Universal Studios Singapore – Park Update 09/2016

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica across the lagoon

An unexpected change at Universal Studios Singapore’s Battlestar Galactica rollercoasters? Check it out in this park update!

BREAKING: Lady Death Arises! Our Halloween Horror Nights 6 Review is now LIVE. Read it now! →

Battlestar Galactica update

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica middle

It’s been a while since we updated about Battlestar Galactica. No, the ride is not closing, and everything appears to be running fine.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica turning grey 1

But then, there is just one little change…

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica vertical loop grey

Please do not be alarmed. Yes, the tracks are being repainted.

The inverted rollercoaster experience that we all love is still the same.

It is a surprise that the park is doing this… out of the blue, but that grey track is a closer match to the colour of the Cylon Centurions. You can see the Centurions in our exclusive BSG relaunch photo tour. There’s nothing so blue about the Cylons – it’s just a pragmatic choice for contrast.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica turning grey 3 cylon entrance

Let’s imagine The shade shape of things to come

How the ride would look across the lagoon with Cylon® Centurion Space Grey™

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica turning grey simulation
Note: This is a simulated image.

Well. What do you think?

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica vertical loop grey

Earlier it seemed like preventive paint works to protect the ride tracks, but the final shade of grey covered the white undercoat.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica vertical loop blue and grey

Note: As of 21/9, this segment is now painted over. The signature vertical blue loop is no more.

Many concerned readers have already asked me about this whole grey track thing. It does not look like a temporary thing – I’ll be very surprised if the park reverts back to blue after Halloween Horror Nights. From what I’ve heard, this is permanent. Or maybe only the back half of the ride is grey?

And actually, the tracks are in 4 colours:

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / The many colours of Battlestar Galactica rollercoaster tracks

The red track on the right is a bit different – that’s the launch hill track segment. It’s a dark magenta shade, matching the BSG emblem that’s above the ride’s exit shop – see second photo in this post. Actually maroon and grey could resemble the branding of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica TV series.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica launch track grey

The tracks blend in very well with the ride’s queue building, and some of the support pillars, making the Cylon train seem more stealthy.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica grey section

But why now? That’s another item on The List of USS Mysteries.

Unless, this ride is going to be re-themed. *cue suspenseful music*

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Battlestar Galactica turning grey

What do you think about this? A mere change of aesthetics, or you really want blue tracks back?


Minion Mooncakes

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Minion Mooncake

For the Mid-Autumn Festival period this year, the park sold Despicable Me Minion Mooncakes. These went for $58 for a set of 4, and it came in a special box and a DIY minion lantern as well.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Minion Mooncake at Hollywood China Bistro

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Minion Mooncake box

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Minion Mooncakes

Four mooncakes, based on the design of four minions, had fillings in matcha, pandan, redbean matcha, and banana flavours.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Minion Mooncake being sold outside the park

Originally it was an in-park exclusive item, the mooncakes were eventually sold at the That’s A Wrap store outside the park.

USS isn’t stopping after this Minion Mooncake Mania, from now till 30 November 2016, there will be more minion-themed food as part of the Minion Food Adventure mini campaign at Mel’s Drive-In. We’ll have photos of this in the next park update!


Photos from around the park

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Abandoned kid

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / On-ride photos at Puss in Boot's Giant Journey

Puss in Boot’s Giant Journey now offers on-ride photos. Probably for quite a long time, since DEI took over the park’s photography services few months ago. The camera is placed at the final drop (right before the ‘awkward’ cat)

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Free Wifi at USS for Pokemon Go, Instagram, SnapChat

Did you know that the park offers free Wi-Fi now? You just need an email address to sign in. Post photos to your heart’s content, or even better, send us anything you’d like to share!

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Jurassic Park Egg Fountain under repair

Some parts of the park were closed for repairs – we captured some of them.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Flooring at Sci-Fi City and New York connection bulging

A portion of the flooring between New York and Sci-Fi City recently became uneven and bulged. The entire area is now closed off for repairs.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / School of Architecture window or haunted house

Is this the secret sixth Haunted House for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights 6?

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Kevin Barbee's window in serious disrepair

Chop chop, get to Kevin Barbee’s School of Architecture!

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Flooring repair at Hollywood

Some other repair work at the Hollywood Junction facing the HHN6 Stage. This should be done before HHN starts next week!

The Secret Life of Pets store display

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Secret Life of Pets store display 2

The Secret Life of Pets has landed at Universal Studios Store in Hollywood zone. We won’t be getting an attraction here (unlike in Universal Studios Hollywood) so the cute merch will be all we have for a while, until Lady Death and Jack bring in all their grisly souvenirs.

