cfc Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Chapter 7: Be Prepared to See Things You’ve Seen Before, But in Japanese—Universal Osaka What do you get when you mix a half cup of Universal Studios California with a half cup of Universal Studios Florida, than season to taste with Islands of Adventure? You get Universal Osaka, one damn good theme park that is only a Men in Black and a Revenge of the Mummy away from being Universal’s best, I think. Universal Osaka resembles its Florida cousin, only easier to navigate and more compact, and it has most of the stuff you can find in Florida, California, or both: Jaws, Backdraft, Terminator, Shrek etc. Plus, it throws in IOA’s Spider-man and version of Jurassic Park. But Universal Osaka does have two rides you won’t find in the States: Hollywood Dream—This B&M mini-hyper is smooth and a lot of fun with some surprising pops of air (I’m also a big fan of B&M’s “chariot” trains). Plus, you get to pick from five different music tracks for your ride; I liked the Beatles’ “Get Back” the best. Dream gives you some great views of the park and is especially good at night, with all the sparkly lights on its trains. I wouldn’t mind seeing this ride at the U.S. Universals—it was one of my favorites of the trip. Snoopy’s Great Race—Vekoma makes good kiddie coasters. This model is themed like a movie set where Snoopy is the director (he even takes your on-ride photo). The ride is surprisingly fast and forceful, and it was probably the best kiddie or mini coaster on the trip. Plus, it’s indoors and air conditioned! Universal Osaka has much the same themeing as the Stateside parks, such as Amity, San Francisco, and New York, but it does have two unique areas: the disappointing Land of Oz, which is rather small and seems like just an afterthought (and a good place to for their truncated version of the musical Wicked), and Snoopy Studios, home of Great Race and a very nice place for kids. Oz was really the only letdown here—this park is great. Besides, you haven’t experienced Jaws and ET until you’ve heard them in Japanese. Next up—ole! But these folks had a slightly different result. More to come from Japan (not the US). This drop hardly got us wet a'tall. Hmm--I spy with my little eye . . . Jurassic Park. As much as one is impressed with their talent, one can't help but be a bit disturbed with the result. Ah, another attraction no longer in the US: Back to the Future! We had to buy an official BTTF spatula to pry Shane and Bill off the Delorean's hood on this rather hot day. Or if you'd rather bust someone's head than clean his ears, how about this club? And now, some Spidey gifts for the person who has everything. How about these lovely Spider-man ear picks? Spider-man is awesome in any language; Chuck, however, is a dork in any country. And so, off we went into Universal "Not in the US" Studios. Still, it would be nice if the US had one. . . . the Hollywood Dream coaster there! I assure you, miss, you are not in the US. For you will not find . . . Why, there's Old Glory--just like in the US! There's a confused bunch of tourists from all over the world--just like in the US. There's the Universal globe surrounded by Japanese tourists--just like in the US. Yep, there's Kong on City Walk--just like in the US. It really felt like I was back in the USA when I bumped into San Francisco's new crimefighting team at the train station: Ketchup Man and Saucy, the Boy Wonder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 The TR with teeth--Universal Osaka! . . . you are going to ride said carousel. More to come. . . . and you're hanging out with Falafel Girl, . . . . . . and it has a carousel . . . You know, if you're in a park with an Oz-themed land . . . Er, wardrobe, make-up--can we do something about this? I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille. All kiddie coasters should be air conditioned (and have awesome operations) like this one. Everytime I turn around, it's red buttons, doctor! Will this torment never end? Oo-o-o-o . . . pretty, red, buttonlike thing! Hmm--I hear that Charlie Brown had to use a butt double for the nude scenes in this one. Snoopy Studios, the kid's play area, is indoors and air conditioned, making it the best kid's play area ever. So he swallowed everybody in the gift shop whole! But this gave him a bad tummy ache, which made him so sad. But then he had some SharkTums, belched, and felt all better! The end! Don't you just love a story with a happy ending? Toothy thought the first tourist was so yummy, that he just had to eat more! Once upon a time, there was this puppet named Toothy McFang. He was tired of tourists always sticking their hands up his butt and playing with him, but never buying. So, one fine day, he decided to eat them all, starting with this poor sap. Hi! I'm Bruce the shark, and after I scarf down these goldfish, I'd like to tell you a heart-warming little story: "Toothy McFang--The Puppet with a Taste for Human Flesh!" Falafel and Bill agree--Japanese Jaws rules! The Japanese line up in an orderly