Florida's Universal vs. Hollywood??

[BelleBeast]

We are leaving next week for Disneyland and San Diego...YES!!

Just wondering if anyone who has been to both Universal Studio's can tell me how
to work Hollywood and things not to miss...

Is Hard Rock Cafe near Universal Studios??


Thank you!!

 

[BelleBeast]

Bumping Up..Anybody??

 

[F-L-A]

I've never been there, but I know some things about the park. For starters, it's nothing like USF. As for things you must see, that shouldn't be a problem, unless it's extremely busy, because I hear there really isn't much to do there. The only time consuming things there seems to be the tram tour, the park's main attraction, and having to go up and down the escalators (the park is on a cliff, split up into two sections). The other attractions there are ROTM, Waterworld, Jurassic Park, BTTF, Terminator, Shrek, the Special Effects Stages, Backdraft, Fear Factor and the Van Helsing walk-thru. That's about it.

 

[phamton]

Must sees for me: the tram ride, Backdraft, Jurassic Park, and the Mummy. I love Universal Orlando but Universal Hollywood is really fun also especially if you are interested in movie making. It is great to see all the areas where some of the movies/tv shows were made. Just don't miss the tram ride!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I've heard the Waterworld show is excellent.

 

[markey]

I went to Universal Hollywood before there even was a Universal Florida, been there 3 times but not since 1996. It is great, just think of it as Florida without Islands of Adventure and you will be fine. The setting is really pretty, mountains all around you. It is on 2 levels and you use an escalator. The back lot tour is really neat, don't want to spoil it by saying anything. One thing I found really different is that it was not as compact and is spread out more. Another thing, and this could have changed, is that they have people who look just like old time movie stars walking areound the park and posing for picture. I know a lot of Florida Universal people will disagree, but the Universal in California is very nice. There is just as much if not more to do there than in Florida. In 2 weeks we will be making our 5th trip to Florida, so yes we do love Universal Florida but you will not be disappointed in Hollywood. Also have been to Disneyland a couple of times, don't miss the Raiders of the Lost Ark ride, sure wish Disneyword had it.

 

[F-L-A]

There is just as much if not more to do there than in Florida.

That's certainly a stretch if I've ever seen one. Look at the attraction lists of USH and USF. Pretty noticable difference. In all, USH has a grand total of 4 actual rides. IOA goes without mentioning here.

 

[markey]

I see you are from Orlando, glad to see you are proud of the attractions in your area. Have you ever been to Hollywood? If not please visit then you will know what you are talking about. Remember Universal Florida is a spin-off from Hollywood.

 

[phamton]

I've been to Universal Hollywood a lot. In fact, I began going there long before I ever set foot in Universal Orlando (in 2000). Saying it is a spin-off of Hollywood is like saying Disneyworld is a spin off of Disneyland. Disneyland has a certain charm and I love it. I went to Disneyland when it had been open less than a year and then almost yearly for over 35 years. I love Disneyland but it does not have as much to offer as Disneyworld. Disneyland is a 2 day trip, Disneyworld needs at least 5 days.

Universal Hollywood is a great park and one I would recommend visiting but it is a one day trip to see and do most of the things. Universal and Islands of Adventure take at least 2 days. I am not dissing Universal Hollywood as I love it but to call Universal Orlando a spin-off is really not accurate. UH has some great things that I wish Orlando offered but also UH is severally lacking in rides.

And yes, I do live in Orlando but have only lived here 2 years. From 1956-2002, we made a yearly trip to California to visit Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, MarineWorld, Sea World and Universal Hollywood.

 

[markey]

Yes Universal and Islands of Adventure are a 2 day park, 1 day Universal and 1 day IOA. If you read my first post I said to think of Universal California as a Universal Florida without IOA. Hence 1 day for each, Universal Florida and Universal California, which you agreed with since you said it is a 2 day park.

 

[F-L-A]

I see you are from Orlando, glad to see you are proud of the attractions in your area. Have you ever been to Hollywood? If not please visit then you will know what you are talking about. Remember Universal Florida is a spin-off from Hollywood.

Spin-off, eh? Seeing as you're the one who knows what they're talking about, according to you, I find it quite odd that you aren't even aware of the fact that the two parks look absolutely nothing alike. I've never been there and even I know that. The only things they have in common are the shared attractions, most of which werent built at either park until USF was already around. Couple that with the fact that USF has more attractions anyway, and it's hardly a "spin-off". Maybe you should make a return trip, freshen that memory...

And I doubt USH's website is lying about what attractions the park has and doesn't have. Unless my bias is screwing with my eyesight.

 

[dvc_john]

I don't think anyone has answered the Hard Rock cafe question. There is a CityWalk area adjacent to Universal Studios Hollywood. This area has the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood. There are several other Hard Rocks in Southern California, including the L.A. HRC @ the Beverly Center mall, and also in Newport Beach, La Jolla, and San Diego.

 

[phamton]

Yes Universal and Islands of Adventure are a 2 day park, 1 day Universal and 1 day IOA. If you read my first post I said to think of Universal California as a Universal Florida without IOA. Hence 1 day for each, Universal Florida and Universal California, which you agreed with since you said it is a 2 day park.

You may have said it was like Universal Studios Orlando but I say it is not. Universal Hollywood also has Jurassic Park which is in Islands of Adventure.

I still say it is like comparing Disneyland to all of Walt Disneyworld. Disneyland is most like Magic Kingdom but it also has some rides from the other parks at Disneyworld and a few rides that no park at WDW has like Roger Rabbit and Indiana Jones ride. But Disneyland has less rides than Disneyworld parks. Universal Hollywood has some rides from Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure but not nearly as many. That doesn't mean that Disneyland and Universal Hollywood are lousy parks....but just that they don't have as much to do as the parks in Orlando.

 

[johnvree]

Spin-off, eh? Seeing as you're the one who knows what they're talking about, according to you, I find it quite odd that you aren't even aware of the fact that the two parks look absolutely nothing alike. I've never been there and even I know that. The only things they have in common are the shared attractions, most of which werent built at either park until USF was already around. Couple that with the fact that USF has more attractions anyway, and it's hardly a "spin-off". Maybe you should make a return trip, freshen that memory...

And I doubt USH's website is lying about what attractions the park has and doesn't have. Unless my bias is screwing with my eyesight.

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

Bascially, USH is a working movie studio with a theme park attachment. USF is a working theme park with a movie/TV studio attachment.

Here's a trip report that compares USH with USF:

http://www.ioacentral.com/news/colu...3_universal_studios_hollywood_trip_report.htm

 

[F-L-A]

 

[damo]

We were there last summer. I don't remember Hard Rock but apparently it is in Citywalk which is the entrance to Universal Studios.

We enjoyed Universal Studios Hollywood a lot. It is a one day trip.

 

[robvia]

Yes, there is a HRC. You can view my page to see a picture of it.
http://www.nogodforme.com/USH2005.htm

I'd say a good attack plan would be to arrive early, and head to the lower lot first. Doing that, you can ride The Mummy a few times, JPRA, Backdraft, and see the Van Helsing show.
The top level has T2, the Tram Tour entrance, BTTF, Shrek, and Waterworld right near the front of the park.