I really wish they’d do a second generation Jaws and Back to the Future ride. I feel like the IP is timeless and both franchises lend themselves to either a dark ride or a story coaster particularly well.
I wholeheartedly agree with you! ESPECIALLY with BTTF. That franchise’s popularity is just as big today as Jurassic Park, and even Star Wars. Much more popular then how it was when the original ride closed in 2007.
@@jonathanwallis3300 exactly!! Both the film industry and fashion industry right now are heavily involved with 80s nostalgia and have been for at least the last decade. I feel like back to the future is just as relevant now as it’s ever been. I watched it last weekend, they still run it all the time on cable TV.
I won a trip to Universal Studios for my family through a drawing from my local Fox station when I was a kid in the early ‘90s and this brought back so many great memories. We must had been lucky, because we were able to get on all of the big rides without trouble. We also did Disney doing that trip, which I loved, but my best memories were of Universal and how REAL rides like Earthquake, Kongfrontation and Jaws felt (at least to a 10-year-old). Thanks so much for bringing me back there!
As a kid I definitely loved Universal more than Disney. While Epcot was really cool, at the time I was a kid and Epcot was a tad bit too educational. LOL
I remember the Jaws and Back to the Future ride and was surprised to see ET still running on my last visit to the park a few years ago . I hope they never get rid of ET is such a classic ride that everyone can enjoy.
The best part of the Twister attraction was the theater floor effect. At the end of the show, the floor would drop about half an inch. A simple but very cool effect. Great video, as always!
I don't ever recall that being an element. I kept reading about it for this video, but perhaps I was just unusually unlucky and the effect never happened to work when I was there.
I agree with your hate on Rip Ride Rocket. Kidzone should be replaced except ET and should become a classic universal land. More practical effect should be used on Kong Skull Island. Ghostbusters should also have a presence in the park again due to the popularity of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Toon lagoon should be updated with more modern toon like a mix of Hannah Barbera and Nickelodeon but keeping that retro cartoon feel.
@@SirBlackReeds Afterlife had a budget of 75 million and 2016s was 144. 2016 total was 229 million and afterlife is right around 200. That differnce, along with Afterlife kiling it in its digital release, it has EASILY beat 2016 from a financial perpespective.
Both parts of this essay are so well done. I love the channel you have created and it is clear that there is an abundance of thought, research and work behind these videos. Thanks so much!
That nightly boat show spectacular was amazing when watching right next to the fence. Those stunt drivers could charge at you at top speed and flip the boats 180 within a few feet or less of the wall.
that jaws ride was just So Cool and i love the acting from the skipper in the clips you used as well- it's always so cool seeing actors in theme parks that can pull stuff off that convincingly
The source video on that is incredible. Apparently it was one of the last rides ever and he really went all out. ruclips.net/video/7uALqMMC8mg/видео.html
I’m not gonna lie, learning Universal Orlando had the Psycho house and removed it is DEVASTATING! I love those movies and it’s one of those things that should have been a permanent thing. They should have built a haunted mansion style ride.
Thanks for describing Terminator 2 in so much details ! I was 10 when I saw it back in the days, could not understand a word of English, and yet, it left such a mark on me. I loved it ! Seeing the actors popping out of the screen and Schwarzenegger ride the motorcycle through the ruin of the city in 3D was beyond awesome to me ! :D
This was an amazing video and very nostalgic. Universal Studios has grown so much and it's wonderful to see the roots of Universal Florida. I cannot definitively say the classic 90’s Universal rides would absolutely beat the crap out of screen rides we have at Universal today. While Universal ride seems to have had their strengths and weaknesses; when it came to large animatronic and screen based rides. The rides were still actually unique, different, and interesting and the one thing I see is Universal Florida seemed to try to learn from their mistakes and problems and improve on them; which WDW refuses to do.
I really hope they do learn from this, as the Jurassic World retheme in Hollywood and the Secret Life of Pets look great. Still, whatever Minions themed attraction is replacing Shrek seems like a possible misstep. I'll wait until it opens to judge, but it sounds to be more screens.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I feel like the minions replacement is a cheap way to capitalize on the popularity of the new despicable me movie and fill the void of a family friendly attraction while focusing their real time and efforts to epic universe. It’s a little bit of a shame though because studios needs more to do in general compared to IOA and Epic.
