A Day in the Park with Barney
| A Day in the Park with Barney | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Universal Studios Florida | |
| Area | Woody Woodpecker's KidZone |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1995 |
| Replaced | The Bates Motel Set (1990–1995) |
| General statistics | |
| Theme | Barney and Friends |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Pre-show host | Mr. Peek-a-Boo |
A Day in the Park with Barney is a show at Universal Studios Florida. It opened in 1995, on the former site of The Bates Motel Set used in Psycho IV: The Beginning. It is based on the children's television show, Barney & Friends. It also has a "Barney's Backyard" playground area with a chance to meet Barney in a meet and greet session before and/or after the main show in the Barney Theatre. It is one of the few places where Bob West's voice can still be heard and one of Universal Studios' attempts to appeal to the younger generation.
Outside of the attraction stands a very large sign that reads A Day in the Park with Barney. A bronze Barney statue stands on one foot inside of a fountain. The statue of Barney is all black and is the form of the character in his "Barney's Great Adventure" Cover. The statue is 9 feet and 5 inches in length.
The guests empty from the lines into a covered pre-show area with an odd-looking house facade, covered in pipes, knobs and doors. The setting for the Pre-show is decorated very much like a child would imagine it. Colors, bright lights, and even a Rainbow over the house. The house is owned by the Pre-shows conductor "Peekaboo" who has not yet made his appearance when the guest enter into the pre-show area. Different songs, and sounds are heard through the pre-show area as guest wait for the show to start, and time allows more people to make their way into the are.
The show starts with the pre-show hosts, Patrick/Patricia Alyosius Bartholomew (Mr./Mrs. Peek-A-Boo for short) and his/her parrot, Bartholomew. Peek-A-Boo is a very close friend to Barney, Baby Bop and BJ. He/she is an elderly person, but soon proves to the audience that a viewer's only older in age since Peek-A-Boo's spirit is much like that of a child. Peek-A-Boo is a consistently forgetful character, but once a viewer is reminded what to do, Peek-A-Boo takes pride in reuniting the children with Barney. A song and dance routine comes with a few comedy gags in between. Trying to find the door to Barney's Park, Peek-A-Boo fails to realize that you have to use your imagination. Peek-A-Boo soon remembers and tells the audience to close their eyes and imagine a park (the show's theater). The rain waterfall that blocks the door (decorated to look like a cave) stops dripping, which shows it worked. Peek-A-Boo tells everyone that a viewer will meet them inside.
Inside is an air-conditioned theater, designed to look like a park. In the center, there's an elevated, circular stage in the middle where Barney, Baby-Bop and BJ perform with three ramps equally positioned on each side. In various points of the show, the theater lights change the setting from a sunny day to a starry night. In addition, snow, leaves, and rain fall from the ceiling during certain songs. There is also a special lightning effect for the image of a thunder storm during the point in the show where Barney and his friends prepare to sing "If all the Raindrops". Peek-A-Boo greets the audience and tells them to use their imagination to make Barney appear. Peek-A-Boo starts the show by asking everyone to chant, "Barney!". The lights dim and soft music plays as stars appear in the darkness. Barney appears via a trap door in the middle of the stage. Barney jumps up in the air, and yells "Whoa!" as the crowd cheers, his theme song "Barney Is A Dinosaur" plays in the background, the lights turn on and confetti cannons explode with glitter, recreating his transformation on the television series.
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