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The entrance
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During a holiday in the southwest of the US (visiting the national
parks in California, Utah, Arizona and Colorado), we spend a couple
of days in Los Angeles. We visited two parks there, Six
Flags Magic Mountain (being a coaster fan) and Universal Studios
Hollywood. On monday the 28th of april, 2001, we headed for the
studios to arrive there around the time the studios/park opens.
Having found a parking place several hundred feet from the entrance
(parking this close by, costs a little more), we went to the ticket
booth and bought a couple of tickets. The guy in the booth asked
if we didn't want season tickets, but being from Europe, it's a
bit tough going to Universal Studios Hollywood all the time ;-)
(so we'll stick to Six
Flags Holland and occasionally the Efteling).
Going on a monday turned out to be a good decision. It wasn't very
crowded in the park and we never had to wait for more than 15 minutes
(unless we arrived early for a show to get good seats).
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The backlot. The studio
tour leads in between the soundstages and through the backlot.
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First thing we did, was head for the studio tour (having been to
several themeparks before, but never to a studio, this was one thing
we'd never seen before). The picture on the right was taken from
the top of the escalators that lead down to the start of the studio
tour and shows the backlot where lot's of (fake) buildings from
the movies can be seen (like the clock tower from Back to the Future).
The studio tour leads through one of the soundstages where a set
has been setup especially for the tour, where you can see some of
the Hollywood special effects. It winds through the backlot where
you can see buildings and houses from movies and tv-series. It's
a must see when you visit Universal Studios. Don't forget to bring
your camera.
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The Backlot. A village/harbour
scene.
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| Me and a Delorean from Back to the Future. |
Next we headed for the Back to the Future ride. It's a flight sim
where you 'fly around' in an oversized Delorean, which seats 8 persons.
Not really all that different from any other flightsim in a themepark,
but nicely done anyway.
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Lower lot. The green
area is Jurassic Park the ride. Behind it and on the right
are some soundstages that can be visited.
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Next up, was the lower lot. In the picture on the right you can see
the lower lot, with Jurassic Park the ride on the left and lower middle
and some soundstages behind it and on the right. Some of the soundstages
in the lower lot enable you to get a look at the way special effects
are done in the movies. We visited Cinemagic where they show you blue/green
screen effects and the way sound effects are added to a movie. In
Backdraft (another soundstage) you're shown pyrotechnics and fire
effects from close by. We skipped Jurassic Park the ride for moment
to head back up the upper lot because some shows where due to start
soon. On our way to the shows we wandered through the 'streets of
the world'. An area with shops and restaurants which represent streets
from different parts of the world.
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Streets of the world.
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The first show we went to was a wild west stunt show called Wild Wild
Wild West. It featured people falling from buildings, down a well,
some minor explosions and a lot of shooting. The shows at Universal
Studios are a must see. They're better than most.
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Wild Wild Wild West Stunt
Show.
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Next up was the Waterworld show. Situated against scenery that looks
like it has been taken straight from the movie set, it really resembles
the movie. Even if you are of an opinion the movie wasn't all that
great, you should still see this show. The show is all about the attack
on the 'atoll'. It features jetskis and small boats.
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Waterworld.
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You will get wet (even sitting at the back). It ends rather
spectacular with a plane crashing into the atoll. Since the Californian
weather will make sure you dry up pretty quick, this is a spectacular,
must see, show. After the shows, we finally went to Jurassic Park,
the ride. If you miss this ride, you've mist the best ride of all.
It's easily the best waterride I've ever been on. Great theming, which
gives you the feeling of being in the movie.
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The big splash at the
end of Jurassic Park the ride.
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It also has one of the highest (84 ft) and steepest drops ever in
a waterride. At the end of the drop, the boat manages to reach a speed
of 50 mph. If this isn't wet enough for you taste, there's always
the Nickelodeon Blast Zone.
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Nickelodeon Blast Zone
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The Nickelodeon Splash will soak you with a 500-gallon dump.
If you go to LA and like themeparks, don't miss this one. It's
very good, has some nice rides and shows you some of the Hollywood
movie magic. I had a great day.
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