What ride will be next to go to the graveyard?
Universal Orlando: What ride at USF will be scrapped next?
What will be the next ride to leave at Universal Florida? We've seen Kongfrontation, Back To The Future: The Ride, and Hanna Barbera leave the studios, but what will be next? My guess is Jimmy Neutron. Not a very good ride. I say take it out and put in either BTTF or Transformers (I want to see that ride, but I live in Florida).
i dont think the ride building is big enough for an e-ticket like transformers. plus there is no room to expand with blue man behind it. i think we are stuck with jimmy for a while. maybe there is enough room for a toy story mania type ride, utilizing screens and interactivity. that would probably leave a small footprint. Jimmy is ripe for change but i think E.T is the one that needs a bullet through its head. that building could probably hold a nice size ride and there is a little room to expand behind it. only thing is its in the little kid part of the park with barney and fivel.
WORD!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can't get rid of E.T., that's such a great ride!
Kick out Jimmy, and Shrek too then then rearrange the paths and then just like that, plenty of room for an awesome E-ticket.
i think fear factor has run its coarse i miss the old wild west stunt show
ET will not leave for a long time since they got in BIG trouble with Speilsburg for taking it out in Hollywood. If they take it out, Mr S. will likely try to pull Dreamworks out of Universal, making it a tough spot for them to be in without a working animation studio.
I think Jimmy Neutron or Fivel's Playland might go just because they are not well known anymore!
E.T. can't get scrapped. I'd say take out Jimmy and Shrek (like Adam said), but Shrek is really popular (1 hour long wait times), so I don't think it will get scrapped anytime soon.
They need to give shrek a renovation,like adding more motion and new scenes also seatbelts to give it more thrill.I hope they replace Jimmy neutron with something else.
A lot of people say how they love Shrek, but in my opinion, every 3-D show at Disney is better than Shrek by far.
I'm going to have to agree, it's going to be JM or FPL. If I had to hazard a guess I'd even beg for that purple minion of Satan to be replaced!
I'd guess we'd see something else from Dreamworks going in to one of these places. Personally, I'd like to see Transformers but my worry is it'd be a lot more in the style of Mummy then something else. Now that begs the question of what would replace either Jimmy or Fivel? I'd like to see Kung Fu Panda be put into Fivel's place, it could stay as a play area for kids but the update would draw kids again. I don't think most kids these days have seen 'An American Tail' much less most Don Bluth movies (Their to "dark" so say parental friends of mine).
Jimmy is a litter harder to place but they have the Studio's all open now from when Nick moved out, plus I think the contact for that will run out shortly to begin with. How to Train You Dragon is also one to keep an eye on, I think that could be a big hit. Double the odd since Dreamworks is making sequels.
It's true that Jimmy Neutron is the most disposable ride at Universal, itself just a new film and new coat of paint on the Hanna-Barbera film ride (now showing at Six Flags Action Theaters). I expect another cheap and easy fix (ala Back to the Future becoming the Simpsons Ride) with another 3-D film and fresh characters.
The real change I wonder about is when Universal's liscense on the Marvel Characters in Marvel Hero Island will ultimately become the property of their new owner, Disney. Every other ride in Marvel Hero Island can easily be re-named and re-themed except for Spider-Man. Only Spider-man can't be easily fixed, so if I were a betting man, I'd say that might be one of the next big attractions to close and maybe even be bought by Disney to update and reopen in one of their parks with new scenes and a 3-D overhaul.
That's a good point, Rod.
Actually, Universal will still have the rights to the Marval rides they curently have. So spider-man isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Plus why would they get rid of it, since it is their best ride other then HP.
I can't find it now but I asked the exact same question Rod, it turns out Universal retains the rights to use Marvel characters and attractions long into the future. I believe it was in the contract that Disney has no say over the use or the attractions which Universal is currently using. If I come upon the article again I'll re-post it up here.
From James Rao
Posted June 23, 2010 at 6:45 AM
I think USF is a pretty "complete" park. I am not saying it can't use another experience or two, but it really does not require anything new at this point. Having said that, Fear Factor could certainly stand to be replaced and Universal should update Shrek to incorporate the new film(s), if possible. As for my wish list, I would love to see some sort of "Monster" ride added to take advantage of Universal's rich monster movie history. Not sure where it would go, but the Jimmy Neutron building is probably not big enough (besides I like Jimmy Neutron!).
