Permits, Surveys, and Big Moves as Universal’s Next Era Points to Saudi Arabia (Ep. 83)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 26 December 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This holiday week episode of the Epic Universal Podcast was recorded on Christmas Eve, which means Jim and Eric are juggling last minute shopping, customer service horror stories, and a surprisingly full slate of Universal news. From attractions closing sooner than expected to permits hinting at big changes in Islands of Adventure, this show looks both at what is ending and what might be coming next. They also zoom way out, from Epic Universe’s nighttime ambitions to the possibility of Universal’s next global park landing in a very hot climate. NEWS • The Horror Make-Up Show at Universal Studios Florida is officially closing January 4, with speculation swirling about what kind of reimagined experience might replace it. • New permits tied to Intamin suggest real movement in the Lost Continent area at Islands of Adventure, fueling renewed talk of a possible Legend of Zelda attraction. • Universal files trademarks for Celestial Goodnight, pointing strongly toward a nighttime spectacular at Epic Universe. • Ongoing guest surveys hint that a FanFest-style separately ticketed event could be headed to Universal Orlando, featuring IPs like Lord of the Rings, Pokémon, Godzilla, and K-Pop Demon Hunters. • Universal is reviewing bids for a long-term transportation system connecting Epic Universe with the original Universal Orlando campus. FEATURE • A Wall Street Journal report revives talk of a Universal Studios park in Saudi Arabia, likely financed by the Saudi government through a licensing deal. • How this potential project echoes past international ventures like Dubailand, including what went wrong and what Universal may have learned. • Why indoor, climate-controlled parks are the only viable model for the region and how this mirrors Disney’s recent Middle East strategy. • What all of this says about Universal’s future, from regional parks like Universal Kids Resort to massive international expansions. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, a platinum-level earmarked travel agency specializing in Universal and Disney destinations. Get started on your next adventure at BeOurGuestVacations.com and let them know the Epic Universal Podcast sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to the epic universal podcast. I'm entertainment writer Jim Hill,
0:20.4	and this is the podcast where we cover the
0:22.1	latest universal news, rumors and history. And as always, I'm joined by Eric Hersey. But
0:28.2	Eric, I have to stress here, folks, we are recording this on Christmas Eve. And Eric with three
0:36.0	children and his lovely wife, Lauren, you have been hopping around this morning, right? Every day, every day there's a little bit of hopping around, Jim. But yeah, we braved the stores today to get our last minute. We did get a honey baked ham. And boy, they had that place staff. That was very efficient. You walk in, they had your name. They moved you to the next station, next station. They knew what they were doing. They must be selling.
0:58.0	Lauren goes as far to say, Easter and Christmas is probably what keeps that store afloat. So, and I'm like they probably. But yeah, we've been moving around. Jim, what's been on your docket? What you've been doing besides fighting with PayPal and Bose?
1:11.8	Well, again, you know, I want to stress here that, you know, a PayPal, not your pal, you know, may not pay.
1:20.0	On the other hand, the Bose Corporation at this point, if someone from the Bose Corporation called me at 3 o'clock in the morning and said, hey, I need you to come pick me at the airport. I'm in the car. All right. I have never had
1:32.7	customer service like that in my entire life, Eric. I mean, in fact, I didn't get to finish the story.
1:41.3	I started the story on Marvelous Disney. But I, seriously,
1:46.5	you know, they sent me three refunds while I was recording with Dan. But, but, you know,
1:54.1	and again, each of these was for $2,890. In fact, when I finally talked with the person
2:00.7	at, you know, at Bose and what's going on and said,
2:03.6	well, you've got a, you know, a thief here with great taste. You know, they, you know, they went for
2:11.2	our top line sound bar, you know, so that they had ordered four of them. And but again, only three of the refunds had gone through.
2:20.7	And so, you know, and I finished recording with Dan, and I'm like, you know, I, you know,
2:25.5	and I'm very happy.
2:26.9	I'm three quarters of the way done.
2:28.5	But I figured, well, I'll reach out and find out what's going on.
2:31.4	And I got yet another, uh, Bo's employee. And again, they're in the UK.
2:38.0	I mean, they're five hours ahead. It's the middle of the night. And I'm like, I'm so sorry.
2:43.3	You guys have been terrific today. But I had these four fraudulent transactions and I've only been a refundor three.
	...

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