We headed straight for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and were able to do two rides in quick succession: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (a 4D motion simulator type ride that took us soaring above the castle grounds) and Flight of the Hippogriff (a roller coaster). Pita did both of those with us! Then, time to share a couple of glasses of Butterbeer (quite a sweet fizzy drink, with whipped cream on top) and after both boys had bought themselves a wand and looked around some of the shops in the Wizarding World, there was time for one more ride (the Simpsons Ride, a virtual roller coaster ride with the Simpson family through Springfield - Pita sat that ride out) then down the verrrryyyyy looooong stairway to the lower lot, where Eric & Robin immediately did the Revenge of the Mummy ride, another roller coaster type ride. Karl got to meet Megatron and Optimus Prime from Transformers. Back to the Upper Lot, and we went to a show, Universal's Animal Actors, where cats, dogs, birds, owls, rats, Guinea pigs, a pig, pigeons, showed off their acting talents, with the help of their trainers. We all laughed and enjoyed that show.
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| Owl similar to those starring in Harry Potter films |
Next was a chance to join Gru, his daughters and the mischievous Minions on a 3D ride where we were recruited to be minions! Even Pita enjoyed the ride. Next was the Studio Tour, a tour through the backlots of Universal Studios. Loved the special effects (3D screens and spray and heat and shaking etc) for the different places (a subway station used in scenes in Bones and where we were in an earthquake; Skull Island and King Kong (created by Peter Jackson and Weta Workshops); and the Fast & Furious set, where we raced along freeways dodging missiles and flying vehicles). Plus, Bruce from Jaws (filming in the original movie was delayed over 200 days as the mechanical shark kept breaking, the instant rain and flood, the set from Desperate Housewives, the Bates Motel, ... The boys had been rather hesitant about going for a tour around the backlots, but with all the action happening, I think they did enjoy it.
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| Movies have to buy and ship in dirt for old town scenes |
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| This street gets flooded |
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| Part of the cul de sac from Desperate Housewives |
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| Scene from War of the Worlds |
Finally, back up to the Wizarding World for a look around and a chance to go to Ollivanders, and see a wand choose a wizard, as well as listening to the Frog Choir, a small group of Hogwarts students and their croaking frogs.
Then, departure at 6pm, so that we could get to the car rental place and to the airport in time to grab some dinner and check in for our flights to Detroit and on to Boston. Security was very thorough - body scan for all of us except Robin, but we are through and waiting to board.
East Coast, here we come!
Have checked out the temperature at your next stops. Not good.Still very, very hot here and humid.
ReplyDeleteEven at Universal Studios, there was a very cold wind. People had woollie hats and scarves on. In the shade and the wind, it was cold. We are now in transit at Detroit - it is grey and murky outside, 2 degrees Celsius. Up to 6 or 7 in Boston today, and 3 tomorrow for our full day there - great!
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