LisaG
06-09-2003, 03:11 PM
Cast:
Myself: LisaG, 36
DH: Darrell, 39
We left Barstow at 7AM. Here is where we made our only mistake of the day – it was already 79 degrees in Barstow so we were wearing shorts and T-shirts. By the time we arrived in Universal City 1 hr 45 min later it was 59 degrees! Luckily Darrell rarely cleans out the trunk of the car and we came up with a windbreaker and a sweatshirt.
After parking in Jurassic section 1L we head into citywalk and towards the front gate with our Celebrity Annual Passes in hand. I was surprised by the lack of people in both the parking garage and by the front gate.
Our first stop of the day is Shrek, the newest attraction here. The queue area is kind of plain and kind of small, I thought (more on that later). Only decorations are wanted posters of the various fairytale characters, little pigs, Pinocchio, etc. The preshow area is set-up to look like Farquaad’s dungeon. The three little pigs are hanging in crates from the ceiling, (one in straw, one in wood, and one in bricks), all you can see of them is their eyes. Pinocchio is also hanging in a box in which his nose and feet are all that stick out. Magic mirror is on the wall (twice in fact – both ends of waiting area). Also gingerbread man is on a screen in the middle. After an interesting preshow which actually recaps the movies for those who haven’t seen it and then the sets-up the 4D show, you enter the auditorium. The best feature of this show is the chairs. Large and comfy for us full-figured adults! The movie is cute. I think it was about 10 minutes long.
Our next destination is the Movie Studio Tour. This is always my favorite attraction here but it is greatly dependent on the tour guide. Ours this morning was not very good. She kept having problems cueing up the right clips to play and also didn’t seem to offer much info beyond the scripts. Unfortunately most of the NY area was closed off as the seemed to be having some sort of tech expo there. The tour clips right now are very “Hulk heavy.” They even replaced Ron Howard’s intro with Sam Elliot.
OK, 10:15 when we get off the tour. Time for some sustenance. Back to the Upper lot for a quick stop at Cinnabon. YUMMY!
Well fortified we head over to Back To the Future, only a 15 minute wait posted. I don’t think we stood in the main line more than 5 minutes and were back off the ride in 15 minutes total.
Then we head down to the Lower Lot and do a little window shopping while waiting to go to the Special Effects Show. The show was entertaining as always. They have changed this around some to include “Hulk” and “Bruce Almighty “in the foley stage portion.
As luck would have it we are able to walk out of here and right into Backdraft. We stood off to the far right in the final room and it was interesting to see from this perspective. Normally we stand right in the center but no one wanted to stand in the front row. No idea why but 2/3’s of the audience crammed onto the upper level.
Now it is lunch time. Jurassic Café for us today. Darrell has a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke. I have a side of fried rice, side of chow mein and a bottled water. Total $15.65 with our CAP discount. I have to compliment the cashier. He (Richard) was asking everyone if they had a CAP or AAA card in order to give the 10% off discount. I thought this was really nice as I don’t always remember, especially if they are crowded, as they were.
After lunch we decided to try the Studio Tour again and head back down. After a 10-minute wait we are back on. This time the tour guide was much better. Showed a lot of clips and was able to tell us a lot more movie trivia.
Next it’s off to see Terminator 3D. Not much of a wait here either. Probably 30 minutes from the time we entered the queue till we were back out of the show.
Animal Actors Stage is next. Show is cute as always with a couple of new additions. They have a parrot that flies through hula hoops that are set-up in the arena seating area.
I’ve become a little addicted to pressing pennies, so we go in search of a new one and find a Hulk one.
As we are passing Shrek to go get a soft pretzel, the line looks empty so we head in. OK so here is where the real queue is! In back of the building they have a huge tent set-up with different lines snaking there way thru it. I asked the nearest employee the wait time and he says less than 20 but longer than 10 so we decide to stay. They had giant mister fans set-up inside the tent as well so the wait was pleasant. (Probably closer to the 20 than the 10 though.). It had warmed up to be in the 70’s. We enjoyed this again.
OK now back to my pretzel search. I’m a pretzel snob having grown up just outside of Philadelphia so I had to find the right location. Some of their stands are Wetzel’s Pretzels and they just don’t cut it for me. I find a super pretzel stand by the Nickolodeon area and I’m happy. Still not a Philly pretzel but it will do.
I munch on my pretzel as we head back to the parking area.
Just for a point of reference; when we got back to Barstow at 8pm it is still 100 degrees!
