Every year we look forward to the Lunar New Year Celebration at Universal Studios Hollywood and this year’s celebration was just as wonderful as before! Huddlebee was invited to visit on opening weekend to enjoy all the festivities and to provide coverage of the event. Our highlights included taking pictures with Tigress, Hello Kitty, and the Minons in their Lunar New Year Attire. We also had a great conversation with Mr. Ping at his noodle shop, and learned kung-fu moves from the Dragon Warrior (Po) himself (more details and pictures below). It was especially fun to see the Mandarin-speaking MEGATRON again! See our instagram highlights.
From January 23rd through Sunday Feb 9th, Universal Studios will be ushering in the “Year of the Rat,” . This spectacular themed Lunar New Year event takes place within Universal Plaza, located at the heart of the theme park, under a curtain of traditional red Chinese lanterns and stunning plum blossom trees. The plaza was so beautiful with the lanterns and plum trees, it’s a perfect picture spot and a great place to hang out and eat your lunch. Even in the evening this plaza was quite stunning.
Changes from this year from previous years in the Universal Plaza for the Lunar New Year celebration include the food selections as well as the change in the Dragon Warrior Show. We were impressed by the updated menu at Mr. Ping’s noodle shop. It now includes more soup noodle selections. We enjoyed our pork ramen and sweet sesame balls as dessert. They were very authentic! The Dragon Warrior Show is now replaced with a more interactive photo op/meet and greet with Po in the same spot. You can line up to take pictures with him and learn a few kung fu moves at the same time. There is no longer a stage where you sit and watch a show. It was more fun and interactive with this change. Now everyone can meet Po, not just the ones that are called up to volunteer for the show like in previous years.
More Details:
Lunar New Year is Included in the Price of Admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. Click Here for a Sneak Peek at the Annual Celebration.
The immersive event will feature Po and Tigress from the thrilling “Kung Fu Panda Adventure” attraction who will greet guests and pose for engaging photos; Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop returns by popular demand to serve up delicious culture-themed food, and Mr. Ping himself will be on hand to interact with guests and take memorable souvenir photos. Guests can learn how to draw Po and take home the drawing as a keepsake memento and, on select days, community cultural performances featuring traditional lion dances will round out the program.
Beloved global pop icon Hello Kitty, created by the lifestyle brand Sanrio, further complements this year’s Lunar New Year celebration when she steps out in style wearing her signature red bow and specially designed Lunar New Year attire. Hello Kitty will be available to meet guests at the Hello Kitty Shop located within the Animation Studio Store.
Keeping with Universal Studios Hollywood’s Lunar New Year tradition, MEGATRON from the TRANSFORMERS franchise will be speaking Mandarin while interacting with guests at the entry of the festivities. The imposing robot leader of the DECEPTICONS will engage attendees in real-time conversation reflective of his persona and will be sure to entertain TRANSFORMERS fans visiting the park. MEGATRON is one of the stars of Universal Studios Hollywood’s thrill ride, “Transformers™: The Ride-3D.”
Illumination Entertainment’s Minions from the theme park’s popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride will add to the festivities, entertaining guests in their brightly colored traditional Lunar New Year attire.
The world-famous Studio Tour is available in Mandarin at select times throughout the day. Featuring expertly-trained Mandarin-speaking tour guides, the experience provides insight into the world of movie-making magic as guests enjoy behind-the-scenes access to one of the largest production studios in the world. In-language park maps are also available for guests.
Guests can continue their Lunar New Year celebration at Universal CityWalk’s Dongpo Kitchen restaurant which features upscale and modern Sichuan cuisine. Inspired by China’s premier restaurant Meizhou Dongpo, Dongpo Kitchen offers the comforts of a casual dining environment with both indoor and al fresco seating and caters to an eclectic palate with a variety of signature dishes.
More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Mandarin-speaking guests can learn more about the Lunar New Year event at www.ush.cn. Information is also available on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Weibo @好莱坞环球影城.
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