It’s a long awaited day, the day that Universal Studios Hollywood in California has reopened to park guests as a theme park.
Today is the first day that the park is welcoming guests specifically as a park, with many of the park’s attractions open for the first time in over a year, and we were there to walk around and enjoy the new and classic fun that the legendary hollywood studio park offers.
Just inside the park, we find the main entryway and some decorative prop books outside of the Starbucks, where we can find this special Universal Studios Hollywood You Are Here Mug.
Further inside Universal Plaza, we find a collection of automobiles as seen in the various films of the Fast and the Furious franchise.
In this area, we can also find The Mystery Machine and Scooby-Doo greeting guests from afar.
Interestingly, the only show running is the Animal Actors show. Other shows, like the Special Effects show and the fan-favorite WaterWorld stunt show are not being offered at this time.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the attractions within are open as well, and seems to be a popular draw.
Springfield is open, though the Simpsons Ride proper is not.
Over in the streets of Europe, we found a classic Universal Monster, Frankenstein, as well as some remaining facades that we’re converted for Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem or the new Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!
Just beyond the faux-European streets, we come across Super Silly Fun Land and Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, as well as the new Minion Cafe, that we got to sample when we visited recently for the Taste of Universal Event.
Fans of Universal Studios Hollywood know that the park is divided into two areas, the upper lot and the lower lot. Attractions are located in both areas, with over a quarter mile of escalators, dubbed “The StarWay” dividing the two. The escalator offers beautiful panoramas (when the sky is clear) of the famous hollywood studios, including not only Universal, but Disney and Warner Bros in the distance.
Down on the lower lot, guests can still find Transformers: The Ride and Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, as well as the socially distanced Transformers Meet and Greet. The Lower Lot also is home to the newly improved Jurassic World: The Ride, which features a brand new, amazing, Indominus Rex animatronic figure.
Super Nintendo World is the next big thing on the horizon for Universal Studios Hollywood and it too will also be located on the Lower Lot of the park.
You can enjoy more of the fun of the first day back at Universal Studios by watching the replay of our live walk and talk below!