Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A radio announces a severe storm warning, and slowly you see and feel the change in
weather. The sign rattles above the old gas station, and tumbleweed blows across the set.
You see a tornado developing, far off in the distant sky, and it's coming, closer and closer,
louder and louder. Anyone who has felt the fear of living through a real tornado, or chil-
dren who already wake up scared of them thanks to sirens, hours in the basement and the
eerie blanket of tornado-breeding green skies, should think twice before going to this at-
traction.
San Francisco
RIDE, SHOW
(
www.universalorlando.com
;
Universal Studios; theme park admission required;
from 9am;
;
Lynx 21, 37 or 40)
San Francisco, themed heavily around the city as the site of the massive 1906 earthquake
and the inspiration behind the 1974 film
Earthquake,
is home to
Chez Alcatraz
, a tiny and
pleasant outdoor bar in Fisherman's Wharf;
Lombard's
, one of the park's two restaurants
that accept reservations; and a couple of outdoor shows. The only ride here is the mock-
movie-making attraction
Disaster
(Express Pass), an unusual slow-moving ride that cen-
ters on narrative schtick and special effects rather than speed thrills.
A fast-talking Hollywood casting agent casting a disaster movie chooses a handful of
audience members and gives them directions ('give me terror like Britney Spears is your
babysitter'), and then each volunteer is filmed for a second or so. Everyone then heads to
the 'set' and boards a subway train in the incredibly authentic replica of a San Francisco
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station. Suddenly, the big one hits: tracks buckle, the
place crumbles and general mayhem ensues. Hint: 65,000 gallons of water are released and
recycled every six minutes, but you don't get wet. And yes, you do see the footage of those
volunteers.
World Expo
RIDE, SHOW
quired; from 9am; Lynx 21, 37 or 40)
The main attraction here is
Men in Black Alien Attack
(Express Pass), a 3-D interactive
video game that is a lot of fun but not at all scary. Your car swings and spins through a
danger-laden downtown Manhattan, with all kinds of silly looking aliens all over the place,
