WHERE FANTASY BECOMES REALITY

Experience real-life interpretations of your favorite movies and TV shows at Universal Studios Hollywood

By Heather Turk

In addition to “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey,” The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood is home to the park’s first outdoor roller coaster, the family-friendly “Flight of the Hippogriff”

Riders will encounter animatronics of some of their favorite characters while walking through the interactive queue for “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash”

Known for bringing some of the most popular film franchises and TV shows to life with its immersive lands, rides and attractions, Universal Studios Hollywood recently debuted what just might be the cutest theme park ride ever created.

Inspired by Illumination’s blockbuster “The Secret Life of Pets” films, “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” is simply un-fur-gettable. Combining dozens of technologically-advanced animated figures with hyperrealistic media and projection mapping, the ride takes guests on a comical journey to not only meet some of their favorite characters from the films, but also find their own forever home. Similar to Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” ride that transforms riders into Minions, “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” transforms riders into adorable dogs up for adoption. Riders will even get to interact with their animated animal doppelgängers toward the beginning and end of the ride. Many of the films’ vocal talents reprised their roles for the attraction, too, including Patton Oswalt as Max the Jack Russell terrier.

As delightful as “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” is, its rider queue is equally entertaining. Guests will walk through the New York City apartment building the pets live in as they approach the ride, passing by characters and familiar scenes from the

films. Highlights include Buddy the dachshund using a kitchen mixer to get a massage and Norman the guinea pig popping up in the air conditioning vents.

Since guests can book their ride time in advance by accessing “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” Virtual Line via the Universal Studios Hollywood app or by visiting the Virtual Line kiosk located adjacent to the ride, they will have plenty of time to experience many of the other thrilling attractions the theme park has to offer. Riders can come face-to-face with the 22-foot-tall Indominus rex on “Jurassic World—The Ride;” see the pink Chevrolet Corvette from Peacock’s limited series “Angelyne” as well as other famous cars and sets on the behind-thescenes Studio Tour tram ride; and soar above Hogwarts on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s signature ride, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.”

Fall is always a great time to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, too, as there are plenty of extra thrills in store during Halloween Horror Nights. Taking place select nights Sept. 8 through Oct. 31, the separately ticketed event features scare zones, a Terror Tram, a live show and eight chilling haunted houses, including “Universal Monsters: Legends

“The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” opened at Universal Studios Hollywood last year

Collide.” The all-new maze puts guests in the middle of an epic battle where Dracula, The Wolf Man and The Mummy come together for the first time in search of a powerful amulet that can break their curse. Guests can also step into the 1978 horror classic “Halloween” in the “Halloween” haunted house and come face-to-face with Michael Myers.

Regardless of when you visit, no trip to Southern California is ever complete without immersing yourself in the magic of Universal Studios Hollywood. universalstudioshollywood.com

Did you know Universal Studios Hollywood will welcome the first SUPER NINTENDO WORLD in the United States in early 2023? Park guests will enter the immersive land via an iconic

Mario Bros. Warp Pipe and find its signature ride, “Mario Kart:

Bowser’s Challenge,” within

Bowser’s Castle.

Riders may be able to escape the colossal Indominus rex, but they likely won’t be able to avoid getting wet on “Jurassic World—The Ride”