St Edmund's

La La Land – Day 5

Another day of sunshine and it’s Clara’s birthday! After a slightly later start, once again stocked up with waffles and coffee, we head off to Universal studios for a full day of action-packed celebration and entertainment, with thrilling Theme Park rides, shows, restaurants, shops full of merchandise and memorabilia. From magical spells to magical creatures, from dark villains to daring heroes, the pupils loved everything it had to offer as they faced action head-on, in heart-pounding rides, shows and attractions. 

Some of the highlights for us included the Harry Potter experience where we entered through the towering castle gates and made our way down the familiar passageways and corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before boarding our broomsticks and soaring above the castle grounds to join Harry Potter and his friends on a thrilling adventure ride which used state-of-the-art technology (and a little magic) to create a one-of-a-kind ride. The Mummy ride found us digging our nails into the safety rail, holding on tight as we rushed forwards and back on the track, fleeing from the evil Mummy Imhotep. Just as it seemed we might have escaped, we were plunged straight down into a pitch-black abyss with no end in sight. With our hearts racing, we wondered whether we would ever see daylight again. Or would we remain sealed inside the tomb forever? Again and again the pupils rode the rides – from the incredible virtual reality of Transformers to the gentler, but wetter, Jurassic Park ride. The entertainment, fun – and the sunshine – seemed never ending. Golly, what a place to spend your 17th birthday!

From there we returned to Clara’s favourite, the Original Farmers’ Market, for a celebration meal and a bit of retail therapy in the Grove shopping centre, one of the classiest malls in Los Angeles. Then it was back to the hotel, to find Benson Boone in the Lobby with his entourage. The things we’ve seen this week….

Howard Sykes

Assistant Director of Drama