Rest easy, Mariner fans. Your favorite theme park attraction is not going away.
Universal Studios Hollywood officials today confirmed that WaterWorld, the park's award-winning stunt show, will remain open. The show's future had been called into question by the recent republication of a long-term site planning map that has shown the attraction's space designated for future development. [See Is Universal planning to remove one of its classic attractions? Again, Betteridge's Law of Headlines remains undefeated.]
NBCUniversal's Evolution Plan for the park and its surrounding studio property dates back to 2013 and grants Universal the authority to make changes to multiple attraction sites on the property. Think of the Evolution Plan as Universal's version of DisneylandForward, the City of Anaheim legislation that gave the Disneyland Resort broader authority to make changes to land use at that resort.
So while the recently republished Evolution Plan map designates specific areas for changes, that does not necessarily commit Universal to removing whatever is currently located on those sites.
Plenty of projects in recent years have been completed or initiated under the Evolution Plan, with the most recent notable one being the construction behind NBC Grill & Brew for a new security check and transportation center. New attractions also are under development at the park, including the Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift roller coaster as well as hinted future enhancements to the ever-changing Studio Tour.
But nothing is replacing WaterWorld, which is the longest-running current attraction in the park outside the Studio Tour itself. And promises to remain so.
I definitely interpret the statement more along the lines of "replacing WaterWorld is not the next project we have planned" rather than "we have no plans to replace WaterWorld at this time." I would bet their priorities between now and the 2028 Olympics are the hotel and replacing Supercharged, so WaterWorld is probably safe through then. After that, though, I don't expect it to last long. Demolition and replacement will probably take 3-4 years, and I'm sure Universal will want something to answer Disney's upcoming projects.
You don't close something that is working for guests or is of HIGH QUALITY. Universal Studios Hollywood DELIVERS on that high quality with Waterworld Stunt Show. World class Stunts and effects and actors. It costs a lot to maintain of course, but it's WORTH IT due to high guest attendance especially in the summer. As well as stage usage at Horror Nights with Purge. And also a potential use by Universal Studios Hollywood at Fan Fest Nights 2026 with a One Piece Stunt Show. The show is more popular than the movie. It has spawned a multi layered 20 minute action adventure story; about finding a new home (hope for dry land), a romance between our two heroes, a vengeful story with our villain and his henchmen, all with audience participation. All of these create a world class theme park experience found no where else. The show has momentum right now in 2025, marking its 30th anniversary and still going strong. It's not the years it's the milage.
From a project point of view the Waterworld footprint is not big enough for some new generic IP placement. And a Harry Potter expansion is not needed in that area (a Hagrids 2 coaster should have gone where F&F is going), it's too small. Therefore any future show retheme should match the high caliber quality of Waterworld Stunt Show. In STORY, in STUNTS, and in SPECTACLE.
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"Universal Studios Hollywood officials today confirmed that WaterWorld, the park's award-winning stunt show, will remain open."
While likely true, this statement does not say that Waterworld would run forever (or even beyond the end of the year), which is completely unrealistic. This statement screams of "damage control" as the potential replacement of the stunt show was never intended to be leaked in this way. It's clear that Universal has been moving a lot of chess pieces around their USH board, and whenever it suits them to clear valuable space for a new attraction, they've shown that they will not hesitate to close anything in the name of progress (see Jaws, BTTF, Kong, and Dueling Dragons).
Universal wouldn't be the first theme park company to deny future attraction planning only to turn around and confirm rumors at a later date. Whether Waterworld closes tomorrow or 3 years from now, I think it's pretty clear that clock is ticking and that there is ample evidence to support its replacement at some point in the not too distant future.