From what I have heard and read the current rumour is that Universal thinks they have found a supplier who has successfully created a moving walkway that can turn corners with people on it. The new Minions attraction allegedly is this experience was rumoured to take place at the Villain-Con location from the first Minions movie. Instead of walking from booth to booth to try your hand at firing interactive zappers, guests would instead be moved from one interactive shooting gallery to the next on large moving walkways (similar to what they use at airport when you collect your language).
The biggest reason "behind the scenes" type attractions have gone away is that with things like DVD extras and info on the internet how movies are made became more accessible to the common person (not to mention we can easily do green screen type effects on our phones). Beyond that, how movies are made also changed to where the physical effects they would demonstrate aren't widely used. Harry Potter really marked the change where people now want to become part of the fantasy of the movies instead of pretending to be making them.
I don't believe that narrative and regard it as a myth. If the Horror Makeup Show can continue to be updated for contemporary audiences, why not everything else?
@@PoseidonEntertainment I think the Management really missed out on the Nostalgia Market. It opened in 1990, 31 years ago. Kids that were taken there by their parents now have kids of their own. Management doesn't appreciate how powerful it is to have someone who spent a day at the park with Barney as a toddler can now watch their toddler sitting in maybe the same spot and enjoying the show as well. Same with the Hitchcock Theater Show. My oldest boy got to demonstrate the "runaway" Carousel Special effect in 1992. He has a 7 year old now, what do you think it would be worth to him to vacation at the park where he can maybe watch _his_ son have the same experience?
The Barney and animal shows were the two things I remember experiencing during my one trip to the park as a kid - mostly because other rides like the Hanna Barbera one scared me at the time, so we just went to low-scare attractions like those.
Twister genuinely terrified when I did it. I was only 12 and the previous year I had just gone through my states most horrific tornado event in the last century, and I was deathly afraid of storms, so Twister was an experience that sticks with me even as an adult.
Fantastic part 2 video! This was like walking back into my childhood memories. I didn't really understand English much back then, but the rides and shows still left an impression nonetheless. I have fond memories of Earthquake and the Wild West stunt show. It was nice to see a video of it again. Different era, for sure.
Hearing the Back to the Future music on the ride is probably the most Exciting and satisfying feeling Ever for anyone who was lucky enough to have gone on that ride 😎🎶🎶🎵🎶🎻🎻🎻🎺🎺🎺🔊🔊🔊
My former roommate in the 1990s worked at the Wild West Stunt show and i loved that show. The nighttime lagoon show was challenging because the good viewing areas were limited and it was difficult to tell what was going on.
Your video refreshed my memories. I’m so glad I got to see most of these attractions before they closed. The last time I went to Universal Florida was in 2001. I finally saw the new rides when I went to California in 2018.
39:05 fun fact (from experience) if you happen to be there when it’s spontaneously raining so hard the paths are flooding the structure you can see just off to the left is a great place to dodge the rain without having to cram into an indoor space with all the other park goers
16:46 there was another pre-show they switched to before the Disaster reskin. Where in the first pre-show, they have 3 displays demonstrating how weather is made on screen (giving one of my favorite facts about Halloween, how the set used the same leaves for certain shots, and would have to rake and collect them all before each shot.) The second pre-show was the same. And the third pre-show, eventually, introduces, not only a scale model of a submarine, but would move on to the tub-o-balls.
