Vote of the week: What should replace Jaws at Universal Orlando?

December 9, 2011, 4:00 PM · We've been having a great conversation on what will replace Jaws at Universal Studios Florida. Go take a look at that post if you haven't yet, because we're going to put some of those options up for a vote.

Jaws
Last bite's on January 2, 2012, so ride now if you don't want to miss it.

Here are our four top options (IMHO):

Harry Potter's London: The hot Internet rumor. A Google Map analysis shows a straight shot from the Jaws site through Universal's backstage area to the current Harry Potter expansion zone, which will consume the Sindbad theater in Islands of Adventure. Guests could travel from the London-themed Harry Potter zone in USF to the Hogsmeade zone in IOA via "Hogwarts Express" trains that would be fitted with electronic "windows" projecting countryside scenes, freeing Universal from the expensive proposition of razing and theming its backstage areas.

Madagascar: A Crate Adventure: This would bring the family-friendly, high-capacity boat ride from Singapore to the United States, taking advantage of the water infrastructure already in place for the Jaws ride. There'd still have to be signficant flume and show building construction to make this happen.

Skull Island boat ride, with King Kong 360:3D Orlando-area fans have been wanting their own version of the new Kong ever since it opened on the USH Studio Tour last year. At one minute, it's too short to be a stand-alone attraction, but it'd make a great highlight within a Skull Island-themed boat ride, using the Jaws infrastructure.

Transformers: The Ride Like Harry Potter, this wouldn't use any of the Jaws infrastructure, but would keep Orlando from being left out from enjoying Singapore and Hollywood's new toy. Universal Creative's Thierry Coup's ruled this out for Orlando, given its similarity to Spider-Man, but left the door open for popular demand to change Universal's mind.

So, which option would you like to see? And if you've got a write-in candidate, please describe it in the comments.


Thank you, again, for reading Theme Park Insider, and have a great weekend!

Replies (45)

December 9, 2011 at 4:03 PM · Harry Potter or something else. All the others are completely unappealing to me.
December 9, 2011 at 4:31 PM · I'm not big on Kong itself, but the Skull Island boat ride holds some appeal for me.
December 9, 2011 at 6:09 PM · Ugh, please not Potter! It would be overkill.
December 9, 2011 at 8:41 PM · Harry Potter London, is a great idea, though I agree that it would be a bit overkill.

And another thing. NO MORE 3D RIDES OR RIDES THAT REQUIRE SCREENS. Universal already has so many, I would prefer a ride that uses actual scenery.

So what should replace the Jaws ride? This:

---> Portal Theme Park Ride <--- From the games Portal and Portal 2 by Valve.

December 9, 2011 at 8:42 PM · Universal, please don't overkill HP. It's a fantastic theme, but don't milk it.

I want my Super 8 ride, gosh darn it!

December 9, 2011 at 8:54 PM · The Lord of the Rings and the hobbit, i believe it will attract all the fantasy crowd that does not like harry potter. kong and transformers are ok too, just
keep harry at IOA and give as a new world to inmerse as in
December 9, 2011 at 9:21 PM · I voted other, because I want Nintendo Studios. Anyways, I've decided I'm probably not renewing my AP because of Universal's stupid moves.
December 9, 2011 at 9:37 PM · im shocked that 39% want more potter, as i already said i would love LOTR but im willing to take transformers or kong, just no more harry, it seems im in the minority
December 9, 2011 at 10:14 PM · I'd rather have Transformers, frankly.
December 9, 2011 at 10:27 PM · To the most recent anonymous comment - this is why I think it interesting to do the votes, and not simply let the consensus be formed by the comments. We often get interesting results like this one.
December 9, 2011 at 11:16 PM · Why doesn't Universal just transform the rest of The Lost Continent no one cares about into Harry Potter? Sinbad could become a live Harry Potter stunt show, and Poseidon's Fury could become the chamber of secrets.
December 10, 2011 at 12:29 AM · I chose the king kong boat ride it holds speak to me but I just got a sudden rush of ideas what if kong boat ride would be in JPRA I
Mean they have the dinos just put More animtronics and make it fast pased and not slow and replace the t Rex for king kong seems pretty obvious to me as in national lampoon christmas vk well you know Clark its the gift that keeps on giving The whole year yes edward yes it is
December 10, 2011 at 7:25 AM · The Harry Potter idea is a joke. Even if they were to connect the two lands, what, are they going to just let people from USF into IOA for free or vice versa?
December 10, 2011 at 8:04 AM · They could easily have some sort of ticket scanner to enter the ride to IOA and back. Just think of how Universals does their fastpass they make everyone get out their tickets for that.

