Photos: Universal Orlando Introduces New DreamWorks Land and Exciting Summer Entertainment

Image: Shrek’s Swamp Meet With Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona (Photo Credit: Brooke McDonald)

by Brooke McDonald
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Sun June 16, 2024

On June 14, Universal Orlando Resort debuted a new lineup of daytime and nighttime experiences spanning both theme parks and celebrating a broad lineup of Universal’s most popular franchises, including Shrek,Harry Potter, E.T. and Back to the Future. From a new kid-friendly DreamWorks Land to nighttime shows and a parade (debuting July 3) guaranteed to unlock core childhood memories for adults, Universal Orlando’s new summer attractions and entertainment offer a blend of upbeat playfulness and emotional nostalgia with plenty of appeal for the youngest guests and their families and adults visiting without kids.?

DreamWorks Land Is Officially Open

DreamWorks Land opened June 14, bringing a colorful glow-up to the former Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone area at Universal Studios Florida. Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda provide the inspiration for the new land’s three themed areas, which offer a mix of whimsical entertainment, characters, snacks and treats, and interactive splash and play zones.?

Shrek’s 35-foot-tall cottage is the land’s eye-catching icon and home to Shrek’s Swamp Meet, where Shrek’s belches and Donkey’s banter are balanced by a more demure Princess Fiona.?

But every parent knows potty humor reigns supreme — especially when it comes to Shrek — so it’s no surprise that the piece de resistance in nearby play area Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres is, in fact, Shrek’s outhouse. Best to leave the propriety at home for this one — a trip through the outhouse and down the green tube slide beneath it yields sound effects that have already earned it the nickname —?”the fart slide.” Next to the slide, at Pinocchio’s Fact Shack, you can ring a bell and an animatronic Pinocchio will share a “fact” (psst, he’s lying).

Younger kids not big enough for the nets and slides in Shrek’s Swamp can hop across lily pads to activate frog ribbits in King Harold’s Swamp Symphony, and push and pull buttons and levers to interact with on-screen cats in Mama Luna Feline Fiesta.?

In Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp, guests can interact with Po on a screen (similar to EPCOT’s Turtle Talk With Crush), and get kung fu pointers from Po while he juggles cooking and babysitting.?

Swamp Snacks and Trolls Treats?

Savory and sweet Shrek- and Trolls-inspired snacks are clever, tasty, and Instagrammable enough to entice even grown-ups sans kids.?

At Swamp Snacks, the Shrekzel with gooey, green cheese is a must. There’s also a pizza/waffle mashup and a hot dog topped with yet another green cheese.?

For a lighter, sweeter snack, the Frozen Ogre sour apple ice pop and Chonkey Donkey chocolate ice pop, reminiscent of a pudding pop, are fun and refreshing.?

At Trolls Treats, pink lemonade and huckleberry soft serve stand in for Poppy and Branch’s hair in Poppy-licious Pink and BroZone Berry soft serve cones.?

For parents who’ve earned a reward for standing at the bottom of the fart slide all day, there are adult beverages on both menus too.?

Trolls Trollercoaster Is Cute, But Quick

DreamWorks Land’s only ride, Trolls Trollercoaster is a colorful retheme of Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, a family-friendly coaster with a 36-inch minimum height requirement. It’s now been reimagined as a ride aboard the “Caterbus,” ??joining the Trolls in an escape from not-too-scary spiders. Rainbow lights and great music left us vibing in the queue, but the ride is less than a minute, so you might want to skip it if the wait is too long.?

In Trolls Village, Trolls fans can also meet Poppy and Branch in front of a central fountain and climb on colorful bugs and flowers beneath a giant mushroom in Poppy’s Playground.

Splash Zones Galore

DreamWorks Land has several spots to splash — or avoid. In Shrek’s Swamp,giant cattails dispense a gentle spray. At Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp, the Pond of Perpetual Wetness offers another standard splash pad. But for total soaking, head to the Laundry of Ultimate Cleanness, also at Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp, and you could end up positively drenched by buckets of water overturned by playful pandas.?

