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Incredible Rides at Universal Studios

If you are looking for fun, thrills, and adventure, Universal Studios is the place to go. There are rides that will thrill you and rides that will scare you senseless. From little rides to great big ones, there is something to please every thrill seeker out there.

Begin your day with Revenge of the Mummy. This is a psycho thrill ride that is unlike anything you have ever experienced. This is a roller coaster ride in total darkness. Travelling at a very high speed, you will have many terrifying creatures jumping out at you. If your heart is still beating and you think you can handle more, your next stop should be Jurassic Park: The Ride.

Jurassic Park may seem a bit tame after Revenge of the Mummy, but it is still great fun, and there are still many thrills. This ride has you riding a raft which is slowly being cranked up hill. Dinosaurs of various breeds appear out of nowhere while you are going up. Suddenly, you and your raft are falling quickly downhill, and the ride ends with a huge splash that leaves you soaked! Make sure you bring a change of clothes, because you will want to move on from here Back to the Future.

Back to the Future will have you riding in a car like the one in the movie. The scenes from the movie literally come to life, and many people experience motion sickness…so if you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to skip this one. Other attractions not to miss if you enjoy thrills include Nickelodeon Blast Zone, Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula, the Special Effects Stages, and Shrek 4-D.

If scare easily, you may want to avoid these thrill rides and attractions. They are also not recommended for very young children, pregnant women, or people with heart conditions. People with anxiety issues should avoid these attractions as well. There are many tamer rides and attractions that can be enjoyed in the park if the thrill seeking rides aren’t suitable for you.

The purpose of going to the park is to have fun. If the thrill rides and attractions scare you to the point where it isn’t fun anymore, then they should be avoided. Don’t allow others in your party to coerce you into visiting the attractions that scare you too badly. Again, there are many attractions at Universal Studios Tours that are suitable for those who aren’t comfortable with the thrill seeking rides – so don’t think that you can’t have a good time without getting scared senseless!

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The Jay Leno Universal Studios Tour

If you are planning on doing the Universal Studios Tours, and you wish to see the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, you may be in luck – if you get to the Hollywood Ticket Outlet booth early enough. Getting to see Jay Leno in person and being a part of the Tonight Show audience may be the perfect end to the perfect day!

Again, make sure that you get to the booth early. Exclusive seating is limited on a first come, first serve basis. Only two priority tickets will be made available for each person, and nobody under the age of sixteen may attend the show. These tickets go fairly fast, and once they are gone, they are gone for good.

The Hollywood Ticket Outlet Booth is located inside the Universal Studios Tours park, near the Blues Brothers stage. If you get there early enough, you could be sitting in the studio audience enjoying Jay Leno’s monolog very shortly! Your friends won’t believe you, so make sure that you get souvenirs before leaving Universal Studios, and save your ticket stub!

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Movies and Fun on the Universal Studios Tour

Universal Studios began offering tours back in 1964. Today, Universal Studios still offers tours, and they still make movies – but it has also become one of the largest amusement parks in the world. In fact, Universal Studios has mixed movie making with shows and a theme park full of rides to become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

The Universal Studios tour is a one hour guided tour. Those on the tour ride around the studio’s 420 acres on a tram, and see many stars dressing rooms, production offices, and often famous Hollywood stars. Where else can you see a western town and a New York City street all in the same hour? The tour includes sets from Back to the Future, Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, Jurassic Park III, and The Grinch. What makes this tour different is that it’s lots more than just your ordinary tour with a boring monotone tour guide! As the tour progresses, tourists encounter many joys and disasters!

Once you’ve finished your tour of the studios, you can move on to the theme park. All of the rides have a movie oriented theme, such as Revenge of the Mummy, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, and Shrek. There is also entertainment. Waterworld is a theatre presentation which features many stunts and special effects. Other shows that include terrific stage effects are Backdraft, Animal Planet Live, and Spider Man Rocks.

If all of this isn’t enough, you can also visit the TV Audience Ticket Booth. Here you get free tickets that will allow you to be part of the audience for television shows that are being taped during your visit. This is almost like being on TV! When you visit Universal Studios, you will have several days of fun, and you probably still won’t see everything that’s on offer.

