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 2008 TPA Story Archives |
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Story by Johanna Atilano |
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"What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come
from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little
bit more?"
This past December at Universal Studios Hollywood, the Grinch took over the winter season, making the park a wee bit whimsical and mischievous for the "Grinchmas" celebration! The familiar green fellow took over the park to celebrate Grinchmas with a snow playground and even surprise appearances with his dog, Max, fun citizens of Whoville, and even a wondrous presentation by your favorite Whos for the lighting of the Christmas tree at the conclusion of each day. Over the entrance of the park, a gigantic banner of the Grinch - the ORIGINAL Grinch - and a Christmas-themed red carpet greeted guests before their full Grinchmas treatment inside the park. Inside, Christmas music blared out of the speakers and red poinsettias were situated everywhere - completely enveloping guests in the Holiday spirit. My first question was, "Where is the Grinch?" A few more steps into the park, I got my answer. Situated in front of the photo pick-up booth, was the Grinch, ready to take memorable pictures with excited guests. The first thing that was noticeable about the Grinch was how amazing and realistic the make-up was. If the Universal park Grinch was compared to the actual Jim Carrey make-up, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The make-up impressed me incredibly and it helped that the the actor playing the Grinch was practically dead-on in character and at times - was making babies cry! Not intentionally, of course! Moving on... After admiring the Grinch, we passed by the House of Horrors (funny how that's in the middle a park filled with Christmas decorations and goings-on) and I took notice of the rest of the park. Universal was able to take the realistic approach to Christmas and not be to the point of being over-the-top. The buildings were decorated in traditional Christmas fashion such as wreaths and the surfaces were covered with snow. As we walked along Parisien Street, the Christmas songs were all sung in French; details like this made the entire park a winter wonderland at every turn - and in every tongue! We headed to where The Adventures Curious George area once was. A huge Grinchmas sign towers over the crowd along with a gigantic Christmas tree, with an oversized star and thousands of colorful ornaments. Snow is being thrown everywhere, Whos are singing throughout the crowds, and another Grinch is available for photos with visitors, but this time with his faithful dog, Max. The Whos were probably one of my favorite parts of Grinchmas. Similar to the Grinch, the Whos' make-up was very impressive. The Whos gave off a powerful and spunky energy, constantly making guests laugh and even at times, making them sing with them. Occasionally, I found myself laughing along with these fun-loving Whos! It was time to stroll through the snow-filled area and just with one step, I was already in danger of being hit by 10,000 snowballs in the air! While the sign says, "Do Not Throw Snow", visitors obviously broke the rules, throwing snow left and right! Trying not to slip, but admiring everything at the same time, I felt the great vibes of every family in this winter wonderland. Man-made snow, yes, but close enough to the real deal to make every kid happy! There was a "big kid" area and a "little kid" area, both filled with slipping folks, big smiles, and cold, wet hands. I have to admit, if I was around that age, I'd be one of the kids making my parents wait for hours in the "parent waiting area" on the side of snowy area! After a little over half an hour of being in the area, workers started to tell the guests that the snow zones would be closed temporarily. While the whining from every kid started immediately, the temporary closures meant the snow would be refreshed and soon, be reopened to more excited kids! Another brand new addition for the winter season is the Whoville set on the Tram Tour coming to life. From the live action blockbuster movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey, is a beautiful and colorful set that was nicely kept for the Studio Tram Tour. Instead of casually passing through before the Bates Motel sets, we were stopped directly in front of Whoville. Once the tram settled, "Trim Up Thed Tree" was played and residents of Whoville and The Grinch (even with the cute little dog) excitedly sang along! This little cute addition to the Tram Tour was a little under five minutes in length, but of course, every minute of it was exciting and entertaining! The song is finished and the Whos say their farewells as you move on to finish the rest of the Studio Tour. After a day of celebrating Grinchmas, there is a festive tree-lighting ceremony that is also packed with the holiday spirit, Bingle Balls, Whofoo Fluff, all of the wonderful Whos from Whoville and of course, that ever-popular Mr. Grinch. In all, Universal Studios Hollywood's venture into the theme park Christmas tourism market was a success and we completely enjoyed ourselves! The fun was to be had by all and we cannot wait for Grinchmas 2009! |
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THE SIMPSONS RIDE - PUTTING THE DOH! IN... UHM... UH... DOOOHHHNUUTSSS.... MMMmmmMMMMmmm... By Rick DOH! West |