DreamWorks Imagination Celebration Pulls It All Together

A new stage show starring live actors accompanied by dancers and characters from Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda ties a bow around a visit to DreamWorks Land. The high-energy show features some of the most popular music from the films and gives guests a chance to see a steady stream of favorite DreamWorks characters dance their hearts out —?seriously, Shrek’s got moves. There’s not a bad seat in the house and the AC is blasting, making this the perfect time to rest tired feet and take in the feel-good entertainment.?

CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular Celebrates the Emotional Power of Movie Music

No nighttime spectacular succeeds without a great soundtrack, so when your catalog of films features some of the most iconic scores of all time, it just makes sense to make music the star of the show.?

“This is a journey for our guests through memorable movie moments but utilizing the emotional power of cinematic music, and that is the thread,” said Michael Aiello, senior director of entertainment creative development at Universal Orlando, during a media preview Thursday. “The music is the story here.”?

The 22-minute show above the lagoon in Universal Studios Florida pairs 228 fountains, 4K projection mapping, fireworks and more than 600 drones with an original arrangement of iconic film scores to showcase key scenes from films including Jurassic World, Jaws, How to Train Your Dragon,Ghostbusters, Harry Potter and more.?

With so many nostalgic classics woven amongst newer films, every viewer is all-but-guaranteed to have their moments of emotional response during this show, and they won’t all be the same. This has the effect of a near-constant series of climactic moments — for me, it was E.T., Jurassic Park and Back to the Future. For a friend watching next to me, it was Jaws and Harry Potter. For younger viewers, Trolls dance-party fun and Minions hijinks interject joyful levity, while How to Train Your Dragon brings the feels.?

CineSational runs select nights through August 25.?

Hogwarts Always Debuts in Universal Islands of Adventure

A new projection show has begun lighting up Hogwarts Castle at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter —?Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, select nights through Aug. 25. The show traces the journey through a school year at Hogwarts, from Diagon Alley to the Sorting Ceremony, to the House Cup. On any given night, viewers could see one of four different endings, with the Hogwarts Castle illuminated with the colors and crest of the House Cup Winner.?

Still to Come: Universal Mega Movie Parade?

There’s one more big summer debut still to come — and the good news is it’s sticking around longer than the two nighttime shows, so there’s more time to catch it. Universal Mega Movie Parade debuts July 3 and will be performed select days through November 14.

Carrying forward the CineSational’s celebration of iconic movies, the daytime parade, Universal’s biggest to date, will feature 13 new floats and nearly 100 performers. Universal has teased highlights like a 16-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, a live marching drumline accompanying a Jaws float, and an epic Jurassic World finale.?

If CineSational is any indication, this will be a must-see parade.?

Mall Madness: ‘The Tribute Store Plaza’

If you’re old enough to remember 1980s shopping malls and video stores before Blockbuster, prepare to have core memories unlocked when you enter the Tribute Store Plaza, a limited-time themed store at Universal Studios Florida. If you’re too young, well, go easy on those of us who just realized recreations of 1980s spaces like The Tribute Store Plaza are the equivalent of those “old-fashioned” 1950s-inspired diners we grew up visiting with our parents.

Far more than just a store, immersive “mega” rooms recreate classic ‘80s retail spaces. The Mega Video Rental store is endlessly detailed, down to the wood paneling, rewind reminders on the walls, and even that mysterious room behind the beaded curtain your parents would whisk you past.?

One step into the blacklit Mega Castle Arcade with its neon-patterned carpet and arcade games lining the walls, and muscle memory will have you ready to straighten out those dollar bills to feed into the token machine. This room also houses the Tribute Store’s requisite sweets case, set up as part of the arcade’s ticket redemption counter, alongside baskets of yo-yos, whoopie cushions, and cheap knick-knacks, with real merchandise displayed on the wall in the style of the big-ticket prizes you remember.

Finally, the Tribute Theatre mimics a theater lobby, down to the red carpet and heavy gold curtains. Overhead along the room’s four walls, 3D displays from Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, and Jaws pay homage to the retro promotional displays of the era.?

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.