The upcoming “Universal’s Cinematic Celebration” nighttime show on the lagoon of Universal Studios Florida has reached one of its final phases before its grand opening later this summer: technical rehearsals which guests will be able to watch.
While guests have reported seeing sporadic tests of the fountains in recent weeks, July 4 was the first glimpse some members of the media and guests had of most of the show. As Universal said when it confirmed details about the show in June, it features large water screens, dancing fountains and projection mapping technology both in and around the lagoon.
It’s all designed to be seen from a newly built, tiered viewing area in the Central Park section of Universal Studios Florida, unlike past lagoon shows which could be experienced from multiple points in the park.
The show features several sections based around Universal-owned franchises as well as some owned by other studios but featured in Universal’s parks. It opens with scenes from “Jurassic World” and the “Fast and Furious” series before transitioning to “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” which wraps up with a shot of the film’s flying bicycle scene.
Source: Michael Aiello, Universal Orlando’s senior director of entertainment and creative development
The next sequence focuses on animated films from DreamWorks, including “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Kung Fu Panda.” “Transformers” and the “Harry Potter” films also get their own sections in the show, along with the “Despicable Me” characters and shots from other films made by Illumination Entertainment.
In all, the show lasts just under 20 minutes. When reached for comment by Orlando Rising, Universal said guests there’s no guarantee the show will be operating every night as the rehearsal phase continues.
“During technical rehearsal, ‘Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration’ will open on a limited, unscheduled basis,” a Universal spokesperson said. “Also, some of its elements may not be operational as we continue to test and refine all technical aspects of the show.”
This was true of the first rehearsal as no pyrotechnics were used during the show.
The show is set to officially open at an unspecified date later this summer.