2004 - 2008 No new rides at Universal?

[Georgetuk]

Just been scouring the Universal website but it seems that there has been no new rides at Universal for some time. Seems strange because WDW has a few Soarin', Lights Motors Action and Monster Inc.

Is it true or am I missing something?

[debs1505]

In the last few years I can think of The Mummy, Jimmy Neutron, Shrek and BTTF is closed and The Simpsons is due to open next year. :wavey:

And Fear Factor (audience participation show)

[ethanjosh]

The Simpsons opens next year in US, IOA are working on Harry Potter attraction. I think they must have been broke after IOA, it must have cost them a fortune

[LargerBaloo]

Universal is in serious need of some cash injection if you ask me. It needs one or two more 5* Thrill rides so it then caters for ALL the visitors. I am someone whol loves the BIG rollercoasters or white knuckle rides and there is nothing at Universal that meets that requirement...Mummy is close but is nowhere near as intense as a Krakken or Hulk etc.

Earthquake is dated and i cannot believe they got rid of KONGFRONTATION and left Earthquake in place....especially seeing as the KONG film then came out.

I understand they have to cater for all tastes and i agree but i dont think they are at the moment as there are no rides or attractions there that make many peoples top rides list.

I really hope the simpsons ride is not just a cheap revamp of the BTTF simulator ride....i hope its a whole new ride like spiderman which took simulators to a whole new level

[disneydaft70]

Well, they'll make plenty money with their new rip off express passes :rolleyes:

[Anna]

Earthquake did not replace Kongfrontation. Mummy which opened in 2004 replaced Kongfrontation. Seuss' High in the Sky Trolley opened in 2006 and Fear Factor Live opened in 2005. The Simpson's ride is slated to open next year. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's opening date is between December 15, 2009 and June 30, 2010.

Well, they'll make plenty money with their new rip off express passes

I wouldn't call it new. The paid express has been around for at least 7 years and the free express was eliminated 2 years ago. It's hardly breaking news.

[disneydaft70]

Really looking forward to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, had a look at the artist impressions on the site last night, looks awesome.

[igoefamily]

Well, they'll make plenty money with their new rip off express passes :rolleyes:

I agree 100% - regardless of how long such a thing has been around to take away the option totally unless you pay extra for it is indeed a rip off!! We all pay enough to get into the park in the first place.

[Anna]

I agree 100% - regardless of how long such a thing has been around to take away the option totally unless you pay extra for it is indeed a rip off!!

Well arguing about something for 2 years just gets a little tiresome. Some people love the convenience of the express while others think it is a rip-off. Neither group is going to convince the other. The OP asked about new rides and yet, express pass gets thrown into almost every thread regardless of whether the question pertains to express.

We all pay enough to get into the park in the first place.
A 7 day park hopper for Universal costs $20 less than a one day park hopper at Disney. Not exactly overpriced.

But to answer the OP: From 2004 to the present, Mummy, High in the Sky Trolley, and Fear Factor have opened. Several new rides in the Harry Potter Land are scheduled to open in the next two years and the Simpsons is scheduled to open next year.

[crid]

Earthquake did not replace Kongfrontation. Mummy which opened in 2004 replaced Kongfrontation.

LargerBaloo didn't say that Earthquake replaced Kongfrontation, he said they got rid of Kongfrontation and left Earthquake. :confused:

I don't think anyone can argue that Universal Studios doesn't have some really (REALLY) dated attractions. I mean most of these have been there ever since I first started going to Florida. Twister, Jaws, Earthquake, ET all really show their age. On the otherhand they've also got some really good attractions - Mummy, Hulk, Spiderman, etc.

Basically in the last three years there have been two new rides and a new show open which works out at 1.5 new attractions in each park every three years, I'm not sure how this compares with Disney but I'd imagine they're opening more than 1.5 new attractions per park every three years.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy Universal a lot, but if I was only visiting Florida every 3 years then I'd be seeing a lot more new attractions at Disney than at Universal which is what I think the original poster was getting at. Having said that SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are probably introducing new attractions at about the same rate as Universal.

[Anna]

LargerBaloo didn't say that Earthquake replaced Kongfrontation, he said they got rid of Kongfrontation and left Earthquake. :confused:



Oops, sorry I misread his post.

[pinkypominnie]

I LOVE Universal, IOA has the BIG rides and thrill seekers needs sewn up, and as you can visit both of them on the same day and they are about 2 mins walk apart, I dont see what the complaint is (to me they are practically the same park) There is also MIB which is fairly new (it wasnt there the last time I visited before June) and Mummy is my favourite ride anywhere!!! Along with the old classics Jaws, Earthquake and ET. I am sure MK has loads of rides that have been there since day 1 and think both Disney AND US do a great job of keeping the mix between classic/new...I think some people are just never happy! Lol! But you cant please everyone all of the time :)

[allyk]

I think the Owners of the theme parks are in a lose-lose situation, when replacing old rides for new.

I have read various threads on here slating the decision to get rid of "classics" such as Kongfrontation & BTTF, and here we have a thread that is saying they are not introducing new rides quick enough.

As already stated I think US/IOA have their hands full at the moment with new simpsons ride and Harry Potter Area. The thing you have to remember as well is that both these parks are in a fairly confined space compared to WDW, and therefore if they introduce new rides they have to take some old ones out to make space. Also any new rides have to fit into the theming of the park, otherwise they have to go through the process of re-theming. If they just started chucking in rides here there and everywhere it would just end up being an Amusement park (like Blackpool Pleasure Beach) as opposed to a Theme Park.

[TonyJeff]

I think recently Universal have been concentrating more on the accomodation and entertainment outside of the parks over the past couple of years. Also haven't universal only recently increased the actual land they have available to build on? I still love Universal and IOA and in the next few years I'm sure they will improve the park dramatically. Heres hoping anyway :)

[motty1969]

Well I love all things Universal and admit to liking it more than Disney. So I'm a freak right :pgig: :pgig: :pgig: :pgig: :grin: ;)

[byeo]

Universal has limited space unlike WDW

[hiddenmickey94]

they are planning on making a harry poter attraction in one of the parks. In Universal the new attractions are The Mummy, Jimmy Neutron and Shrek which is a 3D show

[tracymiami]

Ditto - I love both Universal for its more classic appeal (I feel like i am definately on holiday and can escape when i am there) and IOA for all the new madness going on....

Also having the Halloween nights at Universal is another thing that i personally had never been to before so that was new to me... (even though it has been running for over 16 years lol)

I still love cheesy things like ET and Earthquake sorry lol, (bit gutted that BTTF has gone now cos that is like my growing up era of 80s movies which i loved) but love things like Return of the Mummy and Spidey

t x

[piratechick]

well studios has simpson ride is being buit and harry potter land which is replacing the lost contiant in ioa so they have big plans for the next 4years

[Loz1967]

When we went to US this year we thought that it looked a little tired and really needed a bit of a revamp. I still love US but I think they need to do something with it. We went to IOA for the first time this year which still looks really new even though it opened in 1999.

[Dougie]

Well I love all things Universal and admit to liking it more than Disney. So I'm a freak right :pgig: :pgig: :pgig: :pgig: :grin: ;)

I'm with you there....Apart from Epcot i find Disney a tad boring....a lot to see but not much to do.