Grinchmas Comes to Universal Studios Hollywood!

Hey everyone!

I've just gotten back from Universal Studios Hollywood for the media event for the opening of Grinchmas! This is the first time the event has come to the California park and it looks great!

Kids will absolutely LOVE playing in the real snow and hanging out with the Grinch characters!

There are a couple of areas of snow to play in, and if you're a So Cal local that doesn't get up to the mountains, snow can be quite a rare commodity around these parts!

There's also some fun to be had at the tree lighting ceremony and on the tram tour as we are told "Whoville comes to life" (I'm assuming they mean they will do a little song and dance at the Whoville set or maybe have characters walking around. This part wasn't open today.)

Anyway, I'll let the pictures do most of the talking, but if you're looking for something fun and unique to bring the kids to during the holidays then check out Grinchmas!

Don't worry Cindy-Lou Who...we will!!!

The Grinch and the inhabitants of Whoville welcome you to come hang out! Bring your kids! They will love the snow!

So that wraps up our Grinchmas 2008 Report!

Hellllooooooo kiddies!

And when you come in the park, you'll notice all the Christmas decorations and don't forget your "glutton pass!"

Yay! Distorted Giant Christmas Tree Ball MySpace Photo!!!

Grinchmas has some big balls!

Yes that is one BIG tree!

And yes, Max the Dog is here too!

...unless you are there on Media day!

The Cast Members even have new costumes for the event!

And more fun in there!

There are a couple of different snow play areas...

...and a shirt for Jahan.

...with plenty of fun little Grinch toys...

Of course you'll find a shop themed to Grinchmas...

The Grinch seems to approve of this malicious behavior!

Poor Mr. Snowman! What have these kids done to you???

This kid goes in for the kill and rips Mr. Snowman's eye out!!!

Snowballs are flying through the air everywhere!

His hat is gone, nose is gone and it's looking pretty beat up!

There is snow flying EVERYWHERE! Kids going insane! OMG! Someone help Mr. Snowman!!!

ATTACK!!!!

Together they count down the final moments of Mr. Snowman's life!

It's Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa! (I think he kind of trumps the Whoville Mayor)

The Grinch, Cindy-Lou Who and the Mayor of Whoville invite someone up to the stage...

In Whoville, snowballs = weapons...you'll see what I mean in just a few moments!

"I wonder what happens if I press this button?"

The Whoville characters do some singing and dancing because that's what they do!

"Hey now! This event is about ME!!!"

Wow, Cindy-Lou Who is all grown up and OMG, she's HOT!!!

And this kid is developing a weapon of mass snowman destruction!

These kids have a plan in store for poor Mr. Snowman...

Little does this snowman know it's about to meet it's maker!

Yup, it's a huge tree!

Aha! Looks like I'm in the right place!

Keep following the signs...

Sorry, Beetlejuice, today's event isn't about you...

Yay! A new seasonal event at Universal. It's cool to see some events from Florida invade the Hollywood park!

Looks like they did a nice job decorating the park.

Looks like really fun event! I'm assuming you don't get much snow in the Los Angeles area, so the snow play area is a cool idea.

This event really doesn't look like much, but I'm gonna try and see the event for myself!

^ Thing is, it really IS geared more for kids.

Wow, Cindy-Lou Who is all grown up and OMG, she's HOT!!!

Looks like a fun event and glad to see something new for USH.

That's Amazing. Is it their first time doing this at USH?

^ Thing is, it really IS geared more for kids.

I see, but If I do go there I would probably just look at it and think of the rest of the day as a regular trip to Universal.

I got a kick out of the Snowball attack photos and captions, Robb.

Anyways, thanks for the update! I hadn't heard about Grinchmas at Universal Hollywood until just a day ago or so, so I was interested to see how this would turn out. Looks like a definate good thing for families and the Snow Play Areas would even amuse me. (Stupid Florida with no snow!!!)

-Justin

Having just watched the movie the other night, I can't help but be in awe of the fact that it is the same complete theatrical mask/makeup as Jim Carrey wears in the film. God I wish we were closer to you LA or Florida so that I could take Sammi to see that.

You gonna take KT to play in the snow?

Shari

I am always happy to see a park trying something new, no matter who it is geared to or how big or small it is, and this looks like a great holiday addition to USH. I will be interested to see what the tram tour part will be like.

Thanks for bringing us the update so fast!

Great pics & update Robb! I think an area just for snowball fights would be a cool. It would be a chance for kids in So Cal to experience an authentic snow ball fight Maybe next year.

Nice photos.

Nice to other parks out west besides Disneyland having a Christmas event.

I got a kick out of the Snowball attack photos and captions, Robb.

 

Anyways, thanks for the update! I hadn't heard about Grinchmas at Universal Hollywood until just a day ago or so, so I was interested to see how this would turn out. Looks like a definate good thing for families and the Snow Play Areas would even amuse me. (Stupid Florida with no snow!!!)

 

-Justin

I would rather be in Florida. I hate winter & I'm not a big fan of snow. Remember snow=no coasters (except Japan!)

I don't know why it took so long to get a USF event to come to USH.

The event looks fun with the snow areas! I like how the Grinch and the Mayor look so much like they do in the Jim Carrey movie.

Thanks for the pictures Robb!

I remember going to USH last November for Thanksgiving with my family, and the weather was VERY nice compared to New Orleans.

I wish we had something like his down here.

USH, not the Christmas event.

Pipe dream. But thanks!

Wow, the charachters look the EXACT FREAKIN' SAME as the movie! I'm so impressed. Looks like a fun time!

-JZ

This looks great.....they do look the same as in the movie...too bad im not back in cali right now...i would totally go!

Thank you for posting this I was going to ask if anyone has been. How many who characters are their?

One funny thing I saw on my trip at USF was we just meet the Grinch from the movie and guess who walking around out side the Grinch from the cartoon.

That definitely looks fun for kids. Shows at least Universal still has some love for its Hollywood park.

Have they mentioned what's going to happen to where the King Kong building used to be? I hear they are going to replace it with some new attraction, but I hope they rebuild it instead. Its simply a classic part of the Studio Tour.

Nice pix, thanks for the update. I was wondering where they'd do it -- seems kinda small, but I'm sure kids will eat it up (hopefully not literally -- ick). I'm surprised they didn't do a snow slide like IOA used to do.

Did you see the tram tour? Did they add anything to the whoville sets?

^ They didn't have the tram tour part of WhoVille open to us yesterday, btu they say that "Whoville will come to life on the tram tour" so I'm assuming that means they will make a stop there and at least have some characters wandering around...maybe a short song and dance.

I'm sure once it opens up for real tomorrow someone will report!

--Robb

ps. Nice to see you posting here Dave!

I will make a point of posting more! Thank YOU for having such a great site and a great bunch of folks here

Nice report, Robb

I thought that was you running by out front (I spotted the TPR shirt).

That definitely looks fun for kids. Shows at least Universal still has some love for its Hollywood park.

 

Have they mentioned what's going to happen to where the King Kong building used to be? I hear they are going to replace it with some new attraction, but I hope they rebuild it instead. Its simply a classic part of the Studio Tour.

I heard they were replacing it with the King Kong from the 2005 movie.

But Grinchmas looks great I can't wait to go next weekend.