Universality

Yesterday, I went to Universal Studios with my friend, Guy. I figured it was about time I did the tourist thing and it didn't disappoint even though the ticket price insanely expensive. $60 online or $80 on the door for a day pass. However, for the $80 price tag, you can enter the park all year round. 

Anyhoo, it's an interesting mix of attractions. We visited all the main ones. The Mummy ride, though intense, could probably win the record for the world's shortest roller coaster. 

The Jurassic Park ride is a water-based roller coaster. Well, basically, it has one sheer drop at the end but it's full-on enough to be worth it. 

Because it's off-season, we queued for 10 minutes maximum on all the rides. 

Our first port of call was the House of Horrors. I thought this would be a nice way to ease ourselves into a day at the park. Boy was I wrong. It was actually hilariously scary. Aided by live actors reaching out and grabbing you, scary noises, dark corners, it was really effective. Weirdly, the most effective thing was strands of thread handing from the ceiling. Even thought your logical mind knows it was nothing, you're illogical head told you you're being attacked by spiders. RUN!

The most impressive thing in the park, for me was the studio tour and the Transformers attraction. The studio tour takes you through the back lot and you see some of the sets and mock streets used in many of Universals films and TV shows over several decades (including Wisteria Lane, Bate's Motel, Gilligans Island and much more). My favourite moment was definitely seeing the clock tower from Back To The Future, one of my top ten films. On the ride you also get a 360 degree 3D King Kong experience which utilises top-end special effects and screening techniques with very impressive results.

The Tranformers ride was similar to this. It used 3D, visual, sound and motion effects to create another thrilling experience. In terms of physical distance, we barely traveled anywhere, but the effects were so convincing, you believed  you've flown up into the sky, crashed through buildings and plummetted down the side of a sky scrapper.

It was a really good day and nice to take a break from the intensity of Hollywood.

One of the things that you can't help but notice is how many live performers there are in the park. One that particularly stuck in mind was on the studio tour when we passed the set of Bate's Motel. Just as our tour bus passed by, "Norman" came out with a woman's body, dumped it in the back of a car, spotted us and then headed, "angrily" our way. We got away in time but it was close. Me and my friend turned to each other and both said, at the same time "Imagine having to do that ALL DAY".