Outside of Universal Studios you will find the Universal City Walk. This is Universal Studios very own Downtown. There are three blocks of stores, clubs, and restaurants for you to enjoy. There are no cars or motorized traffic allowed in this area, but there are hundreds, and sometimes thousands of pedestrians milling about enjoying all of the sights and sounds.

Universal Studio Tours is a great place to spend your next holiday – or it is perfect as an add on to a Disneyland Holiday. Even if you don’t have time for the theme park, the Universal Studios Tour itself is not to be missed!

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Best Time to take the Universal Studios Tour

As with any theme park, there is a good time and a bad time to visit the Universal Studios Tours theme park. You should try to visit at a time when the park is less crowded to get the most out of the tour and the park.

Weekends and school holidays should be avoided at all costs. Most of the visitors at these times are local people who live in the area, and it becomes very crowded, with very long lines. The park is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so don’t plan a visit during those times.

Visit the Universal Studios website to find out which movies are in production, or which movies will be in production at the time of your visit. This may play in the decision as to when to visit. If you visit during the time of a movie production, you are likely to see the movie set, and you may even get the opportunity to see the stars in action!

When you do visit, plan to get there well before the gates open. You should arrive at least thirty minutes in advance, and should buy your tickets in advance online for added convenience. This can be done here. Tickets can then be printed out using your home printer.

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Universal Studios Special Needs Services

Universal Studios strives to ensure that everyone who visits Universal Studio Tours has an enjoyable experience. While guest services are available for everyone, there are special guest services available for guests with more specialized needs.

Guests in wheelchairs should have no problem accessing everything in the park, however, occasionally, some assistance may be required. If this occurs, staff members will be only too happy to assist. If special assistance is needed, please visit the Guest Relations desk, which is near the front entrance of the park. You should also contact Guest Relations in advance of your visit. Accessibility points for wheelchairs are marked with the International signs.

If you require a sign language interpreting service, one will be made available to you at Universal Studios Tours free of charge, with two weeks notice. Arrangements can also be made for closed captioning, assistive listening devices, and telecommunication devices for the deaf. TTY telephones are located at the Guest Services booth as well, and all pay phones throughout the park have the amplified feature.

Service animals are always welcome at Universal Studios, and will be allowed in the restaurants, gift shops, and the attraction queues. For the safety and well-being of the animal, service animals will not be allowed on some of the rides or inside some of the attractions. Special arrangements can be made for the service animal while its owner enjoys the attractions, however. Non-service animals must be placed in the complimentary kennels located right outside the park gates.

Pregnant women should avoid The Studio Tour, Back to the Future, and Jurassic Park. These are not suitable for expectant mothers, and may cause complications in the pregnancy, including early labour. Furthermore, pregnant women will be given special stationary seating for the Shrek 4-D attraction and the Terminator 2: 3D attraction. Speak with a cast member for assistance. You should speak with your doctor before planning a trip to Universal Studios Tours – he or she may advise against such a trip.

Spanish language tours are available every day that the park is open, and tours for other languages can be arranged with advance notice. Again, Universal Studios Tours wants everyone to have a pleasant experience at the park, and they will do everything possible to ensure this. If you have a special need, please call and speak with a cast member at the Guest Services Centre, or visit the centre upon your arrival to the park.

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Avoid taking Baby on Universal Studios Tours

Unlike Disneyland, Universal Studio Tours are not for everyone. While there is plenty to do and see, the attractions are not appropriate for all ages. This should be strongly considered if you have a baby or toddler and are planning a family holiday that includes Universal Studios.

There are no attractions that are suitable for babies or toddlers at Universal Studios. Most babies and toddlers will not be interested in the Universal Studios Tour. Furthermore, getting a stroller around the upper and lower lots is almost impossible. Universal Studios is a great place to have some fun – but it’s a really bad idea if you are a baby, a toddler or most of all a parent.

If you are going on holiday with a toddler or a baby, you may be better off saving the Universal Studios Tour for another holiday a few years down the road. There is no charge for admission for babies and toddlers at Universal Studios, but there usually isn’t if the person cannot enjoy the attractions at the park! Remember – the baby or toddler isn’t the only one who won’t be having any fun.