As for IOA, both Fearfall and Accelatron could be replaced with something less "Six Flags", imho. I would also like to see Poseidon restored to its former glory, and Sinbad could use a revamp. Additionally, the building that used to house that iVillage Live stuff is currently unused, I think. Not sure what could fit in it, but that area is certainly wasted space right now. The only other thing I would change at IOA is maybe dump Pteranadon Flyers and stick a good, inverted youth coaster in its place (provided there is room).
I'm sure Marvel/Disney still gets a kickback from the attractions and merchandise so it would make sense to re-theme that area eventually.
From Tim Odom
Posted June 23, 2010 at 7:51 AM
If I remember correctly, the contract Universal has with Marvel was something like this:
~ Universal has theme park rights to rides based on the characters they use now (Storm, Dr. Doom, Hulk, Spider-Man) AND their associated families (X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers.) Basically, any character associated with the characters they use, they have rights to.
~ These rights are good for parks east of the Mississippi.
~ These rights last as long as the rides based on the characters are operational. I don't think I remember seeing any definition on 'operational' (i.e. is it ok to refurbish a ride, since the Hulk really does need to get touched up.)
So, if they closed Fearfall, they lose Dr. Doom. If they close the Storm ride, bye bye X-Men. Another unknown is if they open, say, a Wolverine ride then close Storm, would that be allowed?
Just like how ET must stay or they tick off Spielberg, those two rides will probably stay until they desire to retheme the Marvel area completely. At least, I believe this is what people took from the contract, I remember there being huge discussions as to what the Disney acquisition of Marvel meant to FL themeparks.
As for rides that must go, I agree with Jimmy Neutron. But, how about killing off Twister? Kids at least know about Jimmy Neutron, but Twister is getting a bit obscure. Surely they can use that space better.
I've held a belief for months now that soon enough (in the next 5 years) the whole Marvel issue will become more of a thorn in Universal's side than they will be willing to deal with. Spider-man is a gem in the Universal crown, but now they've got Harry Potter too.
If Disney will foot the bill for moving Spider-man, I bet Universal will let it go. Marvel Island is legally okay for Universal to still operate, but they can't expand it. They can't add any new characters or attractions based on Marvel characters, and I'm sure Disney is going to take money right off the top of anything Marvel related they sell in the gift shops.
If Disney pays them to get rid of Marvel Island so they can add something similar to their own parks, Universal can use that money to redevelop a new Island or expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
From Ryan B
Posted June 23, 2010 at 10:13 AM
No mention of T2 3D?! I doubt it will go first, but I have not felt like going on that in years. It is too time consuming and somewhat dull after seeing it once.
T2 must stay, along with E.T. Those are two of my favorite rides at USF.
From Tim W
Posted June 23, 2010 at 2:21 PM
^Agreed Rod, it will become a problem for Universal. I can see them wanting to make an Iron man ride, and other rides based off of future movies. Well they can't, so why not just let the island go. As shown in Theme Park Apprentice in the 7th challenge, there is an easy theme to pick for changing the island; Sci-fi or Monsters.
Back to the Future went so anything and everything is in danger there. T2 is awesome, ET is a classic, Twister is unique, but so was Back to the Future. I think Jimmy Neutron is the next to go.
Did they bring Fear Factor back for the summer? It had already been operating on a seasonal basis, but the last time I was there the sign had been removed. So I thought the show was already gone for good.
From April C
Posted June 24, 2010 at 6:31 AM
Michael, Fear Factor is still not back. The sign's still covered, but I've heard on other sites it's supposed to open again in July.
I wish they'd just get rid of it.
From Gareth H
Posted June 30, 2010 at 6:26 PM
I think Islands will get another update first, 2011, closure of Sinbad and poseidon, re-themed to Harry Potter.
It makes sense.
Easy re-hash of Poeidon to Happy Potter utilizing all of the existing elements. Harry fighting some bad guy on the water screens. 6 momths down time. Sinbad, who knows, but a live show with Harry and friends couldn't be too hard.
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