Jurassic World opens at Universal Studios Hollywood

July 5, 2019, 1:10 AM · Universal Studios Hollywood celebrated the Fourth of July by soft-opening its rethemed and refurbished Jurassic World - The Ride this evening.

I wasn't able to get over to Universal to experience the new ride due to prior commitments this evening, but fans have been posting POVs to social media.

Jurassic World updates the former Jurassic Park - The Ride by replacing the old herbivore pool with a new indoor section that simulates a giant aquarium for the Mosasaurus and swapping the Tyrannosaurus rex at the finale for an Indominus rex... with the raptor Blue getting in on the action, too.

I'll have a full review after I get over to the park in the next few days. This is a "technical rehearsal," as Universal describes its soft openings, so it could open or close at any time during park hours. Universal still has yet to announce a media event or formal opening date for the ride.

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Replies (9)

July 5, 2019 at 5:48 AM

That looks like a significant upgrade to an attraction that had become somewhat tired. the aquarium scene works brilliantly, as does ditching the 'boat pushed onto wrong track' excuse. Best of all are the improvements to the indoor section.

I'd say this is a massive improvement. Well done Universal.

July 5, 2019 at 11:26 AM

Why did they removed the double door "reveal" portion? I just hate how two of the biggest parks continue to raise prices for more screens on rides. While the two biggest So Cal parks continue trying to one up each other, Knott's continue to knock it out of the park going "Old School" animatronics with their makeovers.

I remember last year in September I kept bumping into a family of 4 from out of state at the hotel I stayed at. One morning during breakfast I bumped into them again and the dad asked if I was familiar with the area because they had an extra day to kill before they fly back home and asked if there was anything his kids can enjoy. I suggested Knotts and while he never heard of it, decided to give it a shot. The next morning I ran into the family again on their way to the airport and the mom and dad both thanked me for the suggestion and said it was refreshing to visit a park with no crowds, plenty of things for their kids to do and ride on, had a blast and would do it again the next time they visited. I remember him specially saying it was a nice break to get on rides with no screens.

July 5, 2019 at 11:36 AM

Looks great, but I'm also bummed they ditched the oversize doors. Also, why on earth didn't they get rid of the raptor that slides down on his belly?

July 5, 2019 at 12:34 PM

A few nitpicks but glad it's not an all-screen ride and agree the "boat bump" being removed is better. The older version was overdue for an upgrade and this looks to be a terrific new addition to the park. Can't wait to see how close the Orlando version is to this.

July 5, 2019 at 4:21 PM

The new Mosasaur scene looks excellent but seems poorly placed. I miss the grand reveal of the doors, and it's just awkward having the tunnel end and you're suddenly above water. Other than that, looks like a fantastic upgrade and definitely something I'll be checking out next time I visit the park.

July 6, 2019 at 4:01 PM

AJ - I agree about missing the doors. But it seems to me that the Mosasaur tank is supposed to be above the river — there is no implication that you are descending blow as there was in the movie.

The ride feels much more modern and fun. The animatronics are improved and every scene is much fuller. At first I was not sure about this conversion, but it is impressive.

July 7, 2019 at 1:16 AM

DBCooper, I get that, but it is awkward to be surrounded by the tank, then have it just end and you're suddenly in an open lagoon (the transition is a bit more jarring in a daytime video I saw). If they had fully enclosed the cave entrance it would have worked a bit better. Personally I would have put that scene a little later in the ride (probably replacing the Raptor cage, with riders emerging to find the open Indominus Paddock), as it is really the first hint of things not going right.

July 7, 2019 at 9:03 AM

AJ -- I see what you mean, but it really doesn't feel forced. If you could look back after the tank and see that it was just a flat wall, it would feel odd, but that view is obscured. That said, it would have been better to have the cave entrance fully enclosed as you suggest, and placing it later would have allowed the opening gate scene to remain.

Maybe we'll get a tweaked version for Florida, where Jurassic Park seems to be getting the transformation to Jurassic World. I've heard that the Discovery Center might be transformed into an interactive queue area for the new coaster, as well as conversion of the water ride once the coaster is complete. I was really hoping we could keep Jurassic Park and get Jurassic World in the new park, but they did such a great job with this upgrade that I'm ok with the land conversion.

July 8, 2019 at 10:44 PM

AJ Hummel, I agree completely about the placement of the Mosasaur scene and add that the scale is way off, as well. The 'tank' seems to go on forever while the mosasaur is too small, much smaller than the massive beast in the film. It might work as a second jolt after the T-Rex drop...as if you're getting away from the Rexes and fall next to the mosasaur 'tank?'

The story and tone are off--maybe? The original really told a story: the doors open, the music swells, a garden of dinos reveals itself. You're soothed in the first herbivore half to enhance the scares on the back end. The new version loses some of that storytelling, that structure.

Then again, we are talking about a franchise whose last film installment played like 'Dinosaurs in the Clue Mansion', so perhaps I'm holding the ride to a standard its IP doesn't meet, anyways!

(Also, while I have nothing against Chris Pratt, I never thought I'd be seeing him in so many theme park attractions! I mean, let's hope he doesn't get a Potter movie.)


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