Universal Hollywood to Host Transformers Fan Event

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that it will be holding a Transformers Fan Experience on Friday, June 20th.

Interestingly enough, and not by coincidence, BotCon will also be going on in Pasadena over the weekend as well. So, for Transformers fans, it's definitely a full weekend of events to hit up!

Universal's event will run from 3pm until 11pm on the 20th and costs $75, which includes park admission for the full day. Not a bad deal since park tickets are normally $87 and up, but remember the tickets are only good for the 20th.

So, just what do they have planned for the event? According to the event's website, here's the breakdown:

Join fellow Transformers fans for a special evening to celebrate everything Transformers. Enjoy EXCLUSIVE AFTER HOURS access to experience park attractions including:

• TransformersTM: The Ride – 3D
• Meet & Greet with Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee and Megatron
• Props from the latest Transformers movie
• Panel discussions with Transformers experts
• Hasbro Artist performances
• Music performance by Stan Bush, featuring the song “The Touch,” from Transformers: The Movie
• Commemorative event lanyard
• 10% off select merchandise
• FREE, individually numbered, limited edition commemorative poster exclusive to this event
(while supplies last)

Not a bad rundown and definitely might be something that fans may want to check out, or avoid, depending on how much they liked the movies. Though, the up close look at props from the newest movie is a pretty cool deal regardless.

Tickets are available here and again are only $75. So, if you're in town for BotCon already and want a little something extra, could be worth the trip. Even if you're not a huge fan, could be a cool experience either way!

The Shitstorm of News: Disney and Universal are at it again!

..The Shitstorm of News..

Disney and Universal Edition

Wow, things have been fairly wild lately with news announcements.  

They've been flowing out of the theme parks lately like trots after a Cozumel vacation!
(They told you NOT to drink the water!)



Let's Begin with the BIGGEST of these stories, because a few of you may yet still be living under rocks and not heard what sent the internet into a complete uproar worse then a teenager saying "I didn't get my period" after a drunken prom.

Disney buys Lucasfilm for $4.05 BILLION

"I felt a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and joy at the same time" -What the Internet did on 10/30/12

HOLY SHIT!

The internet collectively had an orgasm and died at the same time the moment this one went live. I can't even begin to describe the chaos that every single social network feed I have became, it was the biggest geek media news in the world. This was bigger them Marvel folks, the reaction was a mix of pure outrage mixed with pure joy. I can't even put it into words but I think most of us just read, then re-read this news going "Wait.. What?!" cause I sure as hell did!

This came entirely out of left field, No one had a clue this would happen. While Disney and Lucas have had a good working relationship that began in 1986 with Star Tours and followed through with other big names like "Indiana Jones". It was shocking news to everyone because there was never even a hint of a whisper about this being a deal. Between Marvel and Lucasfilm, The Walt Disney Company with one swift move now owns a vast majority of our collective childhoods. Most of us who follow along with the theme parks are now entirely convinced that Igor (oops) Iger is obsessed with owning Intellectual Properties of other franchises, at least the ones proven to make a MINT of money.  With this deal they don't just get the movies, Oh No, They get the whole bloody lot. LucasArts (Video Games), Industrial Light and Magic (Special Effects) and Skywalker Sound (Sound Effect/Music/Design/Mixing). 

Disney is making some BIG promises with this buyout, the biggest news being a "StarWars Episode VII" which has suddenly been promised to us in 2015 with more movies to follow every. two. or. thee. years. 

Frankly, I don't know how to feel about that either considering they've flat out said our beloved characters will NOT be involved in this new movie series. The rumor mill is working overtime but from what I've been able to discover it will be in the "Star Wars Universe" on a Parallel Line. So same place, different people.  This new movie is been confirmed to be written by a Pixar Monkey known as "Michael Arndt" who wrote Toy Story 3 and Little Miss Sunshine. Your guess is as good as mine on how the hell THAT will turn out!

There is also no word if this will effect the new "Star Wars 1313" game which has been in production for a while now. 

I can't honestly tell you how I personally feel about this. Star Wars was a big part of my childhood and young adult years and still a beloved series. In the best faith I can't decide if Disney has the true creative power to handle Star Wars as a whole, Oh they are good. Don't get me wrong on that and they have more hits then misses but can they do Star Wars? I don't know. Disney and I have a love/hate relationship and as much as I hope for good I'm going to approach a new movie very, very tentatively and with low expectations. 

(And because Disney is STILL mad about Universal's Harry Potter Announcement taking light off their Fantasyland Expansion, they've been pissing in Universals cheerios every chance they can.. which the newest round would be...)

Optimus Prime WRECKS Orlando 

“Sometimes even the wisest of men and machines can be in error.”-Optimus Prime

Like we all didn't KNOW this was coming but Universal has officially announced that in Summer of 2013 "Transformers: The Ride 3D" will be coming to Universal Studios Orlando.  This announcement launched with a rather cool website which is said to feature a good bit of the pre-show information included as various videos from NEST and General Morshower, as well as ride information and buzz around the attraction

Prepare for Battle

Frankly I think this is an addition that the Orlando Studios Park has been needing. Despicable Me is good addition for the kids but this is something to really haul in the multi-age fans and the younger boy market. Since Islands of Adventure has Harry Potter which draws the people Studios has been facing lower crowds and with the loss of JAWS something has really needed to happen to generate interest and pull people back into the original park.  Transformers looks to open on time as the demolition is already done and supports for the attraction are already being put into place, it's going vertical quickly.

However still no word on what's happening with the area JAWS used to be located in although construction is proceeding over there at a rapid pace. Many think it's the rumored expansion of Wizarding World and others (like myself) are still sitting on the fence and waiting for either visual proof or for Universal to tell us what they're really up to.

All Sarcasm and Smartassery is mine and doesn't reflect on anyone but my own twisted sense of humor.

Universal Orlando Announces.. an Announcement!

Universal Announces.. an Announcement

Holy Shit on a Shingle, Spiderman!

Universal Orlando's Public Relations is finally breaking the mass seal of silence that's been held over the parks new construction projects.  This comes months after ground-breaking on several of their new constructions which has been mired in rumors and speculation since the masses got a glimpse of equipment being moved in.

The Big Announcement is November 1st, 2012 at 7:30pm EST and be viewed live from their Facebook page.

However, like most things theme park these are pretty much the worst kept secrets ever. Because people like me are nosy as hell, we snoop and listen to the rumors then look at the trends. We all know exactly what is under construction in Orlando even if some of us (read: ME) are in total denial about it and thus refuse to accept it until forced into said submission by an announcement.

Needless to say, Universal botched this 'secret' less then ten minutes after the count-down clock went up. A few industrious folks took a look at the coding and well.. secret blown!

If you DON'T want to know and wish to be surprised, avoid the picture below! I'd also recommend staying away from Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and any other form of social media if you follow theme park folks because we're all talking about it right now!

Credit to @_DanWest 

Smooth Universal, Smooth! 

But thanks for telling us so quickly!