Last night was the Grand Opening of Jurassic World – The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. Although the ride has been functioning in a soft-open state for the last couple weeks, a rousing opening ceremony officially made it fully ready for the public. Let’s take a look at one of the West Coast’s most exciting rides of summer.
Grand Opening
Just before the big speeches, Dusty had a close encounter with Chris Pratt:
The night began with speeches from Karen Irwin, President and Chief Operation Officer of Universal Studios Hollywood, Ron Meyer, Vice Chairman of NBC Universal, and the director of Jurassic World, Colin Trevorrow.
To kick off the event, the stars of the movie Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, along with Blue the Velociraptor, joined for a special moment.
He’s excited to see Chris Pratt do some Velociraptor wrangling with Blue!
Dusty used a big of movie magic to get above the crowd and capture the show for you (though you can skip ahead to the 9:30 mark to get to the fun stuff):
And with that, the Grand Opening had commenced!
Entering Isla Nublar
When you enter Jurassic World, there is a lot going on. Nearly everywhere you look, there are dinosaurs and activities to participate in. You can find some of your favorite dinos from the movies out and about in this area. And if you’re lucky (and not scared of big animals) you can even get up close to some of them.
Blue has her own encounter area right by the drop of the ride. She is under the constant supervision of a handler, so feel free to get that dinosaur picture you’ve always wanted. Just keep in mind, she is still a wild animal at heart, so don’t get too close.
You can find a life-size Triceratops roaming around with a handler. She’s very sweet and friendly.
One of the other dinosaurs you can meet is a baby Velociraptor!
Dusty walks with Dinos:
Jurassic World – The Ride
This is a thrilling, heart-stopping water ride that (may) leave you soaked, and wanting to get right back in line as soon as you get off (note that we were in the 4th row and only got damp). The Jurassic Park ride you once knew has been replaced with dinosaurs and impressive special effects.
Right from the beginning, you can prepare to get wet as you pass through the Mosasaurus enclosure. And as you make your way through the lab, there are a lot more opportunities that come up and surprise you with water. And you can’t forget about the classic 85-foot drop at the end . . . which is surprisingly the least wet part of the ride.
The two scenes that stand out to me are the incredible aquarium section, and the completely revamped show scene at the top of the final lift. There’s a whole jungle scene up there now and it’s really impressive. So many creatures . . . and they all want to eat you.
This is a fantastic ride, and it’s the perfect fit at Universal Studios Hollywood. It has really set the standard for modern water rides. And, in my opinion, is the best new ride on the West Coast this year.
Jurassic Outfitters
The ride exits through the gift shop, as befrore, and there is a lot of merch to explore. You’ll discover all sorts of Jurassic goodies, from apparel and accessories, to toys and collectibles. If it’s dino-related, you can probably find it here.
Some of our favorite selections include this collectible set of 16 miniature pins and lanyard. They are sold in sets of 4, so there are 4 packages to collect.
If you’re looking for something a little less fearsome, there are plenty of cute plushes around the store. These little guys caught my eye; I’m a sucker for a cute little meat-eater.
In the Collections area, there were plenty of high-quality models of dinosaurs and movie characters.
The collectible that grabbed my attention was the DIY archeological dig. You can purchase a block of rock with a (plastic) fossil set, and you dig it out to build a full model. This is perfect for kids wanting to get involved with archeology.
Food and Drinks
The opening of Jurassic World also brought the reopening of Jurassic Cafe, with a revamped menu and the all-new tiki-inspired Isla Nu-Bar.
Jurassic Cafe
While the interior of Jurassic Cafe got a light facelift, the menu went through a heavy overhaul. While you can still find a burger and fries here, the Costa Rican flavored foods are definitely more enticing. The fast service restaurant features an array of options that cater to a variety of diets.
We really loved the Slow Roasted Mojo Pork. It was savory and tender, with a little kick of heat.
If you’re more of a herbivore than a carnivore, there are options for you too. The Slow Roasted Mojo Jackfruit is a great vegetarian/vegan option without compromising on flavor. It’s very similar to the Mojo Pork, but it’s sweeter with a softer texture.
If you’re in the mood for something lighter, the Chorizo and Potato Empanadas & Tropical Fruit Salad and Pomegranate Guacamole with plantain chips are the perfect snack between rides.
And if you can’t pass up the sweets, there are three dessert options, and they’re fantastic. Although, if I had to pick a winner it would have to be the Chocolate Macadamia Cake. The fudge frosting paired with a dense chocolate cake and a macadamia nut praline in the center? Yes, please!
Isla Nu-Bar
Theme parks these days are not shying away from alcohol any longer, and the guests are loving it. These tiki-inspired drinks are great for a moment of refreshment. We tried the Tiki Tai and the Painkiller, and would definitely go back for another round.
While tiki-philes may find these drinks a little on the sweet side, they are a fun take on popular tiki drinks. You can also get your drinks in collectible tiki mugs as well.
We can’t get enough of these ferocious dinosaurs, and we can’t wait to head back to Universal Studios Hollywood to ride Jurassic World again!
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