We were also one person short in our outing, Dad decided to have a day at home as he wasn't feeling very well.
Mum and I headed off, arriving at Universal at around 8.15am. This gave us plenty of time to sort out our tickets. We purchased a 2 day 'Base ticket' (which means we can go into 1 park on each day, but not hop between the two parks during the day) for an extra $50 (or so) we added an 'express pass' which gave us access to preferred seating at shows, and got us onto rides without having a massive lineup.
At around 8.40am the park gates were opened (apparently they weren't supposed to open to 9am) so we were excited. We'd already planned which rides we wanted to do, so started working on our list:
- Despicable Me: we got sent away as they were having 'Technical Difficulties'
- Shrek 4D: Great 4D movie experience, and very funny to boot.
Our first real ride was the ET ride. Of all the rides we went on today this had the best lead in. It started with Stephen Spielberg explaining the point of the ride (quite interesting) then we progressed through, gave our names to an attendant and received a card (this meant that at the end of the ride ET greeted us by name). The line from this point was through a gorgeous dark forrest, it was cold and dark and with heaps to look at. It was then time to get on the ride. Sure enough, up pulled a row of bikes (mounted on a base plate) with a basket on the front and an ET! The ride took us through ET's escape and back to his home planet. The ride was so good that we went back in the afternoon to have another go.
Next up were The Simpsons Ride and Men in Black. In the Simpsons we were mounted in a cart and raised in front of a screen ... kind of like "Soarin over California". It's an escape from Sideshow Bob, and by the end of it (most of it I had my eyes shut) I was not feeling very good.
To recover from this we headed to Men in Black. From what I'd read it sounded like another ride I'd been on at Disney Land, Buzz Lightyears Astroblasters. Buzz is a family favourite! We got there and discovered that all belongings had to be stowed in lockers prior to riding. Unfortunately our backpack wouldn't fit. So Mum said she's wait while I rode. The ride was nothing like I thought, lots of spinning and sudden movements. At the same time we were busy shooting at aliens. By the time I got off the ride I was feeling quite green and Mum opted out of going for a ride herself.
In order to give me some time to recover we headed to the 'Animal Actors' show. Our Express tickets meant we lined up in a special area and were the first people to go in, directed straight into the front row. The show was very funny, lots of dogs (and some of them were being naughty ... great to see it's not just mine that play up!), a cat, pig, organgutan, and plenty of birds.
Our next stop was an awesome candy store that we came across, I was a very happy girl because they sell chocolate coated gummy bears! This has to be my favourite candy ever!
I was feeling better, so we were ready for another ride. Next on the list was 'Disaster'. This was absolutely awesome! In the holding area we had a briefing and a series of people were chosen to be cast in the 'movie' that we were 'filming'. We moved into the next room which was a sound stage. As we watched a series of scenes were very quickly filmed (and I mean insanely quickly) one at a time. Finally we moved into another area and were loaded onto a subway car. Our car travelled down the track into an area where an earthquake happened, followed by gas explosions, a number of other collisions, the roof collapsing etc. During the time we were being filmed. After 'cut' our subway cart took us back to the loading area, and while that was happening we watched 'our' film. The scenes shot into the soundstage cut into professional scenes and scenes of us on the subway. It was very cool and very funny. Mum spent the rest of the day spotting and talking to the 'stars' of the film (those who'd been volunteered).
Before moving on to see a movie about Horror Movie makeup. It was also very funny. The hosts did a great job. Out in the lobby was also a great display on Horror movies with interesting facts. I love seeing some of the costumes from the Munsters.
Feeling fortified and still laughing at some of the gags we headed back to try the Despicable Me ride. Described as a 3D ride we had a bit of a wait this time (around 20 minutes with our express tickets. The standby line was running at 100 minutes!). The guy handing out the glasses assured us it was very tame and I wouldn't have a problem, just like a 3d movie. I loved the preamble videos (VERY funny, and now need to hire the movie 'cause I haven't seen it) and headed happily into the the actual seats. The ride turned out a lot like the Simpsons Ride ... but without the huge high movements. So I was once again not feeling too good by the end. But the worried 6 year old next to me (worried at the start) loved it and was heading on again.
Mum was keen to try the Twister ride, and the same guy who'd told us Despicable Me was tame had said it was one of the best 'rides' in the park. We headed in through the Express Line, even though Standby was only 10 minutes. The first stage of the ride (once you're past the queue) is a short video where Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton introduce you Twister the movie and Twisters in general. Bill Paxton is the most 'plastic' person for this. I don't know how he manages to act. We then moved through a ruined house to another holding area, where we watched another video (a bit more about filming and how they managed to create the tornados. After that finished the doors in front of us opened and we moved into a large sound stage. On our side was a 3 tiered area, with timber floor, under an iron roof, with lights hanging down. Directly in front of us was the drive in that you see in the movie. A jeep parked on the left in front of us, with a restaurant behind us, street in the middle another building and car on the left (a gas station I think). Then the lights went down and it started. The sound was amazing, roaring and moaning, the wind was phenomenal as right in front of us a twister formed. The stage was slowly destroyed, cars started to move, a cow went whizzing past and then the roof on top of us started to lift up and the floor began to shake. By this stage it was also 'raining' inside. Finally the climax is the roof falling on top of us. It was fantastic. So good in fact we went straight back in for a second go so I could try to film it. I don't think I did too bad a job, but it's very dark.
With all this excitement we stopped for some funnel cake (little deep-fried ribbons of cake covered in icing sugar). It tasted a lot like Crostolli.
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| Funnel Cake |
It was now getting late in the afternoon, so after another go on the ET ride we went to stake out some spots for the 5pm parade. We were lucky enough to share a bench with a lovely young family with a little boy and he made the wait for the start of the parade a joy, playing in the street, making friends with another toddler and when the parade started, high-fiving the characters, giving the thumbs up and even blowing kisses at the girls.
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| Asthma puffer carrying bunny. My kind of girl! |
We left before it got busy (the park is open till 1am in the morning!) and headed back to our hotel, managing to arrive while the complimentary dinner hour was on. A fantastic day, and I'm looking forward to Harry Potter and Butterbeer tomorrow.
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