Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids

As Shrek: The Final Chapter is opening Friday, May 21, I thought I’d be topical and go to Production Central to visit the main green guy himself.  Now, let us be honest here:  if you’re walking into Universal Studios with a case of the “Not Disneys”, Production Central is not going to help.  It’s studio-themed, but without a Mann Chinese Theatre or even a Sorcerer’s Hat; in fact you will see Rip, Ride, Rocket in the distance.  However, it house a great attraction.  Production Central is also home to Jimmy Neuron’s Nicktoon Blast.  I’m sorry, I’m not a Nicktoon fan, so while I’m sure there are some great things for adults (or you may just be thrilled to meet SpongeBob), I can happily go all of my Universal trips from here on not riding it again.

Shrek 4-D was among the attractions which were new to me on my trip in 2008.  The last time I had been there it was an Alfred Hitchcock attraction, and being the utter goody-goody I was, I did not see it as it was 13 and up.  However, I like Shrek,  The queue has the wonderful attribute of being covered, with misting fans* to keep you cool.  There are funny Shrek parody posters, as well as monitors giving you the setting of the story.  It’s after Shrek, and features Lord Farquaad.  When you enter the (blissfully air-conditioned) pre-show, you discover it is a dungeon.  There are torture objects on the wall, ad you see boxed up versions of the three little pigs.  The Team Members are dressed in dungeon garb, and are stern-looking.   You’re not in Disney anymore.  However, as soon as the Team Member opened his mouth, I relaxed.  Anypace where the guards can say “Please turn off all cell phones, violators will be tortured.  And if you have a beeper, it’s 2008, get a cell phone,” is a place where I can be.  You’re given the standard warning about how to behave in the theater, then you go into the showroom.  It opens with Tinkerbell, but then she gets shot into the wall.  The rest of the show is great, but you might want to avoid it if you’re arachnophobic.

I’d say that Shrek 4-D is comparable to Muppet Vision 3-D, just darker.  And let’s face it, if it weren’t for Disney, the Shrek franchise would fall a bit flat.  Remember the “if I had to hug one more princess….” ads?  The Shrek gift shop has  bunch of tiaras and “princess” stuff.  There is a nearby Donkey and Fiona meet.  Donkey is hysterical, but Fiona seemed less than interested in interacting with me.

*One thing that Disney wins at, hands down, is having a/c in queues; whereas Universal mainly has misting fan.

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