Happy Lunar New Years Eve! We celebrated the Year of the Rat this weekend by checking out all the Lunar New Year activities at Universal Studios Hollywood. Their celebration event started this weekend and goes on now until February 9th!
Before we entered the Plaza, we were greeted by Megatron was speaking and interacting with everyone in Mandarin! Translation of what he was saying: "Walk faster! I don't have much time!"
The Plaza was beautifully transformed with red Chinese lanterns and cherry blossom wishing trees. There are so many Lunar New Year activities and we were glad to have a chance to experience it all. In the middle of the plaza, there were tables set up for all the guests to write their New Year wishes and clip it on to the trees.
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The kids and I enjoyed Feng the Palace Artist's Stand where we learned step by step how to draw Po from Kung Fu Panda. The artist's instructions were simple and he walked around to check on everyone's progress which was helpful for my younger son. We had fun comparing whose drawing turned out the best and it's a great souvenir to take home.
Hello Kitty, Minions, Po and Tigress in Kung Fu Panda were all dressed in traditional Chinese New Year attire and were fun characters to take picture with.
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For lunch, we got to eat at Mr. Ping’s Noodle house which is only available during the New Year's celebration. Our family got 1 of each of the noodles: Beef pho, Secret Ingredient Noodle Soup, and a Pork Ramen. So yummy! My favorite was the secret ingredient soup as it had a slight kick to it and my kids loved the pork ramen. I really wish that Universal Studios would add these noodle dishes to their permanent menu as it would be a great addition.
Mr. Ping, from Kung Fu Panda also provided the opportunity to interact personally with everyone. I heard so many funny responses from Mr. Ping while waiting in line and it was a great experience for everyone. When I spoke with him, I asked him what his “secret ingredient” in the noodle soup but he wouldn't tell me. 🤷🏻♀️
Besides the Lunar New Year activities, we all had fun enjoying the theme park rides throughout Universal Studios. Jurassic World is our family's favorite ride with the Mosasaurus and the big drop in the end. My kids loved taking a picture and getting up-close with Blue at the Raptor Encounter. The way the trainer came out and spoke about Blue really made it feel like you were meeting a live dinosaur. They also got to pet a triceratops that came out later on it's side too.
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Wizarding World of Harry Potter is always an impressive and fun experience. The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride makes you feel like you’re riding the broomstick along with Harry and his friends. The kids also liked watching people who purchased the wand at Ollivander's use the interactive wand to cast spells and activate various experiences around Hogsmeade. Don't forget trying the butterbeer which is the best drink available at the park!
Although my toddler couldn’t go on all the rides, she loved the Dino play area and the Kung Fu Panda show. She was also happy that before riding the Silly Swirly Fun Land ride, that she received a first time rider pin from the attendant. We never knew they provided that but it was great free souvenir for her to take home.
Tip: There is a child swap option if you have a child that doesn't reach the height minimum. Inform the ride attendant before you enter the ride, and the adult who didn't initially ride can enter through the "Express" line after the first person finishes. You can bring an extra person with you so my older son was happy that he got to go on Jurassic World twice!
Such a fun day at Universal Studios with our family and friends. The “Year of the Rat” Lunar New Year celebration event is going on now till Feb 9th! Don't miss stopping at the Plaza to take pictures of the beautiful lanterns and wishing trees lit up in the evening.
For more videos and pictures of our adventures at Universal Studios, check FB stories or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mackidcovinaca/
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Universal Studios Hollywood Celebrates Lunar New Year and the “Year of the Rat”
Featuring Po, Tigress and Mr. Ping from the “Kung Fu Panda Adventure” Attraction, a Mandarin-speaking MEGATRON from “Transformers: The Ride-3D” and Hello Kitty and Illumination’s Minions, Adorned in Custom-Designed LunarNewYear Attire, from January 23 - February 9
Lunar New Year is Included in the Price of Admission to Universal Studios Hollywood
Click Here for a Sneak Peek at the Annual Celebration
Universal Studios Hollywood ushers in the “Year of the Rat,” the first of the Chinese zodiac animals, as the theme park celebrates with the LunarNewYear event from Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, February 9. LunarNewYear is included in the price of admission to the theme park.
This spectacular themed LunarNewYear event will take place within Universal Plaza, located at the heart of the theme park. Under a curtain of traditional red Chinese lanterns and stunning plum blossom Wishing Trees, the festivities will come to life as guests discover the 12 zodiac animal signs accompanied by their symbolic attributes. Guests with birthday years that correspond with the “Year of the Rat” are said to be intelligent, witty and charming.
The immersive event will feature Po and Tigress from the thrilling “Kung Fu Panda Adventure” attraction who will greet guests and pose for engaging photos; Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop returns by popular demand to serve up delicious culture-themed food, and Mr. Ping himself will be on hand to interact with guests and take memorable souvenir photos. Guests can learn how to draw Po and take home the drawing as a keepsake memento and, on select days, community cultural performances featuring traditional lion dances will round out the program.
Beloved global pop icon Hello Kitty, created by the lifestyle brand Sanrio, further complements this year’s LunarNewYearcelebration when she steps out in style wearing her signature red bow and specially designed LunarNewYear attire. Hello Kitty will be available to meet guests at the Hello Kitty Shop located within the Animation Studio Store.
Keeping with Universal Studios Hollywood’s LunarNewYear tradition, MEGATRON from the TRANSFORMERS franchise will be speaking Mandarin while interacting with guests at the entry of the festivities. The imposing robot leader of the DECEPTICONS will engage attendees in real-time conversation reflective of his persona and will be sure to entertain TRANSFORMERS fans visiting the park. MEGATRON is one of the stars of Universal Studios Hollywood’s thrill ride, “Transformers™: The Ride-3D.”
Illumination Entertainment’s Minions from the theme park’s popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride will add to the festivities, entertaining guests in their brightly colored traditional LunarNewYear attire.
The world-famous Studio Tour is available in Mandarin at select times throughout the day. Featuring expertly-trained Mandarin-speaking tour guides, the experience provides insight into the world of movie-making magic as guests enjoy behind-the-scenes access to one of the largest production studios in the world. In-language park maps are also available for guests.
Guests can continue their LunarNewYear celebration at Universal CityWalk’s Dongpo Kitchen restaurant which features upscale and modern Sichuan cuisine. Inspired by China’s premier restaurant Meizhou Dongpo, Dongpo Kitchen offers the comforts of a casual dining environment with both indoor and al fresco seating and caters to an eclectic palate with a variety of signature dishes.
More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Mandarin-speaking guests can learn more about the LunarNewYear event at www.ush.cn. Information is also available on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Weibo @好莱坞环球影城.
About Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour. As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows. Attractions include “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” which features a bustling Hogsmeade village and such critically-acclaimed rides as “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™”, and the new mega attraction “Jurassic World—The Ride.” Other immersive lands include “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” as well as “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, located adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons Ride™” and DreamWorks Theatre featuring “Kung Fu Panda Adventure.” The world-renowned Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s signature attraction, inviting guests behind-the-scenes of the world’s biggest and busiest movie and television production studio where they can also experience such thrill rides as “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” and “King Kong 360 3D.” The adjacent Universal CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex also includes the all-newmulti-million dollar, redesigned Universal CityWalk Cinema, featuring deluxe recliner seating in screening room quality theatres, and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert stage.