I used to love Earthquake, too... Being someone who finds the making of films interesting, Universal used to be one of my ideal parks... Now, not so much. The learning aspect of attractions like Earthquake and Twister was a lot of fun to me, even when I was a kid. I thought they were so neat and unique in how they used participation to teach audiences... I really miss old Universal. Nothing hurts worse though than missing Graveyard Revue but that's because I'm ADDICTED to the Beetlejuice cartoon and that show almost seems lifted from an episode, especially since the set resembles Lydia's transformed room from the theme song and BJ would wear his cartoon counterpart's outfit. NOTHING ELSE that has closed has quite approached that level of heartache for me. I used to go to Universal every two years, whenever I also went to Disney World, growing up. Now, I haven't been to Universal since Graveyard Revue closed because I'm afraid of how I'm going to feel when I pass its old location... I get the feeling that I might start to cry uncontrollably. :(
Love seeing all this amazing old footage. I miss some of these original attractions. When I was in high school, we went to the Studios and I still never ever forget a thing my friend said on Jaws. He said why does every ride have to have fire? It’s 9,000 degrees outside and these parks are like well hey let’s just light a fire! Lol. It’s so true though. With as hot as it already is why do we need to start fires outside? Lol
You've slowly become one of my favorite youtubers to enjoy for a long video. If any the folks at Disney and Universal took a look at some of your videos.
Another great video. I miss the edutainment aspect from both universal and disney that used to be prevalent in their attractions. My recent visit to universal echoes your thoughts, hagrids is truly a triumph and velocicoaster does what hollywood RRR fails to do: be a world class roller coaster first and also have a fun theme and excellent queue I'm interested to see what you think of the rumored shrek 4d replacement and your coverage of epic universe, once more is revealed about the park
Jaws, Twister, and Poseidon’s Furry had me crying when I was little 😂😂!!! I have done Jaws and Twister again after that and enjoyed it the second time 😇🙏.
Understandable. The park did catch a lot of people off guard, expecting it to be like Disney and not expecting something to be blowing up in their faces at every attraction lol
I've come to wonder if my life long fascinating with filmmaking and practical effects comes from the one two punch of visiting both MGM Studios and Universal Studios Orlando in the early 90s. I was too young to go on many of the more scary attractions (and apparently Jaws was down, like usual) but both parks really dove deep into the art of filmmaking and MGM even had me go up on stage for the first time! I won't do my long rant about screen based attractions, I will only say that they don't leave anything to the imagination. They overload you with so much sensory information and I just can't help but feel that one or two practical effects would have far more of an impact than all of the CGI nonsense in the Transformers ride.
I agree. While there is a decent handful of things that make Spider-Man better than Transformers, one of the elements is the physicality. Even small elements like the garbage truck, the levitating crates, and the moving skyscraper effect make a significant difference.
Love this!! Just something about movies that are magical to me. Including these theme parks. I remember being on king Kong ride back in the 90s as a kid and absolutely loving it
Your brief talk of ET was so helpful. When I went last August the wait was never more than 10 minutes, so no preshow, or passport. I greatly enjoyed the retroness of the ride, but without any context I had no idea what actually was happening with the ride.
It's just completely different I suppose. The current park is fun, but it just has the issue of being so overmatured with screen based experiences. They're not bad (perhaps with the exception of Fast and Furious) but they need other attractions to balance them out.
I just finished watching. Thank you for taking me back to my first trip to Universal Studios Florida (pre Universal Orlando) in 1992. We did take the tram tour and joke about it to this day. One thing you did not mention, and yes, admittedly it was a separate price vendor, was the "Star Trek Adventure" which was in the same building as King Kong. The entrance was the movie theater-looking doorway to the left side of the building. In fact, the "P" from Paramount is still there, even though the sign above the door now reads "Paradise."
I only just realized that you only have 35k subs, dude with the quality of your content and consistency of your channel I thought you were getting close a mil at least.
