This holiday season will provide the last chance for Universal Orlando visitors to experience Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios Florida.
The resort confirmed today that the long-running movie attraction will close permanently in January 2022. Shrek 4-D opened in May 2003 at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood. Designed as a bridge between the Academy Award-winning 2001 film and its sequel, which debuted the next year, Shrek 4-D followed Shrek and Fiona on the way to their honeymoon, while trying to escape the ghost of Lord Farquaad.
The show closed at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2017 and was replaced by the DreamWorks Theatre, which now shows Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest. There's no word yet from Universal Orlando on what will replace Shrek 4-D in Florida, though the Kung Fu Panda movie would provide an obvious candidate.
Shrek 4-D replaced the Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies attraction, which was one of the original attractions from the park's 1990 opening. (Here's a fun story about the Hitchcock show, where I had a habit of playing "Mother.") Given that the Shrek 4-D building began as a stage for live theater, it's possible that Universal could put a stage production in there rather than another film-based attraction.
Candidates for that might include the Sing on Tour show from Universal Studios Japan or the new Universal Studios Beijing, or even the new "How to Train Your Dragon" show, Untrainable, from the Beijing park - though a version of that is more likely to end up in the rumored How to Train Dragon land in the upcoming Epic Universe park in Orlando.
If you want to dream big, though, the land the Shrek building sits on in Florida might be about the right size to house a modified version of The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! attraction that opened earlier this year in Hollywood.
Let the guessing game begin.
To buy discounted tickets to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay, please visit our authorized partner's Universal Orlando tickets page.
* * *
We wanted you to read this article before we make our newsletter pitch, unlike so many other websites. If you appreciate that - and our approach to covering theme park, travel, and entertainment news - please sign up for our free, three-times-a-week email newsletter. Thank you.
Long overdue. Once Shrek 4D became available on home video a year later, there was no point of having it at either park.
I agree Agustin. It’s kinda pathetic that Universal played a 3D movie that became immediately dated a year later for so long. FWIW, I have the same problem with the short film festival at Epcot being pointless since those shorts are easily available on Disney+.
Love it! Trex manages to drag a WDW criticism into a UO thread. Par for the TPI course.
Insider rumors on IU and Theme Park Stop, since July, are speculating a Minion Villaincon walk through interactive attraction as the Shrek replacement and a Potter VR ride to replace Fear Factor....Reportedly the Donkey & Shrek M&G/Show will remain in the building across the street from Shrek. And Mummy will be undergoing a refurb from Jan. through late summer.
The biggest rumor is that Villain-Con will become Shrek's successor. It will be a walkthrough attraction with interactive elements and some shooting in it and maybe a meet and greet with Scarlet Overkill.
Not that exciting but better than Shrek 4D although I'm glad the Shrek and Donkey meet and greet is going to stay as it is so funny.
Yes, I like to spread my venom and bile equally.
No one is safe from the wrath of the Trex!
I will miss those pneumatic-firing seats that would shake your teeth loose
Actually the biggest rumor is it will become a dark ride called 'The Wrath of T-Rex' ... Because UO needs more attractions with dragons and/or dinosaurs.
Walk-throughs tend to be temporary - a stop-gap until the money gets approved for something with more long-term appeal.
Theme Park University is saying the Minion attraction will utilize a 'moving walkway'. And one of the Inside Universal staff stated he's heard the same from his sources.
Everything new that might be considered at USF and IOA is stop-gap, low-investment stuff while Epic Universe is under construction, from what I've heard. After EU is ready to go, lots - and I mean lots - of stuff at USF/IOA will be on the table for redevelopment.
I can't imagine that SLoP won't come to Orlando somewhere. This site, Kidzone, or (hold your breath) F&F would be the best candidates for a post-2025 debut.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
boom