Page 59 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

Universal Studios Hollywood
This film-themed park got its formal start in
the 1960s when walk-throughs of Universal
Studios soundstages and sets were expanded
to include peeks at actual production. Over
the years, the studio added a tram to shuttle
visitors through the back lot; today, this tram
remains the best way to experience stunt
demonstrations and staged events (such as
an encounter with the shark from Jaws).
The rest of the park is divided into two
areas connected by escalator: the Upper and
Lower lots. Transformers: The Ride 3-D is a
fan-favorite on the Lower Lot. On the Upper
Lot, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, a 3-D
simulator ride, and Super Silly Fun Land, an
outdoor family-friendly playground, both
opened in April 2014.
SWIRLING TEACUPS in
Disneyland, above; Six
Flags Magic Mountain in
Los Angeles, right; Stuart
Minion from Despicable Me
2, below, and Krustyland at
Universal Studios
Hollywood, opposite;
Children's Fairyland,
bottom.
Disneyland
If the lovable (and life-sized) Mickey Mouse
and friends don’t pique your interest and
attention at California’s most famous theme
park, surely the rides will. The park, which
opened in 1955, features rides for all ages,
including some of the most ballyhooed
roller coasters anywhere in the state (one
favorite is Space Mountain, which speeds
along almost entirely in the dark).
Overall, Disneyland is divided into eight
themed areas, or “lands.” Some of these areas
focus on actual history: Frontierland recre-
ates the setting of the American frontier,
while Main Street U.S.A. is patterned after a
small Midwestern town (many believe Walt
Disney got his inspiration from his own boy-
hood town of Marceline, Missouri).
The park opened with one hotel, but since
the 1990s, it has grown exponentially, adding
a new theme park (Disney’s California Adven-
ture), a shopping district (Downtown Disney)
and two additional hotels. One of the newest
attractions, Cars Land, was inspired by the
Cars movies, and opened in June 2012. The
famous Alice in Wonderland ride was
revamped in early 2014.
2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 57