Events - Universal Studios Hollywood : All you need to do and know about this great attractions park

By Mulder, Los Angeles, Universal Studios Hollywood, 15 july 2022

Universal Studios Hollywood is a film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. About 70% of the studio lies within the unincorporated county island known as Universal City while the rest lies within the city limits of Los Angeles, California. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood film studios still in use. Its official marketing headline is "The Entertainment Capital of LA". It was initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios sets and is the first of many full-fledged Universal Studios Theme Parks located across the world. Outside the theme park, a new, all-digital facility near the Universal Pictures backlot was built in an effort to merge all of NBCUniversal's West Coast operations into one area. As a result, the current home for KNBC, KVEA and NBC News with Noticias Telemundo Los Angeles Bureaus with new digital facility is on the Universal lot formerly occupied by Technicolor SA. Universal City includes hotels Universal Hilton & Towers, the Sheraton Universal Hotel, and Universal CityWalk, which offers a collection of shops, restaurants, an 18-screen Universal Cinema and a seven-story IMAX theater. In 2017, the park hosted 9.056 million guests, ranking it 15th in the world and 9th among North American parks.

In 1914, German American immigrant Carl Laemmle bought the Taylor Ranch in the San Fernando Valley and founded Universal City as a gigantic studio with a zoo, its own police and mayor and native Americans living on the premises. On March 14, 1915, Laemmle opened Universal Studios in a two-day grand opening event with 10,000 attendees. He later invited the general public to see all the action for an admission fee of just five cents, which also included a boxed lunch with chicken. There was also a chance to buy fresh produce, since then-rural Universal City was still in part a working farm. This original tour was discontinued around 1930, due to the advent of sound films and the stages being not sufficiently soundproofed.

Universal Studios Hollywood's backlot has been damaged by fire nine times throughout its history. The first was in 1932, when embers from a nearby brush fire were blown toward the back lot, causing four movie sets to be destroyed and resulting in over $100,000 damage. Seventeen years later, in 1949, another brush fire caused the complete destruction of one building and damage to two others.In 1957, the New York street film studio set was destroyed by an arson fire, causing a half-million dollars in damage. Ten years later, in 1967, twice as much damage was done when the Little Europe area and part of Spartacus Square was destroyed. It also destroyed the European, Denver and Laramie street sets In 1987, the remaining portion of Spartacus Square was destroyed along with street sets and other buildings. As with the 1957 fire, this was suspected to be the result of an arsonist. Just three years later, another fire was deliberately started in the back lot. The New York Street set, the Ben Hur set and the majority of Courthouse Square were destroyed. In 1997, the seventh fire occurred at the back lot.[5] A portion of Courthouse Square was again destroyed, though most survived.

Universal Studios Hollywood is split into two areas on different levels, connected by a series of escalators called the Starway. These areas are known as the Upper lot and Lower lot. As of 2021, Universal Studios Hollywood contains ten rides, seven shows, and two play areas. Each lot features a collection of rides, shows and attractions as well as food, beverage, and merchandise shops.

The Upper Lot consists of a variety of family-based attractions. The theming of the Upper Lot includes a Mission Revival entrance pathway, known as Universal Boulevard, that features the large Universal Plaza that opened in 2013. There are not as many fully themed lands as there are small environments linked together with a common Art Deco theme that reflects the glamour of Old Hollywood. Universal Boulevard is home to Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular, and the DreamWorks Theatre, the latter which currently serves as the main location for Kung Fu Panda Adventure, a slightly modified version of Kung Fu Panda: Unstoppable Awesomeness from Motiongate Dubai.

- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Motion simulator) : Guests are transformed into minions and undergo training by navigating an obstacle course. Meanwhile, Gru's daughters try to give Gru a present to commemorate the anniversary of their adoption.
- Silly Swirly Fun Ride (Aerial carousel) : Family-friendly carnival ride spins to give guests a 360-degree view of "Super Silly Fun Land".
- Super Silly Fun Land (Play area) : A large outdoor wet and dry play area themed to the Despicable Me franchise. It replaced the Coke Soak attraction in 2012.
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash (Dark ride) : Themed to The Secret Life of Pets franchise, guests are transformed into lost puppies as they go on a journey through the streets of New York City in search of a new home.[49][50]
- Studio Tour (Tram ride) : The tour of the Universal Studios back lot, which features backdrops and sets used in many of their films, including NBC shows. Also includes attractions King Kong: 360 3-D, Fast & Furious: Supercharged, Jaws Encounter and Earthquake: The Big One.
- DreamWorks Theatre (Film) : Themed around characters featured in films from DreamWorks Animation. Currently showing Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest.
- The Simpsons Ride (Motion simulator) : The Simpsons visit Krustyland to try out the new roller-coaster but things go wrong as Sideshow Bob tries to sabotage the ride.
- Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular (Stunt show) : A woman arrives with news of a "Dryland", but rival "smokers" attack on jet skis and boats until a Mariner arrives to fight them off. Jet-skiers and boats, stunt fights, a crashing plane, pyrotechnics.[52]
- Universal's Animal Actors (Live show) : A 20-minute show showcasing stunts and tricks from a variety of animals.
- Special Effects Stage (Live show) : A demonstration of some of the special effects used in film making.
- Password Live (Game show taping) : A taping of the Password reboot with Keke Palmer

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 
soft-opened February 12, 2016, and officially opened April 7, 2016, and is the largest themed area in the Upper Lot, featuring the animatronic and screen-based thrill ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which is housed in a replica Hogwarts castle, featuring actual props from the films in the queue. In addition, this area includes the family-friendly roller coaster Flight of the Hippogriff, and the interactive Ollivander's Wand Show where a wand picks a witch or a wizard. Two live shows, Frog Choir and Triwizard Spirit Rally, are featured on the outdoor stage. In addition to attractions, the themed area features multiple shops, a Hogwarts Express train picture spot, The Three Broomsticks restaurant, and a variety of outdoor vending carts selling food and drink. Souvenirs and food based on the books and films are sold in the area too.
- Flight of the Hippogriff (Roller Coaster) : Learn the proper way to approach a Hippogriff before you take off on a family-friendly coaster that spirals and dives around the pumpkin patch, and swoops past Hagrid's hut.[54]
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Dark ride) : Make your way through the classrooms of Hogwarts. Then soar above the castle grounds on a ground breaking new ride that lets you join Harry Potter and his friends on an unforgettable thrilling adventure.[54]
- Ollivander’s Wand Show (Interactive experience and gift shop) : Step inside this small, dusty shop and choose from an array of Ollivanders wands, or purchase replicas of the Harry Potter film characters' wands, Collectible wand sets and more.
- Frog Choir (Live show) : This outdoor live show features students of Hogwarts with their singing frogs.
- Triwizard Spirit Rally (Live show) : Sharing a stage with the Frog choir, this themed show features men performing martial arts moves and gymnastics with sticks.

The Lower Lot is the smaller of the two lots. There are three thrill rides at this section of the park that each have height restrictions. It is home to Jurassic World: The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride and Transformers: The Ride 3D.
- Jurassic World The Ride, is a water adventure ride that takes visitors through the events of the film Jurassic World, ending with an 84-foot drop. Outside the ride stands the Raptor Encounter, a show that happens throughout the day, and the Dino Play jungle gym area for children too small to ride. Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride is a high speed indoor roller coaster transporting guests through moments reminiscent of the 1999 Mummy franchise. Transformers: The Ride 3D uses high tech technology to simulate a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons with 4K-3D screens and flight simulator ride vehicles. The Lower Lot also features several gift shops and quick service restaurants. A water adventure ride that takes guests through the events of Jurassic World.
- Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride (Enclosed roller coaster) : An indoor steel roller coaster that accelerates to 45 miles per hour. Features forward motion and backwards motion.
- Transformers: The Ride 3D (3D dark ride) : A dark ride where the rider's task is to protect the AllSpark from the clutches of Megatron and his cohorts as the car travels through the streets and skyscrapers of Chicago.[56]
- Raptor Encounter (Live performance and character photos) : A live show performed outside the Jurassic World attraction featuring a "raptor handler" and a velociraptor.
- DinoPlay (Play area) : An interactive play area with fossils, cargo nets, ladders and slides.

The Simpsons land

Waterworld

Animal actors

Jaws

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter show

Transformers Bumblebee

and discover other 4K videos of Universal studios on our youtube page and our photos on our Flickr page

Photos : Boris Colletier / Mulderville