2012 • 9 • 9

“Let’s do it again,” exclaimed my friend Astrid right after alighting her seat. “Come on, guys! Let’s do it again!!!”

“I just need a moment,” I said to her. If only I had an out-of-this-world olfactory perception, I would probably smell adrenaline all over the place and a good fraction of it would be reeking from Astrid. We were coming out of the Cylon Ride, one of the two Battlestar Galactica rollercoasters at Universal Studios Singapore.

“Tell you what,” said I, “Let’s try Human next and then I’ll see if I could ride this Cylon thing again.”

I couldn’t.

By the end of that minute aboard that frakkin’ Human ride, everything was already spinning around me. “You go ahead,” I told my friends Astrid and Ces. “I think I’ll just stay here and die.”

“So much for being a Battlestar Galactica fan,” teased Astrid.

Well, I am a big Battlestar Galactica fan and I loved every second of that adrenaline-pumping ride. Just that I could not, apparently, do it over and over again. My friends fell in line again for their second Cylon ride, and I watched them get enveloped yet again in a different kind of thrill. This was my second visit to Universal Studios Singapore, and one thing — one obvious thing — that I learned this time around was that it was indeed more fun to experience it with friends than with my mother. Duh?

About Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore is Asia’s second and Southeast Asia’s first movie theme park. Located within Resorts World Sentosa, the place covers 49 acres (20 hectares) of land, harboring a total of 24 exciting attractions! The park is divided into seven zones, each with its own theme that is based on a popular TV show or a blockbuster film. Each zone also has its own characters, restaurants, shops and rides.

Hollywood!

Located just after the entrance to the park, Hollywood is the first zone that you will see. Surrounded by palm trees and amazing structures, the park’s look is based on the real Hollywood Boulevard. Popcorns, Marilyn, Hollywood Walk of Fame — many elements here remind visitors of the old Hollywood.

Madagascar!

“My nephew would kill me!”

This was what I said when I found myself surrounded by the hilarious characters of Madagascar. My nephew is a big fan, and he’d be upset had he known that I’d be meeting the crazy penguins without him.

The main attraction at the Madagascar Zone is the Madagascar: A Crate Adventure ride. It is a fun ride but made primarily for children and fans of the show. We spent more than an hour falling in line, but it was worth it somehow.

Far Far Away

Based on the Dreamworks animated blockbuster, Far Far Away features Shrek and the other characters like Princess Fiona and Donkey. The main structure in this zone is the castle which houses a theater. Here, you can enjoy the Shrek’s 4-D Adventure movie.

The Lost World

The Lost World is divided into two areas — Waterworld and Jurassic Park. In Waterworld, visitors get to enjoy a live, action-packed water stunt show in an amphitheater. My mom and I enjoyed the show tremendously.

A warning, though: If you don’t want to get wet, don’t sit in the front rows.

If you want a wet-and-wild adrenaline-pumping adventure, then head to the Jurassic Park where dinosaurs abound. Enter the world of velociraptors and then escape from them in this ride.

Ancient Egypt

Based on the Golden Age of Egyptian Exploration in the early 20th century, Ancient Egypt is home to the Revenge of the Mummy indoor rollercoaster ride where you get to be face-to-face with scarab beetles and, well, mummies!

Sci-Fi City

And now, into my favorite zone! Sci-Fi city’s most popular attraction has to be Battlestar Galactica. These dueling rollercoasters set thrill-seekers on an out-of-this-world mission via a turbulent and high-speed chase which involves sudden drops, lifting and dramatic acceleration. You may choose between Cylon and Human. Cylon, the blue track, looks more challenging.

New York

New York is themed after, well, New York City and its most recognizable landmarks. When we were there, there was a group of men dancing in the streets entertaining the crowd. The main attraction here is Lights, Camera, Action: Hosted by Steven Spielberg.

Hollywood Dreams Parade

We also got a bonus. We didn’t know about the Hollywood Dreams Parade at all but, to our delight, it happened when we were there! It was like the inner children in us resurrected as soon as we lay eyes on our favorite movie characters from Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and Shrek.

Rates and Tips

We paid S$72 per person that time. But it has changed since. Here’s the complete list of ticket types and prices as of August 2013:

Visit their official website to check updated rates.

Just a tip. If you’re visiting on a weekend of a peak season and you still have budget, get an EXPRESS PASS. (Yes, all caps, boldface, underlined.) I bet it was worth it. The first time I was here was a weekend and we did not avail of it; it was our biggest regret. We didn’t know about the Express Pass before and we only learned about it when we saw visitors not queuing at all. Apparently, they had the Express Pass. It will save you a lot of time, giving you more chances to enjoy more rides and make the most out of your stay.

Note that availing of the EXPRESS PASS is only wise if it’s a weekend of the peak season and you are so damn sure that the lines are long. Otherwise, don’t. After all, if you’re with really fun companions, waiting can be pretty enjoyable, too, if not tolerable.

This time around, my second time here, I was thankful we DID NOT get Express Pass. It wasn’t peak season and it was a weekday. There were no queues!

Of all the attractions, my favorite were Transformers and the Mummy. Transformers: The Ride was so breathtaking, quite literally. It’s amazing how we stayed in just one room but we were taken in a world that looked and felt so real that I was still not over it even when I already returned to the Philippines. The Mummy, on the other hand, was more suspenseful as we were tossed around in pitch darkness that we did not know what to expect. These two blew me away. I may be a big Battlestar Galactica fan but the twin rides fall on the third spot for me, in terms of excitement.

For more information about Universal Studios Singapore including ticket prices, some tips, and other attractions and features, check out this post.

How to get there: Take the MRT North East Line going to Harbourfront and alight at the last stop — Harbourfront Station. Walk into the VivoCity Mall and climb to Level 3 of the Mall. Proceed to Lobby L. Board the monorail train and get off at Waterfront Station. Follow the signs and you’ll find yourself staring at the Universal Studios rotating globe soon after. You can also travel on foot on Sentosa Boardwalk.

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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