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Okay, so let's just get this out in the open and for those that haven't known me for a long time - here's a quick catch-up: I always hated Back to the Future: The Ride at Universal Studios. In the first place, I am not a huge fan of simulator attractions. We'll keep the topic strictly Universal; I much prefer attractions such as Spiderman or Men In Black over sims any day. One of the major problems I always had with Back to the Future was the technology employed. The massive curved IMAX screen - from almost every angle in the ride, the image was always distorted at some point. That drove me nuts. Absolutely crazy. Another huge problem I had with Back to the Future was the was the ride itself was set up - from the cramped, narrow halls and loading rooms to the caged-in feeling of the DeLorian "cars" that were the ride vehicles. NEVER in any attraction should you be able to look out and suddenly see a whole mess of other ride vehicles when you're supposed to be the only one experiencing the adventure. And the acoustics inside Back to the Future were horrible... cavernous, echoing; simply distracting. You could hear other guests laughing or screaming from their own vehicles, the sound of the film itself echoed strangely - it always felt to me like Back to the Future was a prototype; a thrown-together design in someone's garage to help get the "big picture" sold. It never struck me as a well thought-out ride, and its flaws were too many to overlook. At least, that is how I felt. There are plenty of theme park enthusiasts out there that adored Back to the Future. I was just never one of them. So when I learned that Doc Brown and the gang were being evicted by Homer and his crew, I was relieved and pleased. But also admittedly skeptical. I never saw The Simpsons Movie. I used to watch the television show. A long time ago. A long time ago. It always struck me as strange that after all these years, Matt Groening and company would finally get around to making a feature film. In my mind, the film would have been great say, 10 years ago, at the height of The Simpsons' popularity. Truthfully, that is the same fundamental problem I have with the Universal attraction right off the bat. Regardless of how good or not the idea and final execution is - and we'll get to that shortly - I could never quite figure out why a Simpsons ride so long after the show's rise in popularity. 10 years ago, a no brainer. Now, in 2008? I just don't quite get it. To me, the Simpsons in general are old news. My five year-old daughter has no clue who Bart and Maggie are - but she would have been all over it had she been born a decade ago and the Simpsons were everywhere, on fire. So... timetable oddities aside, let's take a look at the ride itself. It's a given that the bigger the Simpsons fan you are, the more you're going to like this entire experience. If you have no clue as to who all of the characters are - it will come across as a somewhat humorous and definitely strange concept. If you haven't brushed up on your Springfield who's-who knowledge lately, perhaps it might be a good idea to rent The Simpsons Movie before trekking to Universal so that you at least have a concept of who these characters are and what to expect from them in a way. I couldn't help but think of one of my oldest friends who happens to love the Simpsons. I thought about him non-stop the entire time. And I am 200% confident that being such a huge fan of the show, he enjoyed (or will if he hasn't experienced it yet) the ride much more than I did. So being a fan in this case is definitely going to help out your perception of what's been created by Universal. One of the biggest disappointments I found was that for the most part, the Simpsons ride is merely a new "skin" that has been slapped over the Back to the Future ride. Technically, not much has changed. And that really bothers me - especially when one can clearly see that Universal doesn't normally do things on the cheap; anyone that has been to the Orlando site can attest to that. Unfortunately, while I am sure some considerable DOH! was spent on The Simpsons Ride, it is my personal opinion that too many corners were cut, and too much Back to the Future still remains in the present. The facade of the ride is great fun - Krustyland. Amazingly good-humored signage and visual gags (the hallmark of The Simpsons) adorn the building in full - which I thought was fantastic. I have supplied a lot of images below of the signage found outside of the attraction and throughout the queue itself. Good stuff! One of my favorite things always about the Simpsons has been its absolutely brilliant humor when it comes to mimicking pop culture or even better - theme park companies. That pointed humor is working overtime throughout the queue and ride experience itself - so as far as the brilliant laugh factor of the subtle and not-so-subtle good-natured ribbing of Disney and theme park attractions in general, I couldn't have been more impressed. Major props for the subtle chuckles that the younger visitors to the ride probably won't pick up on really. Good stuff! The static humor crosses over into the video monitors located throughout the queue, from preshow video to random clips just to entertain and amuse; good Simpsons humor abounds and I have again, supplied a bunch of images for your viewing pleasure down below. Great creative thinking - and for the most part, I noticed the older "kids" getting good chucks from the videos. So it is apparent to me that at least the humor of the Simpsons is alive and well, from Springfield to Universal. There is a healthy sampling of Simpsons characters throughout the queue, preshow and ride itself - however - what struck me as odd is that there is relatively little of Bart Simpson throughout the experience - it's actually more of Homer's show - but it is what it is. There isn't really one particular "star" of the attraction, although there is heavy focus on Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob (and we stop there, so as not to give any of the plot away). The "layout" of The Simpsons Ride is virtually that same as Back to the Future; claustrophobic hallways, even more claustrophobic "waiting rooms", and ride vehicles with just a tad more elbow room than the late DeLorians. The preshow/boarding video is very amusing, featuring "safety tips" from Itchy and Scratchy that got a good belly laugh from me. Unfortunately, the staff at The Simpsons is super-militant and despite my begging and attempt to reason, I couldn't even get them to let me snap some pictures of the ride vehicle itself. I guess that's the downside of not attending the media event... SO, we do have a bunch of pictures for you of the exterior and the queue leading UP to the ride experience itself - after that... you're on your own, kids! Okay, so the ride itself. One of the first things that I became instantly aware of is that the screen is the same as Back to the Future, and while the curving distortion is not as bad or apparent - at least not from the seats/vehicle we had - there was distortion that I became aware of within the first 10 seconds of the film. I was instantly discouraged. I wanted to grab the initial attraction designer that thought the curved IMAX screen format was a good idea and... and... and... DOH! The acoustics in the attraction are still the same - echoing, you can hear other riders and it just sounds... odd. Another thing that I noticed right away was that the film itself is dim. My guess it is the loss of projection strength because the show building is so large. It's hard to feel immersed in a cartoon environment that is supposed to be vibrant and over-the-top with eye-popping color, and instead, the film looks like you're watching it through a layer of dust, or on an off-white screening surface. So I found myself immediately turned off by the screen distortion and the poor luminance of the simulator film. The sound is better than Back to the Future - but that is something that would and should be a given. The fact that the building still allows a lot of echo - that bugs me; it makes this new attraction seem instantly "old" in many ways. The film/experience itself is not too bad - there are lots of humorous moments (naturally - that should be a given as well) and the simulation is definitely more entertaining than Back to the Future ever was, in my opinion. No more breaking through things to get from one scene to another, etc. What I did notice and find odd is that there are several major similarities between the Simpsons film and the Back to the Future film. I cannot help but ponder whether this was a deliberate nod to the attraction it replaced or if the programming of the ride vehicles and the planning of the sim film were purposely done to minimize cost/reprogramming efforts. It would be interesting to pose this question to the folks at Universal Creative. Perhaps the next time I am with them, I will. The length of the ride itself is very good - it doesn't seem so short that you feel ripped off, and it isn't so long that you feel queasy or become bored. Riders of all ages should find this to be a very satisfying experience - especially after waiting for a good amount of time in line. There is nothing worse than waiting forever for a ride and having it be over before you even begin to enjoy it. That is not the case with The Simpsons, so as far as time goes, the quality of the experience is positive. Would I ride it again? Perhaps, although it is not an attraction that I would add to my Must-Do list at Universal Studios. Is it a better attraction than Back to the Future was? Most definitely, on many levels, despite some of the old pitfalls that this new attraction also succumbs to due to its inherent design constraints. Would I recommend The Simpsons Ride to Universal visitors? Definitely - chances are, 999 out of 1,000 visitors aren't as jaded or critical as I am when it comes to attraction experiences. The Simpsons is a fun ride - and that is what most people are happy with and looking for. So head on out to Universal and check it out for yourself, kids. Homer and the gang are waiting for you! Then you can decide whether you like this or you DOH!n't... |
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LIKE A PHOENIX RISING A SPECIAL REPORT FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD By Johanna Atilano With Commentary by Rick West and Industry Legend Bob Gurr |
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Editor's Note: On the morning of June 1, 2008, a fire broke out in the back lot area of Universal Studios. For the next several hours, the massive blaze engulfed New York Street, portions of Courthouse Square and the park's famous King Kong attraction. I was in the greater Los Angeles area that morning and looked out the window to see the smoky haze that rose above Universal City. Like countless fans, I viewed the news footage with great sadness and felt a sinking in my stomach as I watched priceless motion picture history - and my childhood - reduced to twisted steel and mountains of debris. I felt horrible not only for the amount of loss the studio suffered - but also for the undignified way that King Kong went out without a proper farewell send-off after more than two decades as one of Universal Hollywood's biggest attractions, literally. The whole thing was very depressing. Almost immediately, readers and friends began asking me what would happen - would King Kong be rebuilt. The sad truth is that Universal would be foolish to rebuild King Kong, and according to studio executives, that is not going to happen. And