Universal Studios Grown-Up Tour
The genius here is in the details, so take your time, and notice the secondhand items in the windows of New York shops, for instance, or the cable-car tracks running through San Francisco.
South Side
Upon entering, don't head straight into Production Central; instead, turn right—onto Rodeo Drive. In a few steps, you're in the heart of Hollywood where the first attraction you'll pass is the new-in-2020 Bourne Stuntacular, a live-action stunt show. If you're tempted to stop for a soda at Schwab's or a burger at Mel's, try to schedule your meal in time to catch Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show just down the street. As you continue past the lovely Garden of Allah bungalows (that look as if they were actually moved from Tinseltown), you'll see the entrance to Woody Woodpecker's KidZone, which most adults will be happy to skip.
After this, it's Springfield: Home of the Simpsons. Although The Simpsons Ride is a thrill, so is the amazing pop art that sets the stage for it. The facade is decorated like a carnival, with games of chance bordering the towering face of Krusty the Clown. Watch for the kiosk that sells Squishees ("America's favorite icy goo"), and take your time along Fast Food Boulevard where you’ll have plenty of food ops—and photo ops—including Lard Lad (of donut fame), Moe’s Tavern, and Bumblebee Man’s taco truck. Really.
North Side
The facade of this Wizarding World looks like a fashionable London district, but be sure to look for the broken brick wall that masks the entrance to Diagon Alley, a complete re-creation of Harry Potter’s world.
Cobblestone streets, redbrick buildings, and a waterfront inspired by Fisherman's Wharf create San Francisco, which is home to the full-throttled attraction, Fast & Furious: Supercharged.
With narrow alleys, fire escapes, a Chinese laundry, pawnshops, secondhand stores, offices, Italian restaurants, and an Irish pub, New York captures the character of nearly every borough. Round a corner, and you'll even see the Guggenheim Museum. It's an amazing assemblage of styles, with clever signage, props, effects and attractions like Revenge of the Mummy and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Completing the circle, you'll arrive in Production Central, where several blocks of soundstages present attractions that bring movies and television to life.
