Happy Revenge of the Fifth! It’s Katie, WDWNT’s Editor in Chief, doing my favorite part of the job — playing reporter. Now that Star Wars Day is over, I can pivot to the other love of my life: Halloween Horror Nights.
Okay, okay. It’s only May, and I’m actually in town for Epic Universe. But I never pass up an excuse to go to the OG parks, so away we go.
Citywalk – Enemy Characters Spotted
The Universal Studios Store expansion boasted some familiar silhouettes today. Three different sections of the facade now feature poorly camouflaged signs for Super Nintendo World and characters.
My child-assigned Nintendo character is Luigi — and my intrepid Junior Reporter was quick to spot “me” among the featured ghostly shapes.
Moving on, or rather in, I had to snap a pic of these two besties. Leave it to Universal to wait until the hype died down to get a Deadpool plush.
Universal Studios Florida – A Salute to All Universal (But Mostly HHN)
Welcome hooooome. You’ve ariiiived. (Except we didn’t ride E.T. today. Why, you may ask? Because it was 35 minutes and we’re spoiled.)
After a quick peek at the former Studio Sweets and former On Location, we headed for the real reason we were here today. Replacing the pop-up in Brown Derby is a clearance store exclusive to UOAPs and Team Members in Williams of Hollywood.
Is this our Summer Tribute store? Say it ain’t so. Team Members said it’s a temporary pop-up, but they don’t know how long it’ll be there. What about our Hot Jaws Summer?!
Anyway, the merch in here is all 60% off… on top of some already marked-down prices. We’re talking Loungefly bags for $15. Bring your self-control. (Or don’t?)
Despite its sad, drab nature, the lovely retail decor team did throw us all a bone here. You’ll spot many Ghosts of Tribute Stores Past, including The Collector, Earl the Squirrel, Lil Boo, and more. Shannen, who also got to play reporter to take some of these pictures, aptly put it as “a tribute to tribute stores.”
My HHN heart was happy just seeing glimpses of McPherson’s, Boris Shuster’s novels, and more.
Wyld Stallyns reunion tour when?!
The Junior Reporter was less than impressed. “Why would Mr. Tape redecorate like this?” he asked. “Where’s the game room?” Sorry, little dude. Tribute Stores come and Tribute Stores go. Such is the way of things.
Watch our tour of the store below and stay tuned for a full photo tour article!
On my continued, accidental tour of Things That Remind Me of HHN, a dip through New York contained a David S. Pumpkins spotting. Some may remember his appearance at the Peacock Horror Bar two years ago, but the real ones remember his Bill and Ted cameos. I have to confess — I hadn’t seen the SNL skit before his first year on the Fear Factor stage, so I mostly associate the character with the event.
I deliberated trying the Summer Sour from the Coke truck on Park Avenue. I kind of regret not getting it, so I may go back. Has anyone tried it? Let me know if it’s worth it!
After checking in on our resident gumshoe, we dipped into Film Vault to be disappointed yet again by the lack of Jaws anniversary merch.
We did, however, pay our respects to more HHN artifacts.
Sahara Traders had nothing new; just another stop on my Tour de Horror. I haunted this place myself last August, watching the Bat Idol saga.
I take a lot of pictures of this sign. I just vibe with it.
But thanks to Grad Nites, we had a less pleasant HHN experience — flashbacks to Enter the Blumhouse.
Before dropping in on The Family, we paid our respects to Mr. Frank Kinkaid. RIP to a true legend.
We did NOT hear “Turn Down for What” at all today. Honestly, I’m kind of disappointed.
The Jaws bathrooms are still being refurbished. I like how, for a major anniversary year, someone sat down and said, “You know what? This seems like a good time to get rid of the last piece of Amity Island.” Maybe they’ll prove me wrong and keep the theming, but, uh… it seems unlikely.
At MIB Gear, I spotted my personal white whale. I know; wrong ocean life IP. Every trip, I say, “Next time, I’m getting the MIB Spirit Jersey,” and then I never do. (I just have so many black Spirit Jerseys.) Will this be the time? Stay tuned.
Speaking of sealife, we spotted the rare Mardi Gras Bead Rat King!
The Junior Reporter gets guaranteed at least one ride of his choice when it’s a working visit, and today, he requested to ride the “Harry Potter train” so he could go talk to the Mystic Fountain.
Remember how we skipped out on E.T. because it was 35 minutes? He still made us do the train even though it was just as long. I gotta say, if I had to pick which one is worth the wait, it’s not the Hogwarts Express.
Islands of Adventure (minus the adventure)
He visited the fountain with his dad while I ducked into All Hallows Eve Boutique (just to check for new stuff, not an intentional stop on the completely coincidental HHN tour). But HHN found me anyway.
The Lil Boo mug and atomic punk skull candle are 50% off.
Hi, H.R. Bloodengutz. Fancy seeing you here!
It’s always nice to run into the witch pumpkin columns from Sweet Revenge.
Anywho, our clock ran down, as at 4 p.m., my carriage AP turned back into a pumpkin keyboard. I swapped my reporter hat (please picture an old-timey cap with a “press” tag sticking out) and put on my editor hat (please picture the newspaper hats from that one episode of “Gilmore Girls.”)
We’ll be back globe-trotting soon, but first? First, we have to fulfill the Junior Reporter’s wildest Nintendo dreams. Catch ya on the flippity-flop!
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