It's Official: Universal Orlando to Get Shrek and Jimmy Neutron

As reported here before, a Shrek "4D" movie will replace the Alfred Hitchcock attraction at Universal Studios Florida. And "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" will replace the Hanna Barbera attraction just across the way in Production Central.

But, unlike the spin the Orlando Sentinel put on it this morning, it's not an expansion. (I'd link to the story, but the folks at the Sentinel apparently couldn't be bothered to put the lead story in their Sunday paper on their Web site. Way to go!)

As reported here before, a Shrek "4D" movie will replace the Alfred Hitchcock attraction at Universal Studios Florida.

"Shrek" will debut at Universal Studios Hollywood at the same time, making this the first time Universal's debuted the same attraction on both coasts.

"Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" will replace the Hanna Barbera attraction just across the way in Production Central. The Jimmy Neutron attraction will also include other Nickelodeom characters, including the Rugrats.

Both attractions will open next summer, 2003.

Putting in a Shrek attraction is definatly a smart move since the film was so popular with both kids and adults. I am looking forward to it.

It sucks that they aren't replacing King Kong though.

Is there a chance that they still might announce new IOA attractions, since these new ones are both in UF?

What in the world is 4d?

I'm surprised you don't know the term...

4D was probably first mentioned at Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision attraction at Disney-MGM Studios, although they likely weren't the first to combine live elements with the 3D movies. The idea is to add a 'fourth dimention', which means the addition of smoke, water, air, moving seats, surround sound, lights, so on and so forth. Terminator 2:3D is similar to this, going so far as to include the live actors, and the Spidey ride is slightly similiar in some aspects. Disney's It's Tough To Be A Bug is probably the best example I've seen thus far, however. Let's hope Universal can top that experience.

I hope they don't plan on removing Hitch completely.

I totally agree, Joe! From what others have said in the Rate the Rumors section, others agree. Keep Hitch!!!

So is this the TWO attractions Bob Gault was talking about for next year? If so, I feel really ripped off! As much as I love Shrek and would undoubtedly enjoy a Shrek 3-D film, I want something big! Jimmy Neutron is a welcome change to the simulator but it surely isn't big. It am less interested in that, and it is a ride. What happened to the coaster? If we have to wait until 2006 for the next big thing here, I will be irritated beyond belief!

(I must add that Screamscape did reason that there was no way a coaster could go into the Kong building and still open in 2003. So maybe if IOA gets the biggie in 2003, then USF will get its biggie in 2004. Let's hope!)

Here is the link to the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-asecuniversal19051902may19.story?coll=orl%2Dhome%2Dheadlines

I was fairly dissapointed in the somewhat lackluster news as well. I guess I sort of expected the Hanna Barbera replacement. But, another one of the friggin' 4-D movies. Do people actually like these things or something. I find them enjoyable one time and then I never go back. Besides, Universal already has one of those things - T2. My son cannot even enjoy those tings because the glasses do not fit on right. I could go on and on.

BUT, the article calls it a "moving" attraction. Is this another Spider-Man? If it is not, Universal will get some pretty ticked off fans, myself being one of 'em.

I don't think the fans will be ticked off. We have been screaming for a Shrek attraction since last year. As for the "moving" part, the floor could drop and that would be moving. There ARE four rooms in the Hitchcock building though, so it would be cool if there was some sort of movement through the building. I guess I wouldn't be upset with that type of attraction. Well, I'm not exactly upset with a Shrek 3-D movie, since it should be fun. I'm mostly upset that Hitchcock is leaving. Move it or Bob Gault better not let me see him roaming the streets when I am there!!!! I know this will surprise some of you, but I can be pretty sarcastic!

The new attractions announced are a disappointment compared to the rumors that were going around (Scorpion King Coaster & Shrek Flume Ride) but I'm glad that Kong is staying. It's a pity that Hitchcock is being removed as it was pretty cool.

I was surprised at first not to hear about Kong until I got to the office the other day. Several people said that Scorpian King has been getting planned and "Ironed Out" at Hollywood before it was made official in Orlando. I do know that something is bound to happen to Kong because it cost a lot of $$$ to maintain. Just about night the ride is having welding work done to keep it together.

So maybe that 2004 idea isn't a bad guess after all. Though, after reading the article, it does seem like Shrek will be somewhat Spideyish. How they can do that in that little building is beyond me, but Universal hasn't burned my trust yet.

... yet. The magic word is yet.

With Gault dumping Lucy and the Marx Brothers as live actors walking the park, I was somewhat preturbed. Those characters have been with the park since day one, and it doesn't seem right to slide them under the rug and hope people won't notice. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Laurel and Hardy in the park for a while. Heck, some of the more memorable moments I've had come from seeing these people in the park playing their roles very well. It's a real shame.

Lucy and Ricky are still in the park and perform a street show with the band. It was the Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, Chaplin, and Marilyn Monroe that got dropped.

I don't like the idea of a Jimmy Neutron themed attraction. The film was nothing special and will be forgotten about in a couple of years. Surely there's better films or characters to choose? The Scooby Doo movie is out soon, Universal should have waited for that!
However the Shrek idea is going to be welcomed by me and my family!

