Something Other than DLR? How about 5 more days in LA - a TR

[flynnibus]

There really isn't a TR forum for West Coast.. so will stick this here and if they move it somewhere.. great

So in this thread I covered the start of my trip.. 3 days at DLR - https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/flynnibus-returns-to-dlr-thoughts-and-experience.986768

But that's just the start.. I had 5+ more full days in the LA area. What would I do? A ton of stuff.. Let's go on a trip report and hear some commentary along the way!

Day 1

So wife had been in SoCal for an extended time for work, so I had planned to come out and steal some days with her to get a break from work, and maybe double dip on some hotels and airfare.

Unfortunately the work schedule keep changing delayed the trip a bit and made it so there was basically no pre-planning. Ultimately, I got the go sign with only about 10 days before I would go. So this would be a very adhoc trip. But people say when you are in SoCal you should do more than just Disney right? So that was the intent of this trip... do 3 days of Disney and then.. what else? Let's find out.

Trip started with me flying into LAX, getting a car, and then heading to Torrence to meet the wife at work. Drive was decent, decided to hit Hermosa Brewing for a bit to play some pinball while killing time waiting for the wife to be finished work.

After 2hrs or so, I collected the wife, and then headed to Anaheim to our next home base.. Camelot Inn on Harbor for our DLR portion.

Days 2,3,4
I won't rehash the Disney portion.. you can see some thoughts in this thread - https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/flynnibus-returns-to-dlr-thoughts-and-experience.986768 But we basically did 2 days of DL, 1 day of DCA. I had tried to move the days to get to see the evening entertainment, but only managed to see Fireworks on Friday night.

Day 5
After our Disney days.. I knew we'd need a bit of a break, so I planned a low key day. Monday morning we checked out of Anaheim, and headed towards Hollywood area... We'd have a few hours to kill before Checkin time, so we checked out the Petersen Museum.

Dream car

They had some cool collections right now.. like all of the Ken Brock vehicles (gymkhana and Hoonigan - look it up if you don't know).

We even did the Vault add-on to the ticket, where you go through their parking garage where they have like 300 MORE cars

Overall an insane collection.. a bit heavy on the concept cars.. I thought they'd have more screen used cars than they did (movie cars). But if you are even remotely interested in cars - a worthy destination.

Without a plan about what's next.. we decided to walk over to the La Brae Tarpits since they were just a few blocks away. We just walked through the park, skipping the museum (we have the Smithsonian in our backyard.. kinda hard to top them). We got to see one of the active dig sites.. but its def one of those things you can check off you did, but don't put high expectations on the place.

Next, we headed towards the hollywood hills to check in to our next hotel.. The Garland, which is an older hotel right near Universal Studios, that I picked for knowing it had a relaxing pool deck+food setup. The evening was dinner on the pool deck, and soaking in the adult only hottub..

Day 6

Tuesday was our next big activity... Universal Studios Hollywood! Neither of us have ever been to the OG Universal, only having done the orlando version. Since we only had one day, and I was kinda jazzed by the studio potential, I opt'd to do the VIP tour package for our day. It includes an enhanced version of the tour, small group+guide for the park, lunch, and unlimited express pass.

Proof

Our Tour time was 10:30, with the park opening at 10. The VIP includes valet parking, so we were able to drive right up close and park easily. We still got there about 9:50.. and our day started with checking in at VIP, where they had light fare and snacks for you while you waited for your time. View from the balcony as I ate some breakfast

I used my time to check out the store and get on my team of choice... Unfortunately the team member in the store was freaking awful. Unfortunately she was hard of hearing.. so no idea why you put someone like that at the register where people need to interact.. but she was so useless in helping me understand how to pick a band or use it. I was on my own.. so picked.. MARIO!

When our time was ready, our guide gathered us up.. our group was about 12-13 people, and we'd start with the studio tour, then do some rides, lunch, and then about 2more hours with the guide, then we'd be free in the park with express pass to do as we pleased. You can always leave your guide early, divert, etc.. but we stayed with her for the duration.

Part of the VIP package is your small group rides on different trollys vs the normal tour, and you are able to get off in key areas and be walked through different stuff. This is what I was most interested in. Unfortunately, it was the part that let me down the most.

Our tour consisted of going through the various backlot areas and doing the same sequences the general tour does (kong, disaster, jaws), but parking and walking through some of the backlots. We didn't get to goto any soundstages at all. We did walk through the prop building, but only floor 1 which is all... furniture. Literally just rows of chairs, tables, etc. Interesting from a 'how things work' angle, but very bland. The lots we got off and walked through were long idle.. and most of the movie references they had were more from the 70s and some 80s films at best. Or a 30 second clip from Pirates of the Carribean, etc. I really wanted to see the BTTF square.. but not sure what they did there after the last fire. Either way, we didn't go there.

Honestly, as fake as the DMGM tour was... in its heyday it was honestly a lot better than this was. The tour was a big let down - not worth anyone's time IMO.