Also the London area doesnt have to be all Harry Potter. Is there any other London movies or themes that could make good attractions as well.

December 10, 2011 at 12:04 PM · King Kong fighting the Decepticons in London.
December 10, 2011 at 12:45 PM · ...And we have a winner.
December 10, 2011 at 3:57 PM · If in fact Universal were to connect IOA & USF with some type of Harry Potter attraction, has anybody given any thought to the idea of Universal scrapping their individual park ticket option and just offering one big ticket for both parks, no matter if you want to hop back & forth or not? Of course, this would involve a higher ticket price, but it would certainly eliminate entry issues & ticketing concerns when riding on say... the Hogwarts Express between parks. (How many people really buy a single-park ticket now, anyway?)
December 10, 2011 at 5:15 PM · Nintendo..... again? I think someone has an obsession. I think the Jaws replacement will use the water in some way. As we all know, they like to re-theme rides.

In either case, it will be a year or two before the new attraction is finished and the HP expansion could take a couple years as well.

I voted Transformers. Seeing as Spiderman is my favorite ride, I would love to be able to see a new experience based on the same concept in the sister park.

December 10, 2011 at 6:07 PM · I think they were a little bit hasty about getting rid of King Kong. I think it could fit with the whole "Adventure Theme" of the Mummy and Disaster.

Then again, I think that Jaws was partially did in because the ride was tough to upkeep. I would think they wouldn't want to keep the general infrastruture

Perhaps a Universal Adventureland?

December 10, 2011 at 6:24 PM · Hey I just thought of something: It could be the upcomiong Battleship movie. First off, it's by Universal. Second, it's in water (duh!). Also to the record, I am a die-hard Nintendo fan. I'm not a fanboy, but I definatly hate Playstation, as they always steal Nintendo and Microsoft's ideas.
December 10, 2011 at 10:39 PM · I'm not even gonna comment at how incorrect that comment about Playstation is... each company has their strengths and weaknesses.

That being said I would actually like if they got a new Jaws ride and not Transformers. I'm a fan of the Harry Potter films, but I don't think it will be expanded to USF.

December 10, 2011 at 10:49 PM · how dare you say PS sucks?!?!?!!!!! First off it's not better than xbox but sure is a competator and infamous is exclusive to PS3 ,xbox or wii does not have that and, wii has family games and if they have m games than expect low graphics and boring and horrible, game play but I have to say xbox360 is pretty good well awesome but PS has 3 systems all were great hits but xbox has 2 I'm stopping here i might look really nerdy
December 10, 2011 at 11:46 PM · And the topic is....
December 11, 2011 at 5:04 AM · Manny:

"MIGHT??"

December 11, 2011 at 11:59 AM · Roger, a Portal ride would be amazing, considering Portal and Portal 2 are my favorite games, but I voted for Transformers just because I'm such a fan, but I don't see it happening.
December 11, 2011 at 2:34 PM · Alright I voted for Harry Potter/London, and I think the other person has a point. You could tie alot of different movies into London like the classic horror films also you could put a ride/attraction in for Werewolfs in London (aging myself but still) The old horror movies like Frankenstein or Frankenstien (Young Frankenstein). I think it fits in well with the park's theme. They could add the train linking the two parks and in the train station in London have you go into a secret passage 9 1/2 and just leave the rest as London and do something totally different than HP.
December 11, 2011 at 4:11 PM · I pretty certain that if Universal were to build a London Harry Potter land, it would be contractually prohibited by Warner Bros./JK Rowling from putting any other IP in that land.
December 11, 2011 at 6:34 PM · Hello Robert, im a new member :) i just found out about this website and im loving it... about the subjet, i believe universal learned something with potter about what an important franchise can do in terms of attendance numbers; also the amity area is too big to just put the transformers ride alone, potter will also stay on IOA; so it is my prediction that we will see a whole area based on another big franchise, i want LOTR (i know its a very long shot), i hope we will find out soon, the suspence is killing me. thanks and sorry if my english is not good (im from Argentina)
December 11, 2011 at 9:41 PM · I agree that Potter in both IOA and Universal Studios Florida would just be overkill. An interesting ride could be a Scott Pilgrim vs The World attraction. The material in that universe can easily make a thrilling and entertaining ride.
December 11, 2011 at 10:13 PM · I chose something else because universal needs more horror rides year round i believe they should replace it with sort of a freddy v.s. Jason thing like one half have crystal lake and another have elm street but the main attraction is a ride that combines the two and should be like dueling dragons but not exactly like it...... No potter because we already have it in island of adventure no madagascar we have to many kids rides.....we meed something for the horror fanatics!
December 12, 2011 at 12:36 AM · I would think King Kong would not be a choice. Didn't they remove the previous version for The Mummy? So this leave another possible boat ride like Madagascar, but I'm not so sure. There's nothing WOW in terms of how audiences will change their perception of Universal Studios.

