Universal Studios Hollywood

Last weekend I made my way over to Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time in over a decade.

(Sorry for cheating on you, Disneyland, but Harry Potter lives here now!)

We decided to be splurgey and do the VIP package, which gets you a tour guide for the day and unlimited “front of the line” access. Totally necessary when, like me, you have the attention span of a 2 month old golden retriever.

When you purchase the VIP package, you select a time slot to meet with your host at the Universal VIP Lounge. Which is super adorable, with all kinds of “Old Hollywood” glamour vibes.

Our tour started at the Simpson’s themed Krustyland. This area was still Back to the Future the last time I visited, so everything was shiny and new-to-me.

The actual Krustyland motion simulator ride was basically the exact same as the old Back to the Future version. They just painted the Delorean bright colors and changed the video to something Simpsons-y. Enjoyable enough, but nothing mind-blowing.

After the Simpsons we took the 6 flights of escalators down to…

JURASSIC PARK. Pretty much the only attraction that’s stayed the same since the last time I visited.

They did add a ridiculously amazing meet-and-greet, though. #RaptorSelfie

Next up: The Mummy “roller coaster” which lasted all of 25 seconds (E.T. was so much better!) and another motion simulator ride themed around the Transformers franchise (literally one of the stupidest things I’ve ever been on).

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem was yet another motion simulator ride, but thankfully it was a lot more tolerable than Transformers. Cause: BANANA.

We broke for lunch around 1:30, at a special VIP buffet location right next to the Minion Mayhem ride.

The food was pretty tasty.

And the chocolate strawberries were on point. But omg, that baby creme brulee was pudding-like sadness.

After lunch we did the Studio Backlot Tour. The VIP package gets you on your own special tram, with stops along the way for a couple sound stage visits.

It was awesome – mostly cause the seats were crazy comfortable and we got to be lazy for the first time all day.

They took us inside the Universal prop house at one point, and it hardcore reminded me of my days working in the product placement industry.

Except these products = way better.

The studio tour took a couple hours, and by the time we were off the bus it was almost 5pm. Up next: Shrek 4D, which is ANOTHER motion simulator ride. (Can you sense my sharp disappointment, Universal?) Super boring, and would not ride again.

Buuuuut, something that was actually – dare I say – exciting? Waterworld!

Mostly cause Mark’s thinly veiled excitement was adorable and contagious. He worked pyrotechnics on the show back when he was a teen(!), and was completely geeking out over how little has changed.