The Spectacular Santa's All-Star Christmas at Universal Studios Singapore
Media Invite
It has been two consecutive years since we visited Universal Studios Singapore over Christmas. The biggest TIP I could share is, "Watch All Shows In The Day and Take All Rides At Night!" You get to save on that Express Pass ticket and avoid getting sun burnt under this unusual December heat.
Choose a weekday to visit please. We went on a Tuesday because...
We initially planned a Sunday trip but was put off by the queue to enter - it was so long, it went beyond the USS Globe! With that, daddy took a weekday off from work to enjoy the park together with us. I had expected it to be a lot less crowded but there was still a queue to enter. Granted, a lot shorter than a weekend's.
[Note: USS extends its hours from 1000 to 2100 hours daily for Santa's All-Star Christmas from 1 December 2016 to 2 January 2017]
The queue for each ride took a minimum wait of 45 minutes long. It just seemed quite impossible for my four year old to stand in line for close to an hour while my two year old wait on the outside. Think about the burnt they may get under the sun as well! Yikes!
Our USS Plan
1000 to 1500 hours - Scheduled shows and meet-and-greets from Sesame Street, Madagascar, Puss in Boots and the Christmas Specials remarkably choreographed for 2016 Santa's All-Star Christmas
1500 to 1730 hours - Head home for afternoon nap [we live really near]
1800 hours - Dinner
1830 to 2100 hours - Hit the Rides!
What an awesome plan! When we came back for the rides after dinner, we were always next in line for the next round.
I especially love USS over Christmas because of the programmes they put up like the hourly snowfalls, characters dressed for Christmas and the decorations that brighten up the park with decks of holly. While there were some very impressive Christmas showcases in 2015, we were blown away by this year's Universal Journey and Santa Village.
UNIVERSAL JOURNEY
Opening Hours: 1000 to 2000 hours
Where: SoundStage 28
A big banner reading Universal Journey sits between Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase and the Sesame Street Shop. Yet, everyone were rushing to be first in queue for the rides instead! We were, surprisingly, the only ones in this dazzling indoor capsule. Oh how I love having the whole place to ourselves.
I had thought this was an outdoor venue that turned a particular space into a stunning light feature in the night. How clever to make this a sheltered showcase [But why of course. What if it rained?] for patrons to enjoy the countless illuminating lights in the comfort of air-conditioning! Ever since this exhibit had been popping up on my Facebook feed in November, I knew we had to visit.
This is a record-breaking light display with eight thematic zones and 824,961 light bulbs involved! If you do go, you will be experiencing a Guinness World RecordsTM exhibit for the largest light bulb display in an indoor venue! This is the park's headlining attraction!
SANTA VILLAGE
Opening Hours: 1400 to 1700 hours | 1800 hours to 1 hour before park closes
Where: Entrance next to New York Public Library
Oh what is Santa Village? I wasn't too sure because media had been blasting Universal Journey a lot more than Santa Village. We were in for a happy surprise when we entered this indoor town! USS had magically transported Santa's Village from the North Pole here to tropical Singapore!
I say they did a great job choreographing this place where we got to experience a slice of winter. Santa's helpers were everywhere! They were dancing, making merry, being cheeky and absolutely a dear to talk to. Oh and Santa was there for photo-taking opportunities as well!
We even had a long conversation with Mrs Claus! I must say these actors had executed a splendid job. She actually spoke as if she WAS from North Pole, asking Faye where she came from and went, "Ohh!! From Singapore! That is a very very long way from here my dear."
Ah! And you can catch snowfall here right after the elves and tin soldiers perform their dance!
FESTIVE CHARACTER MEET AND GREET
Who doesn't love Oscar? Even cuter when he's all dressed up for Christmas! Oh he is the Ebenezer Scrooge of Christmas. He's such a Bah Humbug! But we love him still.
The characters meet-and-greets are even more special this holiday season because of the the woollen hats and ear muffs they don on. I was chasing them like crazy and felt like a kid all over again! I think I WAS THE KID!
Choose a weekday to visit please. We went on a Tuesday because...
We initially planned a Sunday trip but was put off by the queue to enter - it was so long, it went beyond the USS Globe! With that, daddy took a weekday off from work to enjoy the park together with us. I had expected it to be a lot less crowded but there was still a queue to enter. Granted, a lot shorter than a weekend's.
[Note: USS extends its hours from 1000 to 2100 hours daily for Santa's All-Star Christmas from 1 December 2016 to 2 January 2017]
The queue for each ride took a minimum wait of 45 minutes long. It just seemed quite impossible for my four year old to stand in line for close to an hour while my two year old wait on the outside. Think about the burnt they may get under the sun as well! Yikes!
