Ride the Movies: TRANSFORMERS: The Ride - Warped Factor - Words in the Key of Geek.

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Ride the Movies: TRANSFORMERS: The Ride

Raff returns with another 'Ride the Movies' review, this time it's the turn of Transformers: The Ride at Universal Studios Orlando.


Transformers: The Ride is one of the newest attractions at Universal Studios Orlando and I couldn’t wait to get on it. As soon as you walk around the park, you notice it. It is based in a massive building that is grey on the outside, and it has a model of Optimus Prime on the side. It basically looks like a large N.E.S.T (Non-biological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty) base.


First Impression
My first impression of the building housing Transformers was that it looked like a bit of a eye-sore. But, then I looked in the direction of the old Jaws ride, where all the building work for Harry Potter was taking place, and then I didn’t think it looked so bad. Once you have looked at it for a few minutes, you begin to wonder what was there before that.

The closer that I got to the building, the anticipation levels grew. By the time I got passed Mel’s Diner and reached the entrance, I was a little ball of energy that needed to go on the ride...right that second...or I was going to die!

Photos
I was lucky enough to be in the Park during Halloween Horror Night and Transformers was one of the rides that remained open. So, the park was dark and as I walked around the corner I saw a flash of light, and then Optimus Prime was standing right in front of me. WE COULD GET OUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH HIM! I nearly collapsed with excitement. However, by the time I got to the front of the queue, he had left. I guess he went back to his dressing room or something.

After being the only grown up surrounding the photographer in tears, he told me that Bumblebee was on his way out. I brightened up because I secretly liked him better anyway.

Check out the picture below:


I am not going to lie, I did want to get a bit closer and have a little cuddle, but I think my friends had told the photographer to not let me get too close. I have form for not letting go.

The only thing I didn’t like about the photo section is that the park photographer, or the queue ‘bodyguard’, will not take a picture on your camera. You have to use their picture and buy it, or one of your friends has to be a camera ninja and take the picture when they are not looking.

Luckily, my friends are self-confessed camera ninjas and managed to take a pretty good picture for me. Universal, the Disney photographers are better than yours – yes, I went there too.


Inside
The queue for this ride is one of the longest areas that I have ever seen. If you are unlucky enough to join the queue when it is still outside, then you are looking at a 2-3 hour wait, unless they have improved the system since I was on the ride.

Theming of the queue area was brilliant. They have done it up like a N.E.S.T holding area and you are waiting to get your mission. There are weapons and display cases all over the place and there are screens that give you little messages from military personnel about your mission and how you can cope with what is about to befall you.


Ride Mission
As you get closer to the front, Optimus Prime comes on the screens and gives you your mission, which is to help EVAC protect the Allspark and keep it away from the Decepticons.

Then it is time to get into the vehicle and enjoy the ride.

The Ride
The Transformers ride itself utilizes 3D inside a moving vehicle, and sometimes things are thrown at you, like water, or smoke. They're not going to throw Decepticons at you! I would say that it is more like a 4D ride because you do experience things that are not just shown on the screen.

I did enjoy the ride; the use of 3D was amazing. People in my car were screaming and trying to jump out the way. I would like to tell you that I wasn’t one of them, but I would be lying. I totally screamed and grabbed onto the stranger in front of me. The interaction between the vehicle and the images on the screen is something that blew me away. It was flawless.

I will tell you that I was a bit disappointed with the ride, but I guess that has more to do with my expectations of it. I thought it was going to be a completely new experience, when it is actually a lot like the Amazing Spiderman Ride over at Islands of Adventure. So, if you have been on that, the only thing that is going to be different for you is the 3D and the main story of the ride.

I loved the interaction between the characters on screen. There were times when they were actually quite funny, and I especially loved it when Bumblebee appeared. He had his music playing and was looking all cute. I LOVE HIM.


Staff
One thing I did notice was that the staff seemed genuinely happy. I mean it must get boring for them doing the same thing over and over again, and the staff on Hollywood’s Rip Ride Rockit looked miserable. But, on Transformers: The Ride they were cheering, and not to blow my own trumpet but one of them tried to chat me up!

Rating: Overall, I enjoyed Transformers: The Ride but it did not blow me away. So, I have to give it an 8/10

Tune in next month, when I will be telling you my thoughts on the Harry Potter ride at Universal!

Raff is a massive Disney Geek, Thrill Seeker, Gamer and Comic Book reader.
Basically she's an all round massive geek!
When she isn't writing, watching movies and TV shows, she is busy traveling the world and riding as many theme park rides as she can.
Read more reviews from Raff at nerdasylumonline.com and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & YouTube.

Previous 'Ride the Movies'
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

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