RATING: 5 Keys

Go behind the scenes to discover how the Universal movies become real-life through their iconic theme parks.

See how thrills come to life and learn how to build Universal’s iconic attractions and innovative world of theme parks through the lens of Universal’s fan-favorite and family-friendly attractions, including Jaws, Illumination’s Minions, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, Jurassic World, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Monsters, and more. 

Across eight interactive galleries at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, explore more than 100 original artifacts, including authentic costumes, cinematic props, and early concept models. But this isn’t just something to see – it’s something to do.

• Storyboard your own ride
• Animate a character
• Design a monster mask
• Cue a live show
• Experiment with animation and projection mapping

Along the way, hear directly from the artists, engineers, and show creators who transform bold ideas into unforgettable theme park adventures. 

Step through the signature archway into a world of creativity and imagination. The magic and wonder of the movies comes to life at the Universal theme parks, namely Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Epic Universe.

While the global properties, such as Universal Studios Singapore, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, are mentioned, the majority of emphasis is placed upon the USA-based locations. Future resort experiences, such as Universal Studios United Kingdom and the briefly planned Universal Studios Dubailand, are also briefly mentioned.

Eager attraction creators-to-be will experience the marvels that are found within the numerous Universal theme park locales. The way that the movies come to life as  physical manifestations of entertainment is shown to have world-wide appeal, making these points of interest truly… Universal.

Guests are greeted with a recreation of the original Glamour Trams used in the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. The windows of the tram act as portals through time, showcasing highlights and milestones of the Parks’ storied history. It is here that visitors encounter a short video, introduced by Steven Spielberg, detailing how Universal Creative has adapted its movie properties into physical experiences.

Glass cases containing numerous artifacts direct from the parks and attractions line the perimeter of the exhibit floor. The space is broken up into different topics related to the theme park industry: creating storylines for attractions, crafting the mechanics and technology for smooth operations, and designing visually appealing set dressings are just some of the subjects presented. There is even an entire section dedicated solely to how atmosphere is created through themed merchandise! Video interviews of Team Members are displayed throughout, where each person discusses how their roles contribute to making ideas become reality.

Various props that have been used in the parks are peppered alongside models that serve as the “first draft” of what will ultimately become the real life guest experience. Clothing sketches sit beside the finalized costumes, maquettes of animatronics surround the completed robots, and concept art envelops finished set pieces.

Photo opportunities abound throughout the exhibit. These truly help to immerse would-be visitors into the myriad worlds presented within the various “lands” of each theme park. One can sit in a ride vehicle from The Secret Life of Pets, found in Universal Studios Hollywood. Practitioners of sorcery can pretend to be a performer at Le Cirque Arcanus, located within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe. Dinosaur hunters can face off with a menacing Dilophosaurus (although this one doesn’t spit, unlike its attraction-bound counterparts). Thrill-seekers can even take a frightening look at the past via the Terra Queen’s Motorcycle, notably featured in the Terra Guard Run scare zone from 2005’s Halloween Horror Nights: Tales of Terror, which took place in Universal Islands of Adventure.

Don’t forget to pick up your perfect souvenir, because of course, the experience culminates in that oh-so-common theme park feature, the gift shop. See the movies, ride the movies, buy the t-shirt!

Scattered throughout the exhibit hall are a series of stations designed to simulate the actual creation processes used by Universal Team Members. Some are simple touch-screen displays, while others require a more physical approach. Enterprising minds can try their hand at everything from programming a projection-mapping show to crafting a costume for a parade performer.

There are over two dozen different interactive elements to experiment with. Aspiring engineers can put their physics skills to the test by designing a roller coaster and seeing if a virtual car can complete the ride circuit. A series of animatronic sheep, like those found throughout Universal Epic Universe’s How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk (the land themed to the popular film franchise) can be programmed to move and be controlled with joysticks. Fans of the spooky side of the parks can set the atmosphere for their own Halloween Horror Nights-style haunted house by adding lighting and sound effects to a static model, representing either a mysterious mansion, or a monstrous laboratory.

Museum-goers will challenge their imaginations through each of the individual stations, whether they be physical or digital. Each activation focuses on a different aspect of the park-designing process. They all help demonstrate how a park cohesively comes together.

Universal Theme Parks- The Exhibition provides an in-depth look at how the wonder of the Universal movies and intellectual properties come to life for visitors around the globe. It is both an entertaining and educational presentation of how some of the most popular parks in the industry are made.

It is important to note that this exhibition is designed to travel, so it is not a permanent display. As of press time, this iteration at the Franklin Institute is slated to end its run on September 7th, 2026. Subsequent touring locations have not yet been announced.

You can find an extended photo gallery from visit to Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition in this exclusive album on the Escape Authority Facebook page. While there, why not give us a “LIKE” if you haven’t already?

Venue: The Franklin Institute

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Experience SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Suggested Duration: 60 minutes

Cost: $47 per person (also includes admission to the rest of the museum)