Put Me In The Zoo: Universal Studios Hollywood Review
Visit date: August 2010
Note: Universal Studios Hollywood is obviously not a zoo, but it does have several animal-based attractions featuring live animals, animatronic animals, and filmed animals. It is also a place that the Southern California visitor may want to visit in between visits to the Los Angeles Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, San Diego Zoo, etc.
Does this (non)zoo satisfy the reviewer’s Inner-3-Year-Old by featuring his lifelong favorite animals, giraffes and elephants?
There are no giraffes or elephants, but there are animatronic dinosaurs and a 3D giant gorilla. My Inner-3-Year-Old would be terrified of them, but the older me loves them. Unlike Disneyland I do not think that this park would be of much interest to small children as most of the rides and attractions are thrill or scare based.
Does this (non)zoo have any animals that would excite a zoo aficionado?
If you can get excited about an animatronic great white shark or T. rex, then maybe.
Does this zoo have any immersion exhibits that would impress a zoo aficionado?
The animal based attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood (as of 2011) are as follows:
Jurassic Park ride: It starts off like a cruise through an animal park. One encounters animatronic brachiosaurs, stegosaurus, and hadrosaurs on a nice boat ride. Then the velociraptors, T. rex, and dilophosaurs get out and start hunting you.
King Kong 3D: This attraction is part of the movie studio tram tour. Your tram rolls into a big dark room, which is actually a series of movie screens surrounding you. You are supposedly visiting Skull Island. Velociraptors, T. rex, a giant spider, and King Kong all show up and hijinks ensue in an excellent 3D movie experience (coordinated with movement of the tram on a motion platform in the floor).
Jaws: Another stop on the tram tour. Jaws jumps out of the water and splashes you with water. Very stupid. And fun.
Animal Actor Show: This is where the real animals at Universal Studios can be found. The show features animals that actually act in movies, TV shows, and commercials. When I saw the show there were several dogs and cats (including the dog that played Ashton Kutcher’s dog in “Valentine’s Day”), a free flying hawk, a pig, and a mouse. The trainers demonstrate how animals are trained to play dead, interact with actors while watching their trainers offstage, etc. I found this very interesting, EXCEPT for the presence of a young orangutan. Completely inappropriate. BAD Universal Studios, BAD MOVIE STUDIO.
Does this (non)zoo have any interesting plans for the future?
They just announced that dementors, dragons, giant spiders, hippogriffs, etc. are moving into Universal Studios Hollywood with the construction of a Harry Potter land like the one at Universal Studios Orlando. Opening is expected in 2015.
Would a zoo aficionado like this (non)zoo enough to go out of his or her way to visit it?
If you like movies and are interested in genuine movie history and craft then Universal Studios Hollywood may be a very worthwhile visit. Unlike the other Universal Studios theme parks around the world this is a very real movie studio and you will see sets, props, etc. that are really used to make movies. When I was a youngling and visited in the 1980s I caught a glimpse of Michael J. Fox filming “Back to the Future 2”, so seeing actual filming is a real possibility. If you like theme parks and rides there are some decent rides and attractions here.
If you only like zoos then this would likely not be worth your time. The live animals here are mostly domestic animals and very inappropriately used orangutans. The animal actor show does mention some conservation messages, but is mainly entertainment based.
I reiterate also that unlike Disneyland there are not a lot of things for young children to do at this park, and they would likely be scared and/or bored. Older kids (8+ years old?) may really like it.
Visit date: August 2010
Note: Universal Studios Hollywood is obviously not a zoo, but it does have several animal-based attractions featuring live animals, animatronic animals, and filmed animals. It is also a place that the Southern California visitor may want to visit in between visits to the Los Angeles Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, San Diego Zoo, etc.
Does this (non)zoo satisfy the reviewer’s Inner-3-Year-Old by featuring his lifelong favorite animals, giraffes and elephants?
There are no giraffes or elephants, but there are animatronic dinosaurs and a 3D giant gorilla. My Inner-3-Year-Old would be terrified of them, but the older me loves them. Unlike Disneyland I do not think that this park would be of much interest to small children as most of the rides and attractions are thrill or scare based.
Does this (non)zoo have any animals that would excite a zoo aficionado?
If you can get excited about an animatronic great white shark or T. rex, then maybe.
Does this zoo have any immersion exhibits that would impress a zoo aficionado?
The animal based attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood (as of 2011) are as follows:
Jurassic Park ride: It starts off like a cruise through an animal park. One encounters animatronic brachiosaurs, stegosaurus, and hadrosaurs on a nice boat ride. Then the velociraptors, T. rex, and dilophosaurs get out and start hunting you.
King Kong 3D: This attraction is part of the movie studio tram tour. Your tram rolls into a big dark room, which is actually a series of movie screens surrounding you. You are supposedly visiting Skull Island. Velociraptors, T. rex, a giant spider, and King Kong all show up and hijinks ensue in an excellent 3D movie experience (coordinated with movement of the tram on a motion platform in the floor).
Jaws: Another stop on the tram tour. Jaws jumps out of the water and splashes you with water. Very stupid. And fun.
Animal Actor Show: This is where the real animals at Universal Studios can be found. The show features animals that actually act in movies, TV shows, and commercials. When I saw the show there were several dogs and cats (including the dog that played Ashton Kutcher’s dog in “Valentine’s Day”), a free flying hawk, a pig, and a mouse. The trainers demonstrate how animals are trained to play dead, interact with actors while watching their trainers offstage, etc. I found this very interesting, EXCEPT for the presence of a young orangutan. Completely inappropriate. BAD Universal Studios, BAD MOVIE STUDIO.
Does this (non)zoo have any interesting plans for the future?
They just announced that dementors, dragons, giant spiders, hippogriffs, etc. are moving into Universal Studios Hollywood with the construction of a Harry Potter land like the one at Universal Studios Orlando. Opening is expected in 2015.
Would a zoo aficionado like this (non)zoo enough to go out of his or her way to visit it?
If you like movies and are interested in genuine movie history and craft then Universal Studios Hollywood may be a very worthwhile visit. Unlike the other Universal Studios theme parks around the world this is a very real movie studio and you will see sets, props, etc. that are really used to make movies. When I was a youngling and visited in the 1980s I caught a glimpse of Michael J. Fox filming “Back to the Future 2”, so seeing actual filming is a real possibility. If you like theme parks and rides there are some decent rides and attractions here.
If you only like zoos then this would likely not be worth your time. The live animals here are mostly domestic animals and very inappropriately used orangutans. The animal actor show does mention some conservation messages, but is mainly entertainment based.
I reiterate also that unlike Disneyland there are not a lot of things for young children to do at this park, and they would likely be scared and/or bored. Older kids (8+ years old?) may really like it.