This 'Secret Life of Pets' Ride Turns You Into One of the Pups

When you ride The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash at Universal Studios Hollywood you don't just see your favorite characters from the Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment blockbuster film — you become one.

This attraction takes riders on a journey through New York City to reach a pet adoption event and, using facial recognition technology, it actually transforms passengers to look like stray puppies in search of their forever homes.

Upon boarding vehicles that look like cardboard boxes, riders encounter all of the famed franchise's familiar fuzzy friends and feel what it's like to be one of the pets throughout their metropolitan adventure. Yes, the lovable cats and dogs — and rabbit — that comprised the blockbuster film series all appear within the ride, as the full film cast, including Dana Carvey, Jenny Slate, Tiffany Haddish, and Patton Oswalt, reprise their roles for Universal Studios Hollywood's new attraction.

With a mix of multimedia formats including projection mapping, 64 animated figures, and "hyper-realistic media," the lovable Pomeranian Gidget, the shaggy dog Duke, and terrier Max all appear within the Manhattan-based ride. Still, the most surprising character encounter is with the newly domesticated Snowball. The firecracker rabbit, voiced by comedian Kevin Hart in the films, is instead operated by a live puppeteer, making the ride as full of surprises as the movies.

The kid-friendly attraction welcomes riders at least 34 inches tall; riders under 48 inches must have a supervising companion.

This ride at Universal Studios Hollywood uses virtual line technology, so guests can spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying the park. Download the app before your visit so you can make your ride reservations once you arrive at the California theme park.