Part 3

We also decided to prepare by watching movies and shows represented in the UOR parks. We decided on doing a thematic tour of the parks.

Universal Studios Florida: Cinematic Preparation

Universal Studios Florida (USF), or just, “the Studios” (which is confusing to WDW fans who refer to Disney Studios theme park as “the Studios.”) is often confused with “Universal Orlando Resort.”

“Universal Orlando Resort” refers to the entire complex of parks, hotels, restaurants and attractions.
“Universal Studios Florida” refers to the original theme park on property.

So, let’s start our cinematic tour!

After you enter the park by walking under the iconic arch that marks the entrance of the property, you have a choice to proceed forward, which will result in a clockwise rotation through the park, or make a right and take the widdershins route. Being Wizarding World fans, we will choose the widdershins route.

Having taken the right turn onto Hollywood Boulevard you enter a “time out of time” as you walk down a street that is meant to reflect the Hollywood Blvd of the 1930’s through 1950’s.

1. Schwab’s Pharmacy
On the left of the street is Schwab’s Pharmacy, which in it’s day, on the real Hollywood Blvd. was a little bit of an institution. Here is the same video that we watched about it as we began our cinematic tour.
Here is an article about it.

2. The Bourne Identity
On the right is the Bourne Stuntacular. As the name implies, it’s a stunt show based on the Jason Bourne movies. We watched the first Jason Bourne movie. But, it would have been appropriate to watch the whole series.

3. American Graffiti
After you are back out on the street look to the corner of the street on the left and you will see a recreation of Mel’s Diner from George Lucas’ “American Graffiti.” Out front are classic cars from the 1950’s and inside is, as one would hope, a diner.

4. Classic Universal Monster Movies
Across the street is the “Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show” which pay a certain tribute to the movie magic creators that brought those creatures to life. In the “5 & Dime,” the store next to the show, you can buy Universal Monsters collectables and wearables.
(We cheated a little on this one. I’ll explain a little later.)

5. ET
Continuing forward and to the right, you will find ET, the only surviving ride from the original opening of the park. Rewatching that movie was absolutely delightful. We hadn’t seeing it in such a long time that it brought all the feels that we remembered. The ride is a refreshingly old-school dark ride that is a little cheesy and full of nostalgia.

6. The Simpsons
Next come The Simpsons. You walk right into the center of Springfield, itself. It’s quite detailed and expansive. (Not for much longer, though. Now that Disney has the rights to the program, Universal is set to lose its rights in 2028. They have already announced that it will be closing to make way for a totally new area yet to be revealed.)
In order to figure out what episodes of the show to watch that would enhance our experience, we started with the Orlando Informer’s website linked here.

Here was the list that we watched:

S1 E7 The Call of the Simpsons
In this episode you see the RV that Homer purchases which a prominent part of USF.

S1 E8 The Telltale Head
In this episode you will see the statue of Jebediah Springfield, the founder of Springfield. The actual statue can be found at USF!

S4 E6 Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie
Besides Itchy and Scratchy themselves, you’ll meet Bumblebee Man. Then get a taco from his taco cart in USF.

S4 E8 The New Kid on the Block
As you watch this episode, look at the commercial for the Frying Dutchman, whose restaurant is at USF.

S7 E6 Treehouse of Horror VI
Watch this episode before you stop at Lard Lad to buy  an iconic, and yummy, doughnut.

S7 E21 Short Films About Springfield
Again, Bumblebee Man is in the episode.

These episodes, if watched together, will be an evening lasting a little more than two and a half hours. Get a tray of Lard Lad doughnuts and make an evening of it. We did.

7. Men In  Black (MIB)
After you escape from Sideshow Bob in the Simpsons attraction, head into the 1964 World’s Fair to become agents in Men in Black Alien Attack. (Are we alone in the universe? Of course we are!)

8. Jaws
There used to be an attraction based on Spielberg’s, “Jaws.” But, alas, it is no more. However, there are tributes to the movie and the ride hiding plain sight. The bathrooms, as you exit the 1964 World’s Fair pavilion, is the original loo connected to the ride. The theming on the outside of the freestanding building is the same from when it accompanied the attraction.

9. The Harry Potter Series
Continuing widdershins we come to London to begin our journey to Hogwarts as Harry did in the beloved books and films. Since this unique experience takes you to both parks, I’ll dedicate a separate post.

10. The Fast and the Furious franchise
After London we come to San Francisco where the attraction, “Earthquake” was located back in the day. “Earthquake” was replaced by a similar attraction called “Disaster.” Now, in the same location is an attraction that is an actual disaster, “The Fast and the Furious.” Yes, we watched one of the films to be good sports and hoping that the film would give us a reference to help us enjoy the attraction more. Nope. But, we did it.

11. The Mummy

In the adjacent New York, we head to the Museum of Antiquities to experience the Revenge of the Mummy, based on the remake of the Universal Monster Movie, “The Mummy.”
Remember back in #4 I said that we cheated a little? Here is where that trail picks up! In order to prepare for this ride we watched:
1.. We started with the original Universal Monster picture, “The Mummy,” starring Boris Karloff (1932)
2.. Next we watched the 1999 remake with Brendan Frasier.
3.. Then we watched a YouTube video in which the crafty New England YouTube personality , Rachel Maksy, watches the 1999, “The Mummy” with a real Egyptologist, Colleen Darnell, PhD who breaksdown and critiques the film on its authenticity.4.. For fun we followed up with the looney adventure of Abbott and Costello in, “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.”
5.. Lastly, we did watch the film in that franchise from which the attraction borrowed it’s name.

Prepare with classic Universal monsters for USF? Check!
Prepare for the attraction, “Revenge of the Mummy?” Check!

12. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Next to the Museum of Antiquities is the iconic Macy’s department store, in front of which you can see Marylin Monroe rehears some of her numbers with her backup entourage, “The Diamond Bellas.” I can’t think of a better preparation than watching, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” in which she sings, “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”

13.  Transformers
Heading now to complete our loop we stand in the queue to experience, “Transformers: The Ride in 3D.” So….watch the Transformers franchise. We settled for the first movie in the series.

14. Despicable Me
And, lastly, we come to “Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem.” We watched the first movie in this franchise to prepare and were reminded what a clever movie it is!

Now, to round out your preparation for this park, consume a diet heavy in NBC’s Today Show, and (if you can take it) The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

If you want “extra credit” watch The Blues Brothers, Beetlejuice, Dracula (1931),the original animated Betty Boop cartoons and Scooby-Doo cartoons,  and the animated films, Sing, and Madagascar –  all of which have corelated street performers that you are bound to run into!

Next: Cinematic Preparation for Universal Studios: Islands of Adventure