Well, upon heading to the States I never really envisioned entering a Theme Park, let alone two! Upon Ric’s arrival he started talking up the idea of going to an Adventure Park & getting a roller coaster fix. As I’d already clocked up Disneyland, the choice was left up to him. Due to it being Winter & reduced Opening Hours, there was really only the one option - Universal Studios. It wasn’t the worst option & it did promise us a few thrills & spills. 
Pretty self explanatory really..!
Upon entering it seemed quite reminiscent of Disneyland but upon closer inspection of their ‘map’, there seemed less ‘rides’ & more ‘entertainment’. Seeing as it was only 11am & there was fairly few people around, we decided we’d get our fix of ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Mummy’ first. This proved to be an excellent choice! As there was nobody around, they let you ride on ‘The Mummy’ twice in a row before you had to get off!! ‘The Mummy’ was a Universal take on ‘Space Mountain’ – you went on the rollercoaster in the pitch black but the difference being that things would leap out at you etc. You then literally hit a wall at the end of the course & then the whole thing went backwards, on a different track until you reached the beginning. It was pretty good but ‘Space Mountain’ beats it due to the fact that ‘The Mummy’ doesn’t have enough twists & turns – it probably travels over the height of 2 stories where as ‘Space’ has about 5 stories of height to twist, turn & drop over.
Upon entering it seemed quite reminiscent of Disneyland but upon closer inspection of their ‘map’, there seemed less ‘rides’ & more ‘entertainment’. Seeing as it was only 11am & there was fairly few people around, we decided we’d get our fix of ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Mummy’ first. This proved to be an excellent choice! As there was nobody around, they let you ride on ‘The Mummy’ twice in a row before you had to get off!! ‘The Mummy’ was a Universal take on ‘Space Mountain’ – you went on the rollercoaster in the pitch black but the difference being that things would leap out at you etc. You then literally hit a wall at the end of the course & then the whole thing went backwards, on a different track until you reached the beginning. It was pretty good but ‘Space Mountain’ beats it due to the fact that ‘The Mummy’ doesn’t have enough twists & turns – it probably travels over the height of 2 stories where as ‘Space’ has about 5 stories of height to twist, turn & drop over.
Ric & I on 'Jurassic'.On our second double turn I will admit, I screamed!! When you ‘hit the wall’ (& you do!) a projection of scarab beatles swarming out of the wall appears – as this happens (& I didn’t feel this the first 2 times) all these little brushes flick @ your ankles and legs. Well, I screamed (more of a decent manly shout!). Had I felt it the first time, I don’t think I would have yelled as loudly – and that’s honest, I would have screamed but not with as much volume. Because this was a ‘new’ element to the ride & I was enjoying the adrenaline, it scared the living sh*t out of me!!
Myself & the boys getting ready to board Apollo 13... Tom wouldn't let me drive!!
Next to be assaulted by the Blundell Bruddas was ‘Jurassic Park’. Now this wins hands down over ‘Splash Mountain’. Granted, ‘Splash’ had the added element of no safety harness at all (which I still find weird in this day & age) but Jurassic dropped some 83 feet, where as ‘Splash’ was only 50 odd feet. It was a great thrill. Also, the preamble to get to the drop was far better than ‘Splash’. It was an ‘actual’ tour through ‘Jurassic Park’ before it all goes to hell & you’re assaulted by Velociraptos & T-Rex’s etc. And even though ‘Jurassic’ seats 5 across, you still get REALLY wet!! This was also taken advantage of many times whilst it was still early in the day.
Next to be assaulted by the Blundell Bruddas was ‘Jurassic Park’. Now this wins hands down over ‘Splash Mountain’. Granted, ‘Splash’ had the added element of no safety harness at all (which I still find weird in this day & age) but Jurassic dropped some 83 feet, where as ‘Splash’ was only 50 odd feet. It was a great thrill. Also, the preamble to get to the drop was far better than ‘Splash’. It was an ‘actual’ tour through ‘Jurassic Park’ before it all goes to hell & you’re assaulted by Velociraptos & T-Rex’s etc. And even though ‘Jurassic’ seats 5 across, you still get REALLY wet!! This was also taken advantage of many times whilst it was still early in the day.
Myself & a Stegasaurus before it all goes 'crazy'!
We finally stopped for lunch & then decided to try what else was on offer. I had never seen anything in 3D before so I insisted on going to “Terminator 3D”. It was slightly dated as it followed after T2 – and had Linda Hamilton, Arnie & Edward Furlong reprising their roles.. all looking much younger!! But it was a great little action sequence. It was quite amazing to see bullets & bits & pieces literally leap off the screen and appear to go past you! Shrek 4D (no that’s not a typo!) was next. Basically the 4th Dimension was that the chair moved & vibrated & they sprayed you with water!! Again, it was pretty cool & quite funny!!
We finally stopped for lunch & then decided to try what else was on offer. I had never seen anything in 3D before so I insisted on going to “Terminator 3D”. It was slightly dated as it followed after T2 – and had Linda Hamilton, Arnie & Edward Furlong reprising their roles.. all looking much younger!! But it was a great little action sequence. It was quite amazing to see bullets & bits & pieces literally leap off the screen and appear to go past you! Shrek 4D (no that’s not a typo!) was next. Basically the 4th Dimension was that the chair moved & vibrated & they sprayed you with water!! Again, it was pretty cool & quite funny!!
