See photos and get details about exciting Universal Studios California rides! Updated June 8, 2008. Related info--- HOME :: Latest News :: Universal Studios California ::   Universal Studios Tour ::   Universal Studios California rides ::   Universal Studios shows ::   Universal Studios dining ::   Universal Studios shopping ::   Universal Studios Hotels ::   Universal Studios discount tickets ::   Universal Studios contact info ::   Universal Studios Hollywood Hours

Universal Studios California rides --few, but fabulous





In the slide show above, you're viewing pictures of the new Simpsons Ride, the Mummy roller coaster, the Jurassic Park boat ride, and the new Curious George playground & water play area. All of these are fun rides & attractions at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park...and you'll most likely enjoy them! While Universal's studio tours and shows unlock behind-the-scenes secrets of movie making (and shouldn't be missed,) the park's rides provide a great diversion . Get ready--it's time to do some screaming & shrieking at Universal Studios Hollywood!








Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood

Picture: Jurassic Park ride entrance Simpsons Ride open at Universal Hollywood! Visit Krustyland, the amusement park from Hades! Just in time to amuse the summertime crowds of visitors which are descending on Universal, the theme park has opened their highly-anticipated Simpsons Ride! Virtually all of the Simpsons TV show's most popular characters are represented in the new ride---and they're voiced by the real actors from the television series, too!

What's the plot of the Simpsons Ride? You'll pay a visit to Krustyland, an amusement park where things are always going wrong...which gives you, the rider, some interesting thrills. Expect huge crowds this opening year, especially since reviews of the Simpsons ride are very positive! Hit this one early in the day, if you possibly can! Will you like it? Most probably, YES!

Other than the fury surrounding the new Simpsons Ride during 2008, rides are not a major focus at Universal Studios Hollywood. Sad but true. There are only 3 rides at Universal Hollywood: the Jurassic Park boat ride, the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster, and the Simpsons Ride. They're all great rides...but there are only three of them!

The two Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando have the Hollywood location beat hands down on this matter. We who live closer to the Hollywood location of Universal Studios are aware of this...and feel appropriately jealous!

The Universal Studios Hollywood theme park arose from the public tours given of its historic movie-making lots. The park's other attractions are an expansion of its original movie tour business. Universal Studios Hollywood still remains primarily focused on its tours; on informative shows which explain how movies do special effects; and on action-oriented shows which feature live stunts. Rides are secondary.




Tips for minimizing your ride waiting time

Photo of the escalator between the upper and lower lots at Universal Studios Hollywood, CaliforniaRide lovers, take note: the 3 rides at Universal Studios Hollywood are very popular. Yes, there are only 3 rides at Universal; but they're all very good ones. They attract large crowds, and waiting in their lines can tie up much of your time at the theme park, if you let them. Here are tips for enjoying these rides without wasting too much time from your day in the Universal Studios ride queues.

The three Universal Studios rides are some of the attractions farthest away from the entrance! Therefore, as you enter the park, especially if you're a first-time visitor, you'll be tempted to enjoy looking at other attractions first. If you want to have a smoothly-running day, don't do this! Force yourself to move on ahead to experience the rides FIRST...then backtrack to other attractions later.

First, head straight to the back of the park's "upper lot." (The park sits in a hilly area, and is built on two different levels! As you enter Universal Studios California, you'll be on the "upper lot," which is the level on which you'll find the new Simpsons Ride.) Get to the theme park as close to opening time as you can, then head to the Simpsons Ride first, before the line builds up.

Next, after leaving The Simpsons ride, you need to head to the "lower lot" at Universal Studios as soon as you can! The lower lot is where you'll find the Jurassic Park and Mummy rides; head for these attractions the very next thing. You'll use the attractive series of escalators that you see in the picture to your left. Disabled guests may use a special elevator to move between the two levels at Universal Studios park.

Note: Sometimes the lower lot opens an hour later than the rest of the park; if so, try to enter the lower lot just as soon as you're allowed to do so.

By afternoon time, the lines at these all 3 Universal Studios rides will be "a mile long!" So, ride lovers...head to the park early, then hit all of the rides first, and you'll have a much happier day as you take your time viewing the rest of Universal Hollywood's attractions!




