Universal Studios Singapore

I’ve got to admit this. Throughout my 26 years of life, soon to be 27, I've only been four entertainment theme parks. Genting Highland for countless times, Ocean Park in Hong Kong, Bukit Merah Laketown Resort in Taiping and The Lost World of Tambun in my hometown Ipoh.

Last December, I added another theme park in my list – Universal Studios in Singapore, labelled as a “one-of-its-kind theme park in Asia and the only Universal Studios in South East Asia. I took time off from my busy schedule and travelled down to Singapore to experience what 49 acres theme park has installed for us.

Though I never had the chance to travelled all the themed zones but I really did have a lot of fun. Trust me, it's all worth it!

Let me take you a merry-go-round in Universal Studios Singapore.

New York

Universal Studios Singapore welcomes you with its New York zone. Themed after post-modern of Big Apple, it features sidewalks and classic landmarks that reflect the good old charm of New York. I’m such a huge fan of NYC so I hope the people around me wouldn’t mind if I was humming New York, New York by Frank Sinatra. It also features the replica of New York Public Library and Rockefellar Centre.

The street also dubbed as Sesame Street with performance of Elmo, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster and Oscar. Though they are my childhood favourite puppets but don't ever think to have the chance to snap a picture with them - they were swarmed by crowds!

Since it was Christmas, a huge Christmas tree was set up in front of the library and they even had artifical snow fall at selected hours. Really, the Christmas mood reached fever pitch among the visitors when the announcer announced “Ladies and Gentlemen, Universal Studios Singapore would like to wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” and followed by snow fall serenaded with my all time favourite Christmas song - All I Want For Christmas is You.

The place gotta visit in New York is Lights! Camera! Action! By Steven Spielberg. After the briefing by Steven Spelberg (in video of course), we were directed to the main sound stage in which modelled after the interior of a boathouse in New Work City. Once it is action, the projection of NYC skyline slowly darkens with thunder and lightning fill the room. It followed by heavy rain pours as the Hurricane powered 5 is rapidly pounding NYC. We were immersed in various effects such as strong wind, intense fire, signboards crashing through the roof, windows blown away and the big finale with a ship crashing to the boathouse. It was very surreal!!

Sci-Fi City

Next stop, Sci-Fi City. It is themed after what city will look like in the future. We were lucky that time as when we reached there, Optimus Prime just emerged for photo opportunity. Trust me, the queue was very long and underneath the scorching sun.

The attraction gotta try there is 4-D Transformer Ride. The motion stimulator uses ride-vehicle tehnology with different track layout that spans across two levels with giant 3D-HD screens. We were given an exhililating ride around 10 minutes in the autobot vehicle chased by robots. We were spunned around and fell from highrise buildings and sprayed by water and fog!! An hour of queue for 10 minutes ride, it was all worth it! It is a must-visit-ride when you are at Universal Studios Singapore.

Other attractions at Sci-Fi City: Accelerator Teacups, Battlestar Galactica HUMAN and CYLON Steel Duelling Seated Roller Coaster and Steel Dueling Inverted Roller Coaster respectively.

Ancient Eygpt

Travel back in time to Ancient Eygpt - enriched by Egyptian architecture and artifacts found during the Golden Age of Eygptian Exploration in the 1930s.

Ok, I’m a chicken, so I didn’t ride the Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. I heard it is very scary as the roller coaster is built within a complex that is partially lighted with sharp turns and fast reverse. Okay, I’m out of it.

I took this hunk home as my souvenir

Other attractions: Treasure Hunters Mini Car Ride

The Lost World

I guess ‘the lost world’ has been a cliché term for everyone. Ipoh even has its own Lost World and not forgetting the gay curising spot The Lost World in Kuala Lumpur.

Anyway, The Lost World in Universal Studios Singapore features two smaller themed regions : Jurassic Park and Waterworld – which we didn’t have the chance for the ride since it was raining. Damn!! Definitely, I’ll be back for this!

Attraction: Canopy Flyer, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and The Waterworld Arena

Far Far Away

I’m such a huge fan of Shrek and Far Far Away is my most favourite zone. I was above excited in this little town of Far Far Away with its 40-metre tall castle as its main landmark and those little shops featuring Fairy God Mother, Donkey, Princesses and Puss in Boots!

We started our trip here with Donkey Live Performance – an interactive live show using digital ppetry technology that features Donkey entertaining and engaging guests in conversation in real time. Yes,  you can chat with Donkey as in with his original voice. Though it may sound lame with songs performance and Q& A with Donkey but I found it very captivating – look, you can chat with Donkey which sounds like Eddie Murphy!!


Next, we entered the castle for the 4D Shrek Adventure. We were given a horse ride, spit from Donkey, spiders and water splashing as we followed the adventure of Shrek saving Princess Fiona.

Madagascar

It was unfortunate that I didn't have the time for Madagascar also coz it was raining and it was late. I never had the opportunity to take picture with Alex, Gloria, King Julien and Maurice. But I managed to grab a Penguin mug from the souvenir store there though. 

Attraction: Madagascar Water Boat Ride and King Julie’s Beach Party-Go-Round.

Location: Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269

Opening hours: Everyday, 10 am to 7 pm

Entrance:

One day pass

$ 74 (Adults) / $ 54 (Children from 4 to 12) / $ 36 (60 and above)

Two day pass

$ 118 (Adults) / $ 88 (Children from 4 to 12) / $ 58 (60 and above)