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Secret Life of Pets store display 3

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Secret Life of Pets store display 5

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Secret Life of Pets store display lanyards

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Secret Life of Pets store display 4

Universal Studios Singapore - Park Update September 2016 / Secret Life of Pets store display 5

Park Shows

Originally I intended to post some photos of the park’s shows in the August Park Update (which didn’t happen due to photoshoot schedule conflicts). Here are some of the photos from the cancelled park update:

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - The Dance for the Magic Beans

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - The Dance for the Magic Beans 2

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / opening float

Hollywood Dreams Parade is now on hiatus as the park is preparing for Halloween Horror Nights 6. The show should be returning sometime in the end of 2016 or January 2017, depending on the park’s plans for the Christmas event.

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Film reel ribbon dancer

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Marilyn

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Madagascar Tribal

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Jurassic Park segment 4 T-Rex

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Egypt segment Anubian Warrior 4 roar

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Egypt segment Isis

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Egypt segment Nile Princess

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Finale Betty Boop

Universal Studios Singapore Park Update August 2016  - Hollywood Dreams Parade / Finale Bubbly Girl waves goodbye

HHN6 March of the Dead

We have more park updates in our BEFORE DARK series covering the construction for Halloween Horror Nights 6. Don’t worry, it’s all taken in the day – nothing’s scary!

UPDATE: Our Halloween Horror Nights 6 Review is now LIVE. Read it now! →

Subscribe to Dejiki.com or Like my Facebook page for notifications of updates.

, , , , , , , ,

13 Responses to Universal Studios Singapore – Park Update 09/2016

  1. Dylan Goh September 22, 2016 at 11:45 am #

    Is it possible that they are refurbishing the entire Sting Alley? Maybe this was the reason why it was not used as a scare zone this year.

    • Dejiki September 22, 2016 at 11:55 am #

      Possibly! The whole area is in need of some sprucing up after being used for scare zones for the past 2 years.

  2. nicole September 22, 2016 at 3:34 pm #

    I want the blue tracks back!!! 🙁 grey looks too plain …

  3. Hakim September 22, 2016 at 5:30 pm #

    I’d cry if they re-themed battlestar galactica

  4. zooish September 22, 2016 at 10:58 pm #

    Very odd decision to repaint Cylon a dull grey. If Human remains bright red while Cylon blends in with the support structure, I wonder if there is a more insidious reason; like Cylon being decommissioned quietly?

    • Dejiki September 23, 2016 at 6:49 am #

      That is also a possibility, given that the ride structure is engineered to have both tracks in place and removal of just one is unlikely. However, as the ride is still running as the paint works is in progress, it seems unlikely that Cylon is closing.

      • zooish September 23, 2016 at 7:01 pm #

        That’s what I thought too. But there does seem to be inherent structural flaws in the ride that cannot be rectified without disassembling the whole thing. The changes to the ride – removing seats and doing away with tandem launches – seem to be an attempt to reduce stress loading on the structure. I really hope my suspicion is wrong. But just in case, I have been binge riding Cylon, especially since wait times are less than 10 minutes for the current off-peak season!

    • Hakim September 23, 2016 at 2:07 pm #

      Nah, don’t think so, prettys sure it’s painted grey to fit in with the bsg theming, since cylon isn’t blue in the series…

  5. Terrence September 23, 2016 at 1:33 pm #

    It appears that the park will not get a new ride unless RWS starts to be very profitable again. Somehow, I wish a certain capex is set aside for park’s growth in addition to regular maintenance. There needs to be a new ride soon, instead of new mechanise of movies minus the rides, after all, it is not an exclusive shopping mall.

    • Hakim September 24, 2016 at 2:24 pm #

      Agreed. But there isn’t much space after all… behind Far Far Away’s Castle is a road. Behind Jurrasic park and Puss in Boot’s Giant journey is a Golf Course. There is a lot of limitation, and probably best they could do is put the road in a tunnel and expand, but that’ll do changes to the park too…

    • zooish September 25, 2016 at 3:21 pm #

      Well the Puss in Boots ride opened only last year, so realistically we can expect USS to add a new ride in 3 to 5 years time. I’m sure Genting has CAPEX set aside and planned for USS. But as with any profit-driven business, they have to spend in view of the economic climate. Space is a more critical issue for USS, with no more reserve land left. Acquiring additional land from adjacent properties seems unlikely, so USS would probably need to consider redeveloping existing attractions.

  6. Andromeda September 28, 2016 at 3:02 pm #

    Hi! If I’m planning to go on the morning, October 01, 2016 (Saturday), do you think it would be very crowded. Please advice! Thanks in advance ?

    • Dejiki September 28, 2016 at 6:48 pm #

      Most Saturdays are crowded. Do note that the park will close at 6pm during October Saturdays.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.