LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD & “BLACK PANTHER”
Another fun visit to Universal Studios Hollywood plus this season’s hot movie release
THE YEAR OF THE DOG
Always a fun place to visit and a great entertainment value, Universal Studios Hollywood is ringing in the Lunar New Year through February 25, 2018, in celebration of the
Year of the Dog.
On your way there after you park, you’ll walk through Universal CityWalk with its colorful signs, and amazing shops and eateries.
– Jan outside the famous Voodoo Doughnut shop in Universal CityWalk.
– Colorful neon in Universal CityWalk.
Pose for photos just past the large, revolving UNIVERSAL STUDIOS globe. Then enter the park and proceed to Universal Plaza where you will find a recreation of Po’s Village from DreamWorks’ delightful “Kung Fu Panda.” Beautiful Chinese lanterns are suspended above, and radiating outward from the center of the plaza. Red is the predominant color.
– Tigress and Po from “Kung Fu Panda.”
At the Plum Blossom Wishing Trees, visitors write wishes for the New Year and then, for good luck, hang them on the tree branches.
– A wish for good luck on a Plum Blossom Wishing Tree.
At the Jade Palace Performance Stage, kids enjoy listening to and participating in a story.
– Child receiving a musical instrument to make sound effects for a story.
Then they learn some basic martial arts skills at the Dragon Warrior Training Show, and practice those skills alongside Po.
– Martial arts training with Po on the Jade Palace Performance Stage.
Fun, interactive photo opportunities abound for young and old alike, with Po, Tigress, and Minions dressed in traditional Chinese attire, and with Mandarin-speaking
Megatron from “Transformers.”
– Minion in traditional Chinese attire.
– Megatron — thankfully not destroying Universal Studios Hollywood.
– Mandarin-speaking Megatron Transformer poses for pictures.
At Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop, where the Asian food choices include stir fry noodles with beef, chicken, shrimp or tofu, Mr. Ping engages in light-hearted conversations before posing for photos: “What’s your name, young lady? Oh Cynthia, so nice to meet you Cynthia, my name is Mr. Ping! Welcome to Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop. We offer delicious noodles and service with a smile! I would love to take a picture. Here we go! On three say ‘noodles’!”
– Jan engaged in a lively conversation with Mr. Ping at his noodle shop.
– Mr. Ping.
– Mr. Ping’s noodles.
Learn from an expert artist how to draw characters from “Kung Fu Panda.”
– Learning how to draw Po.
– Guest proudly displays his sketch of Po.
No visit to Universal Studios Hollywood would be complete without boarding a tram to take the famous Studio Tour.
Aboard a tram for the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour.
You will be treated to close-up looks behind the scenes in Hollywood as you drive slowly through streets lined with realistic building facades…
… experience an earthquake…
– It seemed like just another routine day in Southern California…
Suddenly the lights went out!
– The earthquake hit without warning, right beside your tram!
– It derailed a subway train…
– … and burst a major water main.
Experience a raging flood…
– Before the flood.
– Flood water covers the street.
Get surprised by an underwater inhabitant of the seaside Amity Village from “Jaws”…
– Welcome to Amity Island. Why is the beach closed?
… and take part in “King Kong” and “Fast & Furious – Supercharged!” in 3-D.
Also seen on the Studio Tour…
– Cars from “The Flintstones.”
An escaped creature from Jurassic Park.
– Oh wait, that’s me on the left!
– Hiding the body from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” at the infamous Bates Motel.
– It was time for us to get out of there.
Enjoy the live “Special Effects Show…”
– A stunt fight.
Extinguishing a stunt fire.
– Flying through space.
”’ Visit Springfield, USA – home of “The Simpsons…”
Explore the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” where you’ll find the thrilling “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” ride.
Do not miss “Transformers: The Ride—3D” and “Jurassic Park: The Ride,” which ends with a plunge down a steep waterfall.
– Jurassic Park: The Ride
At the live WaterWorld show, you’ll be blown away (figuratively speaking!) by massive pyrotechnics, and witness daring stunts and jaw-dropping special effects. Be warned, you may get wet!
– The WaterWorld show by day…
For more information, visit Universal Studios Hollywood online at
www.universalstudioshollywood.com.
– One last ride for the road in the Super Silly Fun Land.
“BLACK PANTHER”
– © 2018 MARVEL
The Black Panther character was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016, in “Captain America: Civil War,” but the character has actually been around in print long before that, first appearing in “Fantastic Four Vol. 1” Issue 52, in 1966.
The modern day Black Panther is the strategic leader of the proud, tradition- and honor-bound, secretive people of Wakanda in Africa. The Wakandan people are resourceful, and their society is technologically very advanced.
The story begins where it last left off in “Captain America: Civil War,” with T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) still mourning the death of his father T’Chaka, the murdered King of Wakanda. A monumental conflict ensues which will ultimately decide the fate of Wakanda.
The leading female characters are strong, independent and exude a sense of style. Shuri (Letitia Wright) is T’Challa’s spunky little sister and a whiz with technology. Okoye (Danai Gurira) is the fierce head of the all-female Wakandan Special Forces. Nakia (Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o) is a spy, often imbedded in countries to observe and then report
back to Wakanda.
Evil villains include Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) and Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis). CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) returns to play a pivotal role.
As always in a Marvel film there is a Stan Lee cameo. Do stay around until the very end of the credits for a teaser scene that you won’t want to miss.
To learn more and to watch the really cool official trailer, go to marvel.com/blackpanther#/.
COPYRIGHT © 2018 BY JAN WAGNER – AUTOMATTERS & MORE #528
