Hi everyone This past Saturday I went to Universal Studios Hollywood and got some pictures of the ride construction and talked to some of my inside friends for the latest as to what is going on. If anyone has been to Universal Studios Hollywood before and seen the Backdraft attraction well Transformers is going in the old Backdraft building. Backdraft closed over a year ago and the Transformers ride is going into that building. I am correct in saying that (for those that have ridden Spiderman in Florida) that the ride concept is exactly the same as the Spiderman ride. 3D, feels like you are moving around (which you are just not as much as it looks like), and interacting with the characters. Florida will be getting Transformers after the licensing for Spiderman runs out which does NOT have a determined date at this time. Executives are looking at the fact that if they are loosing licensing later rather than sooner they may either just get rid of Spiderman and turn it into Transformers OR use some of the Harry Potter area and put Transformers along the outside edge of that. (Forgive I haven't been to Universal Florida since 2003 so I have no idea where that is) I noticed upon getting up close to the mural that is being painted on the outside of the building is the question that a lot of people have: Are we getting a big EVAC statue like in Singapore or are we getting cardboard cutouts? Well according to my sources we are NOT getting a big statue. As you will see in my pics there are some white stripes along the mural that aren't painted this is where 3D like cutouts are going. They are large and stick out a little bit from the building giving you a 3D like effect with the mural in the background. Also my favorite part MERCHANSIDE!!!!! They already have merchandise in the store right next to the ride. Clothing, hats, wallets, and toys toys toys. I took pictures of everything of course and must say I was a very good girl and restrained myself from purchasing everything in the store. A lot of people were actually lining up to have their picture taken in front of the Bumblebee/Ravage wall that is there, including me and my son. The camera is far enough away to where you really can't see me but I am of course wearing my purple decepticon shirt. NOW the other question, when is it opening? Well the original date was Memorial day weekend, however they happen to be running ahead of schedule so they moved the date up into April, now the official word is "spring of 2012" Universal Studios currently have a deal where you purcahse one day pass and get the rest of 2011 and ALL of 2012 for free, do you get a one day pass AND an annual pass to boot, so I will definately be there first thing when this baby opens!! My pics are in the next post (if they cooperate), and if there are any other questions that anyone else has ask and I will do my best to get them answered through my sources! Thanks!!
here are the pics, notice the white stripes on the mural I pointed out in my previous post, and all the lovely merchandise!
If you visit Universal Studios a lot, do you know if they ever have a 'One person full price, second person for $1' deal, like I used to see at Magic Mountain? Because I could swing that. 'Buy one day, get the rest of the year free' is a great deal on paper, except I know I'm never going to be able to convince my wife to make the trip to go on a Transformers (which she's not crazy about) 3D (which she HATES) ride a second time. One time is likely going to be it, so the rest of the year free doesn't do much for me.
Just out of curiosity, that large pile of grey cars in the back of one of those pictures aren't HA Soundwave, are they? Packaging is wrong, but still...
haven't seen that deal Southtown Westcoaster - Universal Studios Hollywood Here is the latest update of Optimus and Megatron going uyp and the entrance
I'm thinking I might just see if I can go on a 'shopping pass' deal - most of the LA area theme parks have that. You can go into the park for an hour or so for free, as long as you buy x amount of merchandise from their stores. Funny, I live only a short distance from Universal Hollywood, and I haven't been in years, and probably won't shell out the money to go a full day just to try this ride. Tim "toy geek"
