More Jurassic World observations made after seeing the film 6 times!
This Issue: Jurassic World May As Well Be Universal Studios Isla Nublar!
Having worked on the Universal Studios lot in Studio City and having been to the Theme Park itself once, the similarities to the design Universal Studios Hollywood and the final design of Jurassic World are striking.
When brothers Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zach (Nick Robinson) first arrive at Isla Nublar, we see a covered, staircase/escalator that runs up the side of a steep hill to a monorail. Though only Disney does monorails, the staircase itself is so similar to those running up and down Universal Studios Hollywood, which rests on a sharp hill itself, connecting the upper part of the park with the “New” Simpsons Ride (formally Back to the Future Ride… bummer) to Jurassic Park the Ride at the bottom. I swear, the staircases are so similar, they may have shot one at the real park and changed its surroundings in post-production to look more exotic.
Not interesting enough? What about…
JIMMY FALLON!
In a not-so-subtle cameo (because it’s not supposed to be one, dummy), Jimmy Fallon appears as the host of the Gyrosphere attraction. He makes jokes about the Gyrosphere itself, how safe it is including it’s ability to block Dilophosaurus venom (one of two references to the creature we last saw with… Newman!), yada, yada, yada.
Some people in the auditorium chuckle at Fallon’s cameo when I see Jurassic World, not from a place of amusement from from a place of “what a silly non-sense cameo to include that detracts from the movie.” Or at least that’s what I think that chuckle sometimes means.
Really, this is another idea taken straight from the actual Universal Studios Hollywood Park. Jimmy Fallon is the current video host of the Studio Tour ride, taking over after they revamped it with their 3D King Kong attraction (no one got eaten at that attraction).
Apparently InGen brought in Universal Studios to design its new Park.
All That Product Placement on Main St.
Hey, guess what? The Samsung Innovation Center is not paid product placement by Samsung. 
Looking at all the different brands and restaurants represented on Jurassic World’s Main St, none of that is product placement! Rather, using brands as they do allows the filmmakers to further explore the themes of the film.
In my 1st Jurassic World Explored post, I already discussed the idea of the movie plot imitating life. Just like a real (Universal even) Theme Park, there are sponsors and there are restaurants who want some prime resort real estate. A fully realized Theme Park on Isla Nublar would be flush with both.
Seeing the whole Samsung logo (pictured above) may cause people to groan with product placement fatigue, but it’s all calculated to serve the story. Director Colin Trevorrow claims that there was NO paid Product Placement in the film. And I believe him (like a sucker?).
I mean, look at Main Street! It has a Margaritaville (Fun Cameo: Jimmy Buffet is the dude running with two Margaritas when the Pterodactyls attack)! The whole layout of the Park’s Main St reminds me of Universal City Walk (shopping center adjacent to Hollywood Theme Park entrance) combined with the aesthetic of the restaurant next to the Jurassic Park Ride (within the Theme Park). 
Some of those gates from the angles they shot look like they could have been the ones right there at Universal City Walk. I’ve been behind some of those gates, walked the “Walk” often when I worked at the Studio itself (which was down that crazy staircase on the hill I was talking about!) and it looks awefully familiar.
Next Time on Jurassic World Explored:
They Are Breeding Raptors On Isla Nublar!
Are All The Dinos Still Female!
Jurassic Park Winks and Shoves!
And The Queen of Isla Nublar!
BREAKING GEEK Radio: The Podcast 