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Credit: Universal Studios JapanA week after delaying its newest addition, one Universal park is encouraging guests to visit at nighttime.
The next few years are huge for Universal, with not just one but three theme parks (Epic Universe, Universal Kids Resort, and, potentially, Universal Great Britain) in the works and a handful of other new lands and attractions on the way in the meantime.
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This year alone, Universal plans on opening DreamWorks Destination at Universal Studios Florida ā immersing guests in the world of animated classics such as Shrek,Ā Kung-Fu Panda, andĀ TrollsĀ āĀ while Universal Studios Hollywood will welcome the world’s firstĀ Fast & FuriousĀ roller coaster, and UniversalĀ Studios Japan unveils its SUPER NINTENDO WORLD expansion, Donkey Kong Country.
Last week, however,Ā it was confirmedĀ that parkgoers would need to waitĀ a littleĀ longer than expected to step foot in Donkey Kong territory. Universal Studios Japan hasĀ officially delayed its opening dateĀ from spring 2024 to later this year (with many theorizing that it’ll open in early November so as not to clash with Halloween Horror Nights).
What makes the absence of Donkey Kong Country even heavier isĀ the factĀ that multiple attractions are closed at Universal Studios Japan right now. Jurassic Park: The Ride ā a clone of Jurassic Park River Adventure at Islands of Adventure āĀ closed for a major refurbishment in September 2023Ā and isn’t scheduled to reopen until early 2025.
Space Fantasy āĀ The Ride has beenĀ closed indefinitelyĀ at Universal Studios Japan since January 2023. Snoopy’s Sound Stage Adventure, Shrek’s 4-D Adventure, Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic, Ernie’s Rubber Duckie Race, and Sesame’s Big Drive are all closed indefinitely. Universal also has refurbishments lined up for JAWS and The Flying Dinosaur over the next few months.
Related: Permanent Closures Continue ā Universal Shutters Its Second Location in a Week
That leaves the summer schedule a little bare for the Osaka-based park ā something that’s sure to come as a disappointment toĀ those payingĀ fullĀ price for a day’s admission.
With that in mind, Universal Studios Japan has just announced a newĀ kind ofĀ ticket that will allow guests to visit the park just for the evening.Ā
According toĀ USJ 1, the Night Pass is available for visits between May 10 and September 1, 2024.Ā ThisĀ will offer park access from 5 p.m. until the park closes (whichĀ rangesĀ from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.Ā from May onwards).
Depending on the day, this will cost between 5,300 yen ($34.06 USD) to 6,800 ($43.70 USD) yen for adults and 3,400 yen ($21.85 USD) to 4,300 yen ($27.63 USD) for children.
Universal Studios Japan already offered Twilight Passes that allowed guests to visit the park after 3 p.m. at a discounted rate compared to the typical day ticket. Tokyo Disney Resort offers a similar system nicknamed the Evening Passport.
Those whoĀ doĀ choose to visit the park over the summerĀ aren’tĀ totallyĀ bereft of attractions.Ā While Donkey Kong Country and its new attraction, Mine Cart Madness, may be off-limits, Universal Studios Japan does still offer the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (even if its premier attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, closed for several days due to system errors earlier this month).
Related: Universal Park Permanently Closes ‘Harry Potter’ Experience
It also boasts the existing SUPER NINTENDO WORLD area ā which preluded the version in California by two years ā and its two attractions, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure.
Do you think more theme parks should offer evening passes? Let us know in the comments!
