“Flash Flood,” which simulates the wrath of Mother Nature during a torrential down pour - pelting the tram with “movie rain” and culminating in a devastating flash flood visual effect– will become an even wetter experience as thousands of gallons of water are added to heighten the drama. Studio Tour Tram Introduction to the Flash Flood There’s a story that when a group of dignitaries (including John Wayne) visited the Flash Flood in the early days, the water pressure was still being perfected, and the group got soaked.Ī real-life storm affected the area when a tree was uprooted and crashed through the set in July 2009. Of course, we recycle the water to the reservoir above, ready for the next group of unsuspecting visitors. And when it rains movie-style, it pours on this set, causing a raging flash flood that barely misses your tram.
#Water drift universal studios tv
‘It never rains in Southern California but it ‘rains’ every day in this sleepy Mexican village, the location for such movies and TV shows as ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ and ‘Simon and Simon’. The flood is a tribute to the ingenuity of Universal’s Special Effects Department. If you look closely, you may even see a rainbow. A quiet sunny village has been turned into a rainswept disaster area and then back to its original tranquility in a matter of moments. The water rushes down the cobblestone road only to be recycled back into the tanks. You’ve just survived our menacingly realistic Flood effect – 20,000 gallons of water released from huge storage tanks high above the hill. At the last moment, the flood waters are diverted and the tree miraculously rights itself. The tree is uprouted and the flash flood threatens to swamp the tram. Before you can react, a tree overhead cracks and up the road a wall of water rushes towards you in a monstrous wave. There’s a warning thunderclap, followed by a tropical downpour. (The water is reused and is pumped back into the tanks ready for the next tram to visit.)įollowing the flood, the tram drives off through Mexican Street / Old Mexico towards Six Points Texas.įrom sun to storm in a matter of moments.Īs you go down a sleepy Mexican village road, the weather suddenly takes a turn for the worse. The other gag is about the fact that the water is not wasted – it’s all recycled… right up through the drinking fountains around the upper lot. Gene Kelly wasn’t really “Singing in the Rain” – he was singing in the milk!! (the story is true – only the punchline is cheesy!). Guides commonly use two “gags” in this area: Early film-makers realised that pure Californian water doesn’t show up well on film, so they added powdered milk to the water to make it more visible. The effect was added to the tour in 1968 and has appeared in countless films including Big Fat Liar and Fletch Lives. Then, just as the tram drives off, the water drains off the set and is pumped back to the dump tanks ready for the next tram to pass. A wooden cart swings perilously close to the tram and a signpost is thrown over by the force of the flood water. The rain won’t turn off – sometimes too much rain causes flooding – wait! What’s that at the top of the hill? A wall of water rushes down the hill and threatens to engulf the tram.
The tour guide then demonstrates a thunderstorm effect using powerful strobe lighting and thunder sound effects.
#Water drift universal studios movie
The tour guide demonstrates a movie “rain” effect involving rain bars which direct a spray of water upwards which then falls looking like rain. After coming down the hill from the Transportation Department and Jurassic Park prop display, the tram pauses next to a winding street running through a Mexican village.
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