skip USH--not worth the bucks

[Took]

Recent trip to DLR and USH. DLR was very, very good (review soon on the DL board) but USH was almost a complete waste of time and money. I have NO idea what folks do there for more than 1/2 day. We went to virtually all the shows and rides, including the backlot tour, and found most to be fairly lame (Mummy is the exception). Backdraft was good, Terminator was "down" for most of the day so missed it. The Backlot tour was only OK and the shark was broken. Food is not good (though comparable to DLR) and park tickets are WAY out of line for the park offerings. We only spent 6 hours there and did virtually everything (some things twice).

Sorry to those who love this park, but we will never waste our money there again.

took

 

[rangermom]

I totally agree. We recently went to DLR and got USH tickets two for one and the kids free. We were there half a day and then went back to DLR. My son (who we were going to USH for) absolutely hated it. I had read about it on this board, but DH wanted to try it any way. Next time we will spend all our time at DLR.

 

[tmatthews]

didn't enjoy it either!

 

[casaazul]

We enjoyed spending a 1/2 day there, but my son at age 8 did not care for most of the attractions. The best part was the studio tour. After 3 days at Disneyland, it was not as much fun for us. If you have never been and you can afford it, I would visit.

Enjoy

 

[Vacation Dad]

My 3 kids are older teenagers, and we did enjoy our day at USH. We were there from 11am until the park closed at 6:00pm, and my kids thought it was great. We did pretty much everything there was to do, but I do have to say that 1 day was enough. A 2nd day free type of promotion would not have been much use as we probably would not use the extra day. We only go to CA to visit theme parks every 3 years or so, but my kids would definitely want to go again as a part of a multi-day vacation. If there would be only a day or 2 at Disneyland then USH would not be visited, but for 1 day out of five in various parks it was certainly worth the trip.

 

[Hound 109]

I totally agree. We recently went to DLR and got USH tickets two for one and the kids free. We were there half a day and then went back to DLR. My son (who we were going to USH for) absolutely hated it. I had read about it on this board, but DH wanted to try it any way. Next time we will spend all our time at DLR.

Hey Rangermom...

How did it go? No need to do a Trip Report, but do a little two paragraph report (or 12 bullet points) on the DL board. (highlights, what worked & what didn't). We were there 2 weeks ago, too.

Sorry for the hi-jack.

IMO - US is a good park for 3/4 of a day...especially for the 11-17 set. I would do it on the arrival day, or after a 3-5 day visit to DLR & on the way up the coast for a "coast tour" (if i was to do it at all).

I've "done" it twice & probably won't do it again. (But I'll "DO" DLR once or twice a year for the rest of my life.)

hound -

 

[bradk]

just came across this thread since i'm actually going back to USH for the 2nd time in April so figured I'd check out the forum.

I can see where USH wouldn't have much for the younger set. Unfortunately you're also at a time where one of the bigger draws, Back to the Future, is down for the count too, waiting for its Simpsons replacement.

and you also missed T2:3D which, although not one of my favorites, is often said to be one of the better attractions there

that said, it is what Disneyland was initially meant to be.. a theme park overlayed on top of a live, working studio.

I first visited in 2005 and did the VIP tour which I'm planning on doing again in 2008, especially since it's been revamped. that pretty much includes going on everything and i'll say on the record, i'm a huge fan of ROTM and JPRA (or whatever it's called there - although Orlando's ROTM is better). Not a fan of the whole front lot/back lot transition, but it's got some spectacular views of the lower lot as well as the WB lot and its famous watertower (and supposedly you can see Disney's watertower from there but I never did). waterworld is also a pretty decent show as far as theme park entertainment goes

the park itself doesn't keep tremendous hours either (off peak might be from like 10-6 or 7), but then again, you also have citywalk.

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

I have a friend who loves USH and can't understand why I don't. My husband and I bought annual passes to USH twice, and kept forgetting that we even had it. The biggest drawback for me, other than lack of interesting things to do, is the park's atmosphere; there is none. To me, half of what makes Disney Disney is the atmosphere. It's beautiful! The trees, the flowers, the buildings, all of the little details. USH just sits there.

