Hello Kitty Gone - Hello Oz!

Universal Orlando Resort
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The Hello Kitty / UNIVRS store at the entrance of USF has been closed for a week or so. The future of this store has been up in the air for a while. It’s closed & reopened more than once over the last couple of years.

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Well… starting in late October USF will welcome guests to Wicked: The Experience – housed in the former location of the UNIVRS store and adjacent retail locations steps away from the front gate – where they will have the unique opportunity to step into the fantastical Land of Oz. This exclusive, one-of-a-kind experience will whisk guests along the yellow brick road and into a variety of iconic Wicked locations from Shiz University to the Emerald City. Fanciful costumes and props created by the designers from the film will also be on display as guests become immersed in spectacular scenic and theming that will recreate some of the most memorable moments of the film.

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Themed dining will complement these exciting Wicked experiences at both theme park locations, as well as Voodoo Doughnuts and The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen at both Universal CityWalk locations will share the joy with the debut of a limited time treats inspired by the world of Wicked.

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That’s really cool!

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I guess that’s cool.

But it means I will have to finally actually pay attention to what all this Wicked stuff is about.
I’ve been avoiding it through disinterest for years :laughing:

However, the casting of Jeff Goldblum in the movie along with UOR embracing it means my interest is finally piqued…

So, do I need to see a stage show or just learn the songs?

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I saw the stage show years ago and was severely disappointed. It’s a beautiful set design and a couple songs are great. However, IMHO, it’s mostly boring and mediocre. My DD & I actually left the show with about two songs to go until the final curtain. I was torn about walking out, but she was ready to go and I wasn’t enjoying it anyway…

I know this will be an unpopular theater opinion!! Everyone seems to love the show! :crazy_face: :rofl: :shark: :shark:

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My teens (theater kids) are obsessed with Wicked. Any idea how long this will be there?

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I too was left disappointed by the actual production. I LOVEEE the book and the broadway cast recording. Just read the book or listen to the cast album.

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This is more likely for me.

I am not likely to read a book I’m not interested in. My ‘to read’ list of books I actually want to read is too long :laughing::laughing:

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Wicked is seasonal…I don’t know an end date yet! The movie opens Nov. 22, 2024. I’d assume it will be there at least that long - probably through the end of the year to promote the movie through the holidays

UNIVRS merch is now over at the Five & Dime in the Hollywood section of USF. Hello Kitty merch is scattered around the resort

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Ah, I got the wrong end of the stick then.
I thought this was a new attraction.
It’ll have been and gone before I go back, so I don’t need to read, listen, watch or get tickets for anything :partying_face::partying_face::rofl::rofl:

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I do wonder how many seasonal stores USF is going to have at once?? :rofl: :rofl: :shark: :shark:

Seasonal Tribute store by Mummy / Summer Tribute Store on Hollywood / UNIVRS at Minionsland

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I thought that was permanent too.

Did Hello Kitty count as temporary? Because I’m sure that’s been there since our first trip :thinking:

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I’m speculating that UNIVRS didn’t sell as well as they hoped! It was supposed to be a permeant store.

Kitty has held on for years. They’ve cut the store down a couple times until it has just been the corner of the store.

If they knock down the Kitty statue outside the store I guess we’ll know it’s gone for good!

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I’m kind of surprised Hello Kitty has held on this long. Do most kids even know who Hello Kitty is (unless they have a parent who is like my age and remembers her from their childhood)?

Similarly, I’m surprised Betty Boop is still a thing.

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My daughter is 22 and has been a Kitty fan the whole time. Anime and other Asian animation / media are still cool among kids

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This, I knew. But I didn’t think Hello Kitty was.

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Kitty is a Queen!! She’s such a “simple” character, like Mickey Mouse & Barbie, that she transcends generations. She can have any job, be anywhere and is always adorable.

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My kindergartener picked out a Hello Kitty backpack on her own. And my daughters LOVED the Hello Kitty store, the statue out front, and the character meet & greet when we went to UOR.

I don’t know how they know about Hello Kitty, but that’s the world we live in.

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I mean, who is Hello Kitty?

It’s she anything other than a cute plushie with a crap tonne of merchandise with her pic on it?

If not, then as long as the merch is available, new generations will know her :woman_shrugging:t4:

Betty Boop is a different story. There were some Betty Boop cartoon re-runs on TV when I was a kid, so I knew her from that. But I think she’s entirely outdated now.

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Because they saw her on a backpack :woman_shrugging:t4::laughing::+1:t4:

Isn’t that the whole thing??

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This is actually a genuine question.

Is Hello Kitty anything more than licensed merch??

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