Not sure why - but the crowds really didn't seem bad until around 4pm. Not that I'm complaining! :lol:
Myself: LisaG, 36
DH: Darrell, 39
We left Barstow at 7AM. Here is where we made our only mistake of the day – it was already 79 degrees in Barstow so we were wearing shorts and T-shirts. By the time we arrived in Universal City 1 hr 45 min later it was 59 degrees! Luckily Darrell rarely cleans out the trunk of the car and we came up with a windbreaker and a sweatshirt.
After parking in Jurassic section 1L we head into citywalk and towards the front gate with our Celebrity Annual Passes in hand. I was surprised by the lack of people in both the parking garage and by the front gate.
Our first stop of the day is Shrek, the newest attraction here. The queue area is kind of plain and kind of small, I thought (more on that later). Only decorations are wanted posters of the various fairytale characters, little pigs, Pinocchio, etc. The preshow area is set-up to look like Farquaad’s dungeon. The three little pigs are hanging in crates from the ceiling, (one in straw, one in wood, and one in bricks), all you can see of them is their eyes. Pinocchio is also hanging in a box in which his nose and feet are all that stick out. Magic mirror is on the wall (twice in fact – both ends of waiting area). Also gingerbread man is on a screen in the middle. After an interesting preshow which actually recaps the movies for those who haven’t seen it and then the sets-up the 4D show, you enter the auditorium. The best feature of this show is the chairs. Large and comfy for us full-figured adults! The movie is cute. I think it was about 10 minutes long.
Our next destination is the Movie Studio Tour. This is always my favorite attraction here but it is greatly dependent on the tour guide. Ours this morning was not very good. She kept having problems cueing up the right clips to play and also didn’t seem to offer much info beyond the scripts. Unfortunately most of the NY area was closed off as the seemed to be having some sort of tech expo there. The tour clips right now are very “Hulk heavy.” They even replaced Ron Howard’s intro with Sam Elliot.
OK, 10:15 when we get off the tour. Time for some sustenance. Back to the Upper lot for a quick stop at Cinnabon. YUMMY!
Well fortified we head over to Back To the Future, only a 15 minute wait posted. I don’t think we stood in the main line more than 5 minutes and were back off the ride in 15 minutes total.
Then we head down to the Lower Lot and do a little window shopping while waiting to go to the Special Effects Show. The show was entertaining as always. They have changed this around some to include “Hulk” and “Bruce Almighty “in the foley stage portion.
As luck would have it we are able to walk out of here and right into Backdraft. We stood off to the far right in the final room and it was interesting to see from this perspective. Normally we stand right in the center but no one wanted to stand in the front row. No idea why but 2/3’s of the audience crammed onto the upper level.
Now it is lunch time. Jurassic Café for us today. Darrell has a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke. I have a side of fried rice, side of chow mein and a bottled water. Total $15.65 with our CAP discount. I have to compliment the cashier. He (Richard) was asking everyone if they had a CAP or AAA card in order to give the 10% off discount. I thought this was really nice as I don’t always remember, especially if they are crowded, as they were.
After lunch we decided to try the Studio Tour again and head back down. After a 10-minute wait we are back on. This time the tour guide was much better. Showed a lot of clips and was able to tell us a lot more movie trivia.
Next it’s off to see Terminator 3D. Not much of a wait here either. Probably 30 minutes from the time we entered the queue till we were back out of the show.
Animal Actors Stage is next. Show is cute as always with a couple of new additions. They have a parrot that flies through hula hoops that are set-up in the arena seating area.
I’ve become a little addicted to pressing pennies, so we go in search of a new one and find a Hulk one.
As we are passing Shrek to go get a soft pretzel, the line looks empty so we head in. OK so here is where the real queue is! In back of the building they have a huge tent set-up with different lines snaking there way thru it. I asked the nearest employee the wait time and he says less than 20 but longer than 10 so we decide to stay. They had giant mister fans set-up inside the tent as well so the wait was pleasant. (Probably closer to the 20 than the 10 though.). It had warmed up to be in the 70’s. We enjoyed this again.
OK now back to my pretzel search. I’m a pretzel snob having grown up just outside of Philadelphia so I had to find the right location. Some of their stands are Wetzel’s Pretzels and they just don’t cut it for me. I find a super pretzel stand by the Nickolodeon area and I’m happy. Still not a Philly pretzel but it will do.
I munch on my pretzel as we head back to the parking area.
Just for a point of reference; when we got back to Barstow at 8pm it is still 100 degrees!
Not sure why - but the crowds really didn't seem bad until around 4pm. Not that I'm complaining! :lol: