RIP, Jaws ride at Universal Studios Florida

[Bob Cook]

The danger of operating a theme park based on hit movies is that eventually, few care about the movie that inspired the ride (I bet a lot of kids seeing the Men in Black ride at Universal Studios Florida, say, "What's Men in Black"?) It seems that the Jaws ride was immune to such changes in popular taste, but, alas, while it could survive a lot of early malfunctions, it can't survive the wild popularity of Harry Potter attractions at Universal.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/os-universal-studios-jaws-closes-20120102,0,1721356.story

The closure is "to make room for what will be an exciting new attraction experience," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said last month.

Mere days after announcing that Jaws would be replaced, Universal announced it would be expanding its wildly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, setting off a new round of rumors among theme-park fans that the J.K. Rowling work would be seeping into the Studios — not merely increasing its original footprint in neighboring Islands of Adventure. A report by the Theme Park Insider website this weekend said plans for the Potter expansion at Universal Studios would include a massive ride based on Gringotts, a bank run by goblins in the Potter books and movies.

Universal, however, has not revealed details about its expansion, including its location, coming attractions or completion date. The company does not comment on rumors or speculation, Schroder said Sunday.


Here's the leaked plans for the Gringotts roller coaster, which may well in 20 years be replaced by whatever flavor-of-the-moment there might be. Though having seen Harry Potter jam-packed at Universal last Thanksgiving when most everything else was quiet, that may take a while.

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201112/2824/

 

[Bob Cook]

By the way, according to that second link, here's how they bleed Potter fans dry -- have a walkway just from one Potter attraction to another. So you can buy tickets for two parks in one day, just to get to both rides!

 

[bumpy mcgee]

Great, now where am I going to propose?

 

[Bubbler]

It goes the way of the Citizen Kane Sled Spectacular, The Train Ride On The River Kwai ...

And the Deep Throat Cave Of Mystery, an adventure-packed raft ride that plunges into a deep crevice where some riders might just get doused with a mystery surprise! Fun for the whole family!

 

[buckweaver]

As long as the "Honey I Shrunk The Kids" playground never closes, my faith in humanity will remain.

 

[Bubbler]

Is the Airport '77 underwater thrill ride still open?

 

[rmanfredi]

Great, now where am I going to propose?

First thing I thought of as well.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

The Bugs Life "ride" at Disney is still one of the best things in the whole park.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

When is the Poseidon Adventure waterpark debut?

 

[Pilot]

Well, at least they already got rid of the Birth of a Nation horseback and lynching tree ride.