Back in June, we finally visited Universal Studios Hollywood at the end of our Disneyland trip. I had been there once but it was 38 years ago way back in 1985 when I was nine years old. The park has changed so much since that point; the only current attraction that existed then was the Studio Tour. Even that attraction is so different now with the addition of Kong 360 and the Fast & Furious: Supercharged. There’s so much to cover from this park, though we only had one very crowded day to see it all.
I’ve rated each attraction that we experienced at Universal Studios Hollywood down below, but there are some notable omissions. Jurassic World: The Ride was closed all day, which was a big disappointment. We also missed out on the Secret Life of Pets attraction, which had waits of nearly an hour all day. Universal did not employ the virtual queue, and it just never fit well in our schedule. I’d heard great things about this dark ride, so it’s a reason to return to the park in the future. Let’s get to my ratings!
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Type of Ride: Augmented Reality Dark Ride
Location: Super Nintendo World (Lower Lot)
Highlights: Striking and colorful dark ride scenes and queue
Rating: 7.5/10
One of the main reasons for this trip was to see the new Super Nintendo World, which opened this past March. We purchased an Early Access Ticket to ensure we didn’t miss it and were able to enjoy the Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride. The dark ride broke down several times while we were in line, and the 35-minute posted wait became 100 minutes. A saving grace was the long but detailed queue, which has lots of fun touches within each room. Getting stuck in the Bob-omb room was a bit much, though.
I’d heard mixed reactions to Mario Kart and its augmented reality prior to riding but had avoided getting spoiled by ride videos. I wanted to approach the attraction as fresh as possible to give it a fair shake. I really enjoyed the dark ride scenes, which were well done and a lot more than just looking at screens. Universal Creative put great care into each section; I wish we could have ridden it more than once! The Twisted Mansion, Grumble Volcano, and Rainbow Road are standout moments in the packed experience.
The augmented reality visors support the game play, which is a little confusing on the first ride. The team members in the queue helped to explain what to do along with the videos, but there’s still a pretty steep learning curve. I found myself just shooting at everything and quickly running out of the Koopa Shell ammo. It was fun to battle against Team Bowser and turn the wheel to earn points, though it was hard to know exactly how well we did. While it’s not a home run, I still had a lot of fun with Mario Kart and can’t wait to check it out again especially after the initial hype has subsided.
Studio Tour
Type of Ride: Tram Ride
Location: Upper Lot
Highlights: Classic attractions like Earthquake and Jaws
Rating: 9.5/10
Although our focus was Nintendo, my top priority at Universal Hollywood was experiencing the Studio Tour. As a lifelong movie fan, I love the idea of getting a peek behind the scenes at how movies are made through the sets from classic films. The cool mix of mini-attractions within this single tram tour also brings so much entertainment within a single trip. The Studio Tour lasts between 45-60 minutes, which makes it a lot more than your normal theme park attraction.
Getting the chance to experience Jaws and Earthquake is worth the time on its own. Both attractions are no longer part of Universal Orlando but can still be enjoyed on the Studio Tour. There’s also the flash flood, an encounter with Norman Bates from Psycho, and even a small Jurassic Park section. More recent high-tech additions include King Kong: 360 3-D and Fast & Furious: Supercharged, though both are a little disappointing. Particularly with the latter, looking at a screen can’t match physical sets of earlier moments. They aren’t recommended for anyone with motion sickness, which is common from Universal.
Universal Hollywood has changed so much since I visited as a kid, so I appreciate the fact that the Studio Tour remains such a core part of a park visit. While the experience has changed, it still maintains the essence of what makes it such a cool attraction. You can also bring food and drinks on the ride! I do wish there were cup holders to make that process easier, but it’s still a nice perk. Universal continues to update the offerings and added sets from the Jordan Peele movie Nope in 2022. This helps the Studio Tour remain fresh nearly 60 years after the trams first opened. It’s a classic!
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Type of Ride: RoboCoaster G2, Kuka
Location: Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Upper Lot)
Highlights: Physical sets, especially the dragon and Dementor scenes
Rating: 8.5/10
It feels odd to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter tucked into the Upper Lot right near Springfield U.S.A. With that said, it still provides a surprisingly immersive experience once you step through the gates. This is especially true when you approach Hogwarts Castle, which remains one of the most impressive facades in any theme park. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey remains extremely popular seven years after it opened here in 2016, and it’s no surprise. The mix of screens and massive physical sets provides an experience that’s hard to match thanks to the Kuka technology.
We had a strange experience where a Team Member directed us to a single-rider line that ended up being the main queue, so that led to a long wait. That doesn’t impact my rating, but it did lead to some frustration within the extensive queue. In a similar vein to Mario Kart, I believe the ride was experiencing issues due to long periods of time where we didn’t move. After we boarded our vehicles, we slammed to a stop almost immediately and I smacked my head pretty hard on the restraints.
On the positive side, the scenes on Forbidden Journey where you fly past the Dementors, huge dragon, and giant spiders remain some of the best in any attraction. It feels like the imposing figures are right on top of you thanks to the robot arms flinging you through the show building. The screen-based sections are showing their age, and they’re mostly a set-up for the physical scenes. Despite some minor issues, Forbidden Journey remains a can’t miss experience for every visit.
DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda
Type of Ride: 4D Film Motion Simulator
Location: Upper Lot
Highlights: Projection mapping
Rating: 5.5/10
It’s always good for Universal to have attractions that nearly anyone can experience. Well, anyone without serious motion sickness. Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest has occupied the DreamWorks Theatre since it replaced Shrek 4-D in 2018. It provides a fun show, though I have to admit that it’s the attraction that I keep forgetting from our day at Universal Hollywood. You first step into a pre-show where you stand and learn the basic premise for this attraction from a variety of DreamWorks characters.
In the main theater, Jack Black returns as the title character for a quick adventure to Emperor Shifu. I haven’t seen the Kung Fu Panda movies, so I don’t have much background. Even so, there’s enough to warrant a visit especially since there’s unlikely to be much of a wait. The 4-D theater simulates a river ride on roaring rapids; it’s not an intense experience but is another screen-based simulator. I’m curious to see if Universal will eventually update the DreamWorks Theatre in the future or just have Kung Fu Panda remain the focus for a long period of time.
WaterWorld
Type of Show: Water Stunt Show
Location: Upper Lot
Highlights: Incredible stunts throughout the show
Rating: 9/10
The second top priority for me on this trip was finally seeing WaterWorld, which feels like a throwback to stunt shows of a different era. A lot of guests don’t remember the Kevin Costner 1995 film, which has a silly premise but is a little better than you might expect. The obsession with “dry land“, the stoic Mariner, and the villainous Smokers are all a key part of this incredible show. It’s no surprise that WaterWorld was part of both Universal’s Beijing, Singapore, and Japan parks when they opened. It transcends the original movie and includes stunts you rarely see at any theme park.
The reason that WaterWorld succeeds is how much everyone commits to make it such a great show. The stunt performers work regularly in the industry, and hearing their credits at the end of the show reminds us they are at the top of their craft. They’re able to drop from great heights safely while special effects are happening everywhere, including large boats and even a massive plane crash. My family didn’t enjoy this show nearly as much as I did, so it might not be for everyone. For action movie fans, WaterWorld is the type of show you’ll want to see repeatedly because of the stunts and excitement. Believe the hype!
Flight of the Hippogriff
Type of Ride: Mack Rides Youngstar Coaster
Location: Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Upper Lot)
Highlights: Queue theming and views of Hogwarts Castle
Rating: 5/10
Unlike the Flight of the Hippogriff in Orlando, this family coaster was not rethemed from a prior version. Instead, it was designed by Mack Rides to fit within a confined space in the Wizarding World. I expected a short ride time, but I was still surprised by how quickly this coaster was over. The most impressive aspect is the queue, which includes Hagrid’s Hut and offers excellent views of Hogwarts. It feels quite different from the rest of the park and sells the idea you’ve neared the Forbidden Forest.
As you begin the lift hill, you must bow to the Hippogriff, which is a convincing animatronic. There’s another cool view of the land from the lift hill, then we’re off for what’s basically a one-minute ride. With a top speed of about 28 miles per hour and a height of 42 feet, Flight of the Hippogriff is suitable for most riders and a good starter coaster for young guests. After the first drop, you basically go through a few tight turns and then return to the station. I do like the way the track moves close to the ground, which enhances the speed and makes for a very short, yet still fun ride.
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3D
Type of Ride: Oceaneering 3D Special Effects Ride
Location: Lower Lot
Highlights: Immersion between physical sets and screens
Rating: 7/10
Located on the Lower Lot close to Super Nintendo World, Transformers: The Ride 3D isn’t that easy to access once you’ve returned to the Upper Lot. I actually hadn’t experience this dark ride in Florida, so we decided to make the trip back down the escalators to finally check out this action-packed attraction. The pre-show does a good job explaining the background of the AllSpark and your Autobot named Evac. Designed by Oceaneering International, the ride vehicles feel similar to the Spider-man attraction in Orlando. They respond well to what’s happening on screen, and the 3D glasses enhance the effect.
Transformers: The Ride is a more intense experience than Spider-man largely due to the nature of the Decepticons pursuing us with all types of weapons at their disposal. Heat, fog, and water effects help to sell the idea that we’re in the middle of a massive battle to save the Allspark and escape Megatron’s forces. I’d love to learn more about how this attraction works; the technology remains mind-blowing 10 years later. Don’t miss the regular meet-and-greet with the Transformers outside the attraction; they’re almost as impressive as the ride and provide a lot of fun moments with guests.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Type of Ride: Motion Simulator
Location: Upper Lot
Highlights: Individual seating layout and less intense simulator scenes
Rating: 6/10
We closed our day at Universal Hollywood with a quick stop at Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, which was a walk-on during the evening. I’m not a big fan of the Minions especially in the more recent films, so it was nice to quickly stroll through the queue for this simulator attraction. Universal continues to add Minions attractions to Orlando, so the franchise is showing no signs of letting up anytime soon. This early example replaced T2-3D: Battle Across Time in 2014, and it sadly can’t reach those heights. Even so, it still provides a fun experience that isn’t too intense for most riders.
After multiple pre-shows, we enter the large room where we board our seats to become Minions. I like the way each seat is separated from other riders and doesn’t feel like a typical simulator. Unlike The Simpsons or other intense examples, this attraction felt pretty tame and was a nice change of pace. I’m still not convinced the Minions are a positive thing, but I don’t have the same issues with Gru and his daughters. It’s a fun extension of the movies and worth a visit if the wait isn’t too long.
What did you think of my rankings for these Universal Studios Hollywood attractions? Let me know what you think in the comments!
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