I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: November 6, 2014] Universal Studios

S. and I had been to Universal Studios about a decade ago during a library conference.  It was super fun–we were there after the park closed and got to ride all kinds of things.  Despite that, we didn’t remember much about the park, and so much had been added since then, that we were very excited (for The Simpsons Ride and especially the whole Harry Potter experience).  As we approached S. said that it felt so much more commercial than Disney, and then we realized that Disney is the most commercial place in the world, so it wasn’t that exactly.  And then we decided that Universal is like Disney’s tacky cousin.

The set up of entering the park is quite unusual, especially compared to Disney.  You park in a parking garage (which is certainly more convenient than the Disney lots) and enter the CityWalk portion. This is an aggressively neoned area with every conceivable chain restaurant you have ever imagined–mostly larger ones (the kind that we assume people who don’t live near a city a very excited to eat at) which I won’t name, but they are usually associated with a TV show, movie or Hollywood in general.

Here’s what’s so unusual about Universal Studios.  The entrance is shaped kind of like a Y.  You come in via CityWalk and then you go left for Universal’s Island of Adventure or you go right for Universal Studios Florida (the older of the two parks).  Unlike Disney, both parks are right next to each other.  But like Disney, if you pick to go in one, you can’t go in the other.  Unless you buy the Multi Park Pass.  Then you can leave one and enter the other through the front, or you can go via the Hogwarts Express (recommended).

Universal also has a FastPass type deal, but unlike with Disney, you have to pay for the FastPass experience.  And the prices are something like $70-$90 per person on top of park admission.  So the heck with that.  The good news was that when we were there there were very few lines for anything, so it didn’t matter too much.

We entered the park and realized right away that the big attraction at Universal is Despicable Me’s minions–they are the Mickey Mouse of Universal.  But Universal is also super proud of The Simpsons, and as we entered the park, there were Homer and Lisa, and we jumped on line and got our pictures taken with them.  What a weird thing!

Shrek 4-D
The first thing we saw when we entered the park was this Shrek 4-D ride, and the line was short so we went in.  This ride takes the Disney 4-D concept one step further.  Well, actually, it works like Star Tours–a moving seat that makes it feel like you are flying and bumping around.  The 3D was pretty good, and the story was funny.  I think we may have enjoyed the pre-show more, but it was still cool.

As we walked down the main street towards “New York” (a facade of the New York Public Library…nice!), we got to the one of their star attractions–The Rip Ride Rockit.  T. wanted to go on this desperately, but fortunately for all of us, she was too short.  At 52″ this is an older kid’s ride.  And while it didn’t seem all that fast (but it does go straight up), it was amazing how silent it was!  Especially as it weaves its way throughout New York.  We kept walking and that’s when we saw.

The Revenge of the Mummy Ride
When we were there last time, this was the new big ride and it was amazing.  We couldn’t believe that there was only a 5 minute wait this time!  C., still not feeling great, but feeling better than the day before, refused to ride it.  But T. was totally go.  So we did a child swap and S. and T. and then T. and I went on the coaster.  It’s a good one.  Very fast turns and twists and lots of very cool visual effects (and heat as well).  It’s a scary frightening but also thrilling.  It’s a great coaster and I could have done it ten more times.

Outside the ride were guys dressed like Egyptians on stilts.  They were creepy (contact lenses) and very cool walking around.  We walked away from New York into San Francisco–they do a great job of recreating the feel of the areas.  S. even had her picture taken with a giant shark (her biggest fear).

And then we headed into London.  We loved the way the houses and buildings all changed into a London Street. And then we had our first glimpse of Harry Potter land–The Knight Bus!   The Knight Bus is parked outside of the area and is a photo op.  There’s also a shrunken head that talks to you (he made a funny joke about T. hair color).

But before we could get to Hogwarts, we were distracted by Krustyland!

I knew there was a Simpsons Ride, but I had no idea that they had created an entire Krustyland amusement center.  I must have taken 50 pictures just of all of the Simpsons storefronts.  It was a perfect mockup of Springfield–Moe’s, The Android’s Dungeon (which was actually just a storefront for a bathroom), a Kwik-E-Mart, even a statue of Jebediah Springfield (with quote on the back).  And a dozen other things that were totally faithful to the show in appearance if not reality–Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck, a Lard Lad Donut Shop (with a donuts the size of a dinner plate), a Krusty Burger and even a Duff Beer Garden.

And as with anything Simpson-related the details are wonderful.  Of course, I wasn’t going to spend any money on carney games, but I sure took pictures of all of them.  Even though I took pictures of so many things, and I’m sure S. will post them online, I’m linking to this Orlando Sentinel Page which has an even more comprehensive collection of photos.

The kids were less excited by Krustyland than us (how could they not be–I’ve loved the Simpsons for over 25 years, it was a dream come to life), and in writing about it, I realized that there’s not a lot to do there.  It’s all about seeing and experiencing the whole world.  And it was awesome.  There’s a lot to eat, yes (the Krusty Burger is delicious), but there’s only two rides.  Oh, and outside the Kwik-E-Mart there’s a phone that rings and which has the characters talk to you.

So the two rides are

Kang and Kodos’ Twirl n’ Hurl
Despite the name, this is a kid’s ride.  It goes up and spins you around slowly.  You can raise and lower your car and there are faces (and comments) from various characters as you spin around.  I think the signs are more fun than the ride–although hearing Kang and Kodos yell at you throughout it pretty cool.