fashion to have their picture taken with a dead fish. This is the only chick in a bikini that you'll see in this trip report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Universal Osaka TR, take 3--clap! . . . we bid a fond farewell to Universal "Not in the US" Studios--an excellent park! OK--that's a wrap. . . . and the lights go on all over the park, . . . And as the sun sinks slowly in the west, . . . . . . but she was shocked back to consciousness by the utter pinkness of this place. Falafel actually fell asleep in here . . . Disturbing souvenirs make one hungry for disturbing food, such as this sausage-and-egg pizza (which was actually pretty good, if expensive). . . . and the most disturbing. Here's the second-most disturbing souvenir at Universal Osaka . . . Such as this. And now, ET, the LSD-fueled ride with many disturbing souvenirs. If you got it baby, flaunt it! Flaunt it! But at Hollywood and Vine, it's all about the sparkly "gling," baby! Yep--it's another Japanese helix! They make you empty your pockets and put your stuff in lockers before riding Hollywood Dream--but they refund your locker deposit after you ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MollyG Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Your trip reports never disappoint, Chuck. This one was especially enjoyable, with the story-telling and all. Thanks for sharing. MollyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatFalafelGirl Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 As much as one is impressed with their talent, one can't help but be a bit disturbed with the result. possibly the best caption and/or phrase ever. Very nicely done Chuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 one can't help but be a bit disturbed with the result. Or the process? The configurations they sometimes got into, was a tiny bit....um...OMG? Great ongoing TR, Chuck. You Rock AND Rule! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatFalafelGirl Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 you know what goes awesome with sausage and egg pizza? Everyones seasonal favorite... CURRY PUMPKIN PIZZA!!! also, it looks like Chuck and I ran into a spot of trouble in Tokyo Train station...And Sharks ate our faces!!!! okay, well, maybe they're just hanging out on our heads. still intimidating though. and then a shark ate our face. Angry Dragons for everybody!! also available but not pictured...pumpkin calzone and yakisoba calzone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIP Psyclone Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I had to check for myself what that costs in US $. $7.17, not as bad as I thought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 ^ The prices of a lot of stuff, including food, surprised a lot of us I think, when taking the (then) current exchange rate into consideration. I nearly fell on the floor when I checked my cc account back at the hotel's Yahoo Cafe (buy coffee for 500 Yen - get pc all the time ya want, lol) - and the things I charged at Universal were way WAY less than I thought they'd be. And I was checking, in Canadian dollars! Food was no different. For me IMhO. I had great meals at astonishingly reasonable prices, especially at the Disney Resort parks. But darnit, I missed that pumpkin pizza at Universal. Ah well, next time, hmmm? GRIN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Great photos! I loved USJ! I think I liked it more than USF. I was never a fan of USH, though. I was quite surprised by how the Japanese lined up in an orderly manner to have their photo taken with Jaws. In America, no one would be lining up like that. It's like every guest for themselves! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 ^ That's like one of The Main Reasons I want to go back to Japan, again and again? The lineups always, usually appeared to be WTF to most of us, at first. Me included, I must admit. But it all worked, everybody was usually pleasant around each other (even that *&%^$@# line at Fuji-Queue), and you actually got through some lineups way faster, than just piling towards whatever place and/or entrance that you yourself, were going to. Perfectly efficient. (Most times.) I love Japan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loefet Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Great PTR so far, really brings back a lot of fond memories.... All kiddie coaster should be air conditioned (and have awesome operations) like this one.I'm not to sure about the awesome operations, since when I was standing in line for it they stopped the attraction and called in a mechanic, because someone had dropped a candy wrapper onto the netting under the track for queue protection. This closed down the ride at least 15 minutes. Well I got plenty of rides before we left for Expoland and rode Raptor without MCBR, awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatFalafelGirl Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 If you guys think the japanese always line up orderly, obviously you didn't try to get your