so, we big the mighty Kong farewell and view the images that our newest Theme Park Adventure staffer, Johanna Atilano, has provided us with great respect and melancholy memories. We also support our friends at Universal and know that even as the studio has already begun rebuilding New York Street, one of the world's greatest tourist destinations will rise from these flames like a phoenix and before we know it, the tragedy of June 1st will be a distant memory. - Rick West [Rick is the Founder of Theme Park Adventure and has long covered media events and attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood.] The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood is the most popular, highly-touted attraction in the park. The tram tour takes guests through famous movie sets to live-action "sets", including the famous King Kong exhibit. On June 1, 2008, at around 4:45am, a disastrous fire blazed through the Universal Studios back lot. The second major fire at Universal Studios, it destroyed part of the Back to the Future set, the King Kong attraction, and the frequently-used New York streetscape. The fire burned for 12 hours and the damage is estimated to be in the millions of dollars. The fire was started by employees who were using a blowtorch to heat the asphalt on the roof along the New York street set. The park was closed temporarily, but
reopened the following day to the public. The King Kong attraction has been there for years and I had grown up with it; from being frightened as a child to loving the entertaining aspect of the classic attraction today. So there I was, in line for the tram, half-expecting a terrible and melancholy ride on the Studio Tour. I had my camera ready and my mind set strong. Within minutes into the tour, the tram stopped in front of the fire-destroyed sets. The mood of every visitor slowly ceased to silence and the sound of cameras clicking and tourists gasping became audible. The tone of the tram tour guide became mellow and he continued the tour with a quite depressing account of the massive fire in the back lot. Water hoses were still being used on the rubble and the debris was clearly evident throughout the area. I looked through the camera lens in a mood that has no proper description; depressed being the closest. The whole area is barricaded and only authorized personnel are allowed to come and go. The tour guide continues with the spiel and mentions the whole New York Street area is being rebuilt. A sigh of relief and cheers for Universal erupted from the guests, including myself. New York Street is one of the most famous and widely-used sets in movie and television history. The tour guide mentioned that the rebuilding of New York Street will benefit future directors. There was no mention of rebuilding King Kong; disappointing, but rebuilding a classic is merely impossible. Perhaps the public may have to wait a little longer until the announcement of replacing King Kong will be made. The tram slowly made a pass of the disastrous scene of what used to be the famous back lot. I captured what I saw through the lens of my camera to share with you all. And I look forward to future visits to share with you all the progress that is being made as Universal Studios Hollywood repairs and rebuilds. They definitely have the support of the fans and the visitors alike. - Johanna Atilano [Johanna is the newest member of the Theme Park Adventure staff and a frequent visitor to Universal Studios Hollywood.] I saw the smoke early in the morning, and learned the studio's New York Street was burning again. I passed near the studio twice during the day and was surprised how long this thing burned. News reports were not too specific as to what all was on fire. I wasn't too concerned about King Kong, because the attraction had survived the previous burning of New York Street. But the evening news showed that indeed, the attraction had been destroyed. I felt a hollow in my gut, like one feels when a friend has passed. But a few days later, I had mixed emotions. The bad part was that my favorite animation was gone, maybe never to be seen again. The good part, was that King Kong was now the newest Extinct Attraction, and could become a past Hollywood Classic. Sort of like he died in an inferno at age 22. Possibly better than to one day, be torn down and replaced by some new rising star. Sort of like, King Kong can never become an aging star. Same deal as James Dean leaving the Earth at a young age... immortal ever since. Who would go to see a 77 year-old James Dean movie today? So I reviewed all my King Kong project photos, full size hand, and 1/12 size working mechanical model. These photos detailed all the trick design that went into the head and mouth animation. We had a super crew that followed my direction so expertly back in those days. It made me wonder how on earth someone today could figure out how we did it. So, if the King returns, somebody is going to have to re-invent the Gorilla. - Bob Gurr [Bob is mostly known by theme park and industry enthusiasts as a Disney Imagineering Legend, designing many of Disneyland's attraction vehicles for Walt Disney, as well as pioneering animation robotics. Bob was tapped by Universal executives to bring King Kong to life for the Studio Tour more than two decades ago, where he and his team created one of the largest and most famous animatronics figures the world has ever known.] |
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All images on this page are the copyrighted material of Theme Park Adventure. Unauthorized use for personal or professional gain without the written consent of Rick West is strictly prohibited. Images may not be linked to from other sites online. |
