Universal Orlando’s first theme park, Universal Studios Florida, was originally designed to blend movie-based rides and attractions with a working film backlot. To marry these concepts, the backlot streets, especially in the New York section of the park, are peppered with tributes you might never have noticed. As the park evolved and changed, tributes to closed attractions were added as well. Here are 5 favorites that are hidden in plain sight.
1. Hudson Street Home for Girls
One of the most famous orphans of all, Annie got her start in an 1885 poem and was the beloved star of a newspaper comic strip from 1924 until 2010. But for a generation of children, it was Aileen Quinn’s 1982 portrayal that stole their hearts. In that live-action film, Annie was depicted as living in Manhattan’s Hudson Street Home for Girls.
In Universal Studios Florida’s backlot, outside Ben & Jerry’s, take a peek at the brownstone wall. A plaque just like the one in the film reads, “Hudson Street Home for Girls.” It is easy to imagine the little redhead sitting in the window above, belting out “Maybe.”
2. Kong statue
Kongfrontation was the first of the Big Three opening day attractions to fall victim to the radical changes of the early 2000s. It closed in 2002 to make room for the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster. On its last day of operations, the company threw an after-hours party, complete with bananas, for annual passholders to say goodbye.
Apparently, it was not only annual passholders who were sad to see the big ape go. Next time you are on the Mummy, take a good look to your left inside the treasure room. Up on a pedestal is a small golden statue of King Kong.
Incidentally, the statue is not all that remains of Kong. If you have excellent vision, keep your eyes peeled at the ceiling throughout the ride. The Kong tracks form part of the structural support for the building and cannot be removed. Although the lighting is designed to obscure the tracks, it is possible to catch a quick glimpse here and there.
3. Kitty Kat Club
Set it Berlin in 1931, on the eve of the Nazi rise to power, Cabaret is an emotionally powerful musical stage play and film. Most of the action surrounds the Kit Kat Club, a fictional representation of the Kit-Cat Club, a staple of the literary and political scene in early 18th century London.
At Universal Studios Florida, the Kit Kat Club is honored with a neon sign on Delancey Street, a small side road in the New York section of the park. Although the name has been changed to the Kitty Kat Club, the sign’s depiction of a beautiful redhead and a martini glass conjures up images of classic nightclubs. Too bad the club itself is only a façade!
4. O’Rourke’s Bar & Grill
If you are a fan of The Godfather, you undoubtedly caught the importance of Louie’s Italian Restaurant right away. But did you know that a smaller, more subtle tribute also exists at Universal Studios Florida? On the back side of New York, facing the Transformers ride, you will see a set of steps leading to a false front with a welcoming glass door. To the right is a sign for O’Rourke’s Bar and Grill, with a proprietor named Kelly O’Rourke. Fans of the movie will remember her tragic story.
5. Buena Vista Café
When Universal came to Florida, the team knew they were taking on Disney in its own backyard. The company downplayed the competitive aspect of their opening, instead focusing on making their park the best it could possibly be. Yet they couldn’t ignore their competitor altogether.
Next to the Express entrance for Disaster, look up above the windows at the Buena Vista Café sign. Walt Disney World lies in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and Downtown Disney was originally the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village. While the sign is undoubtedly a nod to San Francisco’s real Buena Vista Café, the fact that it hangs above an always-closed eatery (actually a false front) creates a marvelous, and not often noticed, subtle dig at Disney.
Of course, these are only a few of the hidden tributes packed inside Universal Studios Florida. Throughout the park, those who slow down and take their time will be rewarded with innumerable small details. What are your favorites?