picture taken with a costumed character. It's every man for himself aboard that ship! and lord help you if you're behind a pack of crazy dalmatians!! p.s. ^ Nice banner Peter! sheezamageeza i LOVED that ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 Great Photo TR so far, really brings back a lot of fond memories.... All kiddie coaster should be air conditioned (and have awesome operations) like this one.I'm not to sure about the awesome operations, since when I was standing in line for it they stopped the attraction and called in a mechanic, because someone had dropped a candy wrapper onto the netting under the track for queue protection. This closed down the ride at least 15 minutes. Well I got plenty of rides before we left for Expoland and rode Raptor without MCBR, awesome. Well, when we rode it, it was candy-wrapper free. Was it one of those foil wrappers? If one of those got into the wiring, it could cause a short, and the resulting explosions and fire would've killed you all! Would you want that? I was wondering when the shark-hat photo would make an appearance, Falafel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 ^^If you think the Japanese are crazy when taking photos with characters, you ain't seen nothing yet until you've been to the Disneyland Paris Resort. I was at Walt Disney Studios. I saw Mrs. Incredible get mobbed by crazy guests. Other costumed characters were just as mobbed! I did not see a Japanese tourist among them, though. EDIT: What does "sheezamageeza" mean? It sounds like you just sneezed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 ^^ EDIT: What does "sheezamageeza" mean? It sounds like you just sneezed. I think it indicates a level of acceptance between "bee's knees" and "the cat's meow." Or it might be close to "papa oo mow mow." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 This photo is so sheezamageeza! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatFalafelGirl Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 No, no. it doesn't work like that. Sheezamageeza is an exclamation, not an adjective. something can't BE sheezamageeza. though, in case you're curious, it is okay to shorten it and say Sheezmageeze. This was my first universal park, and i want to thank Chuck again for telling me what the hell was going on in English in all of these rides. "Konnichiwa. Ron Howard desu. Backto Draft-o!" you did however fail to mention the awesomeness of the Maple popcorn. ahem....SHEEZAMAGEEZA that was some good popcorn!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 I get it. Now let's use it... "Sheezamageeza, I won the lottery!" "Sheezamageeza, I stubbed my toe!" "I got a speeding ticket! Sheezamageeza!" "Sheezamageeza!" "Bless you!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 12, 2007 Author Share Posted October 12, 2007 ^^That was my first experience with the maple popcorn, too--I don't think they have it in the States. (I think the coconut popcorn at DisneySea completely rules! But the maple is pretty awesome.) From here on in this TR, though, there will be less Falafel per chapter, which is, indeed, unfortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loefet Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 If you guys think the japanese always line up orderly, obviously you didn't try to get your picture taken with a costumed character. It's every man for himself aboard that ship! and lord help you if you're behind a pack of crazy dalmatians!! p.s. ^ Nice banner Peter! sheezamageeza i LOVED that ride! Got myself with Hello Kitty at USJ and I didn't have to wait in any line (I have a picture to proove it), but then again at Fuji-Q we waited for 3+ hours for Eejanaika, so I know how good Japanese, American and Canaidian are in line.... Thanks. Well, when we rode it, it was candy-wrapper free. Was it one of those foil wrappers? If one of those got into the wiring, it could cause a short, and the resulting explosions and fire would've killed you all! Would you want that? It looked like a normal plastic one, and when the mechanic came the cycled the train once to see if it got blowed away by the passing train, but it didn't and then some guy climbed up an grabbed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 This was my first universal park, and i want to thank Chuck again for telling me what the hell was going on in English in all of these rides. "Konnichiwa. Ron Howard desu. Backto Draft-o!" I could have told you the Spider-Man ride in English line by line! You know, I think I shall name my firstborn "Sheezamageeza." "Sheezamageeza Hom" has a nice ring to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 ^Luckily no woman will ever have sex with you so we don't need to worry about this poor child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 ^One word: adoption Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CycloneMan Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 Sheezamageeza Hom ..... -Dainan "What ever you say Barry" Rafferty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts