Waaay back in June of '09 I had a whole day to kill in Los Angeles, with no family-wedding happenings til dinnertime. I'd already spent a glorious free day with Shirley Bovshow in her garden and being escorted by her around the Huntington Garden. I just knew that come wintertime, I'd get around to writing about my day at Universal Studio-Hollywood, and that day's come, y'all, coz I still have 2 feet of white stuff covering my garden.
Fun Was Definitely Had
I have to say, if Universal doesn't know how to show you a good time, nobody does. Even at $69 for the day, it was worth it for the rides, the animal shows, even for "Water World", a really bad movie that's enjoying a second life as a fun live show. (Top photo.)
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My favorite was the studio tour of the back lot where dozens of my favorite movies and TV shows were filmed. Above you see the original Bates Hotel from "Psycho", with a real-life Norman-impersonator giving us a quick reenactment. "Desperate Housewives" fans will recognize these landscapes, part of a whole streetful of horticultural fripperies on Wisteria Lane (below).
On a Serious Note
But how's Universal doing on all the issues of the day? Looks like they're aware of needing to green up their act and they've won some environmental award, the first to a theme park, and so that's good to know. And the staff are super-friendly and the whole park immaculate (Take that, Disney!)
So really I have only one nit to pick and it couldn't be more timely, what with the launch of the First Lady's anti-childhood-obesity program. It's the park's all-you-can-eat deal – touted in the web page below. I hate to think how much crap people are stuffing into their mouths, trying to make sure they get their money's worth. And I say that as an occasional junk-food-eater myself – no purist here!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I hear you on the "all you can eat" offers… though my biggest problem at theme parks is finding anything I want to put in my mouth in the first place.
Will you look at that menu? I had a difficult time two years ago finding appetizing food at the theme parks in Williamsburg Virginia. The best I could find was spaghetti. They touted their food as health – (only used vegetable oil.) Our founding fathers would not be impressed.
Next month I will be at Disney and (yum) Universal Studios in Orlando. Can't wait.
'all you can eat' inevitably means 'as cheap as we can get it' which is never good for any of us, no matter our politics or opinions. When will we be full??