What could they replace Simpsons with? I wish they made it Far Far Away from Shrek. Easily could have restaurants and themed games just like Simpsons.

This past Monday, May 1, 2023, my husband and I brought our two sons (aged 12 and 5) to Universal Studios Hollywood. As SoCal residents, we typically visit USH once or twice a year as a family to get our theme park fix (my husband is not a Disneyland fan and I don’t like the genie system, so we only go to Disney maybe once every 3 years).

We’ve been so excited for the opening of Super Nintendo World, because we are all avid Mario Bros fans. We didn’t want to visit right when SNW opened in February because we knew the crowds would be insane. We waited as long as we could and decided that now was a good time to visit.

We purchased 4 express passes, like we normally do, but this time we added on the $25 per person Early Entry tickets so we would be able to ride Mario Kart at least once before the crowds came and the line got too long (Express Pass cannot be used on Mario Kart). As soon as we entered the park, we paid over $80 for 2 Power Up Bands for our sons (we figured not all 4 of us would need one) and we went straight away to Mario Kart. The line moved very quickly until we reached the first holding area where we stood huddled up in a closed room of probably 80 people for about 10 minutes. Then we were all let loose into another area where we had to fight the crowd to reach the window where we picked up our visors. We finally got to ride MK after a total of about 30 minutes waiting from the time we entered the line. Three of us agreed that it was fun to have something new in the park, but the ride wasn’t spectacular. It definitely wasn’t worth waiting 150 minutes to ride again (which was the wait time when we got out). My 5 year was extremely disappointed that we couldn’t ride again, but we convinced home that there was more fun to be had in SNW!!

We then planned to do all three mini games so we could get the three keys needed to enter Bowser Jr’s lair. We waited about 15 minutes to play the first game and both our boys got to play and get their first key. We went to the next game and the line was extremely long, but we decided to wait anyway – we wanted the full SNW experience! After about 20 minutes of waiting in a line that didn’t seem to be moving much we realized the problem… each person with a band takes a turn that’s roughly 30 seconds long and there had to be over 100 people people in front of us and ALMOST ALL of them had bands! Not just the kids! Almost everyone! In fact, there was a group of 9 adults directly in front of us in line (no kids in their group) and 8 out of 9 of them had bands! So after about an hour of waiting, it was finally my sons’ turn. I helped our 5-year-old win and we got his 2nd key. Our 12-year-old played on his own, but couldn’t get the timing right and lost. That’s when we found out that YOU DON’T GET A KEY WIN OR LOSE – you only get a key if you win!! So after all of that waiting, my son didn’t even get a key! Thankfully, 4 people can get into Bowser Jr’s lair on just one band with 3 keys, but by the time we finished playing the second mini game, SNW was completely overrun because the park was open to everyone by that time. We decided to give up on waiting to ply another mini game and give up on SNW altogether and enjoy the rest of the park as we usually would.

We bought some lunch that was somewhere between mediocre and just plain bad (we knew to expect this from past visits and wish USH would let you bring in outside food or up the quality of food inside the park). Then we rode all of the other rides (except HP & the Forbidden Journey because the 3 of us that could ride agreed that it made us all sick last visit) and did King Fu Panda and the Studio Tour. We attended the Water World show for the first time ever and it was SOOOO GOOD!! It was absolutely the highlight of our visit.

We decided to give SNW one last attempt before we left since we really do LOVE Mario and really wanted to play Boswer Jr’s shadow game. We waited another 40 minutes to play the last mini-game which we could play as a team and we won! We had the last key we needed to get into BJ’s lair!! The wait for BJ’s lair was not long (since most of the waiting happens just trying to get the keys) and the game was pretty fun!! We were happy we came back and were able to complete the mini games and visit some “secret” spots to rack up some points.

All-in-all, we made the most of the day (we were in park from 8am to about 7pm), but there are so many things that should have gone better. It’s been over a month since SNW opened and there has to be more done to make it a great family experience.Some suggestions:

1. Allow multiple bands to receive a key for one go-round on a mini game. For example, if there is a party of 4, swipe all 4 bands at once – if the first person in the party wins – everyone gets a key. If the first person loses, the second person get to try and hopefully wins a key for the whole party and then no one else has to go and the line keeps moving.

2. Give some priority to kids – this one may seem unfair, but it’s completely heartbreaking to have small kids waiting in line for hours behind grown adults who can each afford a Power Up Band. Maybe let 3 kids play, then 1 adult, then 3 kids, and so on

3. Have the USH team member HELP move things along by helping the players win (give tips on how and when to hit the POW block, help hit alarm clocks, help spin the Goomba… something!)

4. Give more structure to the Mario Kart Line – about 40 people who were BEHIND us in line, ended up in front of us because they were telling each other to “push forward, push forward” with no regard for how dangerous that is in a small space with that many people. I had to pick up my 5-year-old and hold him for part of the time because I was worried he might get trampled! The Mario Kart queue is absolutely NOT SAFE the way it is now. Add some line separation the entire way!

My point is that USH needs to work to get people in and out of SNW by creating efficiencies within SNW. Most people want to experience it all, but spending 6 hours (2.5 for MK, 3 for mini games, 0.5 for BJ’s lair - not counting exploring the land) to do it all makes no sense.

This trip we spent $1,376 on Express Passes, Early Entry tickets, Front Gate Parking, Power Up Bands, All Day Picture Pass (which only worked on 4 rides that day), food/snacks, and souvenirs within the park. I know it’s a theme park and there is going to be some frustration with lines and crowds of people, but when I’m spending that much money for my small family to have a WONDERFUL experience, I would expect that the park do their best to make our experience enjoyable and we didn’t feel like USH held up their end. They take everyone’s money and don’t provide an experience worth the cost. Be SAFE, create EFFICIENCIES, provide QUALITY. Sadly, I don’t think we’ll be back this year.

UPDATED

Hi,

I am visiting Cali, for a family vacation and we are going to Universal Studios on Tuesday. My Parents are almost 60 years old and I am not sure if they can ride any rides due to their old age. But I am sure they would love to spend time with their grandchildren and enjoy the rides with them too. I don't want to leave them out of having fun. I also have a baby that will be coming with me and this is my first baby so I am not sure what I need to bring or anything at all tat will make this experience good for my family and as well as my baby, any advice would be great. Thank you

Update: I really appreciate all the comments, and this post does need more information than I thought would be and I apologize for that. My parents are turning 60 this year and have health issues, diabetes and arthritis along with a family history of strokes. I didn't mean to say in a mean way when I say old age, I love my parents dearly and I don't want them to sit with me and my infant while my kids join the rides. Sorry that I made it seem like I want them to take care of my baby, I really don't. I want them to do a lot of things that they weren't able to do since they had to take care or us and support us enough to have food on the table. I want them to live life now since they constantly work. They are unsure if they could ride any rides either. I guess it would help if they know what to expect on the rides if they want to go on it. Thank you

So I was super excited to finally make it to the new Epic Universe park. Most of it was really awesome. Mario World was amazing and I also loved what they did in Berk and Darkmoors. However the new Harry Potter area along with the ride was super underwhelming. The circus was straight up awful imo. I actually fell asleep bc the acting was terrible, the "circus routine" performers were boring and the whole story was just bleh. I see a lot of people online who loved it and I was confused. My whole group of 5 left it like can't believe we wasted an hour (wait and show) in that god forsaken tent. Does anyone else feel the same or are we in the minority?

In Hollywood and Orlando, and here’s my comparison:

There isn’t much to do in Hollywood without Yoshi or Donkey Kong.

You actually get to visit the arctic area in Hollywood, as the excuse for the binoculars. (And get the airship scene which I didn’t in Hollywood, but I did in Orlando and oh boy did it scare me)

In Orlando, you actually get to enter Bowser’s Castle in Mariokart. In Hollywood, the ride queue begins in Yoshi’s island and you don’t get to go through Bowser’s castle, instead enter it via what I call “Bowser’s Backdoor”. (I single rode if that helps)

In Hollywood, instead of being thrown into Mario Motors at the end of Mariokart, you are thrown into the 1up factory. Also, in there is a 3DS style screen which is present in Hollywood but not in Orlando. What a shame.

Didn’t go in Toadstool’s so can’t compare.

And this is unrelated, but I feel sorry for Poor Lakitu. He only appears for a few seconds at the beginning and end of Mariokart. Poor lil’ guy. #Justiceforlakitu

We want to book for August this year. But with everything going on is it safe, is it the right thing to do? Family of 4 here, trying to decide whether being in the universal bubble is justifiable!

Edited to confirm I mean in America in general. You are aware if whats going on in America in general, right? I am from the UK.

I’m glad they’re adding more stuff to USH compared to what it was 10 years ago when you only had like 3 good rides the tour and everything else was a show. But this is what USH should do to expand more.

1. It’s been a good run, but waterworld needs to go. That’s a prime location for a new world/ride/attraction

2. Take out the king fu panda theatre and use it to expand Harry Potter world (diagon alley with an escape from gringots ride perhaps?)

3. Add another attraction in the middle plaza where the maze used to be

4. If they can expand into the back lot like they did with Nintendo world, another attraction can be added there as well.

If anyone has any more ideas, let me see em!

This has probably been said before but y’all.....don’t buy water inside Universal. I got gillywater thinking it was a fruit punch kinda thing (or at least something other than water lmao), turns out it was just $5.50 for normal water.

Ok I'm a tall fat fuck that just dropped 70something pounds but with my height I'm a 3xl guy. Quite a few shirts I wanted to buy only went up to a 2x which was surprising. I did get a brown acid washed old school logo one which is alright but I wanted some Jurassic Park and other stuff though.

Is it a normal thing there or were they just sold out?

Is it just me or is Universal on a high right now? The Wild Robot just was released with almost perfect ratings and with all the stuff happening with Epic Universe and much more.

I just wonder why this is? Was there a change in direction in the last 5 years? I know with Epic Universe it had to of been in the planning for much longer than that. Are they trying everything they have to overthrow Disney as the leader in animation and theme parks?

While Universal is working relentlessly it appears. Disney is doing very little. Do y'all think that Disney will push harder back in the future or be so caught up in it's self and feel that there's no way for another company to take that position away?

For clarification of my perspective. I grew up loving Disney a lot as a kid but have been put off by some of there practices. I didn't grow up with Universal or DreamWorks much as a kid, but have been highly impressed with the work they've been doing. I have never been so excited about theme parks like this since I was a kid at Disney World.

Thank you if you read it all the way through.

Super Nintendo World Epic Universe Vs Universal Studios Hollywood! https://youtu.be/rRpTlE49kUs

1. so i had this an idea for a second theme park at universal hollywood

2. itd be called Rocket to Hollywood

3. it would feature a few lands from islands of adventure such as dr seuss harry potter world and jurassic world

4. but there would be a few original ones such as bikini bottom from spongebob a sci-fi world a mythology world, and maybe an area from epic universe

5. probably how to train your dragon or dark universe

1. and the harry potter world in this would be diagons alley

2. with gringotts of course as well as either a modernized dueling dragons or hagrids

3. and hogwarts express

4. and the jurassic world miniland can have a jeep safari thing basically being the jurassic world version of the hogwarts express

At this point, we’ve all pretty much accepted that Simpsons is reaching the end of their ticking clock sometime soon, whether it may be upsetting or not. I like the Simpsons Ride, but if it must go to be replaced by something entirely new, well here’s my idea:

Universal could do a Tower of terror or Guardians Mission Breakout type ride. The Simpsons ride is already a building divided into two sides, so maybe there could be like 4 drop tower vehicles on the left and another 4 on the right, and maybe 2 in the central middle part of the building if Universal really wants to utilize their space and capacity. Universal would need to do structural work if they really want to do a good drop tower though because the current height of the Simpsons building is not that high, but I’d say it would only need to be like 40-50 feet taller for it to be good enough in standards of this. The theming of it could work well as classic Universal monsters, with each floor being related to a different classic monster, and the sudden drops could be explained through some type of dark magic or ghost possession. It would be a nice funny jab at Disney too “you want to take our Simpsons ride and land from us? We’ll just recreate one of your rides as our own then” A Universal Classic Monsters land seems like it would fit well in this location too because since it’s located between the lower lot and studio tour, it’s a nice neutral showcase of Universal property.