Harry Potter London will be the best choice, but who know if they have anything better in mind. They already announced The Transformers will not arrive.

December 12, 2011 at 1:36 AM · Hi guys, I thought it was about time I registered. I've been visiting TPI for the last year now and never got round to registering on the site.

In my honest opinion being British I love Potter, I had it read to me when I was younger and then carried on reading the books and watching the films as I grew up, so yes I am a huge fan. But, I do agree with a lot of people that it would be overkill to have Potter in both parks,I mean seriously they could redesign the rest of the lost continent as has been speculated in the past if they wanted more space for Potter.

Don't get me wrong I'd love to see Universal's take on London and be able to ride the Hogwarts Express (riding it between the two parks would be a pretty fun experience) I'd also love to visit diagon alley. But, I do think it would be rather cool if Universal could do a new ride for Orlando to replace Jaws with. I don't know what and as much as I'd love to ride the new Kong ride, I just personally think that a new experience in the park would be nice

December 12, 2011 at 1:37 AM · I don't know what happened there, but on a side note what's going to happen to Mythos if they retheme the lost continent???
December 12, 2011 at 2:59 AM · i know i suggested that kong could replace jaws but the rest of amity would also need re-themed. i know this is speculation but i think it will be harry potter london as someone said on the universal facebook page that they heard from two people they know that work in universal that it will be hp london(potter phase 2) whether they are telling truth or not i don't know.
why i think it will be potter is hogsmeade has been built and universal said it would be a significant expansion, amity could be made into muggle london (as universal already have san francisco/new york/hollywood areas and this could fit. as islands has seen a big boost of attendance it would mean the same for studios because in the long term harry potter will be around for a very long time and has a huge fan base
December 12, 2011 at 4:24 AM · The KIng Kong idea appeals to me. I thought it was a bad move to ditch the original Kong ride.......even though I can't knock The Mummy.
I'm not too pleased to see Jaws go either but if they had to get rid of it then I think the return of Kong might just soften the blow a little.
I'm not against having part of the ride indoors with a 3D element so long as they have a decent outdoor section which could even utilise the existing water area.
December 12, 2011 at 4:31 AM · I think Kong would be good. But, I do think that a completely new experience would also be good for Universal Orland, I'm not sure what this could be though.
December 12, 2011 at 7:27 AM · I love the horror idea with jason and freddy at the helm, but i do not see it happening, if you are going to close something as jaws you have to come out with something bigger, and universal knows this; as much as i love vorghees and krueger i do not believe are big enought. Just to add to the videogame discussion, no nintendo, no PS, give me xbox :)
December 12, 2011 at 8:54 AM · Please keep Harry Potter and anything and everything that has to do with him at IOA. Universal needs to focus on getting a huge franchise into the USF. I'm thinking Cybertron (Transformers).
December 12, 2011 at 9:37 AM · The mistery is killing me, i hope they do the right thing this time ( no potter ), i still cant forgive them for back to the future
December 12, 2011 at 11:00 AM · As a fan of Jason, and..to a far lesser extent...Freddy, something involving those two iconic characters would appeal to me. I may be wrong, but I don't believe Universal has the rights to those properties.
December 12, 2011 at 11:47 AM · bad news mnbc have rebooted fear factor and made it more intense so fear factor might be updated
December 12, 2011 at 11:48 AM · oh and mike litlle fan boy to ay
December 12, 2011 at 1:15 PM · A Hogwarts Express that takes you to Cinderella Castle.
December 13, 2011 at 10:37 AM · So liking something makes me a "fanboy?" Oh. Wasn't aware of that.

Well, at least this fanboy can spell.

December 13, 2011 at 1:56 PM · Put in a Pokemon theme park...Cash in on the anime craze.

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