Top five rides at Universal Hollywood

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This article was published 29/12/2010 (5573 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Disneyland isn’t the only theme park game in the vicinity of Tinsel Town.

If you’ve perused part 1 of our Los Angeles theme park guide then you are already familiar with the best of Disneyland.

Today’s instalment covers all of the wonders of Universal Studios Hollywood.

As mentioned in part 1, multimedia editor Tyler Walsh and I took a couple of quick side trips to theme parks during our coverage of E3 in June, to provide an in-depth guide to the best attractions at the top two family theme parks in the area.

Universal Studios Hollywood was built around working movie and TV studios, so your chance of seeing actual stars on the Studio Tour is quite high. For a thrill ride devotee, the real action is not on the tram but on the mine car inside the Mummy, the Simpson’s motion vehicle and the motion seats in the Terminator 2: 3-D theatre.

The embedded video at the bottom of the story walks you through our top five attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood. As I did in part 1, I also break down ratings for your kids and for those like me who can get motion sickness at the drop of a feather. Ooh, just talking about it makes me feel dizzy. I need to sit down for a sec…

King Kong 360 3-D

The newest addition to the studio tour experience is actually a return to a theme that was lost when a fire destroyed the area few years back.

That’s right, King Kong makes a triumphant return in a 3-D, 360 experience. This was a month away from opening when we took our tour, but reports are that it is a great addition to the existing tour experience.

On top of working and historic movie sets, you get to see all of the back-lot action… sometimes it’s people arriving for work. OK, that sounds boring, but that can include known celebs, so keep your eyes open and cameras ready.

KID RATING: Mildly frightening scenes, but for the most part very safe.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: You are mostly passive on the slow-moving tram, and the mock disaster moments are relatively tame… 1 out of 5 on the Heave Scale.

The Simpson’s Ride

It’s worth rehashing my description of motion sickness from part 1 in this space: Movie rides can be tricky. If the timing of the motion simulator is even slightly off from the movie, your inner ear will be at war with your eyes. The result? Your body can’t make sense of the discrepancy between the two and assumes you have been poisoned… hence the intense nausea and dizziness.

With this in mind, I tell you that the trip we took to Springfield via movie motion simulator almost took me out. I’m not sure if there were synch issues on this visit, but I developed wicked motion sickness within minutes of exiting the ride vehicle.

This is truly unfortunate, because the content of the movie is hilarious. It totally goes overboard with the 3-D effects, the voice acting is perfect and the in-joke sight gags are plentiful.

The theming here is at par with Disney levels, which is as good as it gets. The queue is filled with dynamic movie vignettes that will have you howling.

In fact, the gift shop is as entertaining as the ride itself. It is styled after the Quickie Mart from the show and has all of Apu’s staples, including donuts with sprinkles and Duff. You can also find all of the usual hilarious T-shirts and other wearables and collectibles that you’d find at any gift shop, but the Simpson’s sense of humour really raises the level of the store.

So, a must-see if you are OK with motion sims, and buyer beware if you are prone to motion sickness.

KID RATING: They will excitedly giggle for an hour after the experience. If that is your goal, major epic win.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Uhm, did you not read the long-winded warning above? We’re talking 6 out of 5. Urp. Gravol, please.

Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride

This is a true innovation for an indoor theme-park attraction involving a launched roller-coaster that mixes darkness, historically accurate theming, smoke and video effects.

After making your way through one of the best queues in the park, you are strapped into a mine vehicle and moved slowly into the dark ride area.

It is creepy, with lighting effects and massive animatronics set to scare the sand out of your shorts.

But the action heats up in a hurry after you are taunted by the Mummy himself… with a 45-m.p.h. launch into the darkness of his tomb. (Insert Flanders purple drapes scream reference here…)

Once flying on the coaster track, your mine car is taken through a series of super-fast turns, a lengthy backwards section, and a turntable move that will leave you wondering which way is up.

I was so moved after riding this the first time, and pleased with myself for A) getting on and B) surviving, that my wife bought me a commemorative T-shirt.

KID RATING: It has everything a kid could want! It is a little scary getting launched at 45 m.p.h. in the dark, but it’s a real scream so most should be fine.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: It’s actually quite safe in this regard… the only hitch is the backwards segment. Because you can’t see what’s coming it does tend to mess with the balance centre. I’ll deem it 3.5 out of 5 on the Sick Scale.

Jurassic Park The Ride

Like other water drop rides (Splash Mountain, for example) the visual showcase of this attraction is the culmination point of the final drop.

It is set strategically near the entrance of the ride queue so you know exactly what awaits if you dare to enter the world of Jurassic Park.

The queue itself is filled with cool items worth exploring, but the single rider line is the way to go for quick loads. Once on board the large boat ride vehicle, you are moved through the waters of Jurassic park on a scenic, and authentic, recreation of scenes from the movie.

The animal animatronics are outstanding, and the background music and other atmospherics really bring chills. But the real chills are yet to come.

Once you make your way through the peaceful section, you enter the research facility where velociraptors are running amok and spraying you with “toxic saliva.” SUVs are thrown around by dinos, and you then get a sense of real danger as you hear the rumble of a giant T-rex nearby.

I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s hard to miss the 90-foot vertical drop from the outside, so you at least know that’s coming. Guaranteed screams, sprays of water and a purchase of the on-ride photo on this attraction.

KID RATING: Oh yeah! Tell them the drop is high but no more intense than the one at Splash Mountain (that’s mostly true…) It’s worth being a little daring for the quality of the overall experience.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: The big drop is the only moment that will affect you, and it is over in a hurry. Just 2 out of 5.

Terminator 2: 3-D

At first blush, a 3-D movie ride sounds kind of tame… we’ve seen these all before to varying levels of success. However, this is a major exception to that accepted belief.

Terminator 2: 3-D perfectly meshes real actors, full-sized Terminator robots, live shooting (with blanks, of course) motion seating and stunning 3-D visuals. You are truly living the Terminator experience.

Even the queue is a hoot, as an overly perky host from Cyberdyne Systems Corp. preps you for the “demonstration” inside of the theatre.

I walked out of the theatre grinning from ear to ear, thinking “OK, you just blew my mind!”

KID RATING: The live shooting and intense 3-D effects will frighten the kids, and most adults. It may be too intense for any under 13. But I leave that to the parents to decide. Maybe have one parent enjoy the experience while the other waits with the kids and you can meet up and make the call afterwards.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Very low… some 3-D movie effects could mess you up, but they are minor: 1 out of 5.

Other highlights…

Shrek 4-D

Huge fan of the franchise, and some of the 4-D effects will make you shriek. Worth seeing, but avoid if there is a major line.

Also a nice break if you are looking to escape the heat.

KID RATING: Full speed ahead.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Because there is seat movement paired with 3-D visuals, some could be affected… 2 out of 5.

Waterworld

I’m usually the type to run past show attractions, thinking full-on rides are more worth the money invested in the entry ticket. However, this one is wicked.

Yes, the movie was a dog, but certain thematic elements lend themselves well to a live show setting. I mean, a full-sized float plane dropping through the flames into the water area, right in your face! Sweeeet.

KID RATING: They’ll want to sit in the “splash zone.” Let them if it is sweltering – a great cool-down.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Nada.