Over The Top Mommy

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“The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” All-New Ride Set to Open at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 27

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Did you hear the exciting news from Universal Studios Hollywood? The All-New “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” ride will open on March 27, bringing an astounding 64 animated figures to this all-new tech-savvy ride based on Illumination’s blockbuster The Secret Life of Pets films, which answer the question, “What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home?”

The entertaining new ride features original voice talent from The Secret Life of Pets films who will unleash their animal instincts to reprise their roles for this exciting theme park attraction. The talent and their alter egos include Patton Oswalt as Max, Kevin Hart as Snowball, Eric Stonestreet as Duke, Jenny Slate as Gidget, Tiffany Haddish as Daisy, Lake Bell as Chloe, Dana Carvey as Pops, Chris Renaud as Norman, Hannibal Buress as Buddy, Bobby Moynihan as Mel, and Jessica DiCicco as Princess.

“The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” is a heartfelt experience that transforms guests into stray puppies as they journey to become loved and adopted. After all, adoption day is the ultimate rite of passage for every domesticated animal and, as such, the perfect theme of this engaging new ride as these beloved puppies find their forever homes.

Combining 64 technologically-advanced animated figures, “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” invites guests to meet some of their favorite characters from the movies, who themselves have transformed into dimensional beings. From blinking eyes to eye and eyebrow movements, from head tilts to head nods, from moving mouths to smiles, from ear curls to lip curls, from full torso twists to physically walking, the depth of mobility and function programmed within each of these loveable characters creates an experience unlike any other theme park ride.

With the addition of hyper-realistic media and projection mapping, this impressive new ride is designed to fully immerse guests in a dynamic New York City landscape. Seated within ride vehicles that resemble cardboard boxes—reminiscent of where Katie first finds her beloved Max as a puppy—guests will travel along a track towards the Pet Adoption event and the ultimate happy ending: forever homes.

The ride will feature state-of-the-art optical enhanced gesture-tracking technology, which helps to identify each guest as a unique stray puppy for the duration of the ride. With an option to be transformed into one of 15 stray puppies, guests will enjoy a unique experience each time they ride “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!”

Virtual Line technology is another component of the experience, designed to help guests maximize their leisure time at the theme park. Guests can access Virtual Line via the official Universal Studios Hollywood app, available for free in the App Store and on Google Play or they can visit the Virtual Line kiosk located in the New York City subway station, situated adjacent to the ride. Both provide guests with options to experience the ride based on the next available times and will be available to guests within the theme park as needed.

Virtual Line complements the ride’s non-traditional queue which invites guests to explore the area at their leisure and freely roam the ride’s corridors—reminiscent of Katie’s NYC apartment building—explore dachshund Buddy’s apartment, Snowball owner Molly’s living room as well as Max and Duke’s apartment, until they reach the ride’s boarding station.

“The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” will be located on Pets Place, previously referred to as Baker Street, and adjacent to the popular “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” attractions. With the installation of store front facades, Pets Place will capture the charm of a busy New York City street, including an iconic NYC subway station, which serves as the in-park location for the Virtual Line. For more information, please visit http://www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.

image is property of Universal Studios Hollywood and used with permission. 

FunBox: The Colorful Pop-Up Museum of Photo Opps

I received media tickets to visit in exchange for coverage. All opinions are 100% my own. 

When you’re the mom of a teen, they are always the first ones to let you know about all of the cool things that come into town! When my daughter showed me FunBox on Instagram and some of the cute photos they had posted on their page, I knew it was a “must-visit” for us this summer.If you haven’t heard of FunBox yet, lean in closely because I have all of the details right here for you. FunBox description reads “Colorful FUN Museum of Toys“. This interactive, pop-up style attraction includes 25 different rooms with unlimited potential for Instagram-worthy photos and videos. Currently located inside of the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, you can find FunBox within the lower level Food Court area.Know Before You Go 
I would definitely advise looking over FunBox’s Instagram page prior to your visit, to get some inspiration and some ideas for what to wear. Although there is no dress code, you might find that certain outfit choices will photograph better than others. You also might want to bring certain accessories along with you such as sunglasses or other small props.Ticket Prices
Pricing for Fun Box is as follows:

  • Adults (age 13+) : $19.00
  • Kids (ages 4-12) : $14.00
  • Ages 0-3 are FREE.

What to Expect on Your Visit 
When you arrive at FunBox, you’ll see an area to get in line. Prior to getting in line, make sure to grab your tickets, because they are for a specific entry time. (You can get your tickets online here before your visit or when you arrive.) An employee is stationed just outside of the line to answer any questions and as your designated entry time nears, they will explain how your visit will go before letting you inside.

***Tip: Consider being towards the end of the line for the group you’re going in with.  Although you’ll need to wait for the people in front of you to take their photos first, you’ll feel less rushed and have less people running through your photos if you’re last or close to last. Once You’re Inside FunBox
One you go into FunBox, there isn’t a specific time limit but there are certain parts where you aren’t allowed to go back. I would allot about an hour, maybe a little more, to get through all of the rooms and areas. I think it can also vary depending on how crowded it is when you visit. I’m assuming weekends are far busier than weekdays.Some of the rooms you’ll visit at FunBox include: 

  • Teddy Bear Tunnel
  • Bubble Party Ball Pit
  • Human Car Wash
  • Rainbow Throne Room
  • Pig Room
  • Saturday Morning Breakfast

FunBox is located inside of the Westfield Santa Anita Mall at
400 S Baldwin Ave,
Arcadia, CA, 91007

(It’s inside the Food Court, next to Dave + Busters & AMC Movie Theatre and they suggest parking near The Cheesecake Factory)Currently, FunBox is only scheduled to be open through the end of August. Their schedule could extend but I wouldn’t recommend putting off your visit, just in case they do close up shop then. It’s a definite must-visit this summer! For more information about FunBox, please visit their site HERE.