Our USS Plan
1000 to 1500 hours - Scheduled shows and meet-and-greets from Sesame Street, Madagascar, Puss in Boots and the Christmas Specials remarkably choreographed for 2016 Santa's All-Star Christmas
1500 to 1730 hours - Head home for afternoon nap [we live really near]
1800 hours - Dinner
1830 to 2100 hours - Hit the Rides!
What an awesome plan! When we came back for the rides after dinner, we were always next in line for the next round.
I especially love USS over Christmas because of the programmes they put up like the hourly snowfalls, characters dressed for Christmas and the decorations that brighten up the park with decks of holly. While there were some very impressive Christmas showcases in 2015, we were blown away by this year's Universal Journey and Santa Village.
UNIVERSAL JOURNEY
Opening Hours: 1000 to 2000 hours
Where: SoundStage 28
A big banner reading Universal Journey sits between Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase and the Sesame Street Shop. Yet, everyone were rushing to be first in queue for the rides instead! We were, surprisingly, the only ones in this dazzling indoor capsule. Oh how I love having the whole place to ourselves.
I had thought this was an outdoor venue that turned a particular space into a stunning light feature in the night. How clever to make this a sheltered showcase [But why of course. What if it rained?] for patrons to enjoy the countless illuminating lights in the comfort of air-conditioning! Ever since this exhibit had been popping up on my Facebook feed in November, I knew we had to visit.
This is a record-breaking light display with eight thematic zones and 824,961 light bulbs involved! If you do go, you will be experiencing a Guinness World RecordsTM exhibit for the largest light bulb display in an indoor venue! This is the park's headlining attraction!
SANTA VILLAGE
Opening Hours: 1400 to 1700 hours | 1800 hours to 1 hour before park closes
Where: Entrance next to New York Public Library
Oh what is Santa Village? I wasn't too sure because media had been blasting Universal Journey a lot more than Santa Village. We were in for a happy surprise when we entered this indoor town! USS had magically transported Santa's Village from the North Pole here to tropical Singapore!
I say they did a great job choreographing this place where we got to experience a slice of winter. Santa's helpers were everywhere! They were dancing, making merry, being cheeky and absolutely a dear to talk to. Oh and Santa was there for photo-taking opportunities as well!
We even had a long conversation with Mrs Claus! I must say these actors had executed a splendid job. She actually spoke as if she WAS from North Pole, asking Faye where she came from and went, "Ohh!! From Singapore! That is a very very long way from here my dear."
Ah! And you can catch snowfall here right after the elves and tin soldiers perform their dance!
FESTIVE CHARACTER MEET AND GREET
The characters meet-and-greets are even more special this holiday season because of the the woollen hats and ear muffs they don on. I was chasing them like crazy and felt like a kid all over again! I think I WAS THE KID!
USS BY DAY AND BY NIGHT
Oh the loveliness of the park captured just because it looks beautiful with everything all dressed up. I cannot decide if I like the USS in the day or night better.
SNOWFALL
Time: Every hour starting from 1220 hours [except 1720 hours]
Where: Park at New York and Hollywood zones
Coming from a country with only one HOT season, any kind of snowfall [foam or bubbles] will excite the old and young. I wonder when will we ever see real snow fall in the Winter. Oh we have to put that in the plans!
FIREWORKS
Date: 17, 23-26 and 28-31 December 2016
Where: Lake Hollywood
Christmas Fireworks Spectacular should be gorgeous! We didn't get to see it because there wasn't one on our visit but if you'd like to coincide with a fireworks display, take note of those dates! Remember, go weekday! Gosh.. but these hot dates could also be packing USS to the brim!
Live Show "Bah Humbug"
Where: Pantages Hollywood Theater
First thing you should do when you enter the park is to pick up a schedule sheet. Plan which shows you want to catch from there and make it a worthwhile trip!
We had such an enjoyable time in there, I wished it'll never end. Although it was not like the 2015 musical where Sesame Street took centre stage, the whole cast of Sesame Street still made their debut towards the second half of the show that got everyone so excited!
There was even a small segment on an acrobatic stunt which the adults gave very loud applause to.
The fun at the end of the show kept everyone high on adrenaline. Three gigantic balls were thrown off stage for us to bounce around and interact with other audiences! I had expected snowfall but this was better!
Oh! And do take the aisle seats [towards the centre of the theatre] in the first few rows! Some Sesame Street characters will come down to say HELLO!
Oh! And do take the aisle seats [towards the centre of the theatre] in the first few rows! Some Sesame Street characters will come down to say HELLO!
BOOK YOUR TICKETS
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A stay at home mum, blogging to widen her social life.
We want to echo the sound of love through our lives to inspire other mothers alike.
Awesome! Lots of photo and entertainment spots that are suitable for children and parents, eager to take the family for a vacation there. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge about holidays. villakubu.com
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