Universal Destinations & Experiences

Saturday Night Live (SNL) celebrates its 50th anniversary season this year, and Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort are celebrating with new merchandise. Fans can commemorate the moment with t-shirts, mugs, blankets, and more featuring the SNL 50 logo and some of the most iconic SNL sketches.

Illumination’s Minion Land, the latest addition to Universal Studios Singapore Resorts World Sentosa, is now open. The new land offers an exciting array of attractions, dining and exclusive merchandise, all inspired by Illumination’s beloved Despicable Me and Minions franchises. Exclusive to Universal Studios Singapore are Buggie Boogie – the first-ever Minion dance party-themed carousel – and Super Hungry Food Stand, the all-new, larger-than-film version of the waterfront snack stand from Despicable Me. Read more about the all-new land here: https://bit.ly/4hP8UvO

As Mardi Gras kicks off at Universal Orlando Resort, we’re celebrating the storied career of Michael Morman, a longtime team member who brought the Mardi Gras energy to life as part of the entertainment team!     From starting as a telephone technician, to becoming a performer and eventually leading the resort’s entertainment department, to now returning post-retirement and leading Universal Orlando’s youth program curriculums, Michael’s journey highlights the diverse career paths within our universe. 

Be sure to catch our commercial airing during the Big Game this Sunday! The countdown continues — Universal Epic Universe will open on May 22, 2025 at Universal Orlando Resort.

Meet Tonya Johnson, General Manager of CityWalk Merchandise Operations at Universal Orlando Resort, who says the biggest accomplishments during her 20-year career have been realized through the parks’ evolution. “I have been fortunate to be a part of our transformation through the years,” she says, referring to the opening of new attractions and merchandise locations, and currently, working on CityWalk’s Universal Studios Store expansion.    But most of all, she loves the impact her work makes on the community. “My favorite part of this role is getting to share in the joy that we bring to our guests and team members every day, as well as the impact that we make in our community. Community not only means our local community, but the community we build together as a team and organization.” 

Campus Commons opened last week at Universal Orlando Resort as a new hub for team members to collaborate, socialize, shop, dine and access exclusive services. Designed by Universal Creative, the facility was developed with team member feedback in mind to ensure it meets their needs and provides an all-in-one location for their workday.

On select nights from April 25 to May 18, 2025, fans of sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime will have more to celebrate when Universal Fan Fest Nights comes to Universal Studios Hollywood. From immersive activations and live entertainment to themed food and beverage options, fans will enjoy after-hours opportunities to celebrate some of their favorite franchises. Learn more about this exciting, new event here: https://lnkd.in/eZCt3wtm

Every year, Universal Beijing Resort celebrates the Chinese New Year with authentic festive spirit and plenty of fun. This year, Guests will ring in the Year of the Snake with themed decorations, snacks and merchandise in Chinese New Year Square, mark the celebration with an original show, and enjoy character meet and greets.    The Golden Wintersweet Tree of Blessings will also make its grand debut, dazzling with 30,000 lights, where guests can participate in an interactive and unique wishing experience. 

Universal Studios Japan(USJ LLC) is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Universal Cool Japan in 2025 with a year-long event, featuring popular Japanese entertainment. Since its inception to now, the event offerings showcase the work of Japanese-born talent to worldwide visitors. During this year’s milestone celebration, guests can immerse themselves in an interactive mystery show, act out detective-themed storylines with escape games and ride overlays, and more to be revealed throughout the year.  

Creating a menu for a new food and beverage location at Universal Destinations & Experiences is a process of research, innovation, character exploration and flavor discovery. Just ask Chef Julia Thrash, culinary and executive chef at Universal Studios Hollywood who developed the innovative menu for the new Hello Kitty® and Friends Cafe. “We wanted to get a bit of the insight behind each character, so we could bring them to life through the flavors and design of the overall menu,” says Thrash. She and her team dove into the Sanrio, Inc. universe to find the flavors that best represent each of Hello Kitty’s adorable friends. Visitors throughout the year will experience twelve specially crafted dome cake variations, available exclusively at Universal CityWalk Hollywood.