Universal Orlando

Central Florida Star Wars fans are awaiting the opening of Galaxy’s edge at Disney World. Theme park writer Seth Kubersky joins us for a rundown of what’s new at Disney and Universal.

Universal Orlando is boosting its hourly wage to $10 starting in June.

Thrill seekers take note: Universal Orlando Resort has decided to permanently place metal detectors at three of its roller coasters. It’s to keep riders safe from flying objects. Universal started testing metal detectors a couple of weeks ago outside its 17-story Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster.

Loews Hotels & Resorts isn’t letting Universal Orlando’s newest attractions hog all the spotlight — it’s got big plans going on, too. The long-time partner of Universal is working toward opening the 1,000-room Loews Sapphire Falls Resort by 2016, which will be the fifth hotel the company oversees at Universal Orlando Resort. That hotel will incorporate a strong Caribbean theme of British influence, and it’s being designed by the same creative teams that worked on Harry Potter, Despicable Me and Transformers. In addition, Loews plans to add more than 55,000 square feet of meeting space at Royal Pacific.