Universal Parks Blog first reported that August has brought three clear developments at Universal: one attraction has closed permanently, an international favourite is on the way, and the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store is already open. No direct Universal United Kingdom Resort tie-in is mentioned in that coverage, so this remains a wider Universal parks update rather than a Bedford-specific one. Universal Parks Blog first reported the story.
One attraction is now gone for good
The permanent closure is Fast & Furious: Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida. Universal Parks Blog said the attraction had its final ride on 16 August, ending a run that began in 2015.
That shutdown matters because it is a clean change to the park’s line-up, not a seasonal pause or a refurbishment. Universal’s own history of the attraction shows how long it had been part of the Florida park’s modern era, and this update confirms that chapter is now over.
HamiKuma is the international piece
The “international sensation” in the update is HamiKuma. Universal Parks Blog said the character, which became an overnight hit at Universal Studios Japan, is coming to the US, and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights merch coverage confirms that HamiKuma-themed items are already part of this year’s line-up.
Universal’s own Halloween Horror Nights guide goes a step further, saying guests can meet HamiKuma at a new meet-and-greet inside Five & Dime. That makes the character one of the clearest examples in this update of a Universal idea moving across parks and markets rather than staying locked to one destination.
The Tribute Store is already open
The Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store is also already open. Universal Parks Blog described this year’s version as having a circus-tent feel, while Universal’s official HHN material says the store returns to its original location beside Revenge of the Mummy and is themed as Sideshow Obscura, a travelling sideshow built around oddities, creatures, backstage spaces and a midway.
That early rollout fits the wider Halloween build-up at Universal Orlando. Universal’s official HHN overview says the 2026 event runs on select nights from 28 August through 1 November, which explains why merchandise, food and the Tribute Store are already in place. What remains unconfirmed is any direct connection to Universal United Kingdom Resort.
