Temporary and returning parade gates at Universal Studios Florida

Parade Gates Return to Universal Studios Florida After 2 Years, Scaffolding Down in San Francisco Area

Shannen Ace

The old Universal Studios Florida parade gate has been reinstalled after being gone for two years. This comes just before Universal Orlando Resort is set to announce a new summer parade.

Universal Studios Florida Parade Gate

Universal Studios Florida parade starting gates

Universal Studios Florida parades begin and end next to Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show in the park’s Hollywood section. The temporary gates that were installed in mid-2022 are still in place. The returning gates are visible behind the walls, however.

"Pictures" gate behind wall

The gates are black metal. There is a golden logo and lettering across the top.

"Pictures" in gold lettering at top of black gate

The right side of the gate reads “Pictures.”

Gold Esoteric Pictures logo on top of parade gate

The golden logo is in a black circle at the top corner of this gate, so it will be in the center when the two gates are closed.

"Esoteric" on parade gate

The other gate reads “Esoteric,” so together they make “Esoteric Pictures.”

Temporary and returning parade gates at Universal Studios Florida

It looks like the gates will now slide back and forth. Years ago, they swung backward, as seen in the photos by bioreconstruct embedded below.

If the gates now slide open, that will leave more safe space behind them for performers and parade floats.

The Esoteric Pictures gates were removed for refurbishment by at least February 2022. They were gone when we filmed the 2022 Mardi Gras Parade, as seen in our video below.

Bioreconstruct shared photos of the temporary gates later that year.

In August 2023, bioreconstruct spotted the Esoteric Pictures gates lying on the ground in the Universal Studios Florida back of house.

Construction walls have periodically been up where the gates used to be, even as parades continued.

San Francisco Construction

Construction walls around San Francisco facades

Speaking of construction walls, refurbishment work continues on the other side of Universal Studios Florida, in the San Francisco area of the park. Blue walls remain wrapped around this corner next to the Fast & Furious: Supercharged building.

San Francisco restrooms brick and red facade

Walls and scaffolding have finally come down from the area’s restrooms, though. The restrooms were open during work on the façade but guests had to walk between construction walls.

Brick facade with red window frames

The façade is brick with red window frames. The neon “The Wharfside Cannery” sign has not returned. Red awnings are also missing from the first floor.

Brick facade in San Francisco area of Universal Studios Florida

Right now, there is no sign for the restrooms on the façade.

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