 

[BelleM77]

For me, USH is a waste of money. There is not much to do there and what they do have there is lame. The Mummy is OK but not worth more than a 15 minute wait. Same for Jurassic Park and Shrek. The Studio Tour is OK but also, not worth more than a 30 minute wait. You would think they would update it a little, maybe change the King Kong and the earthquake parts a little. I know they added the Fast and Furious part but it's dumb. I would have rather got the tour over with a little sooner instead.

We only go when they have law enforcement deals and even then I sometimes wonder why we still go. We went a couple of weeks ago and we were done with everything within 4 hours. We only paid $32 for two people and part of me feels we still paid too much.

The only reason why I might pay full price is because DH wants to go on the Simpson's ride when it opens. If we go, we will probably ride it and then go somewhere else for the day.

 

[audrabolster]

I have to agree, I think it is a total waste of money. I do really enjoy the backlot tour, but wish it was organized as something more like the Warner Bros Studio tour.

It needs more attractions- something more like Universal Florida.

 

[mystic_path]

Yes its a horrible waste of money. We do the tour and spend the rest of the time in the shopping district just outside the gates. We see movies, go to Bubba Gumps for lunch (That place is the bomb.. soooo good) and we do some shopping.

USH is just not worth it, not much to see and even the shrek 4D isnt all that spectacular some of the effects do nothing for you and the chairs are too jerky. And I dont want to complain anymore but after being at Disneyland and seeing how CLEAN that park is, Universal just seems like a dive.

 

[Doc Holiday]

This is a timely thread for me. I'm planning to be in Southern California this March and have been researching a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood.

My group and I prefer thrill rides and this is a list of attractions that look like ones we'd be interested in:

Revenge of the Mummy
Shrek 4-D
Jurassic Park
Terminator 2: 3-D

This hardly seems a list worth a full-day visit.

Am I missing something?

 

[StageTek]

I work there and I hate reading that people don't like USH...

But everything I read here is right. I wish the people who are
making the decisions would read this thread.Ever since GE took
over it's gone further and further down hill. It makes me sad,
but it's hardly worth a days visit.

Doc - of the four attractions you list 2 of them are movies. You
sit in a theater, watch a 3D movie, every once in a while a
little water is sprayed at you and the seats shake.

 

[TexDisneyMom]

We had planned to go on Saturday March 8th - how long is the driving time from Downtown Disney to USH? Do you have to be there prior to opening like you do at DL? I am just wondering about all the comments of getting thru the park really quickly and whether or not the lines will be long on a Saturday.

 

[gboiler1]

We are traveling to SoCal the last 2 weeks of March, staying at DL for 4 nights then planning on a USH visit. I have been about 4 times and my wife has been twice. Our 9 yr old DD has never been and we want her to experience the park. Granted it isn't DL, but it is a new experience. We haven't been in 8 years but we always enjoy the backlot tour. My daughter isn't a real thrill ride seeker so we won't do Jurassic Park, etc. as my wife and I have done those before, but I figured we can do about 8 or so attractions at a nice pace. We will probably get discounted tix through work for about $50 a person which gives us 2 days, then if we want to repeat something or combine it with some time at CityWalk, we can.

Any word on if soft previews of the Simpsons will be happening by late March?

Can we do better than $50 for 2 days each?

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

My group and I prefer thrill rides and this is a list of attractions that look like ones we'd be interested in:

Revenge of the Mummy
Shrek 4-D
Jurassic Park
Terminator 2: 3-D

This hardly seems a list worth a full-day visit.

Am I missing something?

Unfortunately, no. There are very few thrill rides at USH. The Mummy and Jurassic Park are it. There's no IOA here.

If you're really interested in thrill rides, check out Knott's Berry Farm. it's not that far from DLR, (maybe 20 minutes or so?) and they have coasters up the wazoo.

http://www.knotts.com/