Recently, my family and I had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California. Universal Studios is the busiest studio backlot in California and has been seen in countless movies, television shows, and commercials. Universal Studios has offered tours since it opened. Studio co-owner, Carl Laemmle loved the idea of fans being able to watch silent movies being filmed.
Our visit to Universal Studios Hollywood began on an overcast morning in June. After picking up our tickets and getting a map, we sat for a moment and tried to plan our our day. We reviewed the contents of the map and surmised that there were only four attractions we could do with our kids (21 months and 4 years old). My older son really wanted to see the animal actors show, so while we waited for the show to start, we strolled around the upper level of the park. I was impressed by the architecture of the park and great photo spots that allow guests to take pictures with props and backdrops from their favorite television shows and movies. Below is a rundown of our day.
- After walking around a bit, we took the kids to the Animal Actors show. They LOVED it. They both giggled with delight to see all of the animals do tricks and act silly. It was right up their alley. They would have been more than happy to sit and watch the show all day.
- After the show, we grabbed lunch at the Flintstone’s-themed bar-b-que. The portions were big enough to share. My husband and I shared our $14 dollar lunch that included a half chicken, cole slaw, cornbread muffin, corn on the cob, and diet coke. We were beyond impressed by the automated ordering system. It was super fast and really easy to use. The line moved along VERY quickly. We were able to easily find a table to eat and had the sun been shining, we would have been in the shade. When my husband has done some shooting inside the theme park in the past, he has always been a fan of the Italian restaurant. He says that the pizza is excellent.
- After lunch, we were off to the Shrek 4D show. It was super cute and my four year old liked it. The baby was scared of the dark waiting area and my husband had to go outside with him. One of us would have had to sit with him in the last row had they stayed in, as there is absolutely no lap sitting allowed in the rest of the theater due to the fact that the seats move.
- Went to the Curious George play area. Unfortunately, it was too cold to play in the water, so we went to the ball room. I barely know how to describe the pandamonium that was taking place. It’s a giant room with cannons and other apparatus spitting out foam balls–everywhere. It’s really loud because of the vacuum action of the cannons. My kids loved it. Any attraction that makes a kid interested in vacuuming is alright by me. (See my pic below.)
- We finally made our way to the tram tour. The tram tour was a lot of fun. The baby slept through most of it and my four year old didn’t really “get it” but I enjoyed it. There are a couple of things I think are important to note if you are going to take your child on the tour. First, I think it is important to let him/her know that it is not real. The flood and earthquake are so lifelike, that it could be REALLY scary for a small child. I’m typically not one of those who goes around wanting to ruin the magic for others, but in this case I think it’s justified. Second, I recommend covering your child’s eyes (and closing your own) when you go into what the guide says will be props from “The Mummy.” There is a spinning effect that would freak any kid out and makes the strongest of stomachs queezy. Last, if you are going to visit Universal Studios Hollywood the summer of 2010 or later, I must warn you that the King Kong attraction will be back. This would have been way too scary for my kids and I would not have taken them on the tram attraction had it been there. I think it would be nice for the folks at Universal to run a couple of kid-friendly trams each day so that families with young kids can enjoy it without having to worry what’s around the corner.
- After the tram tour, we rode the world’s longest escalator down to the lower area of the park, home of the Jurassic Park ride, Mummy ride, and Backdraft experience. None of these are clearly appropriate for little guys, so we turned around and went back up the escalator. We then walked around the park more and checked out some of the characters and stores.
In a very unscientific poll on my website, 88% of respondents said that Universal Studios Hollywood is not an appropriate destination for families looking to entertain the under 5 crowd. It does not offer enough attractions to keep them busy for a full day. In my opinion, the park is geared for for families with children 8 to ten years or older. Not only are the attractions more appropriate for these children, but they can appreciate what goes on at the studio itself, which makes the entire experience more interesting and meaningful for the entire family.(Visited 200 times, 4 visits today)
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