I am planning a trip to Hollywood in May 2010. I have been to the Orlando theme park several times. How is the Hollywood theme park? All info would be appreciated.
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Universal Studios Hollywood
- Thread starter disney4life2008
- Start date
dxwwf3
Well-Known Member
I enjoyed it, but it is small and there seem to have more of an amusement park feel than the Orlando parks. But there are still some quality attractions there, most of which you can find at Orlando. The Studio Tram Tour is something you will only find at USH and is very enjoyable.
Revenge of the Mummy is different and not as good as the USF version, but it's still worth seeing. Jurassic Park is very similar to the IOA version. And we didn't have time for the Waterworld show, which I hear is really good.
If seeing the Studio Tour excites you, you should go ahead of go there. If you aren't interested in that, I wouldn't bother with going there.
Revenge of the Mummy is different and not as good as the USF version, but it's still worth seeing. Jurassic Park is very similar to the IOA version. And we didn't have time for the Waterworld show, which I hear is really good.
If seeing the Studio Tour excites you, you should go ahead of go there. If you aren't interested in that, I wouldn't bother with going there.
kap91
Well-Known Member
Just returned from my second visit to USH. It is a nice park and offers more or less the same rides (usually shorter versions though) that Orlando does just in a much smaller and convoluted layout. The park overall is very nice but it really is the studio tour that makes the park what it is. If you can afford it, I would strongly suggest the VIP experience. Not only do you get a much extended version of the studio tour (including walk-through of many sets, a soundstage, and the prop warehouse, but in the second half of the tour you get a practically full guided tour of the rest of the park as well with front of the line access to every ride (you keep this access for the rest of the day too to go back and see anything that the tour might have skipped over--which isn't much.) The tour does last almost the whole day and now comes with lunch included which was a small, but very tasty buffet.
Waterworld is a very entertaining show, comical and full of stunts although I'd venture to say that you might have had to see the movie to fully understand what is going on. The general concepts are clear but sometimes the show can be abrupt and you'll be wondering why something happened. Nonetheless it is still a very impressive show.
The Jurrasic park ride out there I enjoy more out there just because of a few different scenes and a slightly more coherent storyline. But they are pretty much the same park to park.
Finally, the one thing you have to do there, and which pretty much can't be missed is a ride on the freaking longest chain of escalators you have probably ever seen. They literally go down the side of the mountain that USH is built on and then take you to the lower level of the park.
Hope this answers your questions. I'll answer any more if you have them.
Waterworld is a very entertaining show, comical and full of stunts although I'd venture to say that you might have had to see the movie to fully understand what is going on. The general concepts are clear but sometimes the show can be abrupt and you'll be wondering why something happened. Nonetheless it is still a very impressive show.
The Jurrasic park ride out there I enjoy more out there just because of a few different scenes and a slightly more coherent storyline. But they are pretty much the same park to park.
Finally, the one thing you have to do there, and which pretty much can't be missed is a ride on the freaking longest chain of escalators you have probably ever seen. They literally go down the side of the mountain that USH is built on and then take you to the lower level of the park.
Hope this answers your questions. I'll answer any more if you have them.
Is this a one day park? I am planning on spending 4 full days at DLR then driving down to LA and spending a day at Universal then 2 days sight seeing throughout LA and Hollywood. I do not know if I really need 4 full days in DLR though? I want to make the most of the week I will be in LA.
NemoRocks78
Seized
USH is sweet. Definitely different than USF, but I love it a lot too. Studio Tour kicks so much @$$, Mummy is cool, JP rocks. The Simpsons, Shrek, and Terminator are the same as they are here but I still love 'em. Backdraft/Special Effects Stages will be closed by then to make way for Transformers. WaterWorld is one of the best theme park shows around. Lotsa other interesting things around there too. You can definitely get it done in a full day. Make some time for their CityWalk too, it totally destroys ours.
dxwwf3
Well-Known Member
At least 4 full days at Disneyland and DCA. Personally, I won't go for any than less than 5 days if I'm going out there, but I've only been once and it's a long trip for me. When I go back out there I thought I might take a bus tour around LA and Hollywood, but we didn't do any of that stuff the first time. It was basically all Disneyland all the time except for one day at USH. And yes one day is PLENTY for USH.
dxwwf3
Well-Known Member
Although I care nothing about the property of Transformers, this has a chance to be one of the best theme park replacements ever. Backdraft is ok, but I think the Special Effects Stages were horrible. And if Transformers is similar to Spider Man, that would help out that park tremendously.
kap91
Well-Known Member
I'll echo this statement and say spend as much time as possible at Disneyland/California Adventure specifically Disneyland as there is a lot to see and do and redo. USH could be stretched out to two days if you really wanted to but there is really no reason for that. One day should be plenty.
As far as Hollywood and LA goes, the amount of time you need is soley dependent on what things there interest you. We had two days and it was plenty.
Great info. I am not willing to spend the money it costs to stay in one of the Disneyland resorts. What are the reasonable hotels around Disneyland (like less than $100 per night). Also, what is the Anaheim Resort Transit?
kap91
Well-Known Member
I've never used it but Anaheim resort transit to me seems like it is similar to the IDrive Trolley here in Orlando-it runs up and down dropping people off to the most popular destinations around Anaheim and many of the hotels as well.
Don't know anything about motel 6 so I can't help you there. I would suggest staying someplace on harbor Blvd, that way you don't have to pay the Disneyland resort rates but can still walk to the park relatively quickly.
Edit: Sorry, didn't see the money per night cap. I have no idea what rates for the hotels on harbor Blvd will be then.
Don't know anything about motel 6 so I can't help you there. I would suggest staying someplace on harbor Blvd, that way you don't have to pay the Disneyland resort rates but can still walk to the park relatively quickly.
Edit: Sorry, didn't see the money per night cap. I have no idea what rates for the hotels on harbor Blvd will be then.
NemoRocks78
Seized
Anything on Harbor across from the walkway to the main entrance is great. I've stayed at the Best Western Anaheim Inn a few times, which is really good, and on my trip this past March I stayed at Desert Inn. Great place (and like a hotel or two closer to the walkway :lol: ) and it was only like $50 a night.
NemoRocks78
Seized
Unfortunately no.
Slipknot
Well-Known Member
Thought so. Thanks.