By Charly SHELTON

Summer is always a good time to visit Universal Studios Hollywood – but this summer, it’s mega. The park has launched its Mega Movie Summer campaign, which blends blockbuster nostalgia with new surprises for a limited-time seasonal celebration. Think character meet-and-greets, summer-exclusive eats, specialty drinks and a little bit of that Universal movie magic that makes even the hottest days feel like an action scene.

What sets this apart is that it’s not tied to a single franchise. It’s more of a vibe. A celebration of everything Universal has built its legacy on, from “Jaws” and “Jurassic Park” to “Fast & Furious” and Illumination’s latest animated hits. Ticket holders will see new food items and exclusive merch throughout the park themed to iconic films and of course plenty of characters to interact with. I got to meet Chief Brody and Captain Quint from “Jaws,” complete with a giant shark photo op that I remember hanging on the upper lot before they built The Wizarding World. I also got to meet doc Brown and Einstein, and narrowly missed Marty McFly. 

And even the characters’ meet-and-greet plays into the nostalgia. It’s not just about the films; it’s nostalgic for Universal back when I was a kid. In the ’90s, we didn’t have “Shrek” characters and “Madagascar” characters to meet or greet. The most relevant character for kids at that time was Woody Woodpecker, a character that hadn’t had a cartoon since 1972, or Rocky and Bullwinkle from the 1960s. Character greetings in the ’90s were mostly for adults. We had the Blues Brothers, WC Fields, Groucho Marx, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It’s still nice to see Marilyn Monroe and Beetlejuice hanging out on the upper lot, but Universal has leaned so hard in the last couple of decades into the animated movie character meet-and-greets. It’s nice to see characters from actual universal classics like Captain Quint and Marty McFly coming out to interact with guests.

The park also rolled out a first look at the new ride vehicle for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coming in 2026. It was parked out in Universal Plaza, drawing a crowd of gearheads and curious passersby.

The new ride vehicle for Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift was parked out in Universal Plaza drawing a crowd of gearheads and curious passersby.And for those looking to beat the heat, they’ve added a new Mosasaurus Splash effect on Jurassic World: The Ride. I thought I knew how wet that ride gets. I did not. This splash hits you like a tidal wave … with a grudge.

Between the photo ops, new experiences, extra splashes and the thrill of just seeing the park celebrate its film roots so boldly, Mega Movie Summer hits exactly the right tone. It’s a party for movie lovers and a seasonal overlay that doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. 

Mega Movie Summer is on now through Aug. 13. 

For the full video of my experience, including all the characters, food reviews and even the Mosasaurus Splash, scan the QR code attached to this story or search ZipAhDeeDooDad on YouTube.