From Coraline to Kubo Exhibit at Universal Studios, Hollywood

Today I had the pleasure of attending the From Coraline to Kubo exhibit at Universal Studios, Hollywood.  If any of you have interest in stop-motion, this exhibit highlighting some of Laika's best work is absolutely breathtaking.  The exhibit takes you from the early days of Coraline and single-color 3d printing to the newest technology available for Kubo, including the largest stop-motion pupped in existence.  And just think, a lot of this artistry had to be created by hand.  I will just leave some photos as I think they speak for themselves.

While I was at USH, I managed to check out a few attractions, too.  If you haven't been to USH in the last 5 years, now's the time to go.  I wrote about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a while ago, but it's always worth mentioning. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is by far one of the best rides in existence.  It utilized the right amount of modern ride technology, animatronics, and screen-based interaction to create a truly memorable experience.  And, it's easily one of the most immersive lands in southern California theme parks.  The only Disneyland Resort area that comes close right now is Carsland.  We'll see how this influences Star Wars Land in a few years.

I once worked on a little ride at Universal Studios called Back to the Future: The Ride.  Understandably, I was more than a little upset when said ride got re-themed as a Simpson's ride.  But, years later, the entire area surrounding the ride has undergone some amazing re-theming.  Now, when you walk out of the Wizarding World, it feels like your headed straight into Springfield.  The Duff Beer, d'oh-nuts, and Cleetus' fried chicken really make the land work.

I didn't have much time to explore, but the creative team at Universal has also done wonders with their child-based area, focused on the world of Despicable Me and the Minions.  And, there's that other new thing...something to do with the Walking Dead I think it's called?  The line was a bit too long for me (and I'm secretly not brave enough to explore it on a solo trip).

I'll leave you with some shots from the tram ride.  It hasn't changed much recently.  The newer Fast and Furious section is kind of cool, but I miss the dancing cars from Tokyo Drift.  Here's the shots:

Overall, it was a good, solid summer trip.  If you're trying to decide if Universal is worth the money and the time while you're in the L.A. area, I think it is.  I've seen it go from barely being considered a theme park, way back when all you really had was the tram, a handful of shows, and a playground, to a point where now they are challenging Disney to keep up with them in some ways.  It's a good time to be Universal.

In-Between Disney Trips: What to Do

What do you do when you have no Disney trips coming up?  Whether Disney or otherwise, without a trip, there becomes a lull in life.  Sure, you go through the motions of life.  Work.  Take care of the kids.  Enjoy a hobby or two.  Sleep.  Cook.  Clean.  But, if you're like me, those trips, especially Disney trips, are what really get you going in life.  So what do you do between trips?

1.  Count the days until your next trip.  My next Disneyland trip is approximately 3 months, 1 week, and 4 days away.  I'm waiting for that magical 60 day mark when I can start making dining reservations.  In the meantime, I am trying to decide where to dine since the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is closed.  Character meals are nice, but expensive and take a lot of time.  I'd love to do Blue Bayou, but my kids are still a little young.  Contemplating Ariel's Grotto since we haven't really done that one.  But really, where would be a good place to take the kids.

2.  Planning outfits for the next trip.  When you have kids, dressing them for Disney can be a lot of fun.  Our next trip will be 4 days, 3 nights.  Day 1:  Star Wars.  Day 2:  Frozen or Disney Jr.  Day 3:  Marvel.  Day 4:  Classic Characters.  The possibilities are endless.

3.  Disneybounding and Cosplay.  Do you know how many ways you can create an outfit inspired by your favorite character?  I kind of stink at Disneybounding.  It's hard to find the elements I need.  But you know what?  It's still super fun.  Cosplay, too.  I keep seeing these aprons on Etsy that would make it really easy to be comfortable and do easy costume changes during D23 next year.  I'm wondering if I'm crafty enough to make one.  Maybe I should just buy one off the people who are good at doing them.  My talent for sewing is also limited.

4.  The Forums.  OMG, the forums.  If you're a hard-core Disney fan, the forums are the places to be.  If you're like me, you belong to multiple forums.  But, if you're just getting started, you might be startled at the differences between fan forums.  DIS, for instance, tends to be the friendly forum.  They are generally very welcoming to people asking for help planning trips and discussions tend to be on what your favorite restaurant for ADR or strategies for making the most out of the FP system.  Micechat.  Now that one's interesting.  Micechat tends to be the place to talk about all the newest and craziest rumors.  But, at the same time, with the devotion and discussion comes a greater chance for debate, complaint, and intensity.  Micechat is not for the faint of heart.  Don't be offended if people don't agree with you.  It's about the passion for Disney.  There's also Mouseplanet and a handful of other, less notable forums.  I'm not actively engaged in these, so I can't speak on them, but from what I've seen of Mouseplanet, it again is its own universe, generally somewhere between DIS and Micechat on the continuum.  Anyway, these can provide hours of discussion and entertainment while also giving you some new insight.

5.  Visiting other theme parks.  I'm doing this tomorrow actually.  Universal Studios is a personal favorite and great for a day-trip.  It's also a fantastic place to go alone since they are among the best at accommodating single-riders.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is, in fact, perhaps a bit more spectacular than even Disney properties in terms of its immersiveness.  Plus, it's rarely as crowded as Disneyland. 

6.  Disney movies and TV shows.  In my house, with my 3 children ages 6 and under, Disney rules.  We watch Sofia, Mickey, Frozen, Tangled, Wreck-It-Ralph, and many others on a regular basis.  So, which will it be today?  Who knows?  We love them all.

7.  Trips to the Disney Store and other merchandising opportunities.  Who doesn't love the Disney Store?  Sure, it's not quite as epic and amazing as the Disney Store of the 90s, but it's still super fun.  Buying new Disney themed toys, clothing, and mugs is always fun.  Kohl's, Target, Children's Place, JCPenny, Walmart, and Old Navy also have some pretty cool stuff depending on the price point you're willing to spend.  Even if you're not buying, it's pretty entertaining to look.

So, what do you do between trips?  Because honestly, I'm going through withdrawals just a bit and kicking myself that I won't be able to get back before the 60th entertainment disappears.