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Universal Studios Tours – Must See Attractions

If you are planning a trip to Universal Studios, there are many attractions to keep you occupied, including the Universal Studios Tour, which takes about one hour. However, there are some attractions that absolutely must not be missed!

All of the rides have a movie theme, and if you’ve seen the movies, this makes the rides more enjoyable. Start with Backdraft. This isn’t actually a ride, but it is a fire show that features lots of stunts and interaction. Other shows that must not be missed include Animal Planet Live, WaterWorld, and Fear Factor Live. With Fear Factor Live, make sure that you know what you are getting into before you agree to participate!

Terminator 2: 3D is the same as the movie Terminator 2 – but it is in 3D, which you probably have not yet seen. The Mummy Returns: Chamber of Doom is like a haunted house that you walk through, which is full of thrills. The Studio Tour will have you on the set of Jaws and Psycho, in a western town, on a New York street, and experiencing an earthquake with King Kong.

Here are all the Must See Rides and Attractions at Universal Studios

Hollywood Rip Ride and Rocket (now open): For an adrenaline pumping and music thumping ride, visit Hollywood Rip Ride and Rocket. You will climb straight up and a moment later, you’re screaming at 65 mph, 17 stories over Universal Studios.

The Simpsons Ride: The Simpsons are visiting Krustyland, the low-budget theme park created by famed TV personality and shameless product huckster Krusty the Clown! You are there right alongside Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie as you enter through the carnival-like midway. Once you board your vehicle you’re in for one surprise after another as you embark on a wild, over-the-top ride through the park& flying, floating, and more or less crashing your way through Krustyland’s kiddie attractions, stunt shows, and thrill rides.

Shrek 4-D: Join Princess Fiona and your heroes on an all new honeymoon adventure picking up where the Oscar-winning movie “Shrek” left off. Shrek 4-D features an original 3-D film, plus an extra dimension of special effects through the miracle of OgreVision. You see, hear and actually FEEL the action right from your seat! If you love motion simulator rides, you’ll love Shrek 4-D.

Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast: The evil Ooblar from the planet Yolkus has stolen Jimmy’s newest rocket creation… The Mark IV. Board your own rocket, and follow Jimmy on a wild chase through your favourite Nicktoons, including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, Hey Arnold!, and Rugrats.

Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride: Plunge into total darkness as you face fireballs, scarab beetles, and an army of warrior mummies on a psychological thrill ride totally unlike anything that’s come along in the past 3,000 years! If you love roller coasters, you are in for a truly unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Get ready to scream!

TWISTER – Ride it Out: It’ll Blow You Away. Step into one of the most action-packed movies of all time, and feel what it’s like to be a storm chaser, looking a tornado right in the eye. Grab onto the railing and “Ride It Out,” as our special effects wizards re-create the explosive force of nature at its worst.

The Blues Brothers: It’s a party on Delancey Street in New York with Jake and Elwood, the bad boys of blues. This outdoor stage show is located in the New York backlot area, is for all guests and has no height restrictions.

Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue: Beetlejuice cranks up Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein for a Mega-Monster Rock Show filled with screamin’ demons and wailin’ guitars. This live stage show takes place in an open-air amphitheatre located in the San Francisco backlot area, has a PG-13 Rating, and no height restrictions.

Lucy – A Tribute: The Queen of Comedy lives at Universal Studios! This loving tribute is a walk through the dazzling career of America’s queen of comedy, Lucille Ball. Get a close-up look at the world’s favourite redhead on screen and off! See classic shows, costumes, scripts, and even rare home movies. You are sure to fall in love with Lucy all over again!

Terminator 2: 3-D: The Future Is Coming…After You! Join forces with the Terminator in a battle to prevent mankind’s extinction at the cold, steel hands of futuristic cyborgs. Live-action stunts, special effects, and amazing 3-D film come together in this Terminator adventure that says “Hasta la vista, baby” to entertainment as you know it.

Jaws: You’re gonna need a bigger boat! Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. a giant fin slices through the waves and you’re suddenly face to face with three tons of Great White fury. Are you ready to withstand the all-out assault of JAWS?

Fear Factor Live: Now It’s Your Turn! See if you have what it takes at the most extreme audience participation show ever – Fear Factor Live. Perform gravity-defying stunts in front of thousands as you compete against other guests, or watch all the action from the audience.

