Heading to Hollywood and seeking a dose of movie magic? Universal Studios is where it’s at, according to lastminute lovely Nicole.
As a hardcore film lover (with an uncanny ability to recite lines from movies he’s only seen once), it didn’t take much convincing to get Mr LML there.
Arriving at Universal City… when a theme park has its own suburb, you know you’re onto a good thing 😉
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Universal is still very much a working studio (so you never know who you might spot there. It is LA after all!).
| Hot tip: If you’re staying in Hollywood like we did, you can easily catch the subway there. Universal City is just one stop away and shuttle buses will deliver you straight to the entrance. |
Hitting the red carpet. As you do.
Walking the red carpet, we make our way through the turnstiles, stroll the streets and come across some familiar figures and icons.
Looking good Vin
The easiest way to get a snap in front of the Hollywood sign you’ll find 😉
A bit of Scooby Doo reminiscing.
The park is huge (we’re talking two levels) so it pays to have a plan of attack. To really get you in the movie mood, the Studio Tour is an absolute must.
A behind-the-scenes look at the most famous back lot in the world’s largest working movie studio (complete with 3D glasses), we cruise via tram through the various sets, finding ourselves in New York one minute and ‘Little Europe’ the next (with Jimmy Fallon, our ‘video host’ along the way).
Highlights include a peak at Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives and witnessing the explosive special effects from Fast and the Furious. Without giving too much away, the King Kong 360 3-D ride component is worth doing the tour alone.
Feeling the heat Fast and the Furious style
Desperate Housewives set (this street also featured in The Munsters, Gremlins and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.)
What’s a theme park without rides though?
| Hot tip: It costs an extra $50 but I cannot recommend highly enough purchasing a Front of Line Pass. It essentially allows you to skip all the queues for each ride once which saves HEAPS of time. The wait for some of the most popular rides was up to an hour at times during our visit. No thanks! Plus, to lets be honest, if you spend your day in queues, you’re not only going to be frustrated, you’ll find it tough to cover everything. They sell a limited number so your best bet is to book online. |
These are our top ride picks:
1. Transformers: The Ride 3-D
The newest ride to hit the lot, the Transformers ride uses 3D media and flight simulation technology, along with water, heat and wind effects to give you an experience like no other. It takes you from city streets to the tops of buildings on a mission to save the world (very Hollywood). I won’t lie, I screamed. A lot.
2. Jurassic Park
An oldie but a goodie (can you believe the film came out in 1993?!), the Jurassic Park ride brings you face-to-face with a 50-foot T-Rex. Prepare yourself for the 84-foot raft plunge. (Be warned, you will get wet).
3. Revenge of the Mummy
A little more on the basic side, this ride will have you twisting and turning and catapulting through the darkness before coming facing some creepy special effects.
4. WaterWorld
Okay it’s not strictly a ride but this live show based on the (not so great) film of the same name is actually highly entertaining. Think stunts, explosions and audience interaction.
Other things to hit up
Once you’ve exhausted the ride and attraction options, don’t think it’s time to head back to your hotel just yet.
Be sure to save some time to check out CityWalk: three blocks of entertainment, dining and shopping options. It’s a great spot to purchase movie merchandise, grab a bite to eat, and even catch a movie (the original IMAX is here).