09/20/209: Another Trip Report

[ryanvalle]

Hello,

Had another wonderful day at Universal studios today. I didn't do much as I arrived late and still have work tomorrow, so here's a small report as to the findings I made while there:

http://ryanphilipp.com/blog/2009/09/20/ush09202009.html

Enjoy.

-Ryan

[peaches magee]

Great pics! Especially the action shot of the guy running from the explosion in Waterworld :)

[Sledge]

Our Simpsons ride doesn't take any picture. When does it take the picture for y'all? You said an after-ride picture, does that mean after the cycle has stopped they tell you to pose for a picture? :lol: They don't take it during the "Smile for the picture" part of the video?

Great pictures. :)

[ryanvalle]

Our Simpsons ride doesn't take any picture. When does it take the picture for y'all? You said an after-ride picture, does that mean after the cycle has stopped they tell you to pose for a picture? :lol: They don't take it during the "Smile for the picture" part of the video?

Great pictures. :)

At the end of the ride, after the vehicle goes back into its loading/unloading position, Krusty comes up on a TV screen and points a camera at us and says "What does this do" and it take a random picture at the end, right before we exit the ride.

Thinking about it, since its a motion simulator with the only thing in front of us is a giant screen shared by about another 24 other vehicles, there's really no way to add in the picture section during the ride itself without causing a distraction to the ride experience.

[Sledge]

Weeeird. At the end of our ride we pull back into unload position and he says "What does this button do?", he pushes it, and it vibrates the seats. :lol:

[ryanvalle]

Weeeird. At the end of our ride we pull back into unload position and he says "What does this button do?", he pushes it, and it vibrates the seats. :lol:

Wow. that's quite random. It'd be cool if they mixed the two together and surprised the riders with random "end-of-ride" effects like the vibration and milliseconds after, snap a photo.

[BeachGurl]

Great report! Your Universal looks so much better than ours. The studio tour looks awesome.

[ryanvalle]

Great report! Your Universal looks so much better than ours. The studio tour looks awesome.

Trust me, it's not that great. It's more like a one time visit place with very few attractions. The studio tour is awesome, but I wouldn't say that Universal here is a lot better than Universal Orlando. :)

[Sledge]

I've been out there only once and I definitely prefer Backdraft over Twister (is that still there), your JPRA versus ours, and The Backlot Tour was awesome. I love tour rides and I thought this was definitely the best. I also wish we had something like the House of Horrors... but a dark ride. :lol:

[disneyfan168]

It looks so much better than ours! I want a backlot tour here! Our USF sucks, IMO. IOA makes it worth visiting though.

[HT_NSU]

Great report! I love the caption under the picture of the "Lyons Estates" signs....:lol: and I totally agree with you. :lol:

[ryanvalle]

I've been out there only once and I definitely prefer Backdraft over Twister (is that still there), your JPRA versus ours, and The Backlot Tour was awesome. I love tour rides and I thought this was definitely the best. I also wish we had something like the House of Horrors... but a dark ride. :lol:

Backdraft is still here and is an okay attraction. Mainly, I don't care much for the whole lecture they give us in the first half, but the last segment with all the fire is just amazing. Rumors say that they're going to tear down the attraction and replace it with a transformers ride.

I've never been on your JPRA, but I personally like the one here. I think that Universal just lacks the details which Disney does since it really bothers me how I can see some of the hydraulic tubing of some of the animatronic figures on the ride. What makes Universal here unique and a continuing "competition" against Disney and other socal parks is that tour, which even after the fire, is still great and entertaining.


It looks so much better than ours! I want a backlot tour here! Our USF sucks, IMO. IOA makes it worth visiting though.

So USF and IOA are two different things? All along, I was thinking that USF and IOA were the same thing :) haha

[Sledge]

So USF and IOA are two different things? All along, I was thinking that USF and IOA were the same thing :) haha
Similar to how DTD, DCA and DL are. To get to either USF or IOA you have to walk through CityWalk, then the parks are side by side with a Hard Rock Cafe and NBC City the only thing separating them. Two separate parks, but very close to each other.

[jflores]

Cool photos. I'd like to visit there someday.

[Brava_Centauri]

Nice report! I especially love the cop enforcing people to have fun :lol: