It’s time again for the Lunar New Year Celebration, and it’s packed with loads of decorations, entertainment, and food! The event is included with your admission to the park, so grab your favorite red clothing, get your wishes ready, and let’s head to the Entertainment Capital of LA. . . Xīnnián kuàilè (New Year happiness!) from Universal Studios Hollywood!
Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop
Kung Fu Panda plays a major role in the event again this year. Po’s dad, Mr. Ping, comes to life as an interactive animatronic at his noodle shop. Stop in and chat about your favorite noodles, Lunar New Year traditions, and hear stories about his son, Po. Yes, you indeed hold a full on conversation with Po’s dad. This is a fan favorite and I was excited to see it return again this year.
Unlike many other character interactions, Mr. Ping will react to you, hold whole conversations, and tell stories about anything related to the noodle shop, Po, or the Valley of Peace. I appreciate that he leads the conversation, there’s no stress on you to come up with questions for him to talk to you unless you want to. Mr. Ping even has a sequence where the curtain rolls down while he assesses crashing dishes and a mess in his kitchen. I’m assuming it’s so the operator can go on break, but the fact that something like that was included shows the thought that went into building this experience.
I sat and watched him while eating some noodles and there isn’t enough room on this page to describe the talent behind him. He spoke Mandarin to Mandarin-speaking guests, interacted with every member of parties, was very patient with young, squirmy children, and best of all he has these two little wings that he can flop around independently to pose in photos or wave at you as you leave.
Here’s a quick video of my conversation with him.
If you do only one thing while you’re at Universal during Lunar New Year, please make a chat with Mr. Ping that thing.
Dragon Warrior Training Show
Kung-Fu masters take volunteers on as students to train in the art of Kung-Fu the Master Shifu way. If you or your little ones are looking to learn some moves with the Dragon Warrior, this is the show for you.
Each of the moves you learn are variations of the Furious Five’s signature techniques.
The Story of Lunar New Year
Come hear the story of what started the traditional Lunar New Year. This is a great show as it’s educational, brief, and the audience gets involved.
Some members even get to hold up signs for the main characters of the story, The Wise Old Man who saves the village, and Nian the beast that destroys houses, eats crops, livestock, and children (no holding back on the traditional part of the story).
Other entertainment at the Jade Palace Performance Stage will include traditional cultural performances that will take place on the weekends. Here are the dates and performers:
- February 9-10 – Hangzhou Performance Groups
- February 16-17 – Southern Wind Lion Dance
- February 18 – Wong Tai Sen Lion Dance
Drawing Demonstrations
Throughout the day, you’ll find animators demonstrating how to draw your favorite Kung Fu Panda characters. I got to draw Tigress.
How’d I do?
I love the animation academy at California Adventure and the class they had at Knott’s Peanuts Celebration, and this was very similar. My only hope is that this gets expanded next year so more people can enjoy the class.
Food
When you arrive at Universal Studios, find yourself a Lunar New Year guide. Inside is a map of all of all the special dishes around the park.
The main place to stop is Mr. Ping’s Noodles, which is located in the same structure where he talks to guests.
I tried the Beef Secret Ingredient Stir Fry Noodles and an Oogway Egg Roll. The stir fry noodles are massive, with a generous serving of protein. I definitely recommend the spicy sauce to go with the wonderfully crunchy egg roll as well.
As stated before, a bonus of the restaurant is that the seating allows you to sit and watch Mr. Ping hold conversations with guests.
The refreshments stand next to Mr. Ping’s Noodle shop has a special Lunar popcorn.
Manhattan Market, just before the Dreamworks Theater has an Asian Pork Sausage on a Stick.
The Dreamworks Concession stand just past the Dreamworks theater has several options, PB&J Dumplings (which will probably be perfect for kids), a Green Tea Churro, Red Bean Cake Ice Cream, and a Big Melon Ice Cream Bar.
The guide listed a few ICEEs also available here, but they’re on the normal menu. I decided to grab a Passionfruit Orange ICEE on the way to Waterworld, it has a surprisingly strong taste that was very refreshing.
Across from the concessions, the Plaza Grill is serving up a teriyaki turkey leg, a couple desserts, some of the items from Mr. Ping’s, and the only vegan option I noted, the Vegan Banh Mi.
Merchandise
Universal also has some Lunar New Year exclusive merchandise. Expect lots of red to ward away evil beasts.
Characters
Universal Studios also offers special Lunar New Year themed character interactions. Mr. Ping is one of them, but characters range from cute like Hello Kitty and the Minions to frightening like Mandarin-speaking Megatron.
Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty is adorned with a custom designed outfit for Lunar New Year.
Mandarin-speaking Megatron
I may not understand what he’s saying, but that doesn’t make it any less intimidating.
Here are just a couple seconds of Megatron scaring guests. It’s particularly entertaining to watch him with guests that understand Mandarin.
Minions
The minions won’t be left out, they’ve donned some traditional Asian clothes.
Traditional Decorations
Throughout the main Plaza and front of the park, there are plenty of lanterns, wishing trees, and anything with the color red to get you in the spirit of the celebration.
The plaza has several kiosks where you can write down your wish and clip it to the wishing trees.
The posts around the plaza are adorned with banners for each of the zodiac animals, with their Kung Fu Panda counterparts.
And of course, this is the year of the Pig.
Across from the plaza, New York Street is adorned with a Lunar New Year Market overlay. This is a great part of the plaza to meet characters at any time of the year and now is no different.
Mini Universal Studios Hollywood Update
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to walk around Universal Studios without scary monsters following me around, so I thought I’d check up on the several expansion projects.
Kung Fu Panda Adventure
Although technically not a part of Lunar New Year, Kung Fu Panda Adventure is relevant to the celebration and is only a quick walk across from the plaza. I stopped by to see it, I hadn’t been able to since it opened last summer.
If you haven’t seen it yet, the presentation, both pre-show, and the actual show is well excecuted. It’s a 4-D show (meaning the seats move) just like Shrek 4-D which previously occupied the space. There isn’t much else that’s similar between the two, though.
The screens are crisp (surprisingly so), 2-D (which is actually novel), the simulation in the seat is immersive without beating me up (I remember Shrek 4-D giving you a good whooping), and the wrapping of the screens in a 180° field of view works really well during the climax scene in the spirit realm. Kung Fu Panda is one of the most fun IPs that DreamWorks has to work with in my opinion, which makes for an entertaining show. The theater is designed so that things can be swapped out quickly as well, so that should keep interest up over time. But judging from the short wait . . . that time may be coming sooner rather than later.
Secret Life of Pets Ride Construction
Nestled between the Walking Dead and Despicable Me, a dark ride attraction based on the Secret Life of Pets is deep into construction. It sits on the former site of the Globe Theatre. This one hasn’t even been announced yet, but it’s well underway.
There’s not a whole lot to see at the moment besides a solid amount of vertical construction. This will put two Illumination based properties facing each other, which creates a great spot for families. It’s also a stark contrast to The Walking Dead attraction next door!
Jurassic World Expansion
Work is ongoing on the former Jurassic Park attraction to modernize and tie it into the newest films of the franchise, Jurassic World. The attraction budget is rumored to be the size of a major new E-Ticket, so the ride you knew should seem completely different when it re-opens, but with the familiar path and drop. Most of the attraction will be enclosed, digital mapping projections will be used extensively, and there will reportedly be a few big new animatronic surprises as well.
It all sounds incredibly promising. These are some of my favorite films and I simply can’t wait for this one.
The sign has been removed, it should be replaced with Jurassic World soon.
Lower Lot Construction
There’s another project going on in the Lower Lot, It doesn’t look big enough to be the long awaited Nintendo project. We’ve been hearing about a new Horror Nights maze location, this could be it. But then again, Universal is being very quiet about all of their current construction projects.
There’s already vertical construction on the concrete walls.
If you walk towards the edge of Transformers, you’re met with construction walls.
Studio Tour
There’s always something going on with the Studio Tour. It’s changed significantly over the past few years as construction on new sound stages has taken over previous tour elements.
One notable change since the last time I rode was that the tram took a different route, one that went right by City Hall. Back to the Future fans will recognize this building, it’s the iconic clock tower from the climax of the first film that Doc Brown uses as a lightning rod to power the Delorean time machine.
Another Back to the Future set piece is the Lyon Estates entry signs, which have been moved around a lot and seen better days.
The massive wall that separates the backlot from Skull Island is receiving several murals of Universal Monsters.
They actually hired a mural artist to come in and do these incredible installations.
Jaws is dried up for refurbishment.
This and That
Lockers
I thought I’d check out the locker situation at Universal Hollywood since Orlando changed their policy. In Orlando, they’ve swapped to two sizes, a small locker big enough to fit maybe a large purse that’s free for two hours and then a large locker that’s $2 for two hours. It doesn’t look like the situation has changed here in Hollywood.
There are only two attractions that require lockers here at Universal Hollywood, Revenge of the Mummy and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The lockers above are the small lockers that are free for two hours, they’re big enough for a small backpack. The ones below are oversized and cost $5 for two hours.
Forbidden Journey has a similar system, but they don’t have oversized lockers. Unfortunately, my camera bag does not fit in the complimentary lockers in either location. I decided against the $5 at the Mummy, but the Forbidden Journey team members were able to lock up my bag in the lost and found area for me while I rode. They even let me take a castle tour beforehand. I’ve stated it before on the Universal column, the Forbidden Journey team members always give incredible customer service.
WaterWorld
This stunt show, which has been on the chopping block for almost as long as I’ve been alive, is still going strong. WaterWorld opened in 1995, meaning that the show will hit its twenty-five year anniversary next year!
Despite the age, it’s a show I still enjoy. There aren’t too many stunt shows these days, and WaterWorld as a film and a stunt show has the right amount of action and camp.
The team who do the stunts in these shows are incredible. In an era where most of this kind of stuff is replaced with projection mapping, it’s really fun to watch.
Considering it was a low attendance day in the park, the bleachers were fairly full. Still, guests have seen this show for well over twenty years, is it time for WaterWorld to finally find dry land?
Hogsmeade
I’ll be honest, I stop in Hogsmeade throughout the day multiple times to buy Butter Beer…
Perfect for when it’s nearly 40° in Hollywood, The Three Broomsticks has Hot Butterbeer.
Fun fact: regardless of what your plans to ride Forbidden Journey are, you can take a castle tour at any time. There’s a special entrance for it so you can enjoy certain parts like the hall of portraits without getting stuck in the standby queue.
Most of the tour gets you closer to the scenes as well.
This is a great option for guests who can’t ride the attraction. Though, it should be noted that the ADA assistance is better here than on most attractions with a special non-moving loading platform for those who need it.
I often take a castle tour as I feel it’s an attraction in itself. Now if only there were a spell to help with the eventual motion sickness I get every time I ride (it’s always worth it in the end).
Around the Park
All over the park, signs signifying a place where it’s dry (with free WiFi) were placed to inform guests of where they could get out of the rain.
I really appreciate the large amount of roaming characters that hang out near the main plaza.
Even after all these years, the two New Yorkers still hang out of the windows and talk to guests walking by. It’s a nice touch.
Blue’s been set loose around the construction walls of Jurassic World since her enclosure got sucked into the re-imagining. Her new spot is just next to the escalators, but she feels a little on the run since her enclosure is missing!
It feels like they’ve refined things since they changed the raptors to Blue. She’s a bit more devious, curious, and less purposefully intimidating than the original Raptor Encounter. The Chris Pratt stand-in handler even seems to be taking more of a fun role than just trying to keep the raptor from eating the guests. All around still a really fun experience.
And that’s it from Universal Studios Hollywood. There are lots of Lunar New Year festivals these days, are you interested in attending? And how about all the construction in the park?! Universal is a park on the move. I’m already plotting my return.
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