The Simpsons’ Ride
This is the pièce de résistance.  It may be the best ride I’ve ever been on.  Universal has really mastered the “dark” roller coaster.  I hadn’t heard this term before, but it basically means a ride that’s inside and doesn’t go anywhere–unlike a traditional coaster.

The line was only 15 minute wait–how could we pass it up!  The line is full of monitors showing Simpsons highlights.  The first time we rode, we went to the upstairs queuing area (which is twice as large as the downstairs one).  The waiting area is a hilarious carnival loading room, with attractions (and video screens) on the sides featuring the great minor characters.  There’s also hilarious ads on the screen as you wait to board.  The preshow video gives the set up, which itself is pretty great.

Then you are loaded into a small room for your safety and plot instruction.  I loved that it paid off so well in the end.  The ride is basically a car with four seats in the front and four in the back.  As it starts you are lifted into the air and the rest of the ride is all simulation.  And intense simulation at that–you feel like you are flying down a roller coaster (I am curious to try a ride like this with my eyes closed to see what it actually feels like, but I didn’t want to miss a thing).  For the next three or so minutes, you are transported throughout Springfield, with no joke left unturned.  It is funny and scary and you could sit through it five or six times without catching everything that happens.  Oh my was it good.

As we left Krustyland, I said to S. that Harry Potter Land had a lot to live up to.

And did it ever.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Diagon Alley
They have cleverly set up the park so that you can’t see into Diagon Alley right away, you have to pass a couple of barriers before you turn a corner and–bam.  You are in the movie.  Holy cow.  We had just watched the first four movies and it was amazing to be in the world.  I don’t know if it was replicated exactly–I don’t really care–it was so perfect it doesn’t matter.  Every other store was a store from the book or movie.  The storefronts didn’t all match up to the contents, of course, but some sure did.

Like Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes where you can buy all kinds of novelty items.  Or Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions where you can buy, yes, robes (and T Shirts).  There was the Magical Menagerie where you could buy all manner of owl equipment.  And even Borgin and Burkes where you can get all your dark magic needs dealt with.

But the most important shop is of course Ollivanders, where you can buy your own wand.  We did the wand tour (we were the second people on line at the time–how strange that the line was so short!).  When we went in, it was just an adult couple and us.  And just as the show started, another family with two young kids came in.  When it was time for the wand choosing to begin, the man chose C. (since T. got so much “princess” attention at Disney we were thrilled that C. was chosen for something here).  And they reenacted the entire wand selecting scene from the movie–with a special wand “choosing” C. .  He was so thrilled, it was a wonderful moment.

There are interactive and non-interactive wands.  And sure, it seemed silly to get the interactive ones, but they were only a few dollars more, and it was worth it.  Around the Potterverse, there are little plaques.  If you bring your want to the site and cast a spell it makes things happen in the shops.  It was really fun to watch them perform their spells and genuinely believe they were doing magic.  If you go to the park and don’t buy a wand, it’s worth watching the kids do these spells just for the full experience.

We bought some Frozen Butterbeer (YUM!) and took a peek into The Leaky Cauldron.

And then we went on the only ride in this park.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
The line was pretty long and it never seemed to shorten, but when it dropped to 30 minutes we hopped on and went into the bank.  And it has a beautiful entry way–looking just like Gringotts.  But nothing can prepare you for entering the bank itself–the goblins on either side scribbling away, the chandelier, the opulence–you know your money is safe here.  Until you get on the ride, that is.

If I was impressed by the Simpsons ride, the Gringotts ride blew me away.  Because it was a combination roller coaster and 3D experience.  The roller coaster was mostly short bursts of speed–down, sideways, spinning (when the monsters spin you away it is super thrilling).  But the visuals are what is so amazing.  You are in the Potter Universe, with flying brooms, goblins and yes fire breathing dragons.  It was amazingly exciting. What a great experience!

After relaxing somewhat we decided to make use of our MultiPark pass and go down to Kings Cross Station.

Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade
Queuing up for the train was a fun experience as it looked just like an old train station (they even sold British candies in the shop off the queue).  Then you go upstairs and, if you pay attention you see the amazing effect of people walking through the a solid brick wall onto Platform 9 ¾.  It is really cool.  Just don’t be in a hurry or you could miss it!

The train ride itself is pretty amazing–there’s stuff to see both out the window and in the aisle (pay attention!)–just don’t sit in a room with anyone who might spoil anything (like we did on our second time–curmudgeonly jerks).  The ride is magical.  And then you come out into snow-covered Hogsmeade.  We arrived near dark and didn’t spend a lot of time there.  We simply marveled at how realistic it looked especially in the dusk–it’s not cold but you can imagine that the snow is real.  We walked around a little bit more and just before we left we caught a glimpse of, yes, Hogwarts, looming ahead of us.  But we saved that for the next day.

We returned on the train (a different experience on the way back–be sure to go both directions).  Then we exited Kings Cross Station and slowly walked back to reality, through the streets of San Francisco and New York.

We did not ride The Transformers Ride. The Twister Experience (which S. and I had done last time and which was cool), or any of Woody Woodpecker’s Play area.  And yet we had a totally full day of fun and amazement.  Then we were back out onto City Walk–a location nearly more surreal than anything else we had seen.

Universal blew me away and I couldn’t wait to go back for one last day–as long as nobody threw up during the night!