Selected! 8 Recommended Tourist Spots in Tainan – A Nostalgic Ancient Capital and Gourmet City

One of the must-see places when traveling to Los Angeles is Universal Studios Hollywood. An actual movie filming is taking place on site. Next to the Information Center, there is a bulletin board where you can learn which studio is filming what on that day. It’s quite exciting to think that actors are working just a few steps away.

1. Types of Admission Tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood

There are three types of tickets available: the standard ticket, which allows unlimited rides; the Front of the Line Pass, which lets you enter each attraction once via a priority line; and the VIP Experience, which includes a guided tour of special areas not open to the public, as well as meals. If you purchase your tickets from the Universal Studios website (in English), you can get a discount—so give it a try.

It can be difficult to decide which ticket to choose, but if you can enter from early in the morning on a weekday, the standard ticket is plenty. On weekend afternoons during summer holidays, you might consider the Front of the Line Pass depending on the situation. Details about the VIP Experience are described later, but if you’re particularly interested in studio sets, it might be worth splurging. There are many other perks available as well.

First, check the showtimes on the bulletin board inside the park. For example, in “The Blues Brothers,” Jake and Elwood make an appearance. You can also enjoy the jet ski and air stunt show “Waterworld,” and the “Animal Actors” show featuring cute dogs and birds. The key to a successful visit is to combine a variety of short attractions. Fortunately, many attractions have wait times of only about 15 minutes.

2. Join a Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood!

■Studio Tour

An attraction you can experience only at Universal Studios Hollywood is the Studio Tour. Within its expansive 4-acre area, divided into 13 city blocks designed under the supervision of director Steven Spielberg, you can ride a tram around the area. This historic attraction, which has been running since the park opened in 1915, allows you to see actual sets used in the filming of Hollywood movies such as Psycho, Jaws, and War of the Worlds. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter an active filming site! You can also enjoy shows like King Kong 360 3D and a cast-led film show of The Fast and the Furious while wearing 3D glasses.

■VIP Experience Studio Tour

Unlike the regular studio tour, the VIP Experience uses a dedicated entrance. With a private bus and guide, you can walk through areas not open to the general public, such as exclusive studios and props warehouses, and explore enormous sets. For movie buffs, this is an irresistible experience. With a VIP Experience ticket, you also get priority entry to all attractions and special seating at shows, enjoying truly VIP treatment. The ticket includes a breakfast buffet featuring sandwiches, pies, cakes, and fruits, and a lunch buffet with options like roast beef and sashimi. Although the price is more than three times that of a standard day pass, considering the two meals and special events included, it might be well worth it!

3. Recommended Attractions

■The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff are the two main parts of this attraction. Using state-of-the-art visual technology and robotics, the ride lets you soar alongside Harry, complete with 360-degree spins and sudden drops—a thrill ride to remember. The roller coaster ride on a hippogriff—a creature with the head of a giant eagle and the body of a horse—is fun for the whole family. You can also visit a shop that sells magical wands and books, and even try a non-alcoholic version of butterbeer.

■Transformers: The Ride 3D

In front of the building, Optimus Prime (and sometimes Bumblebee or Megatron) awaits to take a photo with you before the ride. This ride blends 3D visuals with flight simulation technology, featuring rapid accelerations and steep drops. It is renowned as a next-generation ride attraction that creates a unique sensation where fiction and reality merge—definitely give it a try.

■Minions 3D Ride

This attraction, themed around the animated films Despicable Me: The Rise of Gru, Despicable Me 2, and Minions, is popular with both children and adults. Step into the world of the mischievous and noisy Minions and join a training mission. The sight of cute, yellow Minions scurrying around the screen is simply adorable. Even if you haven’t seen the movies, you will enjoy the experience.

◎ Summary

How did you like it? Although some attractions show signs of aging at this historic theme park founded in 1915, nothing beats experiencing the real thing here! After your visit, treat yourself to a delicious meal in Universal City. You can enjoy refined cuisine at Bistro Wolfgang Puck, with other options such as Hard Rock Café and the famous Baba Gump Shrimp available as well.

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Selected! 8 Recommended Tourist Spots in Tainan – A Nostalgic Ancient Capital and Gourmet City