Universal Studios California Rides -- "Jurassic Park, the Ride"

Photo of the entrance to the Jurassic Park water ride, Universal Studios Hollywood, California Splash through waters infested with man-eating dinosaurs! Well, the dinosaurs may not get you...but this boat ride's splash pool certainly will! Universal Studios rides may be few, but they're fun!

On your left, you see a picture of the towering and majestic entrance to "Jurassic Park the Ride" at Universal Studios Hollywood.

When you head for "Jurassic Park the ride", you'll board a boat and go adventuring into the wilds of an island just CRAWLING with hungry dinosaurs!






Photo: Boat seen on Jurassic Park the Ride, Universal Studios Hollywood, California

Though it's tremendously doubtful that you'll end up getting eaten by a dinosaur on your tour, one thing IS certain....



Splashdown!  Photo of the Jurassic Park Ride, Universal Studios Hollywood, California




...you WILL get wet!

Note that there is a 46" minimum height requirement for "Jurassic Park, the Ride." Guests in wheelchairs should enter through the main queue; a transfer into the ride boat (which may be wobbly) will be required.








"Revenge of the Mummy" roller coaster ride in the dark!

Picture of a Mummy strolling character just outside the Revenge of the Mummy rollercoaster at Universal Studios Hollywood Zoom through a mummy's tomb!

The newest of the Universal Studios California rides is the "Revenge of the Mummy" ride. This is a state-of-the-art roller coaster like you've never been on before. It combines magnetic levitation motion (like on the high-speed trains of Japan), scenes from the Mummy movies, DARKNESS, and surround-sound speakers within each ride car to give a totally unique---and scary!---ride experience.

The youngsters in your family won't be able to ride with you on this one (because there's a 48' minimum height requirement for the "Revenge of the Mummy" roller coaster), but it's certain to be a hit with the tweens, teens and adults in your group.

Guests in wheelchairs should be in good enough health to endure the rigors of this fast-paced coaster. A transfer into the roller coaster train is required.






Mummy ride sign, Universal Studios Hollywood, California






Universal Studios Rides -- The Simpsons!

Picture: Simpsons ride at Universal Studios theme park The Simpsons ride is open! Expect huge crowds during 2008, the ride's opening season!

On the "Upper Lot" at Universal Studios California, you'll find Universal's newest attraction---"The Simpsons Ride!" The Simpsons ride, featuring a journey through the supposed Krustyland amusement park, has opened just in time for the summer tourist season of 2008.

Simpsons Ride plot: Visitors will be tagging along with the members of the Simpson family as they visit Krustyland, a less-than-illustrious amusement park owned by none other than Krusty the Clown. It's an amusing scenario...and one that's just ripe for things to go wrong! Of course, mishaps are all part of the fun for riders on The Simpson's attraction.



The Simpsons Ride features many familiar characters from the TV series, all voiced by the same actors who portray these characters on television.

Ride-lovers have been eagerly awaiting the addition of the Simpsons Ride to the Universal Studios line-up. And, with good reason! This motion simulator ride is certainly one of the best in the genre.

You'll board a ride car which much like the one in which the Simpson family is sitting (in the Simpsons Ride picture to your right.) You'll sit relatively still for a few moments...but after that, you'll take one perilous plunge after another as you ride virtual-style on the Krustyland roller coaster...then on to other adventures, as well. This is one simulator ride that's really got ACTION...yet its ride is much smoother than a real roller coaster. Plus, the minimum height requirement is only 40 inches tall, so that families may enjoy taking a spin on the Simpson's ride together!





Nickelodeon Blast Zone out; Curious George in!

The Adventures of Curious George play area = lots of kiddie fun!

Picture: Curious George play area at Universal Studios Hollywood, California Curious George has arrived at Universal Studios Hollywood! The Nickelodeon Blast Zone play area pictured to your left (which was popular with kids visiting Universal Hollywood through 2007) has been closed. But never fear, a new play area has opened in its place! And it's themed on the character Curious George, the mischievous little monkey owned by "the man in the yellow hat."

Expect every bit as much active fun for kids in this new playground as when it was the Nickelodeon Blast Zone. Thousands of colorful foam balls which kids can throw and shoot from guns are a major activity at the Curious George playground. And, on warm days, young guests will love to enjoy this attractions's water activities!






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Unexpected surprises make theme park rides fun. But, nobody likes unexpected PROBLEMS on a trip. Keep them to a minimum by planning ahead! (And, let this website help you!)

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