Animal Actors on Location: More fun than humanly possible! Animal Actors On Location! is an outrageous show featuring a humorous mix of video, live animal performances, and audience interaction. Don’t be surprised if things don’t always go as scripted, because as anyone will tell you, the animals are running the show!

E.T Adventure: Can you help E.T.(the extra terrestrial) make it back home? Bring the kids and board your flying bikes as you soar across the stars to help E.T save his home planet. It’s an adventure that will touch your heart all over again.

A Day in the Park with Barney: Meet Barney and his friends Baby Bop and BJ in a live sing-along, clap-along stage show. Then afterwards, have fun in Barney’s interactive playground. It’s Super-Dee-Duper!

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster: We have a roller coaster for your young kids too! Climb into your crate and take a fun-filled ride through Woody Woodpecker’s own nut factory on this family-style coaster. It’s the nuttiest ride you’ve ever seen!

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Universal Studios Tours Annual Passes

If you are a frequent traveller to the United States, or more specifically to Los Angeles, California or even Orlando, Florida, you should consider purchasing annual passes for Universal Studios Tours. Annual passes are reasonably priced, and will most likely save you money on admission throughout the year. Several different levels of annual passes are available.

A regular annual pass for Universal Studios Tours costs that what you would otherwise pay visiting the theme parks just twice. With this an annual pass you will be granted twelve full months of admission to the parks, 15% savings on general admission for up to six of your guests, 10% off of all merchandise, and 10% off the price of all food and beverages purchased inside the park.

You will also be given exclusive offers and invitations to special events that are held throughout the year. Some black-out dates do apply to regular annual pass holders. You can upgrade to a deluxe annual pass for slightly more. The deluxe pass will entitle you to all of the things that a regular pass does, with one exception. No black-out dates will apply to you.

The best value is the premium annual pass. This pass will entitle you to twelve months of admission to the park, invitations to special events held throughout the year, exclusive offers, and 15% savings on general admission prices for six of your guests, 10% off the price of merchandise, 10% off the price of food and beverages purchased inside the park, and no black-out dates. Additionally, you will be entitled to free parking during box office hours, and front of the line access at the Universal Studios Tour.

If you plan to visit Universal Studios twice in one year, an annual pass is the most logical choice. General admission for Universal Studios Tours for just one day costs £48. You can get a premium annual pass for less than two trips to Universal Studios. What this essentially means is that if you purchase an annual pass, you are really only paying for two days at the park, and any additional days are the park are actually free!

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Universal Studios Tours – Special Effects Stages

When you visit Universal Studios, the Special Effects Stages is an attraction that should not be missed. This is not only a great way to learn and understand how special effects are done in the movies; it is also a great deal of fun. It is really quite interesting to see how it all comes to life on the Silver Screen!

There are three Special Effects Stages: The Virtual Studio, The Creature Factory, and The Sound Lab. Remember that this is an interactive attraction, so you will be able to create your very own special effects. You will learn many of the special effects secrets used in major movies, such as The Hulk, The Mummy Returns, Jurassic Park, and many others. There are Universal Studios Staff members available to help with the effects.

The special effects stages are not designed for people who have medical conditions that may be affected by strobe lights, or anything resembling strobe light effects. People with sensitive ears should avoid this attraction, or use earplugs. The Special Effects Stages are located on the lower lot at Universal Studios.

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Security at Universal Studios Tours

If you are worried about your safety while visiting Universal Studios, you should not be. There are security officers on the grounds, and security offices are located in the upper lot by Nick Stuff and in the lower lot inside the Jurassic Park Visitors Centre.

After the 9/11 terrorists attacks, Universal Studios put a heightened security program in place. Today, security precautions are constantly taken for the safety of all visitors and guests. The park stays up-to-date on all security briefings that are issued by local and federal law enforcement agencies, and always takes appropriate measures to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

To date, there have been no major security issues at Universal Studios. The park has never been threatened by terrorists or anyone else. In the event that the park is threatened, again, measures are in place to ensure the safety of everyone. With this in mind, enjoy yourself and all that Universal Studios Tours has to offer – leave the worrying to the people who are already equipped and prepared to deal with such an emergency, should it ever arise.

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