The Studio Tour features entertaining set pieces that were designed for the tour. These include 1) an effect that "parts" a stream-similar to parting the Red Sea in the movie The Ten Commandments; 2) an encounter with the shark from Jaws; 3) going face to face with a moving, life-size King Kong; 4) experiencing a Southern California earthquake; 5) driving through tunnels inspired by the Mummy movies and 6) viewing a flash flood.
The Studio tour has enough attractions to entertain the kids, while teens and adults will have fun recognizing the various sets that were used in popular movies and television shows. Equally entertaining are the Special Effects Stages that explain the special effects found in the movies-true, movie-making magic.
The rides have height requirements and are clearly aimed towards older kids and adults. The newest attraction is Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride that takes you into the tomb of Imhotep, Egypt's legendary keeper of the dead. This thrilling indoor roller coaster quickly carries you forward as well as backwards in the dark and serves some effects that will scare younger kids.
Back to the Future: The Ride is a motion simulator that serves an adventure based on the Back to the Future movies. This ride really tosses you around-probably more than most such simulators. The height requirement is 40-inches and the ride itself features a couple of scenes that younger kids may find frightening.
The impressive Jurassic Park: The Ride takes you through a mock tour of Jurassic Park that's complete with moving dinosaurs. And just as in the movies, something goes wrong, the dinosaurs go wild and the ride ends in a long flume water drop. Because the prehistoric creatures are menacing and the ride ends in a dark warehouse where creatures pop-out, younger riders who meet the height requirement will probably find the attraction scary. Also, be prepared to get wet at the bottom of the flume drop.
The park's newest attraction is Shrek 4-D, a movie-based experience that serves moving seats and 3D and other special effects. Shrek 4-D, as the name implies, features the characters from the popular Shrek movie. Most kids, particularly those who like the movie, will have a good time watching and experiencing the on-screen and tactile effects. While the attraction is generally good, it doesn't stand-out among a slew of similar attractions in Southern California theme parks.
As in the movie, impolite bodily functions play an occasional role. And strangely, the movie's waiting area is a torture chamber that has all manner of restraining and pain-inducing devices. It's all light-hearted fun, but parents may have some explaining to do when kids ask about the many implements strewn in the room.
Terminator 2: 3D is a spectacular 3D movie adventure that blends robots, live actors and an exciting 3D film that features the stars of the Terminator 2 movie. The attraction is violent with lots of shooting and one of the live actors is strangled to death during the show. Despite the lack of a height requirement, this attraction is too intense for the small fry.
Backdraft is an amazing simulation that places you in the middle of the namesake movie's climactic fire in a chemical warehouse. You'll feel the heat and there are surprises in store that are designed to make you jump. Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula is based on the dark and supernatural world of 19th century Transylvania, as seen in the recent Van Helsing movie. It's a walk-through attraction that is essentially a haunted house. It is meant to frighten and successfully does so.
The best family show is Animal Planet Live! that features birds, dogs and a hilarious orangutan. This one offers no explanation on how to train animals, but offers pure entertainment. The WaterWorld show offers a dazzling stunt and action show that's based on the well known movie bomb. In this show, the jet skis, as well as the bullets, fly.
Beyond the expensive admission price, be prepared to pay for parking. And eating will set you back considerably. To start, just buying four Cokes can cost almost $11. Most of the eateries in the park are of the fast food variety and there is dining to be found in the nearby CityWalk shopping area. We discovered that the Tommy's on the second level of City Walk serves great chili-burgers, doesn't gouge you with outrageous prices and offers refillable drinks-a relative bargain.
While it's a pricey excursion, Universal Studios Hollywood provides lots of entertainment that appeals to older kids and adults. It's worth the day trip.
Related
Stories:
Planning a day at Universal Studios
Hollywood
Ages: six and up
8/30/04
www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
