Okay. Yesterday, JHM told you about how the Universal Orlando Resort celebrates the holidays with its “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” stage show.
Meanwhile — out on the West Coast — Universal Studios Hollywood takes a somewhat different approach to the holidays. With everyone from King Kong …
… to Krusty the Klown getting decked out in their Christmas finery.
Photo by Shelly Smith
USH is also playing up NBC Universal’s association with the Grinch this holiday season. But instead of sticking with a single stage show built around “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” as their sister park in Orlando has, Universal Studios Hollywood has Grinched itself from top to bottom. The place is virtually infested (in a festive sort of way, of course) with Whos this holiday season.
The Upper Lot is basically Ground Zero for USH’s Grinchmas celebration …
Photo by Shelly Smith
… where — at the base of the Whos’ towering Christmas tree — guests are invited to frolic in real snow …
Photo by Shelly Smith
… or they can have their picture taken with the Grinch and/or any one of a dozen or more residents of Whoville who wander around the Upper Lot as part of this USH holiday celebration.
Photo by Shelly Smith
Now you have to remember that the live action version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was actually shot right here on the Universal lot. And USH certainly plays that fact up on their tram tour during the holiday season. First by having tour guides point out Stage 12, the cavernous old soundstage where Ron Howard shot that Jim Carrey movie back in 2000. Then by stopping the tram in front of the actual Whoville sets from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on the backlot. Where a group of live performers come out and perform a number from that motion picture.
Photo by Shelly Smith
This day-long celebration of Grinchmas concludes with a tree-lighting ceremony up on the Upper Lot. Where the Whos all gather at the base of that huge Who Christmas tree and — after naming the Grinch the Who-manitarian of the Year — throw the switch. Which then fills this towering fir with festive holiday lights.
Photo by Shelly Smith
And speaking of festive holiday lights … I gotta give Universal Studios Hollywood credit for recognizing that Christmas isn’t the only holiday that’s celebrated this time of year. Which was why it was terrific to walk out of that theme park straight into Universal CityWalk’s 6th Annual Chanukah Festival.
Several thousand people had gathered for the first night of the festival of lights. Which featured music, games for the kids and cookie decorating. Even the lighting of a 15-foot tall menorah.
Photo by Shelly Smith
I don’t know why. But between the Whos’ fantasy Christmas celebration and the Jews’ very real Chanukah celebration, I left Universal Studios Hollywood feeling … Well, merrier than I had in quite a while.
So if you find yourself in need of a holiday pick-me-up, you might want to head on over to USH. After all, we all need a little Grinchmas every now and then.
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Happy Holidays!