I'm ok with Shrek, great. As for Neutron, I detest the movie, BUT the Hanna Barbera building is the poorest maintained in the park. It should at least look better after this! I'm very excited about USF changing: new paint, new shows, new rides, rehabs, can't wait to find out what's in store for the future.

It's good to have something new and exciting go in where Hitch and Hanna Barbara are because they're right up at the front of the park.

Some parts at least, of the Hitchcock attraction should be saved and moved elsewhere.

Now they need something new back near Jaws or where King Kong is.

Rate the Rumors has a suggestion for them moving the Hitchcock stuff!!! (Hint, hint, go and rate it!) I say they should move the pre-3-D portion of the movie, the Psycho house and motel, the Rear Window display, the Statue of Liberty how-he-did-it and the little television program all over to Stage 54, which has been pathetic for years. Rename it Stage 39 (for "The 39 Steps") and put as much of that in there as is humanly possible. Keep Hitch!

As for Jimmy Neutron. I wasn't too thrilled about it, but it isn't like he is going to be doing his shtick for 90 minutes. Plus other Nick characters are going to be in the show also, including SpongeBob SquarePants, which is fine and dandy. I just wish they wouldn't call it Jimmy Neutron but something with the Nick name. That way they could change the movie more often.

Yeah its attractions like this that are going to help Universal overtake Disney.

Sad that they are sinking to Disney level instead of dragging Disney up to theirs.

I think Universal is going to something small this year, and make a major Attraction for 2004. I also think they will do something big for IOA this year and then do something small for 2004.

Universal's told the city of Orlando that it is not planning any major expansion of either Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios Florida in the foreseeable future. Any new attractions during the next few years will either be replacements or rehabs of existing attractions, or smaller-scale rides and shows built between existing rides.

This would not rule out a coaster or something in the Kong building. But it does seem to rule out the Jeep ride in Jurassic Park.

And nothing will be built before 2004 that hasn't already been announced. They might come up with new live shows for the Beetlejuice stage or Pandemonium theater. But that's it.

Bob Gault is not the one who dropped the Old characters. The Senior Vice President of Entertainment did. He was told by Bob Gault to fix the down turn in entertainment and this is what the VP did to fix it. Chop current and add new thinking that was all that was needed.

Robert Niles - They are re-doing the Beetlejuice show. It closes any day now. Are you talking of that or them doing something completely different? The new Beetlejuice show is from the one in Japan.

My apologies. Although, with Bob in the higher position, he ultimately calls the shots, does he not? I certainly give the man tons more credit than I do Eisner, though.

Either way, I still miss the Marx Brothers.

To Mr. UO--I meant they could do something different. I doubt they would, due to the change they are already making. I just meant to point that venue out as one that can be changed to something different with relatively little effort and expense.

Beetlejuice closes Monday the 27th. New show opens June 15.

i just got my most recent universal news [a weekly newsletter for employees about whats goin on in the parks] and it talks about jimmy neutron as an attraction that will "take guests on a wild ride in jimmys space ship." now to me this sounds more like an actual ride.. like a dark ride rather than a movie/motion simulator. i say this becuase it also talks about shrek and says it will be a 3d ride w. special effects and motion simulators... so what do u guys think? will jimmy be a ride kinda like the mr. toads wild ride that was taken out of mk? i hope cuz that ride was awesome!

I don't see Universal ignoring the simulator hardware they have in the Hanna-Barbera building and putting simulator hardware into a building that doesn't have it. I don't see them moving it either since they could just switch buildings. Besides, that little nugget from Universal could refer to the simulators since that is basically how they referred to the H-B ride.

I am really getting to wonder about the Shrek thing though. I don't see them adding a THIRD simulator to this park. And so much has made it sound like a Spidey-type ride. The Hitchcock building does have four different rooms. I am sure a mini-Spidey could easily fit in here. If so, I would picture it as more of a Ellen's Energy Adventure-type ride, though. You know... sit, watch a movie, move, watch a movie, move, etc. I would much prefer something like this over a stationary simulator or a two-minute mobile simulator.

How was the Beetlejuice show changed?Where is the Pandemonium Theater?

Costumes, songs, nothing major. The Pandemonium Cartoon Circus Theater is in Toon Lagoon in IOA.

I noticed our info on these attractions is really outdated. Jimmy Neutron IS going to use the H-B simulator hardware but will have a new movie, of course. It will feature Jimmy, SpongeBob and the Wild Thornberrys. Shrek will be a 4-D experience, but Gault claims it will be T2 on steroids, which really makes no sense to me since that show is already on steroids! It will be filmed in Ogrevision (whatever) and it sounds like the seats will do something beyond the little drop that T2 has.

why dosnt the shrek ride go beyond the spiderman adventure... for example, the cars could climb upwards to allow for more twists and turns, drops, and most important space to hold the ride. If Shrek is going to b put there, the ride line outside is extremely small for that... i hope they dont use a lot of the room inside of Hitchcock as part of the ride line but do they have a choice? i dunno just have it be a ride that dosnt go flat.. have it go all directions, instead of the sets moving you could actually move up.. i dunno.. They also might include a giftshop at the end of the ride, that means an even smaller building when you take into consideration the ride line and the giftshop... I think it is going to b exectllent to c how they are going to plan this out and make it a reality....

