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Universal Studios Hollywood – Super Silly Funland – Theme Parkaholics

I’m a huge Despicable Me fan. Ha Banana. So upon hearing that Universal Studios Hollywood added in an area dedicated to Despicable Me, that is when I jumped on the annual pass train for Universal.

So for my first Theme Parkaholics post I present you, Universal Studios Hollywood.
While Universal is a bit more of a drive than Disneyland is, it’s still a fun place to go to. The last time I went to Universal Studios Back to the Future was still there and no one knew of what a Transformer was, well at least movie wise to all my comic book fans.

So with the great success of Despicable Me, Universal Studios decided to invest lots of money and make Super Silly Funland into a reality for kids. You see, Universal Studios used to be geared towards teens and adults because how can you compete with Disneyland not too far south of you. But with the new addition, it’s making Universal Studios a more kid friendly place.To get to Super Silly Funland you have to walk through the streets of Europe until you reach the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem ride. The first time I went to Universal, this ride was only a 30 minute wait, but as soon as summer came along it jumped to a 2 hour wait. Safe to say, we didn’t go the second time.

While in line you have misters spraying at you to help protect you from the wonderful LA heat, TVs with minions, and even workers playing catch with you or spraying you with a water gun. The ride itself is a fun 3D simulator. You basically get to become a minion and part of Gru’s top secret mission, which will first be led by the girls putting you through basic minion training.

So if you’re a fan of minions, bananas, and just love Despicable Me, you’ll surely love this ride as much as I did. And hey, at the end you get to be a part of a dance party.

But after you get out of the Minion Mayhem, the fun doesn’t stop there. You end up in the Despicable Me store filled with everything Despicable me, I ended up buying my very own minion cup and I love it!

And then you end up outside in none other than SUPER SILLY FUNLAND! AGH!
This little corner of the park includes a ride for small children, game booths filled with fluffies (and cheating workers who don’t let older kids win), and a mini waterpark all the while blasting songs like Happy by Pharrel (one of my favorite songs) and the whole Despicable Me soundtrack.

And yes, I said waterpark. During the summer this place is filled with dripping wet children in their bathing suits, if they’re a veteran, or just in their t-shirt and shorts. I have not had the pleasure to go through this waterpark, but I have passed by it and I would definitely have my bathing suit and change of clothes ready if I were to go through it.

But my favorite part of Super Silly Funland is hidden behind the waterpark. There is this balcony with little view finders and you can see the whole Universal Back lot and the mountains behind it. It was a beautiful site, unfortunately this is where smokers can smoke, but on a slow day it’s quite beautiful to overlook studio city from high above. Check out my video here.

Overall Super Silly Funland in Universal Studios is a great place to take the kids during the summertime and maybe even take a picture with a minion or two.

Cheers my travelers. Hope you enjoyed the first edition of Theme Parkaholics!

22 August, 2014 by Lost With Yvonne | 3 Comments

Theme Parkaholics

These posts are simple, it’s about theme parks. I simply love going to theme parks. I’m an adventure seeker and roller coasters, expensive food, and scary mazes help fill some void in my life.

I currently hold annual passes for Disneyland/California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood and Knotts Berry Farm/ Knotts Soak City. So at least once every month I’ll feature a theme park, ride or food found in a theme park and maybe even a tip or two and blog about it. I’ll post awesome pictures and some videos and show you how fun theme parks can be. I’ll probably even include zoos and fairs and things of the like.

I hope all you travelers enjoy my Theme Parkaholics posts because I know we’ve all been to a theme park at least once in our lives and whether you bring your children there now or still run around in a theme park with the child within you, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.

Do you have a favorite theme park that brings out the inner child in you? Comment below or tweet me @lostwithyvonne.

20 August, 2014 by Lost With Yvonne | 2 Comments

Comic-Con International: San Diego – The Flashback

So San Diego Comic Con 2014 has come and passed. And I was not there again this year and I’m okay with that.

Why would I be okay with it? Well that answer is as simple as saying that I don’t like crowds and waiting in lines (a reason why Disneyland can be conflicting to me).

But I have had the great privilege and pleasure to have gone to TWO Comic-Con Internationals in San Diego in my life. That’s two more than a lot of people.

On the Trolley to Comic-Con, just a tad excited.

It’s been years since my last Comic-Con experience and every year I hear how it keeps getting bigger and bigger. Comic-Con in San Diego is the biggest event that San Diego holds every summer. And big name celebs and directors all come here to reveal movie, book, and TV plots and pilots.

I want to throw it back to the old Comic-Con years I went to and how I felt so out of place at the convention they call ‘for the nerds’.

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7 August, 2014 by Lost With Yvonne | 0 comments

Fab (and fattening) Fair

The San Diego County Fair or known as The Fab Fair for this year’s theme was quite a full-filling experience. And I mean that literally.

Located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which is the Del Mar Racetracks, as usual, the fair consisted of lots of unhealthy eating, thrill rides that make you re-think having eaten that deep fried corndog, and so many little shops you feel like you’re in an infomercial. And even though my body hated me the next day after binge eating grease and who knows what else, I am so glad I got to have a big cheat day and eat all that delicious food.

The San Diego County fair has always been special to me. I’ve grown up going to the SD Fair; it’s always a big deal in San Diego, as is any fair in any city really. But this fair has always been my main one. I mean I’ve performed a dance on one of the concert stages, worked for a radio station during the Michael Jackson zombie tribute, did the scary bungee ball ride.

But this year, we focused on the food, as it’s supposed to be.

The fair is always known for making the most outrageously bad, but actually so good, food for you. And every year the heart cloggers get more and more grandiose. While I didn’t try it, this year’s big heart attack item was called the Triple Decker Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger and I have heard reviews that it is good. I guess it tastes like it sounds: a cheeseburger wrapped around two glazed donuts, so if you’re up for it. I say, why not?

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2 July, 2014 by Lost With Yvonne | 3 Comments

Beautiful Disaster: San Diego Wildfires

As I drove to work, early Thursday morning on May 15, 2014, I looked east as the sun began to peek out through the mountains on my hour long commute. As I left Riverside County into my hometown of northern San Diego I saw a haze covering the city with a smell of burning land and smoke.

Fire season started early this year.

I know my blog is about traveling and the great things about it. But sometimes we also need to realize in some of the most beautiful places, there can be much danger deep in its root.

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19 May, 2014 by Lost With Yvonne | 0 comments