Yesterday, Universal Studios Hollywood announced that Jurassic Park: The Ride will close on September 3rd to make way for an all-new attraction based on the blockbuster film Jurassic World. In their official press release, the park stated the following:
In 2019, face Indominus rex when she makes her world premiere in the new, high-tech Jurassic World. Journey to where living dinosaurs roam the earth in the part expedition, part heart-pounding water ride based on the blockbuster film franchise.
On this river-raft adventure, get doused as a colossal Mosasaurus dives for its great white shark snack. But the real danger lies ahead when the brutal Indominus rex escapes its enclosure. Be prepared when a 50-foot Tyrannosaurus rex comes to your rescue… right before your final plunge down a treacherous 84-foot waterfall.
The closure of the infamous water ride comes as no surprise given Jurassic World’s record-breaking box office numbers just two years ago. Jurassic Park – The Ride and its clones at other Universal parks are all showing very serious signs of age, so an update of some kind was desperately needed. Keep in mind that this new attraction will be an upgraded version of the water ride that exists today and not a completely new kind of ride.
As the press release states, guests can expect to come face-to-face with new dinosaurs not found on the current version of the ride. This likely means that most of, if not all of the current animatronics will be replaced. Most insiders suggest that Universal’s robotics partner, Creature Technology, will be the company tasked with bringing Jurassic World’s wildlife into the attraction. The two companies have worked together before, creating the colossal Kong robot for Islands of Adventure’s Skull Island attraction. The company has made dinosaurs before as they were in charge of all the robotics for the Jurassic World: The Exhibition traveling exhibit.
The storyline for the ride seems to take place during the events of the first Jurassic World film as a tour around the park goes haywire when the fearsome Indominus Rex escapes her paddock and unleashes total mayhem upon the island. These upgrades sound like the perfect enhancement for one of Universal’s classic attractions.
As for Orlando, no announcement was made for changes to River Adventure; however, that doesn’t mean there won’t be one soon. There have been signs indicating major changes may be on the way for Islands of Adventure’s Jurassic Park area beyond an updated ride.
The Jurassic World attraction will open to the public in 2019. Until then, many details will likely be shared in the forthcoming months, so stay tuned to Attraction Insight for all the latest updates on Jurassic World and more around the universe.
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