Universal Studios Hollywood’s 40th YearIntroduces Revenge of the Mummy—The RideBy Valerie SummersForty years ago, I moved from Miami Beach, Florida to Los Angeles, California just in time for the opening of Universal Studios Hollywood. Much has changed during those years. What was then an area in my old home town filled with small retirement hotels is now one of the most glamorous areas in the country…South Beach. And in my new home town I have watched what was, four decades ago, a unique attraction where visitors could take a guided tram ride for a behind the scenes look at a real movie studio modernize and expand into the world’s largest movie studio and theme park. Universal Studios Hollywood has emerged as an exciting potpourri of not only studio tours but unique and thrilling rides, spectacular shows, exhibits and all kinds of eats throughout its ever changing 450 acre landscape.
This year, Universal Studios Hollywood also introduced convenient print-at-home ticketing available by logging on to www.universalstudioshollywood.com. I used it to print theme park admission tickets using my own computer and printer. When I arrived at the park, I did not have to wait in line at the ticket booth, but proceeded directly to the entrance. Premium “Front-of-the-Line” ticket options were also offered which included a full day admission ticket along with priority-entry privileges and reserved seating at key popular attractions as well as behind the scenes access and a sneak peek at how stunts and special effects are performed at “Spider-Man Rocks” and “WaterWorld,” along with a chance to meet the animal stars and their trainers at “Animal Planet Live!”
More information:Universal Studios Hollywood www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com Photo 1: Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride, courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood Photo 2 & 3: Behind the scenes 1964 trams, courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood |
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This summer, Universal unveiled a spectacular thrill ride based on the phenomenally popular “Mummy” films….Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride. This unique attraction roared into the park introducing a fusion of threshold technology, high speed roller coaster engineering, computer generated images and other movie-based immersive storytelling techniques. In two of the world’s largest sound stages, I expectantly stood in line awaiting my turn at experiencing this much heralded super roller coaster thrill. Hesitatingly, I climbed into the open-top, four seats across car, and then was propelled into the shadowy, curse-ridden environment. I held on for dear life as I hurtled through Egyptian catacombs, acutely aware of the adrenalin pumping through me. I survived the fascinatingly scary experience in what was billed as the world’s first psychological thrill ride but emerged with the thought of possibly giving it another whirl.
Ten years in research and development, the debut of the indoor thrill ride coincides with Universal Studios Hollywood’s 40th Anniversary, topping the list of past ground breaking attractions which include the multi-sensory “Shrek4-D;” “Terminator2: 3D,” a blending of live action with a 3D movie; and the wet and wonderful “Jurassic-Park—The Ride.” 
At the end of the evening, I reminisced about the memorable times when I had visited the park over the years and several of the earlier attractions. There was the Stunt Show, Animal Show and “Screen Test Comedy Theater.” Later, more sophisticated offerings were introduced which included the enormous and lifelike King Kong with his banana breath, the all too real Earthquake, the fiery Backdraft and one of my favorites, The E.T. Adventure. Now, everything is bigger and better and I look forward to accompanying friends and family to more Universal Studios Hollywood adventures.