Photo TR: USH 7-16-05

Mr.Six · July 16, 2005

Well, it is currently 12:15 AM here in Long Beach, CA. And later on today I'll be going to Universal Studios Hollywood! I didn't want to go there on a Saturday, but I failed as I begged for another date. Then I cried when I heard we would be getting there at around 11:30 AM! However, I kept my head up and hoped for the best, until I talked to Robb and he said the lines will be "kill me now" long! But even considering what USH is going to be like, I keep my head up and my camera ready! If you've not heard the story on who I'll be taking to USH, here it is again.

-One of the family's friend's nephew is visiting from Greece. And he wants to do the So Cal Theme Parks. Well, they knew I was into parks and coasters, so they asked me if I would show him around the So Cal parks! So far we've been to Knotts Berry Farm, now USH, and soon SFMM <(Maybe)

Anyway, I'm hoping that USH isn't too harsh. I have one goal, and one goal only. And thats to take a picture of Joey playing Ride operating on Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride.

Paris (My Uncle's Nephew) ...no not like the slut Paris, more like the guy from the movie Troy; Paris He's never been to USH before! So, I hope he'll have fun there. But due to the conditions, I remain in fear.

So, I'll have the Trip Report ready and posted later tonight. Photo's will most likley be on later tonight also, tommorow night at the most.

So, watch and laugh as Six gets killed by USH!

_six

Hattuchili · July 16, 2005

Hey man,

you called this "Photo TR", but where are the pictures? However, nice report and can´t wait to see the photos!

--Sören

Mr.Six · July 16, 2005

Hey man,
you called this "Photo TR", but where are the pictures? However, nice TR and can´t wait to see the photos!

--Sören

Well, first I have to go to the park

Michael"This is just a breifing of my upcoming day at USH"thomas

Hattuchili · July 16, 2005

^However, I think it is much easier for everyone, if you first write in your title that you want to go to USH! Later, when you are back you can change the title to "photo TR" and show all the pics!

--Sören "hope you have a good day" Schomburg

Jew · July 16, 2005

I have one goal, and one goal only. And thats to take a picture of Joey playing Ride operating on Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride.

That's a little bit disturbing, but ok...

-Joey "will spend all day hidden doing backstage stuff" Mandel

Mr.Six · July 16, 2005

Robb's idea!

BTW: How long is the line on average for a saturday?

_six

AllisonY2K · July 16, 2005

at USH or to see your pics on this thread? you tease.

robbalvey · July 16, 2005

Grrr....someone needs to read the thread "A note about posting Photo TR's!"

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17407

--Robb

Mr.Six · July 17, 2005

Okay, here it is.

We go to the park at around 10:30 AM. We had bought tickets in the shape of cards at Vons. We get to the ticket booths and OMG! The line was huge! It took us about 30 minutes to get to the window! We decide to go down to the lower lot because the park's two main rides are down there and the lines fill up quick. But before we did that we decided to do the "Van Helsign" Fortress haunted walk-through. So...

Van Helsign Fortress:

+Some Cool Effects

+Cool props

-Only 1 actual person dressed up?!?!?!?!

-Too many people takes away from the thrill.

Overall Grade: C-

After doing that we decided to continue our plan and go down to the lower lot. We decide to hit up Jurassic Park first before Mummy. There was about a two minute wait.

Jurassic Park:

+All Dino's and Jeep operating!

+Quick, friendly loading and unloading crew.

-Extremely stupid "water effects" (Basically its just a hose spraying you)

Overall Grade: B+

Now, Paris had never been on Mummy. So it would be interesting on what he thinks about it. So we decide to jump in the 15 minute line and go for a ride!

BTW: Joey wasn't there...or he was hiding

Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride!

+Friendly Loading and Unloading Crew

+Great Sound

+Smooth Track

-Cheesy effects

-Not dark enough to not be able to see the track.

Overall Grade: C

After that we went on Jurassic Park again (Same Grade) And then we went over to Revenge of the Mummy ...again (also same grade)

At this point its around 1:30, and both us are getting rather hungry, so we decide to eat at this little stand called "Dodger Dogs!"

Dodger Dogs!:

+Better than average Theme Park Food

-Still not average on normal food

+Price was okay! (Huge Dog and Chips=$5.59+$2.95 for drink)

Overall Grade= B

After that we said goodbye to the lower lot and head back to the top. I'd never seen Water World before but he had and loved it so we made it important to see it. Well we got to water world about 30 min before the show started. This is when USH started to loose points. The Queue for water world wasn't covered at all! And it was reaching 95 degrees. Also the misters were turned on, yet were faced in the wrong direction! They also had a....what can I call him other than "annoying" person who was talking on the microphone. He had to repeat at leat 10 times, "Strollers are allowed inside the show, Its my job to take this stroller left out here and return it to guest services!" But onto Water World!

Water World!:

+Great Actors!

+Great effects!

+Nice Story!

+A very funny before the show performance by the some people.

+Friendly actors after the show getting their pictures taken with guests.

-The Queue sucked!

-The Queue "operator" needed to take a chill pill about that stroller

Overall Grade: A-

Now the only reason I left this following part in the Trip Report is because it earned points for USH. After Water World I noticed that I had left all but $10.00 in the car! And that 10 was spent on lunch! So, the person who drove us there was spending the whole day at City Walk. So I called her and asked her to bring the money to the globe in the USH Gate plaza. She had found the money soon after we had left. I went back to re-enter the park when they asked for my ticket along with me showing them my handstamp....I looked...looked some more...holy crap I don't have it! The guy then began to say "Sorry, I can't allow you back into the park".. But about half way through that sentence he said, "Fine". And I was allowed back in! More points for USH!

So, we get back into the park and head for Back to the Future. The sign said it had a 50 minute wait, so we decided to wait a while and see how fast the line moved (As those signs are often horribly wrong). The line took about 20 minutes!

Back to the Future: The Ride!:

-Trash overflowed in queue!

+Friendly loading staff

+The inside queue and wait room was clean.

- A crappy simulator. (IMO so it dosen't count against the park's review)

+ The screen was clean.

Overall Grade: C

So, at this point its around 4:50. We walked around the park a little bit more. So we decide to go down to the lower lot again, AKA the funner lot.

We deicide to go on Jurassic park, again! The queue was almost full. But its covered and its filled with misters. But, about 3/4 through the queue...what do I see??? A trash can that must of had at least 30 bottles on the floor around it! The most overflowed trash can I've ever seen anywhere! (Photo Taken see below) OMG, I couldn't belive that USH would allow it! But, it happened. And oh yeah, it affected its overall grade. So, the line was about 50 minutes long.Well, we are suppost to meet someone to drive us home at 6:00 and it is, 5:58. So, I guess we should get going. We leave Universal and go to a BBQ Rib place...OMG it was so good. (Photo also taken).

So, it really wasn't as bad as I had thought. Yet, it is summer, it was a saturday, and we did arrive at the park hours after opening

Now, onto the moment of truth...

Universal Studios Hollywood Overall Grade:

+All rides open

+Very Friendly Staff

+USH is the best park at dealing with large crowds IMO.

+Water World Rocked!

+ A TON of characters out in action today! (Pics taken below)

+Understanding Staff about that re-entry thing.

-That dumpster in the Jurrasic Park Queue.

Overall Grade: A-

Michael"Wow! Suprising!Thomas