All things Universal Studios Hollywood

mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Phroobar said:
It's very weird standing in front of it looking around and realizing you've been here before your youth. We would go in and work our way from one set demonstration to another.
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That’s the one that would have 3 parts right with one where they chose someone to play Doc from the audience to redo the famous scene at the clock tower? But I don’t remember the tram dropping you off there. We would just walk in from the lower lot.
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
mickEblu said:
That’s the one that would have 3 parts right with one where they chose someone to play Doc from the audience to redo the famous scene at the clock tower? But I don’t remember the tram dropping you off there. We would just walk in from the lower lot.
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Back in the 70s and 80s, the tram was a two hour plus ride. When you entered the park, they assigned a time for the tram. You then watched the stunt show and animal actors shows while you waited.

The tram took you through Battle of Galactica (where Simpsons building supports are now) and burning house (where the fire station is now). Then you got off on the lower lot for the Special Effects show. It had four parts. You moved from demonstration to demonstration. You got back on the tram for the New York city area and collapsing bridge.

Then they dropped you off at prop plaza for restrooms and snacks. Basically holding you hostage for a half hour. Prop Plaza is right above the Jurassic Park dino attack part of the tram. They had large props you can play on and some moving scenery rides. You could lift a van too.

Then you got back on the tram to finish out the tour. Universal Studios didn't have any real rides back then. Just the tram and three or four shows.

www.thestudiotour.com

2010 Special Effects Stage - theStudioTour.com

Dates: 1984 – 1990 Riding the anticipation for the long-awaited sequel to the classic ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1984), the World of Cinemagic was rethemed...
www.thestudiotour.com www.thestudiotour.com
 
mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Phroobar said:
Back in the 70s and 80s, the tram was a two hour plus ride. When you entered the park, they assigned a time for the tram. You then watched the stunt show and animal actors shows while you waited.

The tram took you through Battle of Galactica (where Simpsons building supports are now) and burning house (where the fire station is now). Then you got off on the lower lot for the Special Effects show. It had four parts. You moved from demonstration to demonstration. You got back on the tram for the New York city area and collapsing bridge.

Then they dropped you off at prop plaza for restrooms and snacks. Basically holding you hostage for a half hour. Prop Plaza is right above the Jurassic Park dino attack part of the tram. They had large props you can play on and some moving scenery rides. You could lift a van too.

Then you got back on the tram to finish out the tour. Universal Studios didn't have any real rides back then. Just the tram and three or four shows.

www.thestudiotour.com

2010 Special Effects Stage - theStudioTour.com

Dates: 1984 – 1990 Riding the anticipation for the long-awaited sequel to the classic ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1984), the World of Cinemagic was rethemed...
www.thestudiotour.com www.thestudiotour.com
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Wow that’s interesting. That must have all ended in the early to mid 80s? Don’t remember any of that from my trips in the late 80s. Maybe I forgot. I was pretty young.
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
mickEblu said:
Wow that’s interesting. That must have all ended in the early to mid 80s? Don’t remember any of that from my trips in the late 80s. Maybe I forgot. I was pretty young.
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The tram drop off ended when they built E.T. and Jurassic Park and Backdraft. Special Effects was still down there as an attraction.

The Castle theater was build for the Phantom of the Opera makeup show. They would take two audience members and turn them into Frankenstein and the Bride. There was an AA Phantom narrating the show. That show was replace for Conan when they enclosed the theater.
 
P

Pacnw

Member
Phroobar said:
The tram drop off ended when they built E.T. and Jurassic Park and Backdraft. Special Effects was still down there as an attraction.

The Castle theater was build for the Phantom of the Opera makeup show. They would take two audience members and turn them into Frankenstein and the Bride. There was an AA Phantom narrating the show. That show was replace for Conan when they enclosed the theater.
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I remember that Conan show…it was pretty spectacular for the time
 
Disney Analyst

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Well we conquered Universal Hollywood yesterday.

Got the early access for Super Nintendo, which was worth it, simply to have access to the lower lot right away. We managed to be in the first car of the day for Mario Kart, knocked that out. Then just wandered the land, watched people play the games, met Toad, then we were in line for The Mummy (a walk on) at 8:57am I think. Knocked out Transformers and Jurassic, then went up to Wizarding World. Pretty much walked onto Forbidden Journey (twice), then had a short wait for Hippogriff.

Side note the new lockers for Forbidden Journey were very glitchy for us. Both times we used them, when we came back to scan our ticket and retrieve our stuff, it would open a new locker, not the one we had our stuff already in.

Anyway, we did all of that before 10:40 am, and then made it to the studio tour with our express from early entry before the 11am cut off.

I think our longest waits of the day were Secret Life, Minions, and Simpsons. But even then, we waited less then 35 minutes for any ride.

All in all it was a very successful day. We got all the major rides done before 11am, saw WaterWorld, chatted with some New Yorkers in the windows, and had a great day. Definitely could have left in the early evening, but I’m someone that likes to keep going… so we just rode the big stuff again.

Finally tally:

Mario Kart - 1
The Mummy - 2
Transformers - 2
Jurassic World - 2
Forbidden Journey - 4
Hippogriff - 3
Simpsons - 1
Minions - 1
Funland Spinner - 1
Pets - 1
Studio tour - 1
WaterWorld - 1



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mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Rich T said:

Universal released the overview of EU’s Dark Universe yesterday. I am very excited about this land, and hope some of it makes its way to USH in the future.
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This looks very cool. I would love for a Monsters presence at USH. Only issue is the main attraction is Kuka arm from what I understand. Would that be kind of redundant in the same park as FJ especially when you consider the lack of space they have to expand? Unless of course they just start getting rid of all the soundstages it’s buy the golf course.
 
Rich T

Rich T

Well-Known Member
mickEblu said:
This looks very cool. I would love for a Monsters presence at USH. Only issue is the main attraction is Kuka arm from what I understand. Would that be kind of redundant in the same park as FJ especially when you consider the lack of space they have to expand? Unless of course they just start getting rid of all the soundstages it’s buy the golf course.
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This is just wild speculation on my part, but what if they combined The Mummy’s coaster track and scenes/AAs from Monsters Unchained into a unique USH experience?

But if they were to clone MU for California, I think the rumored absence of screen domes and different uses of the Kuka arm would make MU different enough from FJ to ensure the two could be in the same park without feeling redundant.

When Haunted Mansion opened at DL, no one minded that it had the same ride system (and the same narrator) as Adventure Thru Inner Space.
 
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mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Rich T said:
This is just wild speculation on my part, but what if they combined The Mummy’s coaster track and scenes/AAs from Monsters Unchained into a unique USH experience?

But if they were to clone MU for California, I think the rumored absence of screen domes and different uses of the Kuka arm would make MU different enough from FJ to ensure the two could be in the same park without feeling redundant.

When Haunted Mansion opened at DL, no one minded that it had the same ride system (and the same narrator) as Adventure Thru Inner Space.
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That’s right, I forgot about the fact that it doesn’t have the screen domes. It might be different enough.

I’m not sure about that HM/ ATIS comparison though. Not only does USH only have like 5 rides but Haunted Mansion is much different than a science-y edutainment ride. Potter is a kuka arm dark ride with monsters ( dementors / dragons ) and Monsters is kuka arm dark ride with monsters ( Frankenstein/ Dracula etc)
 
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ThemeParkTraveller

ThemeParkTraveller

Well-Known Member
mickEblu said:
That’s right, I forgot about the fact that it doesn’t have the screen domes. It might be different enough.

I’m not sure about that HM/ ATIS comparison though. Not only does USH only have like 5 rides but Haunted Mansion is much different than a science-y edutainment ride. Potter is a kuka arm dark ride with monsters ( dementors / dragons ) and Monsters is kuka arm dark ride with monsters ( Frankenstein/ Dracula etc)
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Not to mention Forbidden Journey itself was evolved from a Kuka ride based on Van Helsing. They both even have the big castle/manor facade.
 

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