Universal Studios
It is about 5-6 miles away from hotel. Driving in LA at anytime is always rush hour or bumper to bumper. Around 1:00 PM driving on Hwy 405 that, it has 5 lanes and barely speeding at 50 MPH. Directions was easy getting there was no problem. Now welcome to California prices admission to Universal Studios is $38.00 per person . Thanks Texas, it is good to live in Dallas, it is more affordable.
Because California in on a hill Universal studio is located on 3 level. Parking lot building is on level one, you take stairs (or escalators) to main entrance where gift shops and restaurants .There are long covered stairs pic. to different show cases . The idea behind Universal Studio is to show behind scenes of different movies. So you may visit in a specific time and you may see scenes of certain movies , later on you will see totally different movies. Even so as you move around you will notice sites are being prepared for different features
1-Our first stop was a water show. Unless you watched the movies, (Water World) you will not understand the show Even though the set consisted of a small pool of water, the optical illusion made it seem as though we were out on the ocean. Boats are hovering, stands that were erected, later falling down at the control of a button. The is even a shot where a full sized plane is shot down in water. You may have better understanding of these pictures if you watched the movie. Any how, such bold adventures are fake. All emotions you may have had are for nothing.
2- Back to The Future :
One of movie's evil characters (Biff) is about to steal the fast car to cross time barrier to steal or do something bad. Any how our job is to chase him in one of those fast cars across time barrier to stop him. The idea is attractive. How they do it, is unique. We stepped in a closed room where we were strapped into a metal box with seat belts. Then the box was lifted up with hydraulics into a huge 3D dome screen. It is like a flight simulator. The darkness enhanced the sense of reality, since all we saw was the screen. The ride was rough, and believe it or it is scary at times also. At the end you will be able to foil (Biff's) plot.
3-Next show was ET.
This show is to help ET escape from police and get home. The police had surrounded the area. The plan is simple, we will carry ET on a bike to his waiting space ship to get him back home. The ride was rough at the beginning and as police closed in, bikes were lifted up. It was a gentle ride. We were lifted up above police cars and above homes and trees At the beginning of the show we were asked to get passes and give first name to enter the ride.. At the end of show as we were leaving ET thanked every one by his or her first name for their effort.
4-Jurasic Park Show: This show is based on Jurassic Park Movie. It is a nice boat ride in a simulated park among dinosaurs. The best part of the ride it is well coordinated and in a timely fashion. We were exposed to different dangers. At one point a Jeep fell down by the boat and splashed water. Other situation a dinosaur leaned closer to the boat about as if it is about to eat us, everyone was scared. Later we discover at the end of ride we had picture taken for us . Everyone had a different facial expression. We were told that a camera was installed in dinosaur as he leaned towards us Picture was a good souvenir.
5-The art of movie tricks. In this show audience participated in making of a movie using mixing, and sound effects. It was shown to us how it is possible to shoot a movies in LA and all incidents are in NY without moving an inch away from LA. Some well known scenes of scary movies were shown, how they were made, without any physical danger. This show explains all tricks in a very simplified way .
6-Back Draft: This show explains in a scientific way, dangers of FIRE. It is based upon fact; when fire consumes oxygen in a closed area, it stays calm, till a source of oxygen becomes available, like a door is opened. A massive fire develops with explosion. The show was very informative about hazards of fire. It included scenes from movies, followed by a demos to simulate and explain that scene. The simulated the presence of natural fire combined with sound effects, and a sudden lowering of deck we stood on, created a sense of fear among all audiences.
All these sets, taking pictures were not allowed.
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