Here is a guide to each area of Universal Studios with info on the rides, restaurants and shops in each “land”
The different areas consist of:
- Production Central
- New York
- San Francisco/Amity
- World Expo
- Kidzone
- Hollywood
New York: Universal's most famous part of the park. This was the backdrop to several commercials, movies, TV shows, and music videos. It is also my favorite area in the park. There is a lot of interesting things to be noticed in this area if you look at windows and displays.
Attractions
Twister… Ride It Out
Theatre show with many special effects. 3-parts: Introduction, Pre-show, Ride. You will get wet. Universal Express Available.
Twister... Ride It Out is based on the blockbuster film starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. The ride takes you to a small mock up of the Oklahoma town of Wakita with prop signs and vehicles around you. There are several video monitors above showing actual home videos of tornados shot by ordinary people. Signs are laid out all over the place informing people about the different levels tornados on the Fujita Scale. As you enter the "Introduction" part of the show, you are shown clips from the film, then Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt welcome you to Twister and talk about the experiences they had while filming the movie. Helen Hunt then says "join us on the stage and see for yourself just how powerful a Twister can be."
You are taken into the "Pre-show" area which is a fairly accurate recreation of the inside of Aunt Meg's tornado damaged home. There are monitors above, showing the actual damage Twisters can and did actually cause while they were filming Twister. The TV goes black and it begins to storm as you are taken into a recreated Drive-In that was used in one of Twisters most frightening scenes. Everything seems calm, crickets chirping, dogs in the distance barking, rain drops falling it seems almost calm but then BOOM! A bolt of lightning spits a tree in front of you. A weird howling freight train sound emerges as the tornado destroys the movie screen in the distance.
Then it appears right in front of you and all you can do is watch as signs blow away, cars smashing into fire hydrants and gas pumps; and sends a poor cow flying right past you. Eventually it starts to die as the gas station catches on fire sending up a huge ball of fire as the stage drops giving the guests a final scare to remember the Twisters fury.
Revenge of the Mummy
Dark Ride, Indoor Rollercoaster. Height Requirement 48". Universal Express Available. Single Rider Lane Available.
As you enter the Mummy Pre-show the monitors show clips of the making of the films and have clips of Brendan Fraser and Stephen Sommers giving the production assistant Reggie (the narrator of the ride) a hard time. You then become extras in The Mummy 3, as a result of all the other extras left in fear of the "Mummy's Curse" You find out that strange and odd things have been occurring on the set. As you make your way past the preshow you are put into the interior of an ancient tomb. Once inside the Mummy's tomb the queue becomes very interactive. There are devices all over, there is a machine where you put your hand in the mouth of this Egyptian face and you get blasted with air.
There was box that you could put your hand on you could see the people in line on the monitor. There was a sarcophagus that if you put your hand in the hand print caused the lights to flicker and shake. Once you pass the queue you head up a set of stairs where a giant Anubis's statue rests. From there you head to the loading station where you board your 16 passenger mine cart (4 rows of 4 people). Reggie a production assistant warns us not to enter into the Mummy's tomb because the curse is real. Moments later Reggie is sucked dry by Imhotep. Imhotep offers riches beyond belief for your souls, and warns if you don't accept his offer you'll get nothing and be killed. You refuse his offer, and along the way have to escape death from thousands of Scarab Beetles, Mummies, Infernos & Imhotep. The only hope to survive and stop the Mummy's Curse is to find the Med-Jai symbol.
Blues Brothers Revue
The band is back together on Delancey Street so join Jake and Elwood Blues... The Blues Brothers and their friends in the famous quest to put on a blues show to save their former school. Universal comes alive with the sound of soul music when the band starts playing.
Restaurants
Louie’s Italian Restaurant, serving, strangely enough Italian cuisine ?
Finnegan’s Bar & Grill, serving a full 3 course meal to a sandwich and everything in between.
Stores
Aftermath - Your entire Twister needs can be found here.
Sahara Traders - Savour the riches beyond your wildest dreams, from recreated Egyptian artifacts to Revenge of the Mummy pins, hats, shirts, key chains to the Photo Pick-Up station it's all here and of course you can get tons of movie related stuff as well.