 

[flynnibus]

After the tour, we started with Super Mario Land.. and rode the only attraction in the land.. Mario Kart. My first opportunity to use my band! Unfortunately... it didn't seem to work.. it didn't save my progress or achievement

After that we were walked right on Transformers by our guide.. USO's copy is identical AFAIK. Next, we were walked right onto Jurrassic World. We also had free ponchos from the VIP tour which we used. I do like the upgrades to this ride.. I think its a very solid and fun ride, even if one of the big screen/tank sequences is kinda drawn out/repetitive. Next, walked right onto Mummy - I passed due to my back so can't compare, but I know this ride differs some vs USO. After that, we headed up to the upper lot and I think Lunch was next.

Lunch however was great. It was an all you can eat buffet in a dining area just for the VIP tours. Food was good and plentiful. I think we had about an hour for lunch, and then we met back with our guide.

She led us through Secret Life of Pets.. which is a solid modern "dark ride".. then Minions Mayhem... and then we caught the last Waterworld show of the day. Again with reserved seating for the VIP tours. The stage and stunt shows seem to be a dying breed in modern parks, but Waterworld is a pretty solid show. Having live actors is a welcome throwback to earlier days. But boy do people in the splash zone get wet.. and not wet.. POUNDED with water. That's extreme

Lastly after the show, we went over to Hogsmede, where we rode Flight of Hypogriff for the worst coaster experience in a theme park, and then were walked on Forbidden Journey. It seems the queue here is significantly different than USO, but generally the same jist. I skipped the ride again due to my back. After that, our time with the tour guide was up.. it was about 4pm, and the park was closing at 6pm that day.

So from 10:30 to 4pm, we hit all the headliners in the park. The only attractions we didn't do were Simpsons and Kungfu Panda. We never waited at any attraction except at Mario Kart, where we had to wait in the pre-show room, but still had our own line.

So was VIP worth it? I think for a first time visitor, it certainly maximizes your time. But it also basically puts you in commando mode.. you just move from point to point. I think the enhanced version of the Studio Tour was a huge let down... Lunch was good. Valet parking was great. The only real negative IMO was we had such little free time afterwards. If you were a repeat visitor, you'd probably want to skip things like Waterworld.. or even the tour.. so compared to just buying express pass I guess it would really depend on the price for the days you are there. For us, I bought through undercover tourist and it cost us $700 total for 2 people. I think normal park admission was like $160 or something for those days.. and I didn't look at what express pass cost was for that day.

So, we had about two hours left.. since my adhoc setup meant I missed key things like Olga's in SWGE at DL.. I figured I didn't want to miss the Toadstool cafe here. It was on a virtual queue all day, so late in the day I made a reservation for 5:15. So with only about 30-40mins before then, I wanted to explore SMW more.

I got to do all the activities, and since it was so late in the day, SMW was virtually empty. I think I waited once or twice for things. While the land is built for exploring.. I do wish there was a bit more guidance in the app on things you could try.. or at least hints. I struggled to decode everything the map was telling me to do.. and I think I missed a bunch of stuff. The bowser jr battle was pretty fun. The other mini games, are aimed pretty young... I think probably 7-12 is probably peak target here. While us GenXs get the nostalgia, it's wide open nature doesn't really give me immersion vibes. It's neat fun.. but felt more like a playground than 'I'm in the game!'

When our time was ready, we walked to the Cafe.. to find it virtually empty. Yet they had the place throttled with a sign saying there were no more spots available today (and had been out for awhile). It's really perplexing how they limit themselves so much here. We ordered some snacks (the cupcake and garlic bites) and really just wanted to take the place in atmosphere wise. While the place was nice, I don't think it was anything to write home about. Maybe I'd put the atmosphere on something like Animator's Palette on the cruise ships, but less. It beats a McDonalds.. was cute... but not awe inspiring. I wouldn't say buy food just to see it.

After our food, we went back for one more Mario Kart ride... hoping I could collect my trophy I was denied the earlier ride. Once again, I completed the objective (with like 109 coins) but once again, my band didn't register with the ride... and I was denied any progress recorded There really were no TMs around either to assist.. just the people focused on the ride itself.

By this time it was basically 6pm.. so they were already on lockdown in SMW... funneling guests towards the exit. Our day was over.

That ride out from the lower lot is a long one... UNI really closes up shop quick and hard too. We went through the shops at the front of the park, but alas didn't find anything really grabbing our attention. My partial progress Mario band was all we ended up buying merch wise in the park.

So conclusion on USH?


1 - USO is a ton more to do and more fun
2 - Maybe you need more than one day to really see it all, but I don't know why anyone would buy a AP except for the special events
3 - Simpsons Land is arguably a lot better in USH
4 - Super Mario with only 1 ride is a crime
5 - A good day dodge while in the area, but I find it hard to think you'd travel just for this...

A one and done in my book.

After that, we headed back to the hotel to decompress for the night... trying to make the most of my 'semi-resort' experience at the Garland.

More to come.. from all over LA!