Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
162
Note:
B e sur e to check their w ebsite for money-saving discounts on admission
tickets—you could save up to $25 per ticket b y buying online. The amusement park is
located about 20 to 30 minutes nor th of Universal Studios.
Magic M ountain Pk wy. (off Golden Stat e Fwy. [I-5 N.]), Valencia.
&
661/255-4100
or 818/367-5965.
www.sixflags.com. Magic Mountain $60 adults, $30 children under 48 in. high, free for kids 2 and under;
Hurricane Harbor $30 adults , $21 childr en under 48 in. high, fr ee for kids 2 and under ; 2-park c ombo
ticket $70. Magic Mountain daily Apr to Labor Day, and weekends and holidays the rest of the year; Hur-
ricane Harbor daily M emorial Day to Labor Da y, weekends May and S ept, closed Oc t-Apr. Both parks
open at 10:30am, and closing hours var y btw. 6pm and midnight. P arking $15. All prices and hours are
subject to change without notice, so please call before you arrive.
Universal Studios Hollywood & CityWalk
Kids
Believing that filmmaking
itself is a bona fide attraction, U niversal Studios began offering tours to the public in
1964. The concept worked: Today Universal is more than just one of the largest mo vie
studios in the world—it's one of the largest theme parks as well. By integrating shows and
rides with behind-the-scenes pr esentations on mo viemaking, U niversal cr eated a ne w
genre of theme park, stimulating a number of clone and competitor par ks.
The main attraction continues to be the
Studio Tour,
a nearly 1-hour guided tram
ride around the company's 420 acres that's “hosted” (via video screen) by Whoopi Gold-
berg. E n r oute y ou pass stars ' dr essing r ooms and pr oduction offices befor e visiting
famous back-lot sets that include a clean N ew York City street, the famous town square
from the
Back to the F uture
films, and ne wer sets such as
Curse of the M ummy's Tomb,
Jurassic Park III,
and the airplane crash site fr om
War of the Worlds.
Along the way, the
tram encounters sev eral staged “ disasters,” which I won 't divulge her e lest I r uin the
surprise (they're all very tame), and a staged str eet race “accident” echoing the action in
Universal's “Fast and Furious” movie series. Though the wait to board might appear long,
don't be discouraged—each tram carries sev eral hundred people and depar tures are fre-
quent, so the line moves quickly.
Other attractions are more typical of high-tech theme-park fare, but all have a film or
TV-oriented slant. The
Simpsons Ride
allows guests to join H omer, Marge, Bart, Lisa,
and Maggie as they soar high abo ve the fictional “Kr ustyland” theme park in a “ virtual
roller coaster,” creating the sensation of thrilling dr ops and turns and a full 360-degr ee
loop.
Revenge of the Mummy
is a high-tech indoor r oller coaster that whips you back-
ward and for ward through a dar k Egyptian tomb filled with cr eepy Warrior Mummies
(and ends a bit too soon).
Jurassic Park—The Ride
is shor t in duration but long on
dinosaur animatr onics; riders in jungle boats float thr ough a world of fiv e-story-tall
T-rexes and airborne raptors that culminates in a pitch-dar k vertical drop with a splash
ending.
Terminator 2: 3D
is a high-tech cyber war show that combines live action with
triple-screen 3-D technology, explosions, spraying mists, and laser fir e (Arnold prevails,
of course).
Shrek 4D
is one of the park's best attractions, a multisensory animated show
7
Fun Facts
B ody Double
Here's a really cheap and easy way to get a great seat at a fancy Hollywood award
ceremony: Log on to Seatfiller.com and sign up to be one of those people who
makes sure all the front seats are occupied.
