Resorts World Sentosa Universal Studios Singapore

Resorts World Sentosa Universal Studios Singapore has been open since May 2011 but I have just recently had a chance to visit this  relatively new attraction in Sentosa Island. Since Universal Studios Singapore tickets are not cheap and I would definitely need to take some guests to there (this is one of three of Universal Studios theme park outside USA) I have avoided to visit the theme park alone. The day finally came 2 weeks ago when me and my wife needed to join a group of friends visiting the theme park.

Universal Studios Singapore ticket price is 70 Singapore Dollars per person. But there was a promotion to MasterCard so we had a discount ticket for 60 Singapore Dollars. This buys you a whole day in the theme park where you can try many attractions. Opening hours of universal studios is

Here are my reviews on different theme zones in Universal Studios Singapore.

Sci-Fi City
The attractions here are the most I liked in the whole theme park and this theme is the only reason I can come back and enjoy Universal Studios Singapore for a second time. Sci-Fi City houses world's tallest pair of dueling roller coasters, at a height of 42.7 meters and the fantastic Transformers: The Ride, and it is the best theme zone in the theme park for male adults like me. The best attraction in the theme park was Battlestar Galactica: CYLON for me, a suspended roller coaster which travels on an inverted blue track. I have taken it 3 times and if I had not need to continue with others I would probably take it a few more times. The coaster is not for everyone and if you have never taken a rollar coaster, try something more merciful like red track (Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN) and see how your body will react to the torture :) Cylon coaster makes intense maneuvers. It performs 5 inversions in the form of a Cobra roll, corkscrews, vertical loop, and a zero-g roll. But the best part of this unfortunately short ride is a dive into a 5-meter deep pit filled with artificial fog which feels like a near miss with the ground.  Many sudden turns of the coaster which are closed to building makes you feel near miss several times throughout the ride.

Battlestar Galactica : Cylon coaster was the best attraction for me in the

Universal Studios Singapore.

Second best attraction in Universal Studios is the seated roller coaster of dueling roller coasters. This is called Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN and is much easier to take compared to the Cylon version.

And the third best attraction for me was the Transformers: The Ride. I must admit, I was not expecting or ready for this great ride. The attraction is quite new, it was just opened in December 2011. One of my colleague took the ride before me and told me that he was so amazed that he took it 4 times. The experience is really unique. Although you are riding through a track surrounded by 3D high definition screens and only moving up and down 2 storeys, you feel like you are just riding in the middle of a battle fought by Transformers. At one point your vehicle falls from the top of a skyscaper to the hands of Bumblebee in another you speed on a road while attacked by Decepticons. All these scenes feel almost real so you feel like you are riding wide up and down and forward in a large roller coaster!

Transformers The Ride is just awesome.

The Lost World
Only disappointment for me was Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure where you ride a raft among mechanical dinosaurs which look far from feeling real. I have waited almost 30 minutes in the queue and was very disappointed with the  raft water ride. But it is sure that kids will love it, especially the last fall, so do not skip this if you have kids. If you do not want to be soaked with water either bring your plastic raincoat or buy it there. It really gets very wet towards the end. Because of the long queue in the raft ride I could not take Canopy Flyer.

Waterworld live show , which is based on 1995 movie, on the other hand is quite fun and worth waiting for in the seats to start. First 2 colors of rows are for those who do want to get wet so if you are not interested in soaking into water, sit behind the bars.

Waterworld arena in Universal Studios Singapore

Ancient Egypt
Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride is an attraction to be careful about. It is an enclosed steel roller coaster but for some it does not look like that from the outside. One woman from our group did not know what was coming so she was quite shaken after the ride. The roller coaster ride is quite fast and scary especially in the dark alleys of the building. I do not suggest to take young kids to this ride, it seemed more scary to me than the Battlestar Galactica roller coasters. There is a vintage car ride named Treasure Hunters for them in this part of the theme park.

Far Far Away
I enjoy the Shrek movies a lot and I also enjoyed Shrek 4-D Adventure (3D becomes 4D once the seats start to spit water on you!) which lasts about 17 minutes. Do not miss Enchanted Airways, an outdoor steel junior roller coaster. If you have never taken roller coaster before you can practice here by riding the dragon :)

Tips

• Check Resort World Sentosa Promotions web page for any available universal studio Singapore promotion.
• At the ticket counter query the ticket seller for any promotion. I was buying and she was selling 2 x 70 SGD per person ticket happily until my wife asked whether there was any promotion. After that we have learned that there was a promotion for the MasterCard.
• Check the weather forecast before heading to Sentosa Island. You will mostly be outside so you should avoid visiting the theme park days with heavy showers.
• There is Universal Express you can consider which allows you jump the queue. It costs 30 dollars more. It only worths to buy express in peak periods.
• There is also an Annual Pass for about 338 SGD per adult.
• Avoid Universal Studios Singapore during Singapore's public holidays.
• Plan your route ahead before going in. You can use the interactive Universal Studios Singapore map here. Especially note the timetables of the shows like Waterworld.
• Go to Universal Studios Singapore early since there are many things to do in the theme park.
• Eat before going in since eating inside (or anywhere on Sentosa Island) is slightly expensive. It can save money if you bring your first round of soft drinks with you.
• Bring some water with you and do not thrown the bottles when they finish. There are many places you can fill the bottles with drinking water, which is also expensive in the theme park.
• In the Battlestar Galactica: CYLON, try to sit in the first row for more thrill and action :)
• There are many attractions which can soak you in the water. Bring a spare T-Shirt and a towel.