Universal Studios Hollywood Shows

Although Universal Studios Hollywood is probably best known for their tram lot tour followed by their rides, they also are currently offering 3 shows- Special Effects, Pet Actors, and Water World. We have now attended all three shows...some of them more than once.

Special Effects is a show that was housed in a theater that I remember seeing Conan the Barbarian in as a kid. Like all of the shows, you're sitting on an aluminum bench with someone knees in your back and your knees in someone else's back. The shows are about 20 minutes long, so not a huge problem. I'm just grateful they're not changing airline seats to Universal's seating charts. The Special Effects show takes you behind the scenes for the history and process of Hollywood's special effects including sound effects, green screen, fire, and fake equipment. They use audience members as part of their show, selected (I think) as people are entering the theater.

Pet Actors is cute. It's a show that you can see at most amusement parks with this kind of show- animals come out and do tricks with and without their trainers. Birds fly over your head to and from their trainers or boxes along the back wall. Still, you get to sit down in semi shade for about 20 minutes. The animals in the show come out on stage to meet the audience after the show.

Water World is a stunt show. A water stunt show. With big effects. (When they work.) It has a huge stadium for seating. There's a cue to line up before the show that is misted and mostly is partial shade. It looks like it holds a bazillion people. They will all fit in the stadium and there really isn't a bad seat in the house. Boats and jet skis are driven around the watery stage. Bad guy tries to conquer the world and get the girl. Lots of fake shooting and fire. You can guess the ending. It was a pretty bad movie, but a pretty good show. Unfortunately, the props seem to be a little persnickity, so every show is different. Water warning- you may get wet, especially if you sit in the soak zone. The preshow actors seem to like throwing water around.

So there's the show low-down. No one (as far as I know) goes the Universal Studios for the show, but they're a nice break during the day. Note: none of the theaters has a restroom, so go before you sit down.

Extra tip: Universal sells a refillable bucket of popcorn for $6. I highly recommend it if you're going to watch the shows, but fill it before you go in to each one. They don't sell drinks and snacks in the theaters.