There are times when escaping from reality isn’t merely an option, it’s a requirement.
Many people have called me a theme park junkie, and in some ways I am. But I never go to a park just because I ‘can’, I go because I need it. Everyone has their tension release; some drink, some smoke, and countless other things, I…ride roller coasters.
I didn’t go to Disneyland in Hong Kong for two reasons, first I was a little low on funds (October has been a bit of a pricey month), and secondly well…I didn’t really need it. But by the time we got to Singapore, I needed the escape. Well, ‘escape’ isn’t the right word really, in reality, I think I just needed the pick-me-up. Anyway, they don’t have a Disney park in Singapore, but they do have the next best thing.
The line to get tickets to Universal Studios was insanely long, even with the 90 degree heat that threatened to melt you before you ever made it into the park. For reasons I will never understand, they still only had one ticket booth open, even though they were dealing with a lineup that snaked back through countless switch-backs and stretched nearly all the way to the giant Universal globe that stands in front of the gates. While I had water and extra sunscreen in my purse, I could still feel myself dehydrating and my skin changing color just standing there.
Once inside, the park wasn’t any cooler, but there was more to distract you. Universal is, after all, a park built on the movies (Ride the Movies!) so everywhere you look there’s something you recognize. Considering I’d been here before, I know my way around like the back of my hand. It did me good to walk in and see the familiar white, blue and red twisting arches of the dueling Battle Star Galatica rollercoasters. Those make an excellent landmark, and from there you can find your way to anywhere else in the park. The last time I was here I was rushed, because the friend I was with had to get back to the ship early, and when I came back that evening I was exhausted. I didn’t realize how much there was that I hadn’t seen.
Top of that list was Transformers: The Ride. This is probably the most amazing sim ride I’ve been on in years. When Star Tours first came out years ago it gleaned a similar reaction, as it was totally cutting edge at the time, Transformers takes that technology and ramps it up to the 21st century. Part roller-coaster, part dark ride, part 3D movie, part full sense simulator, it throws you into the experience with no real chance to take in what’s going on.
Transformers was also the first time I remembered the magic words to bypassing a line at every theme park other than Disneyland (they have fastpass, so they don’t need this). The ride had a 45 minute wait time, displayed clearly on the information board to the left of the entrance. But between the main line up (which snaked out of the ride complex into the street), and the express line up was another line. I looked up at the sign, grinned, and then turned to the attendant.
Single Rider please
Those three words whipped me past every line up in the park on a continuous basis. I never had to wait more than five minutes. Not even for Jurassic Park, which had over an hour line at all times.
Yes, I went through Jurassic Park again, despite knowing that the ride scares the living daylights out of me for reasons even I don’t get. It was 90 degrees out! The only way to cool down in that kind of heat is to get soaked, and there’s only one water ride in the park. I thought it would be easier this time actually, I figured that since I had been through the ride before I wouldn’t have any difficulty this time around. WRONG!
Apparently I still can’t get through that ride with my eyes open. I…am a coward. I will a freely admit this. As I’ve said before, it’s a big bloody dinosaur and it’s gonna EAT ME!!!
Somehow, I also always end up being the one who gets drenched. The people on the other side of the raft from me? Almost totally dry. Me? Soaked to the skin. Though that wasn’t a bad thing, it was so warm out I dried off almost instantly (without having to use one of the $5 ‘drying pods’ provided by the park.
There were also more entertainers out this time around. Though I didn’t see Betty Boop, I did shake hands with Optimus Prime J I missed Bumble Bee by about five minutes though. Drat. There were also a bunch of vintage cars (I didn’t even see the ‘drive thru’ last time I was here) and a seriously cool trio of singers called the Mel’s Dinettes. Oh, and Cleopatra was roaming around too (and now I can’t think of Cleopatra without hearing the Dr Who reference in my head: ‘He only mentioned her once!’ ‘ye-ah but ‘e called ‘er ‘Cleo’’)
While I still did not brave Revenge of the Mummy, I did take a swing through Carter’s Curiosities, mostly to drool over the bronze statue of Isis that I have looked loads of places for (including many that are much much more authentic) but have never found anywhere else. But the statue is heavy and expensive, so I left it where it stood and consoled myself with a truly adorable stuffed Ba’ast instead.
Since I was by myself and lacking the change to purchase a locker, I couldn’t go on the actual rollercoasters, which is a shame, because I do love those coasters. But you simply can’t zoom around upside down and inside out with a purse on your shoulder. Especially if it’s not one that’s equipped with a zipper. So I kept my feet firmly on the ground and watched everyone scream past above my head.
The park was closing early as it was setting up for it’s Halloween festival. I almost would have paid the extra money to upgrade my ticket, but I had the closing library shift and I was so tired by the time I got back that I doubt I could have stayed up for another few hours of spine-chilling effects. That said, there was evidence of the event all over the park, ‘New York’ was full of crashed helicopters and at least one turned over ‘toxic’ semi. There were signs for all the coming attractions boasting things like Death Alley, and such. I’m sure it would have been entertaining and terrifying. Perhaps if I’d had someone to go with I would have considered it, but I don’t do scary alone very well. I mean hello, can’t keep my eyes open for the end of Jurassic Park and had a total meltdown in Backdraft in LA!
It was almost 5pm when I finally gave into heat exhaustion and made my slow, weary way back to the cable car. I came ‘home’ to find that my office computer had collapsed in my absence, but I couldn’t bring myself to care all that much….too good a day….too good a mood.
Needed to be a kid for a few hours 🙂