Me signing my life away on 'Special Effects Tour'.
We were walking past “Special Effects’ Tour w
hen the guy went “We need a volunteer….” I was in before Ric could stop me! (Ric was terrified that I was going to make him end up doing something silly… & I was determined to make it happen!!) We then got ushered in side before anyone else – a girl had also volunteered & her group came in too. I had to sign one of those standard “I Will Not Sue You If I Am Injured Or Die During This Ride” – I’ve signed a fair few of them over my years & haven’t had to sue yet!! The form stated that I was happy to wear a harness, wasn’t afraid of heights, was unlikely to faint at high speeds etc – I thought it was gonna be great.. It kinda wasn’t but overall it was fun!!
hen the guy went “We need a volunteer….” I was in before Ric could stop me! (Ric was terrified that I was going to make him end up doing something silly… & I was determined to make it happen!!) We then got ushered in side before anyone else – a girl had also volunteered & her group came in too. I had to sign one of those standard “I Will Not Sue You If I Am Injured Or Die During This Ride” – I’ve signed a fair few of them over my years & haven’t had to sue yet!! The form stated that I was happy to wear a harness, wasn’t afraid of heights, was unlikely to faint at high speeds etc – I thought it was gonna be great.. It kinda wasn’t but overall it was fun!! 
Giz & a Mummy...!
I missed most of the tour as I had to wait until it was my turn… When it was, I was revealed, chained up in Ancient Egyptian garb!! They then ‘blue screened’ me into the building of the Sphynx. Was kinda cool! They then (& I knew this was going to happen – hence the form) snapped the lights to black & then the piece of wall I was chained to spun around & a skeleton, wearing the same garb as me!! They then proceeded to talk to Ric, tell him he was better off without me etc!! I wasn’t ‘returned’ to the stage until about the last 10mins of the tour. They were talking about monster movies & then… they snapped the lights to black & the section that had a skeleton on in spun around & when the lights came up, there I was!! I had been told to just scream until I was told to stop… So, I started to scream… Now, I don’t really have a scream as it’s not something I do on a daily basis BUT… I can do a decent Homer Simpson scream, along with dozens of other cartoon-esque screams… So, I just started doing as many different screams as I could!! The tour Host started laughing, controlled himself & then started to ‘conduct’ my screams!! As I was screaming the Assistant came onstage and started screaming too… This went on for a couple of minutes before they actually released me..! The Assistant (who freed me) said to me that it was one of the funniest sections they’d had in ages!! They then proceeded to cut off my arm using a fake knife & blood!! Bastards!!
Ric & I looking very 'nerdy' in our 'Terminator 3D' glasses.
Years & years ago I got to do the sound effects for a scene from Lethal Weapon 2 @ Warner Brothers Movie World & have always wanted to do something similar again! Now I have! Ta da! Even though I know how most of these tricks etc work due to theatre knowhow, knowing people in the industry & thanks to ‘extras’ on DVD’s but I don’t know, maybe it’s something to do with my inner child (which is pretty much always on show!) but that ‘secret stuff’ has always enthralled me & even though Universal Studios didn’t really give away anything, I’ll admit that it was kinda exciting!!
Me with the Scooby Doo 'Mystery Machine' - loved the catoon as a kid... until they added Scrappy Doo! What were they thinking..?
Years & years ago I got to do the sound effects for a scene from Lethal Weapon 2 @ Warner Brothers Movie World & have always wanted to do something similar again! Now I have! Ta da! Even though I know how most of these tricks etc work due to theatre knowhow, knowing people in the industry & thanks to ‘extras’ on DVD’s but I don’t know, maybe it’s something to do with my inner child (which is pretty much always on show!) but that ‘secret stuff’ has always enthralled me & even though Universal Studios didn’t really give away anything, I’ll admit that it was kinda exciting!!
Me with the Scooby Doo 'Mystery Machine' - loved the catoon as a kid... until they added Scrappy Doo! What were they thinking..?
A scene from 'Backdraft', where they set a warehouse on fire - gets pretty hot and they 'drop' the platform you're standing on, nearly into it!!
We did a few other bits & pieces, ate a really expensive meal that tasted like yesterdays cardboard, had our photo taken as Jedi’s (they put our faces on Ewan McGregor (me) & Hayden Christiansen (Ric). If I hadn’t shaved off my beard only the day before, I would have looked even more the part!) & then we just went back and visited ‘Mummy’ & ‘Jurassic’ another few times before we decided to call it a day, well, basically, the Park shut..!!
All in all, it’s hard to pick a winner between Disneyland & Universal Studios as they each had a winning ride… Disney had more ‘rides’ rather than ‘entertainment’ but I think Universal wins! A large swing in their vote is due to the Special Effects Tour & the fact that Ric was present. I’ll happily admit that it was great to have some silly ‘kid’ time with my Lil’ Brudda!
The "Photo Of A Photo" of Ric & I on 'Jurassic', taken just as you plumet!! They really policed sneaky photo's & this was the only photo I could manage to sneak in over the whole day!!
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