There’s no shortage of photo-worthy elements found in DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida. From murals to meet-and-greets, trinkets to treats (did someone say Shrekzel?), there’s color and creativity everywhere you turn — and it starts in the ground.
One of the people behind the plants that make up this area is Neal Diebold, senior manager of architecture and engineering design for Universal Creative. During the project’s construction, Neal collaborated closely with the Landscape Architect and Creative teams to maintain the land’s creative intent while working through the challenges of real-world execution. “My educational and professional background is in landscape architecture, so I naturally gravitate toward area development and landscaping,” Neal shares.
As you walk through DreamWorks Land, you might notice that the foliage matches the look and feel of each DreamWorks Animation film. Around Trollercoaster and Poppy’s Playground, vibrant pops of color are reminiscent of the rainbow of hues featured in the movie. Near Shrek’s Swamp Meet, different shades of green and brown match the ogre’s famous palette. And outside Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp — which is home to Neal’s favorite foliage — you’ll find a forest of bamboo and pines. “I’m especially a fan of the Mahoe tree near the entry archway,” Neal shares. Although this tree was recently impacted by freezing weather, we have faith it will soon be back in all of its glory!
Combined, DreamWorks Land features over 2,300 shrubs and almost 150 trees of varying sizes — the largest of which weighs over 50,000 pounds. Most of these trees were rooted in the former iteration of the land, which highlights the team’s ability to work smart, prioritize sustainability, and honor the history of the projects that came before.
For a complete guide to DreamWorks Land at Universal Orlando Resort, click here!
Neal says one of the biggest challenges he and the team faced during this project was finding unique ways to problem-solve using their existing resources. “This project required a lot of creative thinking about where to invest for the greatest guest impact,” Neal shares. “I’m really proud of what the team was able to accomplish.”
Their hard work has paid off, and guests of all ages have been enjoying the beautiful blooms of DreamWorks Land for the past two years. This wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible teams working together to plant a path to success!
What’s your favorite part of DreamWorks Land? Let us know in the comments below!