Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If your young 'un is selected to test-drive a wand, be forewarned that you'll have
to buy it if you want to take it home.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
at
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
IN ADDITION TO THE SHOWS
profiled earlier, Universal offers a wide range of street
entertainment. Costumed comic-book and cartoon characters (Shrek, Donkey,
SpongeBob SquarePants, and Woody Woodpecker) roam the park for photo ops,
along with movie star look-alikes, plus the Frankenstein monster, who can be said to
beneither.Thehandoutparkmaphasasectioncalled“CharacterZones”thatprovides
times and places for character appearances and shows. Musical acts include Blues
Brothers impersonators dancing and singing in the New York section of the park.
In 2012 USF introduced the Disney-like
Universal's Superstar Parade
( ),
featuring dancers and performers, four large and elaborate floats inspired by cartoons,
and a very mixed bag of street-prowling Universal characters. The parade stops twice
for a highly choreographed ensemble number. Though impressive in its scope and co-
ordination, the performance is well-nigh impossible to take in from any given view-
ing spot. The same floats are trotted out individually at various times of day for mini-
shows and character meet-and-greets.
The parade begins at the gate between Louie's Pizza, in the New York area of the
park, and
Beetlejuice's Graveyard Mash-Up
,in San Francisco. From there it proceeds
along 5th Avenue, past Revenge of the Mummy. At the end of 5th Avenue, the parade
takes a left onto Plaza of the Stars and heads toward the front of the park, where it
makes another left onto Hollywood Boulevard, from whence it disappears backstage
across from Mel's Diner. The best viewing spots are along 5th Avenue, on the front
steps of faux buildings in New York.
If you miss part of the parade in the New York area, you can scoot along the wa-
terfront to Mel's Diner and catch it as it comes down Hollywood Boulevard. If after
watching the parade on the New York streets you plan to leave the park, you can use
the same route to access Hollywood Boulevard and the park exit before the parade
arrives.
