Whereas Disneyland entertains park patrons with lovable characters and SeaWorld blows peoples' minds with exotic sea life, Universal Studios is where people go to experience movie magic. This makes Universal Studios a favorite of teenagers and adults, as well as children, because everybody loves the movies! Universal Studios is a unique combination of a traditional theme park and a working movie studio. There are rides as well as movie-themed exhibits that cannot be found anywhere else in California, or the nation over for that matter. What are some of the most exciting and popular attractions as voted by tourists at Universal Studios?
You can start off with some thrilling rides and shows based on your favorite movies and television shows such as Jurassic Park: The Ride, Waterworld - A Live Sea War Spectacular, Fear Factor Live, Nickelodeon Blast Zone and Lucy: A Tribute. You can also go behind the scenes to see how the movies you love are created. You can find out filming secrets to contemporary classics by Spielberg and Zemeckis, such as Back to the Future, E.T. along with other popular films like the Flintstones Show and King Kong. The Shrek and Terminator franchises get special treatment as each film is made into a specially enhanced ride featuring 3-D and 4-D graphics.
Other attractions on the upper lot of Universal Studios include Universal's Animal Actors, Studio Tour, Blues Brothers R&B Revue, Universal's House of Horrors and Coke Soak. The lower lot of Universal Studios includes Special Effects Stages, Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, and a Backdraft attraction. Along with touring Universal Studios a Universal Studios Tour pass also grants you rights to visit the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater and the Autry Museum of Western Heritage.
SeaWorld may have Shamu and Disney may feature Mickey Mouse, but Universal Studios is certainly not lacking in character. Universal Studios features a wide array of both fictional and "real" characters, at least in terms of famous Hollywood impersonators like the Marx Brotehrs, Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball. There are also legendary cartoon characters like Woody Woodpecker, classic monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein and famous film characters like Doc Brown and Beetlejuice. The new Universal Studios is always on the edge of what's popular today and so don't be surprised to see other characters like Spongebob, Shrek and Marvel Comics heroes also gracing the park with their presence.
The Universal Studios Tour runs about eight hours and also includes access to the park. Universal Studios has actually been running tours ever since 1962 and steadily increased in attractions ever since, with notable expansions covering production, staged events. There are also shops and restaurants at the Universal CityWalk as well as the Gibson Amphitheatre Concert Hall. You will note that Universal Studios attractions are split into two different areas on two levels and are connected by a collection of escalators known as the Starway. Universal Studios is a great vacation destination and is appropriate—not just for children but for all ages!
