This was a quick solo run to Universal CityWalk on a Saturday, about an hour and a half, no work involved. I went for one reason: the limited-time "The Traitors: New Blood" bars at Universal's Great Movie Escape, themed to the NBC and Peacock show. Knup 7.2.

I parked off-property at Miller's Ale House to skip the daytime parking fee and walked in. It's a stretch along the roads and then up and over the pedestrian overpass, and it drops you right into CityWalk. The metal detectors went smoothly with no issues, and I got my steps in before I had even seen anything. If you don't mind the walk, it's an easy way to save the parking money on a short visit.

The Traitors bars were the letdown and the highlight at the same time. The sign out front says they're open Wednesday through Sunday, 4 to 11 PM, and I was there around 1 to 2 PM, so neither bar was serving. I still walked both floors. The costumes Alan Cumming wore on the show, the Roundtable bar upstairs, the hooded figures and the cast portrait wall are all there to see and photograph, and almost nobody else was around. I wanted a Traitors drink and didn't get one. Full write-up: The Traitors: New Blood Bars (Knup 6.9).

After that I just did laps around CityWalk taking photos — the Universal sign, the globe, NBC Sports Grill & Brew, Hard Rock Cafe, the waterfront. Honestly, not much has changed. The exciting part is what's coming. Luke Combs' Category 10 is under construction on the waterfront, and the construction wall next to Bigfire and Margaritaville has renderings and a "Coming to CityWalk Late 2027" banner. That one should change the feel of that whole stretch.

Lunch was a hot dog, but not a boring one. Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is Joey Fatone's spot, right below the Traitors bars, with ballpark-style stadium seating outside. I got The Fat One, the signature footlong, and it was super tasty, juicy and fast. Full write-up: Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice (Knup 7.5).

A short day that didn't go to plan, but it still worked. Free parking, good steps, a look at Category 10, and one of the better hot dogs I've had. Next time I go for the Traitors bars, I go after 4.

Photos

Ryan taking a selfie in front of the UNIVERSAL sign with Harry Potter, Shrek and Jurassic World banners
Ryan taking a selfie under the Welcome to Universal Orlando Resort arch into CityWalk
The Traitors: New Blood Bars sign at Universal's Great Movie Escape listing Wednesday–Sunday, 4 PM–11 PM hours
Ryan taking a selfie on the CityWalk waterfront steps, with Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Hard Rock Cafe across the water
Luke Combs' Category 10 construction wall with renderings and a Coming to CityWalk Late 2027 banner, Bigfire and Margaritaville behind
Ryan at a glowing round table between two hooded Traitors figures upstairs at Universal's Great Movie Escape
Ryan taking a selfie in front of the closed Roundtable bar with green stools and Traitors posters
Ryan sitting at the star-patterned Roundtable bar, closed with no staff
Closed downstairs bar with blue stools and a bar is closed sign
The Traitors: New Blood display case with props, flowers and a sealed envelope
Lavender suit worn by host Alan Cumming in a lit display case
Denim and red tartan outfit worn by host Alan Cumming in a display case
Ryan taking a selfie at the framed cast portrait wall for The Traitors: New Blood
Ryan taking a selfie outside NBC Sports Grill & Brew
Ryan taking a selfie at the Universal globe fountain
Ryan taking a selfie outside Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
Ryan pointing up at the Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice sign
Ryan taking a selfie under the Fat One's sign with menu screens below
Fat One's signature dogs and loaded pop fries menu board
Close-up of the Fat One's signature dogs menu with The Fat One at $15.99
Ryan sitting among red and green stadium seats at Fat One's
The Fat One footlong hot dog with pork, pepperoni, cheese sauce and fries in a paper boat

The day in bullets

  • Solo, about an hour and a half at Universal CityWalk on a Saturday. Not a workday.
  • Came for "The Traitors: New Blood" bars at Universal's Great Movie Escape. Sign says Wed–Sun, 4–11 PM, so both bars were closed when I was there around 1–2 PM.
  • Parked off-property at Miller's Ale House to skip the daytime parking fee and walked in over the pedestrian overpass. Metal detectors were quick.
  • Luke Combs' Category 10 is under construction between Bigfire and Margaritaville, coming late 2027.
  • Lunch: The Fat One footlong at Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice.