Archive for the 'Universal Studios Hollywood' Category
My terror-filled night as a chainsaw-wielding killer pig at Universal Studios
October 25, 2009 8:31am
Wearing a pig mask and dressed in a flowing red satin cloak, I crouched behind a pine tree as I watched my prey approach.
I gripped the chainsaw tight in my hand and yanked on the ripcord, the deafening roar splitting the silence of the forest.
Like a sprinter, I sprung from the woods and raced toward the road, revving the motor.
The sightseers on the tour bus retreated in horrified unison. Women screeched, men cursed, girls cowered, boys shuddered.
I swung my weapon wildly, slicing and jabbing at the terrified tourists with maniacal menace.
The acrid smell of muffler fumes drenched the air as I trudged back to my hiding place to prepare for my next attack — my mission accomplished.
The best and worst of Halloween 2009 at Southern California theme parks
October 16, 2009 10:00am
As we reach the midpoint of the Halloween season, it’s time to take a look back at the best and worst of the Southern California theme park scare fests.
I found something to like at each of the parks. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood clearly had the best haunted mazes and scare zones. Halloween Haunt at Knott’s Berry Farm — with 13 mazes and seven shows — simply offers too much to do in just one night. And Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain serves as a great introduction for tweens testing the mazes and monsters for the first time.
Knott’s vs. Universal: Halloween scare fests battle to a bloody draw
October 14, 2009 4:08pm
The bloody writing is on the wall: Universal Studios Hollywood is this close to overtaking Knott’s Berry Farm for the top Halloween event in Southern California.
As in years past, it comes down to quality versus quantity: Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights puts on a far better show, but Knott’s Halloween Haunt is still twice as big and far more established.
For 2009, Knott’s has 13 mazes, seven shows and three scare zones over 28 nights compared with Universal’s four mazes, two shows, six scare zones over 16 nights.
Halloween bloodfest heats up at Southern California theme parks
October 2, 2009 8:58am
October marks the return of the annual death match between Halloween Haunt at Knott’s Berry Farm and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood for the blood-splattered title of best Halloween theme park event in Southern California.
Halloween Haunt, celebrating its 37th year, is universally regarded as the granddaddy of Halloween events. Halloween Horror Nights, which focuses on movie-set-quality authenticity, is the bloodier and gutsier upstart bent on Halloween supremacy.
My recommendation: Hit ‘em both. You won’t be disappointed.
Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which includes its Halloween event as part of general admission, can’t compare or compete with the big boys. Disneyland, Legoland and SeaWorld San Diego focus more on family-friendly fare.
In Northern California, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom delivers a similar Fright Fest event, and California’s Great America offers its slim-downed take on Halloween Haunt.
2009 Halloween events at California theme parks:
Halloween events at U.S. theme parks
October 1, 2009 12:16pm
If the calendar on the wall says October, then it must be time for Halloween mazes, monsters and mayhem to take over theme parks across the U.S.
Here’s a rundown of the haunted attractions:
How the Disney-Marvel deal affects Universal Studios theme parks
August 31, 2009 4:08pm
Disney’s acquisition of Marvel is expected to have no effect on Universal Studios Florida, where visitors ride on attractions themed to Spider-Man and pose for photos with the Incredible Hulk at the Islands of Adventure theme park.
“Our agreement with Marvel stands for as long as we follow the terms of our existing contract and for as long as we want there to be a Marvel Super Hero Island,” said Universal Studios Florida spokesman Tom Schroder.
Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, across town from Walt Disney World in Orlando, includes the Incredible Hulk roller-coaster and the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man simulator ride as well walk-around characters such as Wolverine and Captain America.
Theme park news: Another Dale Earnhardt coaster, Snow White wins lottery, Hello Kitty attraction, Coney Island closure
August 29, 2009 6:27am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
POV video: Carowinds announces $23-million Dale Earnhardt-themed Intimidator coaster for spring 2010 with stadium-style seating and T-shaped lap bar.
Universal Studios Orlando unveils eight Halloween Horror Nights mazes: Saw, Wolfman, Chucky, Dracula, Frankenstein, Silver Screams, Leave it To Cleaver and The Spawning. Six scare zones: Lights Camera Hacktion, Cirque Du Freak, Horrorwood Die-In, Apocalypse, Containment, War of Living Dead. (Orlando Attractions)
Disneyland’s Snow White wins $5.2 million lottery jackpot, feels “like Cinderella.” (O.C. Register)
Busch Gardens Tampa adding Sesame Street Safari of Fun for Spring 2010: kiddie coaster, flume ride, carousel, swing ride, water play area. (Orlando Sentinel)
Exclusive: First look at Halloween Horror Nights Meat Market scare zone at Universal Studios Hollywood
August 24, 2009 6:01am
A band of deranged and demented chainsaw-wielding butchers hell-bent on carving up unsuspecting victims will roam the streets of Universal Studios Hollywood during Halloween Horror Nights 2009.
The butcher “scareactors,” their skinned and scalped skulls held together by bloodied bandages, will populate the Meat Market scare zone during the annual Halloween event.
Theme park news: Another Disney World death, Dale Earnhardt coaster, Star Tours 2.0, Say No to B.O.
August 22, 2009 6:02am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
* Walt Disney World actor dies during rehearsals for Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Investigators searching for “any pattern” in three Disney World employee deaths this summer. (Orlando Sentinel)
* Video: Kings Dominion in Virginia announces $25-million Dale Earnhardt-themed Intimidator 305 coaster for 2010.
* Katrina-battered Six Flags New Orleans to reopen as Nickelodeon Universe-New Orleans theme and water park by late 2010. Theme Park Insider: Why it won’t work.
* Dollywood’s Splash Country water park in Tennessee announces Slide Rock Racer side-by-side mat racer slide for 2010. (Screamscape)
* Disney dispatches Star Wars storm troopers to guard “imperial dignitaries” at D23 Expo. Is Star Tours 2.0 coming to Disneyland?
‘My Bloody Valentine’ maze joins Halloween Horror Nights 2009 at Universal Studios Hollywood
August 21, 2009 12:58pm
A murderous, maniacal coal miner bent on Valentine’s Day vengeance will terrorize Halloween Horror Nights 2009 visitors at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Based on the 2009 3-D remake of the low-budget 1981 slasher film, the “My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever” haunted maze will take theme park visitors along the blood-splattered trail of the pick-axe wielding killer.
The critically panned original film, set in a sleepy Canadian town after a fatal mining disaster, went on to attain cult status among horror fans.
Halloween Horror Nights 2009 will also feature:
