reopening of the hotels will be carefully managed and phased, and includes a wide range of new and enhanced best-practice health, safety and hygiene procedures.

The phased reopening of the hotels will include Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites.  Guests staying in these hotels will be able to visit the theme parks on June 3 and 4, prior to the public reopening on June 5.

Plans for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites will be announced at a later time. Guests who have booked reservations at these two hotels through Universal Orlando or Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations will be contacted to modify their reservation if it has been affected.

Universal Orlando’s resort hotels, co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Co, have enhanced their standards and protocols throughout their operations. These enhancements currently include:

  • Guests, team members and vendors are required to wear face coverings in public areas
  • Team members and vendors will be required to have temperature checks upon arrival.  Those with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be allowed to work.
  • Guests will be asked to self-screen for COVID symptoms and comply with quarantine orders prior to arrival
  • Guest will have temperature checks upon arrival and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will require medical clearance in order to enter the hotel
  • Hand sanitizer stations in public areas and elevator landings
  • Enhanced cleaning of guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas with an EPA-approved cleaner and disinfectant
  • Frequent cleaning of high-touch areas such as telephones, remote controls, door handles, light switches, elevators, and table tops, among others
  • Food & Beverage outlet capacities limited based on latest recommendations and guidelines
  • Social distancing signs and reminders of social distancing requirements in high-traffic areas
  • Several contactless experiences for guests, including hotel texting-services, express checkout and contactless room deliveries

To book a stay at a Universal Orlando hotel, please visit here.

Universal CityWalk is now open with select venues and with new health, safety and hygiene procedures in place. Universal Orlando’s three theme parks – Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay – will reopen to the public beginning June 5.

For information on CDC guidelines, click here. For more information about Universal Orlando’s policies during this time, visit Universal’s website. Due to the evolving nature of this situation, details are subject to change without notice.

All Universal guests are urged to follow CDC guidelines and self-assess for potential symptoms of COVID, including cough, temperature, and difficulty breathing, prior to their arrival.  Guests should also evaluate their own risk before they visit – and it is not recommended that individuals at high-risk with serious underlying medical conditions visit the destination. People who show no symptoms can still spread COVID-19 if they are infected. Any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and Universal cannot guarantee guests will not be exposed during their visit.

In addition, guests should be aware of and comply with government guidelines regarding travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland and More, Universal Orlando Resort Phased Reopening, Universal Studios, Universal Studios Hotels

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What to Know Before You Visit Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios

With Universal Studios Florida reopening in just a couple of weeks, guests are sure to have questions. Universal will be implementing specific procedures and practices that are in line with CDC guidelines for the safety and health of team members and guests.

The procedures will cover three areas: screening, spacing, and sanitization. Here’s what you’ll want to know before you visit the theme parks:

  • Guests and team members are required to wear face coverings
  • Guests will be required to wear face coverings on attractions. The only exception will be for attractions that include significant amounts of water as part of the experience, as well as Volcano Bay’s slides and pools.
  • Guests and team members are required to undergo temperature checks. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be able to enter Universal CityWalk or the theme parks
  • There will be staggered parking within the parking garage to help create distance between travel groups
  • Universal Studios Florida will be limiting and reducing daily park attendance and attraction ridership in Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay
  • A reservation is not required to visit the theme parks but there may be times when the parks reach capacity and additional guests will not be admitted
  • The majority of the attractions and experiences within the parks are scheduled to open. Select experiences will not be available during this phase, and some queue experiences may be slightly altered as the new procedures are implemented.
  • Prior to boarding a ride vehicle, Universal Orlando team members will provide guests with the hand sanitizer that is required
  • Virtual Line will be available for select attractions. Virtual Line allows guests to select a time to experience an attraction via the Official Universal Orlando Resort app so they’re minimizing the time they’re actually waiting in the queue line. Guests can make Virtual Line selections while they’re onsite at the parks on the day of their visit.

The following information is specific to Universal’s Volcano Bay:

  • Capacity on each attraction will be limited – including rivers and pools
  • For multi-person raft rides, only one travel party will be allowed to ride in a single raft. Please note that Volcano Bay’s standard height and weight requirements will be applicable.
  • Lounge chairs will be placed in a fashion that allows travel parties to sit together, while also maintaining at least six feet of distance between other guests.
  • Face coverings are recommended when guests cannot socially distance. They will not be permitted on slides and in pools.
  • All TapuTapu wearables will be cleaned and sanitized prior to guest use.
  • Team members who have “wet” roles, such as lifeguards, will wear a balaclava when they cannot socially distance. These will not be worn on slides or in pools for safety reasons. Face coverings are required for team members in “dry” roles.

The CDC advises that older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Guests should evaluate their risk in determining whether to visit. Universal Orlando cannot guarantee that guests will not be exposed to COVID-19 during their visit.

Will you be visiting the Universal Orlando Resort soon?

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Parks & Resorts, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland and More, Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios, Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Volcano Bay

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Passholders are being emailed invites to the reopening of Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida

Emails are being sent out to Annual Passholders inviting them to experience the awesomeness of Universal Studios Florida before they open to the general public on June 5th!

Here are the details…

Welcome Home Passholders

We’re reopening! And you’re invited to be among the very first to come enjoy the awesomeness before Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay open to the general public on June 5th. Special Passholder experiences will be announced soon.

As we have previously shared, your Pass will automatically have the number of days we were closed added to the end of your term. We will be sending out communication with additional details about how your expiration date is impacted and when FlexPay monthly payments will resume, if applicable.

This carefully managed reopening comes with stringent new health, safety and hygiene procedures in place. So, as we enjoy our parks and hotels together again, everyone will need to follow CDC guidelines and the recommendations of health officials, and Universal Orlando’s policies.

Yes, there are more rules to follow now—but to play together, we also need to work together for the safety and health of all our guests and team members.

Note that any public location where people are present provides an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and we cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed during your visit.

For more information click here.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland and More, annual passholders, COVID-19, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Reopening

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Universal Orlando Begins Reopening Process June 1st

universal orlando

This week Universal Orlando Resort submitted plans to begin reopening in phases starting on June 1st.

June 1st and 2nd the resort will open to team members to test the new safety protocols. June 3rd and 4th will be open to invited guests and annual passholders. And finally, on June 5th Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay will welcome guests back.

“We want to invite guests back to our theme parks in a cautious and thoughtful way,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Universal Parks & Resorts. “We have put new health and safety procedures in place for both our team members and guests. And we have worked hard to make sure our guests can enjoy their time with family and friends. Doing this the right way will take all of us — and we need everyone’s help. Guests should follow our guidelines and continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC and health officials.”

With the reopening, several new safety measures will be in place, including:

  • Temperature checks at every entrance, as well as for every employee.
  • Masks will be mandatory for all guests and employees. Those without a mask will be offered one for free. Stores will also sell face coverings.
  • Staggered parking
  • Managed and reduced daily park attendance
  • Managed and reduced attraction ridership, show attendance and restaurant seating. Some areas and events may remain closed for now.
  • Increased cleaning and disinfection of food locations, ride vehicles, restrooms and other frequent “touch points” that go beyond Universal’s already aggressive cleaning procedures
  • Social distancing practices at all locations through the parks, within attractions and queues and at restaurants
  • Use of virtual lines at select attractions
  • Cashless payments and “no touch” policies where possible

Universal’s hotels are an important part of the guest experience. Reopening plans are being finalized and will be shared as soon as they are available.

You can see all of Universal’s safety guidelines here.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Parks & Resorts, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland and More, Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando, Universal Reopening, Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Volcano Bay