The last sign of Hello Kitty was removed from the former Hello Kitty Store in Universal Studios Florida as it’s transformed into a Wicked experience.
Wicked: The Experience Construction
Last time we checked on the shop, some Hello Kitty theming had been removed from the exterior. Now, the Hello Kitty statue and handprints are gone.
The space where Hello Kitty and her handprints used to be is now surrounded by temporary fencing. A black tarp is over the rectangle in the ground.
The picture above shows what the facade and statue used to look like.
The building has also gained green trim inspired by the Emerald City and Elphaba, a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West. Additionally, fresh green paint has been added to panels over the store’s floor-to-ceiling windows.
The attached UNI VRS facade has also seen updates this week. The “Jaws” and Felix the Cat decals have been removed from the windows. The columns around the right window are green and those around the left are pink. Concept art for Wicked: The Experience indicates the UNI VRS murals above will be replaced with murals of Glinda and Elphaba.
A crew member in a scissor lift was working on the side of the pink tower during our visit.
Another crew member was touching up the neon green paint on the adjacent wall. The entire wall is now green, with darker shades on the columns and panels.
The last store entrance is also now completely green, except for the tops and bottoms of the columns which are a yellow-gold color. The last time we checked on the store, the columns were still blue and the walls were still beige. UNI VRS signage is still on the windows.
Finally, we noticed that there are some white splotches that need to be touched up on the side of the building facing Minion Land.
At Wicked: The Experience, guests will “step into the fantastical Land of Oz,” traveling along the yellow brick road into a variety of locations from the film, including Shiz University and the Emerald City. Costumes and props created by the film’s designers will be displayed, alongside scenery and theming recreating moments from the film.
“Wicked,” the first film in a duology based on the Broadway musical, will be in theaters on November 22. Earlier this month, the “Wicked” Noble collection was revealed at New York Comic-Con.
Are you excited for Wicked: The Experience to open? Let us know in the comments.
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