By they way... In the new and improved Earthquake, why do you act out a scene from U-571 when the ride is about earthquake and not a submarine movie...

On display infront of studio 54 they have the 2 cars from Fast and the Furious, the white VW and the mean a** mustang.... Also back to the park is the 2 decker bus that was in the mummu returns. I remember seeing some jurassic park props there too. Also there was a Mini Cooper from the bourne identity, and a few surfboards from the upcoming movie, Blue Crush....

Does anyone know what is in the 54 studio.. The doors have been open recently and it seems that dancers and a whole buncha other people are in that studio doing something that must be cool if they dont want the public to know about it.. o well.. n e 1 know whats going on in there? Something is!!!

At least SOMETHING is finally going on in there! I was absolutely sick of the freakin' Flintstones crap. BOOOOOOORIIIIIIIIIING!

I'm looking forward to the Shrek attraction. Jimmy Neutron though? Sorry this Gen Xer much preferred the HB cartoons.

I can't wait for the shrek attraction to open up! The jimmy Neutron I hope is more like Star Wars or Wild Artic. Because when I went on the Hanna Barbara it wasn't really fun.

My brother works at Universal Studios Florida,and he told me that they are going to tear down the "Hitchcock" theatre and put in a new building for a "Shrek" ride.(Maybe Spider-Man like).

Yes, the THEATER, but not the building. And it won't be Spidey-like. It will be more like T2 but with probably a little more motion to the seats.

My brother works at Universal.He spoke with a tech person and the tech said that they were installing MOTION PLATFORMS in the building.It will be Hanna-Barbera-like,according to my brother.

Motion platforms could also be simple also, like the dropping floor in Twister. I'm sure they will do something different. They can't do three similar simulators in the same park.

Kevin,
My brother works at Universal and finds out from his boss that they are building rides.SHREK is NOT going to be a 4D show.....it is going to be a simulator similar to Hanna-Barbera.
~Kevin

Bob Gault, who is a little higher than your brother's boss, said Shrek will be T2 on steroids. He doesn't say it will be Back to the Future on steroids, which would be more accurate if it was a true motion simulator.

Maybe he is confusing the Shrek ride with Jimmy Neutron. :)

I was just in another site and this was the description of the new Shrek:

It will blend 3-D film, moving simulators and other special effects based on the fairy tale fable from the DreamWorks movie.

So maybe it's going to be like Spider-Man mixing simulator and 3-D, so maybe his brother was right after all. :)

Well, that was a rumor I had heard before about MOVING simulators, but then I have to think that if they are going to make it Spideylike, then don't you think they would be saying it is going to be similar to Spider-Man and not that it is going to be similar to T2? Spidey is getting a lot more buzz than T2 is. Gault clearly isn't worried about throwing comparisons to Spidey around, since the 2004 ride has already been compared to it. So I think it is more telling that he DIDN'T mention Spidey in regards to Shrek.

First of all the only comparison to the 2004 ride is it was tecnology advance as was spiderman. Gault said the opposite, said the new ride will be nothing like spideman. Also, why would he want to put the hype on shrek calling it spiderman when it obviously will not be, even with a moving platform. If it doesnt have the dark i ride components then its not spiderman. It will back flash on people going to the park expecting one thing an getting angry cause they didt get it. By comparing it to a ride like T2 he might be letting the guests be suprise and happy for getting something moe. Plus "T2 on steroids" can very well meanand moving T2.

Maybe it can be like Hanna-Barbera, but 3-D. Although I doubt it because they wouldn't put two very similar rides next to each other.

What site did you find out about the Shrek ride,Javier?

My point exactly, Javier. I don't think they would have THREE simulators in the same park. I don't doubt Shrek will do something different - Universal rides seem to add something new to the mix every time - but I don't think it will be a strict simulator like H-B or BTTF. But maybe it will have a little more motion than T2.

I found it in this page is not an official website, so of course the information could be wrong.

http://www.usf.i8.com/corkboard/index.html

(it's the first piece of news in that page)

I don't know about it, Javier. From what I read previously, Shrek would be longer than 10 minutes. But who knows what is right and what isn't.

Ten minutes would make it the shortest 3-D movie in Orlando, though. T2 is listed at 12 minutes but that clearly doesn't include the pre-show, which is about 12 minutes itself. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is listed at 14 minutes, but that clearly doesn't include the pre-show either. MuppetVision is listed at 20 minutes with a 10-minute pre-show, which seems right. It's Tough to Be a Bug is listed at 20 minutes, and it has no pre-show, so it looks like most of the 3-D movies end up about 20 minutes in length or so. I don't see Shrek being too far from that number. Of course, they could plan on a 10-minute pre-show too. Well they probably WILL have a pre-show, since the Hitchcock building has so many rooms.

I sure hope so, it would be the first time that I'd go inside that building and not fall asleep. ;) :D

Ps. This is the second time I close a thread. :D

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