In Pinay's footsteps: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE

In Florida, you have the main Universal Studios and the Islands of Adventure, two separate theme parks in one compound.

Last year, I was in the Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure and we didn’t anymore go to the main Universal Studios. I couldn’t really compare (and shouldn’t compare) with Universal Studio Singapore (USS). That was good so that the Universal Studios side would still be interesting for me.

Universal Studios Singapore is much smaller than in Florida and could be finished in a few hours. When I posted the pictures in Facebook, I was surprised that I got lots of appreciation from my friends in the U.S. and it gave me a different angle from how I saw it. They commented that it was newer and cleaner and some of the shows are new!

I was advised to get the tickets via internet and so I did. The only available day was a Tuesday. The advantage of a weekday visit is the short queue, but you also miss some shows and at that time, we missed the fireworks.

There are downsides to getting a cheaper weekday ticket costing S$ 66.00. First, there were some shows and rides which were closed for maintenance and I don’t think they could do that on weekends and second, there was no highlight fireworks in the evening.

It was easy to go to the Universal Studios. There was a regular stop of the U.S. bus by the hotels costing S$ 5.00 per way and this is very convenient. For a round trip ticket, it costs S$8.00.

The bus stops at the basement and from there, we pass by the kiosk to change the printed copy from the internet to Universal Studios tickets.

this is how the basement looks like, and the kiosks are just there...so approach them so you can get your tickets.

looks intriguing as you look up to the light...

We went up the escalators, then lo, and behold, the theme park itself. Others have the luxury of booking in Sentosa itself like the Festive Hotel and the Resorts World Sentosa which would also be convenient if you have kids or if the Universal Studios is your main tour site.

We are now in Universal Studios Singapore!

Time to get around the Movie Theme Park....Of course, grab a map to make things easier as we go around!

Again, I don’t intend to take away the surprises by the time you visit you Universal Studios, since most of this would be either be superficial and personal, and definitely, the USS experience will still entertain you as visitors of all ages.

Seven Unique themed zones encircle a beautiful central lagoon. Each zone will feature distinctive architecture, landscaping, and entertainment offerings. Some of the descriptions for the zones and shows were copied from the Map and others from the Disney website!

Our first picture stop was MADAGASCAR, which is based on the hit Dreamworks Animation film, Madagascar. This zone brings you to a dense tropical jungle, filled with strange and wonderful animals like lemurs and foosas. Bird calls and monkey screeches fill the air as you journey deeper into the equatorial rainforests of this African Island.

We moved on to FAR, FAR AWAY where we are greeted by a beautiful castle and its a pavilion-covered courtyard..

The land of Far Far Away showcases lifestyles of the rich and fairy-taled, and the main show we watched was Shrek 4D Adventure.

The fairy tale adventure is about helping save Princess Fiona. With OgreVision you’ll see, hear, and actually FEEL the action right from your seat!

wanted to follow Shrek and Fiona...But! we had to queue since it was almost showtime!

no, this is not taken by shaking hands...you have to wear the 3D glasses!

We invite you to join Princess Fiona, Shrek and Donkey on a honeymoon adventure that picks up where the Oscar-winning movie “Shrek” left off and this is through an original 3-D film, complete with jumps, bumps, bounces, air blasts and water spray that bring the action to life for each guest- with an extra dimension of special effects through the miracle of OgreVision glasses. (as described by DIsney)

This was indeed very entertaining!

The LOST WORLD is divided into two themed areas: Jurassic Park and WaterWorld.

WaterWorld (which we didn’t see) is a water show spectacle based on the hit film, WaterWorld, where good and evil collide. Witness death-defying stunts, along with thrills and spills from real explosions of fire and water.

the setting for Water World

I know this is a highlight of USS but a downside of a weekday visit! I would have wanted my son to watch this show since the special effects would definitely excite him!

Jurassic Park is based on Steven Spielberg's classic epic adventure films. Visitors can experience the "real" Jurassic Park, with dinosaurs brought back to co-exist with man for the first time anywhere - all set in the jungles of a Costa Rican rainforest.

Jurassic Park is an adventure 65 million years in the making and the sets were very realistic.

There were many interesting rides in this area.

Jurassic Park River Adventure features a white water raft system with state-of-the-art animatronics and a thrilling white water drop, thrill-seekers on circular rafts will be tossed on waterways within the Jurassic Park compound, where prehistoric creatures roam free. My son passed on this since he rode the one in Florida and didn’t want to get wet this time.

Height Restrictions: Guests under 107cm may not ride. Children between 107cm and 122cm must be accompanied by supervising companion.

Visitors who have been to the Hollywood edition of Universal Studios will be familiar with the Jurassic Park River Adventure. Here at USS, this ride has been modified into a river rapids adventure where riders will be tossed around on the water circuit culminating in a huge plunge at the end, something like the one in Florida.

An easier ride was Dino-Soarin’, where children and adults can ride on the back of flying dinosaurs called Pteranodons, soaring up into the sky or plunging down into the shadows.

Height Restrictions: Children under 122cm must be accompanied by a supervising companion. No hand-held infants.

Canopy Flyer looked interesting but was closed for maintenance...

So we decided to try out Dino-Soaring

This is a kid's ride...but I wanted to enjoy it...and I did!

EGYPT also had a very elaborate Egyptian setting, great for “picture-picture”.

There was the slow ride, the Treasure Hunters but with dioramas as if you were in an adventure yourself. This leisurely ride coordinated with the Egypt theme and you can see cobras and scorpions as well as the elaborate Egyptian pharaoh statues...

we ride this cute antique car...

Revenge of the Mummy was the second most extreme ride in USS. I passed on this ride since I had a lot of camera paraphernalia, which you could put in a locker anyway...

They had lots of live characters who you could have pictures with, and they do not look Asian.

Cleopatra

Next stop is SCI-FI CITY, the city of the future. It is a future world worth visiting time and time again.

This was Sci-Fi City's teacup counterpart...

One of the attractions premiering for the first time in this theme park is the famed colliding roller-coasters that is the Battlestar Galactica ride!

And most interesting was that I was able to get lots of picture of my son in the roller coaster! When the coaster went out, I just did a lot of clicks. Lo and behold, good shots taken!

Then, we enter NEW YORK CITY, where one can feel the spirit and energy of America's biggest and grandest city. You could just stroll along the side walks of the Big Apple, but at the time we were there, our feet hurt and just timely for the side walk benches.

we were smelling the really delicious pizza aroma!

Across us as we sat on the bench was Betty Boop and on the the corner was Charlie Chaplin. We could sell the pizza just across us. All the classic landmarks are here - the yellow cab, the city skylines, neon lights, and facades.

my 14 year old son didn't recognize my icon, Betty Boop...I definitely grew up with her!

and of course, Charlie Chaplin...

It was about time to watch real-time movie production with the special effects attraction Lights! Camera! Action!

“Lights, Camera, Action!” is hosted by Steven Spielberg where you are literally blown away by the filmmakers incredible special effects as an empty sound stage becomes setting for a main hurricane about to hit New York City – right before your eyes!

The most interesting part is that it pops back to place as soon as the show ends. Don't miss this!

HOLLYWOOD zone offers a Broadway-style theater and dining areas.

We ate at Mel’s Diners with the 50’s ambience, and our attention is caught outside with the Dinettes performing outside.

The Dinette's really caught the audience attention since they were really tall blondies!

Then, the Daddy-O’s turn came who also whipped up a fun song and dance number with audience participation.

The best part for me was the Broadway-style show, Monster Rock, where all the movie monsters like Frankenstein, the Bride, the Mummy, Phantom of the Opera and the like presented a very beautiful performance.