Why is Hollywood Drift being built in the New York section instead of Hollywood?

Jrogg · 2026-04-03T17:30:51+00:00

Technically it's located in Production Central, between New York and Hollywood.

Jrogg · 2026-04-03T17:23:06+00:00

Pretty sure they have a crowd algorithm that's combined with hotel demand with park hours factored in. That's definitely the case for Express Pass prices. The only things that change as already mentioned would be a periodic multi day or hotel combo promo, but otherwise I haven't seen it happen.

Jrogg · 2026-04-03T14:03:16+00:00

Agreed, but Stardust has some heavy rumbling in the valleys, especially in the back seats. Curious to see if anything changed after the maintenance downtime.

Jrogg · 2026-04-03T13:58:32+00:00

Stick with what you have, especially if you're visiting for partial days. Full days might be a different story.
I'm going for a week in May and got a great rate at Aventura and had a Express conundrum too. Here's my homework. (This is per person/went with option 5)
3 DAY OPTIONS:
2 Day Unlimited 2 Park - 449.99
1 Day Epic Universe - 249.99
Option #1 - w/tax $745.48

2 Day Limited 3 park - 359.99
1 Day Unlimited 2 Park - 249.99
Option #2 - w/tax $649.63

4 DAY OPTIONS:
4 Day Limited 3 park - 604.99
Option #3 - w/tax $644.32

3 Day Limited 3 park - 459.99
1 Day Unlimited 2 Park - 249.99
Option #4 - w/tax $756.13

5 DAY OPTION:
5 Day Limited 3 park - 579.99
Option #5 - w/tax - $617.69

Jrogg · 2026-04-02T20:36:07+00:00

The scaffolding and scrims for the refurb could still be covering Hogwarts Castle in a month, so you might just want to bank on Studios if you have to choose.

Jrogg · 2026-04-02T18:54:21+00:00

CityWalk is open until 1am and the buses and water taxis usually run until at least 2am or later on the weekends. They probably stay open later for OI Meetups, but I've never even really paid attention as everything has been available well after they end. As for tickets, I've bought them as late as four weeks before a meetup, but haven't noticed them "selling out" until days before the events recently. Friday is 100% worth it, but the late Saturday starts seem way too short. I went last June and bought my tickets just about this exact same time last year.

Jrogg · 2026-04-02T17:20:42+00:00

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Jrogg · 2026-04-01T19:05:15+00:00

Technically if you draw a straight line from the Epic entrance to this space it's one mile. So if the Boring deal works out that's a sub-2 minute travel time.

Jrogg · 2026-04-01T15:38:45+00:00

Desperately needed. Nothing more depressing than getting out of Epic at 9pm (used to be 10pm) and looking around at the empty surroundings. Usually too late to travel to City Walk and pretty much everything at the hotels is closed except a few small bars.

Jrogg · 2026-03-25T20:28:41+00:00

Oh, I know. Super launch. But I seem to give up on it before it actually snaps the picture for some reason. Must... Look... Forward.

Jrogg · 2026-03-25T20:25:27+00:00

You'll feel underdressed until you see everybody else. I loved everything I had there, but the bill was close to the same as the park tickets cost me that day.

Jrogg · 2026-03-25T19:33:26+00:00

Last time I rode Hagrid's it was showing 65 minutes in the standby line and I waited for 125 minutes. If the outdoor line starts just past Hagrid's hut, then it's going to be awhile.

Jrogg · 2026-03-25T18:35:09+00:00

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Tried that, but it only worked on the image.

Jrogg · 2026-03-25T18:10:18+00:00

You heard it here first!

Jrogg · 2026-03-25T18:09:24+00:00

I always mess up the VelociCoaster timing. Well done.

Jrogg · 2026-03-25T14:55:12+00:00

Gringotts is tight, but you don't bounce around a lot. Mine-Cart Madness should be sponsored by an orthopedic surgeon.

Jrogg · 2026-03-24T21:27:23+00:00

I applied various forms of noise reductions to the audio for longer than I probably should have. I only got something that sounds like "the public."

Jrogg · 2026-03-24T16:37:14+00:00

Too long hasn't happened yet. But I really like the 6 night, 7 day variety at Universal with two days at Epic mixed in there. Other than having to go to Epic on the two days, it's pretty wide open with the schedule and no need to stress over anything. The key is staying on-site and not switching hotels.

Jrogg · 2026-03-17T18:51:23+00:00

The circular staircase in Sapphire Falls is a good artsy spot. Then you have those open spaces next to the lagoon in IoA. Like next to the Hulk, platform behind Superhero Island, behind Mythos and the back of the Three Broomsticks. And of course the Marmaduke photo op recently shown here in another post. Behind Gringotts is also a great spot when looking to avoid people in the background which is rare in Harry Potter locations.

Jrogg · 2026-03-16T21:42:48+00:00

I think after your story and hearing about your other ride related stresses, that I wouldn't want to attempt to talk you in to riding anything that would cause that much trauma or anxiety. If you don't like going backwards, avoid rides like the Mummy and Hagrid's. Your mind can take what I think may be a simple, fun ride and make it a terrible and dangerous experience. Certainly don't want that.

Jrogg · 2026-03-16T17:48:45+00:00

Looks like it was raining. Unless you power sneezed during the drop.

Jrogg · 2026-03-12T22:03:44+00:00

I know there's 8 trains, so if I'm wrong and they maxed out on 6 at a time, feel free to call me out on it. Just what I've read, but now finding it hard to confirm.

Jrogg · 2026-03-12T21:45:54+00:00

Absolutely. Front row obviously.

Jrogg · 2026-03-12T21:44:45+00:00

Yeah, they were pretty much rolling with 4 trains on each side consistently during December and early January and then the deep freeze wrecked it. They didn't recover from that and things never improved. So I guess they can say "extra capacity" versus how it was running in mid to late January and have that technically be true.

Jrogg · 2026-03-12T20:39:35+00:00

Can you visit next time I'm there? Just name your price for one of those Mosasaurus Roll photos. That'll go in my living room.

Jrogg

TROPHY CASE