A DESTINATION UNTO ITSELF

Universal CityWalk continues to impress

By Heather Turk

With so much to experience, it’s always hard for guests to leave Universal CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort. However, its newest attraction will make it more challenging than ever to depart the dynamic destination.

“Since opening in 1999, Universal CityWalk has become an epicenter of awesome for locals and visitors alike,” said Deb Buynak, senior vice president and general manager of Universal CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort. “The 30-acre complex is home to innovative culinary experiences, retail shops featuring memorable and exciting merchandise and entertainment options, and we’re excited to expand CityWalk’s offerings with the addition of Universal’s Great Movie Escape.” Scheduled to open in late 2022, Universal’s Great Movie Escape is an all-new escape room experience that features the innovative storytelling guests have come to expect from Universal Orlando Resort. Designed by the same creative masterminds responsible for Halloween Horror Nights, the attraction features two escape rooms inspired by the blockbuster films “Jurassic World” and “Back to the Future.” Through interactive stateof-the-art missions, captivating storytelling and intricately detailed sets, guests will be swept into the dinosaur adventures of “Jurassic World” or the time-traveling chaos of “Back to the Future” as they solve their way through a multisensory experience unlike any other. The immersive escape room experiences will join several other

No trip to Universal Orlando Resort is complete without spending some time at CityWalk The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is one of several original concept restaurants

entertaining attractions already at Universal CityWalk, including Hollywood Drive-In Golf — two 1950s-inspired, 18-hole putt-putt courses — and CityWalk’s Rising Star, an energetic karaoke club where guests can perform with a live band and backup singers.

For participants who work up an appetite trying to escape, Universal CityWalk is renowned for its many delectable restaurants, including the world’s largest Hard Rock Cafe. For something sweet and savory, the steampunk-themed Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is guaranteed to wow tastebuds. Guests can feast upon such impeccable (and innovative!) dishes as the chocolate-crusted Cocoa Pork Tenderloin and pair their selection with an assortment of decadent milkshakes. Diners might even be treated to a visit from some special guests during their lunch or dinner, as the restaurant’s own Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her trusty robot companion, Jacques, are often walking around interacting with visitors.

Universal CityWalk is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir that pays tribute to some of your favorite movies, too, as it boasts an 8,300-square-foot flagship Universal Studios Store with more than 2,000 items — including a home collection featuring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Additionally, it’s home to the first-ever Universal Legacy Store showcasing an extensive selection of merchandise inspired by beloved classic attractions like Jaws and Back to the Future – The Ride.

Universal CityWalk is open daily. Download the Universal Orlando Resort app for each venue’s hours of operation. universalorlando.com

Hollywood Drive-In Golf features two familyfriendly courses: “The Haunting of Ghostly Greens” and “Invaders from Planet Putt”

Feel like a rockstar while belting out your favorite tunes at CityWalk’s Rising Star karaoke club

Meet Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her robot companion, Jacques, at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen