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Monday, July 18, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Universal Studios, Los Angeles
After my day at Disneyland, I must say I was a little disappointed with Universal Studios.
The studio tour was interesting, being carted through different sets and shown some cool effects. But some of the tour itself was a bit cheesy. It is Hollywood!!
I think the best part was just seeing remnants of movie sets and seeing how they do it, a behind-the-scenes look in real life.
After the studio tour, which is recommended to be your starting point. It is indeed interesting and after I finished my tour in the morning, the queues were significantly longer. So go early!
There are a few interesting rides at Universal Studios. Jurassic Park was invigorating, the final plunge was definitely more adrenalin pumping than Disneyland rides, but I think that was the only pro. Seeing the T-rex come at you was cool, but you knew it was fake as was the other dinosaurs popping out.
The Mummy ride was pretty scary. Some good effects in there and the awesome part was when it stops and reverses!! I got the biggest scare from a man on stilts, standing as still as a statue, posing as an Osiris statue that lunged at me as I walked past!
Best ride was definitely the Simpsons simulated roller-coaster ride. There was entertainment throughout the queue (about 25minutes) via the screens placed above the queue line. The cars that you sat in were also very cool and the animation for the ride itself was impressive. The best part was that you really could imagine what it is like to live in Springfield or be so close to the Simpsons as it was all life-size.
The special-effects show was more about entertainment and crowd participation rather than interesting behind the scenes look at how they do special effects.
The acclaimed Waterworld show had some great special effects of aerial props and pyrotechnics. But alas, it is a little disappointing.
The Blues Brothers show was 2 guys dressed up as the brothers and singing the songs from the movie, with some co-stars. The police car parked in front of the stage area was cool and worth snapping a photo of, otherwise the show is worth missing.
Shrek 4D show had an interesting introduction, which if you had not seen the movie would fill in the gaps for you. The show itself was good, but not amazing.
It was great to see so much of the movies in real life sets. But activities wise, there's a lot more going on in Disneyland. Not a bad day if you like the movies and in particular the movies made at Universal Studios! Some movies they mentioned I'd no idea about.
I was given the tip off that eating outside in the Citywalk area was cheaper than inside, so that's what I did. Hot dogs were a good portion and filling for a reasonable $9 including drink and fries (hot chips). You can get a stamp out so you can re-enter afterwards, just make sure you ask for it.
I think the best part was just seeing remnants of movie sets and seeing how they do it, a behind-the-scenes look in real life.
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| JAWS! |
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| From War of the Worlds |
There are a few interesting rides at Universal Studios. Jurassic Park was invigorating, the final plunge was definitely more adrenalin pumping than Disneyland rides, but I think that was the only pro. Seeing the T-rex come at you was cool, but you knew it was fake as was the other dinosaurs popping out.
The Mummy ride was pretty scary. Some good effects in there and the awesome part was when it stops and reverses!! I got the biggest scare from a man on stilts, standing as still as a statue, posing as an Osiris statue that lunged at me as I walked past!
Best ride was definitely the Simpsons simulated roller-coaster ride. There was entertainment throughout the queue (about 25minutes) via the screens placed above the queue line. The cars that you sat in were also very cool and the animation for the ride itself was impressive. The best part was that you really could imagine what it is like to live in Springfield or be so close to the Simpsons as it was all life-size.
The special-effects show was more about entertainment and crowd participation rather than interesting behind the scenes look at how they do special effects.
The acclaimed Waterworld show had some great special effects of aerial props and pyrotechnics. But alas, it is a little disappointing.
The Blues Brothers show was 2 guys dressed up as the brothers and singing the songs from the movie, with some co-stars. The police car parked in front of the stage area was cool and worth snapping a photo of, otherwise the show is worth missing.
Shrek 4D show had an interesting introduction, which if you had not seen the movie would fill in the gaps for you. The show itself was good, but not amazing.
It was great to see so much of the movies in real life sets. But activities wise, there's a lot more going on in Disneyland. Not a bad day if you like the movies and in particular the movies made at Universal Studios! Some movies they mentioned I'd no idea about.
I was given the tip off that eating outside in the Citywalk area was cheaper than inside, so that's what I did. Hot dogs were a good portion and filling for a reasonable $9 including drink and fries (hot chips). You can get a stamp out so you can re-enter afterwards, just make sure you ask for it.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Disneyland, Anaheim, California
By accident (there are no accidents! - Kung Fu Panda quote) I ended up at Disneyland a few days ago (due to missing my onward flight to Australia, with 2 days up my sleeve I thought I might as well).
Without having time to research the park properly, I took my free shuttle to Los Angeles Airport (LAX), then picked up a Disneyland shuttle (shared van) for a 45 minute ride out to Disneyland, Anaheim in Orange County.
There are actually 2 parks at Disneyland now, one is the original Disneyland and the second is California Adventure (more rides). Entry to the 2 parks is an additional $25 to single entry (a steep $80 for adults). The good thing is that you don't need to decide straight away, you can upgrade your ticket later in the day if you want to visit the second park.
Disneyland is open from 8am to midnight (Summertime)!! California Adventure is from 10am-10pm.
I spent 8 hours in Disneyland very easily. I was really very pleasantly surprised. It was truly an amazing experience. The attention to detail in everything that was there was incredible. Each area or land was like stepping into another world. Or like stepping into a movie set of that theme.
Everything I grew up watching on TV or in movies was there in real life form and human sized. It was wondrous. The themed music everywhere was so familiar to me, that coupled with the visual feast, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
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| Big Thunder Mountain Railroad |
The rides themselves are not totally adrenalin rushing. The best are:
- Indiana Jones adventure
- Splash Mountain (Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah!)
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Space Mountain
I recommend saving Space Mountain for last. It was definitely the best by far - if you like roller-coaster rides and feeling like your travelling through the galaxy! But Indiana Jones also had it's very cool moments - I won't spoil the surprise! :-)
Enjoy your trip to Disneyland - it's a small world after all! :-)
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Best coffee this side of Sydney
That was the description given to me for this quaint coffee shop in London:
Notes Coffee & Music
31 St Martins Ln.
King William IV St.
Charing Cross, Greater London
WC2N 4AA
020 7240 0424
It was just adorable. Beautiful refined & rustic setting, great coffee and great jazz music playing at a really good sound level that didn't disturb our conversation. Coffee was so smooth and just the right drinking temperature. The food and cakes looked really tempting too but alas I'd just eaten so did not try the fare here. Would definitely go back and make it a regular coffee place if I lived in London! Not too pricey, about £2.60 for a flat white, I think?
The 2 scores on the table were of the 2 operas currently at the Royal Opera House (ROH) and English National Opera (ENO). Tosca and A Midsummer Night's Dream. I love that attention to detail!
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