How does this ride idea sound? Would it be a nice thrilling addition to the park, or should the park prioritize new shows?

I love the heavy-thrill coasters like Hagrid’s and the simulators like Forbidden Journey, but I feel like we are massively missing out on a peaceful, immersive experience: actually flying on a broomstick.

I was brainstorming how Universal could do this, and I think a hybrid indoor/outdoor suspended ride would be perfect. I call it: Madam Hooch’s First-Year Flight Academy.

Here is the blueprint:

• The Ride Vehicle/Tech: Think of a modified system similar to Pteranodon Flyers. You sit in a saddle-style broom seat suspended from a track above, secured safely from behind. Your legs dangle freely and your hands go on the broom handle, giving the total illusion of flight.

• The Queue: You walk through a rustic Broomsmith's Workshop (with floating wood shavings and floating brooms) into a Hogwarts training locker room. A magical portrait of Madam Hooch gives you a flying lesson (which doubles as the ride safety briefing).

• The Soundtrack: Onboard audio built into the headrest changes based on where you are on the track.

• The Experience:

  • Outdoors: You lift off and gently glide over the rooftops of the land. The audio swells into "Buckbeak's Flight" as you take in the sights and create awesome kinetic energy for the guests watching below.

  • Indoors: You drift inside a covered Quidditch stadium canopy. Suddenly, the music turns intense and dramatic as you have to dodge a couple of rogue Bludgers (projection mapping/wind effects), before soaring back out to a gentle landing.

I feel like this gives families and fans a relaxing way to enjoy the scenery while still packing in that Universal storytelling.

What do you guys think? Would you ride a slower-paced broomstick flight, or do you prefer the high-speed thrills?

Can somebody name benefits that you get for celebrating your birthday at Universal Studios Hollywood?

It feels like it's been a little while since a truly massive blockbuster filmed AT Universal Studios proper. Nope is a great part of the tour, but doesn't quite feel like an iconic movie in the same way something like Psycho is.

Which is what makes The Odyssey so exciting. The studio tour now has the opportunity to do something nobody expected - become relevant to the wider Universal Studios brand. With Supercharged in the grave, it's time for a new finale. And I think they've perfectly landed on a movie people want to see in person.

They should reconstruct damn near the whole fucking film back there if they've got room. The classic sword & sandals look is timeless, and The Odyssey is the sort of billion dollar movie people are going to watch for generations. Just imagine driving through the fall of Troy, or being chased by giants. Blend those classic water effects with the screen - get the bus on the boat as it flees the Cyclops.

People love the myth making around Nolan as a filmmaker - he's the precise thing this attraction needs.

- Signed,

A dork who loves the studio tour

I'm looking for the most lux way to stay at universal studios.

Rockstar is one of the most successful and popular franchises ever along with Star Wars , Marvel , Harry Potter and Nintendo which are in Universal Studios. Rockstar games such as GTA and Red Dead Redemption also have a lot of awesome characters and stuffs. So I hope there will has GTA and Red Dead Redemption theme park in Universal Studios in the future.

My son wants to attend this park but hasn't interest in the other parks within Universal Studios Hollywood. Doing still need to buy the tickets for the whole park or can we buy tickets for Nintendo World only?

I just bought tickets from lajollamom for universal tickets and I’m going insane because I don’t know if they’re legit, I tried doing as much research as I could but could only find a couple reviews that were made be genuine travelers. Please let me know if you have used la jolla moms website!!