I think the fact that they replaced twister with Jimmy Fallon says everything about the downsides of the parks nowadays. I know twister was far from perfect, but it had a lot of really cool practical effects and sets and a lot of charm as well. The jimmy Fallon ride is just following jimmy Fallon on a screen. You could watch the video on your phone at home and get the same effect
My parents brought me (we were joined by aunts, uncles, and same-age cousins as well)twice within its first 5 years, including the first summer of operation. Having been born in one of the five boroughs, it was so cool walking through "home" to get to Kong. The feeling of intense heat, the smell of fuel and the sight of Kong...man...burned into memory. It was so LOUD which, yknow, little kids don't always do too well with super loud things. Just like with fireworks, I had to cover my ears. I buried my face against my mom when we got to Kong. The helicopter part, I was confused by, then my dad pointed out we had passed Kong. I just stared and stared at him and went "wwoooooow" the way little kids do when they see something awe-inspiring. Funny enough the thing that made me cry hardest wasnt anything at Universal, it was the Disney portion of our vacation. I remember a weird little mermaid themed ride where your vehicle is under water or something and you see statues or anmatronics of the characters. Idk why but Ariel FREAKED me out. She looked like a horror movie creature to me. I have to of been mistaken but I remember her having like a kind of pointy spiral beak thing for a face despite the rest of her being Ariel. So I hid my head and closed my eyes for the rest of the ride. Jaws was wild, too. For whatever reason, maybe bc we were out in the light and the noises weren't as loud, I was able to remmeber it was just "a robot" and not get bothered. Earthquake was always my favorite for some reason. I was very lucky my family hadn't torpedo'd itself yet and I happened to be born when I was. The experiences I got to have were unlike anything any most kids could've even dreamed of at that age, and I got to share them with the people I loved most. Getting to excitedly recount each experience with my best friend/cousin at the time, getting to dance to goofy stage shows at both Universal and Disney and do things like gawk at the Ghostbusters (that show had an awesome cold air effect when the marshmallow man died). I hope epic recaptures a lot of that magic. I look forward to giving Universal a shot when it does. Shame what the greedy, awful, bottom line focused, cynical execs at Disney have done. I dont see myself going there for at least a decade or two...and even that's pending them unscrewing themselves. But at that point Ill no longer be the wide-eyed 3 year old barely familiar with the world, getting to walk around with my family and being so shy that I hide my head when cinderella comes to say hi. I'll be a 40+ year old man, with an entire life behind me, wondering how the hell time moved so fast and far. These two videos looking back at the earliest iteration of Universal were a huge gift for me. They allowed me to relive things that would be near impossible otherwise. With how big 80s and 90s nostalgia is for 30-50 year olds and with them being way more willing to spend on just themselves than in the past when things were mostly about family expenses, I'd bet that within the next 15 years they'll look to bring back some of these rides in some form. Jesus...I'll be in my 50s. Maaaaybe with a successful book or YT channel finally after years of trying so hard. Gt be honest, I don't like the look of that number! Anywaaaays, thx for the look back and the opportunity to meander through a long winded compilation of hot air, cold air and memories
as someone who's lived in the bay area my whole life it sure is interesting to see how universal themed the san francisco area + what their interpretation of bart was like
Ahh, this makes me a bit sad I missed out on experiencing the original Twister/Disaster attraction but glad to hear of it here. Backdraft in Hollywood was one of the most memorable (albeit scary as a child) experiences I ever had at a theme park and Twister seems in the same flavor of attraction. Also lamenting the amazing Ghostbusters show I never got to see - it sounds awesome! These deep dives are interesting, thanks for another great vid!
Those really were the glory days of universal . As someone who's been lucky enough the visit Universal ( from the UK ) , during the 90's thru to last year, it really feels like the original essence and ' realness ' of the Ride the Movies idea has been sadly lost . More technology doesn't always mean something is better .
I kind of agree. It wasn't even that involved, mostly just covering clips from the film. Still, they managed to do a really great job of making it feel exciting and building anticipation.
The Twister attraction’s opening was delayed due to real world events too. Right before it was going to open, Orlando and Kissimmee were hit by tornadoes, causing a lot of damage and many lives were lost. Universal decided to delay the opening out of respect to the victims, as well as wanting to avoid the poor optics of appearing to sensationalize and profit from the misery of their neighbors.
I recall reading that somewhere. As interesting as it would be to go into the history of the individual attractions, the script was far too long as is though.
This is exactly why I was so fearful of Twister. I went in 2007 with my friend’s family and I literally cried when they made me get on, as it triggered flashbacks to me getting trapped in my school as a tornado knocked down trees and blocked the exits a few years prior. I definitely did not feel the need to relive anything similar. I ended up somewhat enjoying it, as the pre show calmed me down a bit, but every single time someone mentions that ride, that’s all I can think about lol
They need to release a vr game recreating og universal. Would be effin awesome and easily doable considering most of the og rides were more just sit and watch type rides vs the thrill u actually get from a real roller coaster or something.
This kinda Exist with Universal Studios Japan two video games based on that version of the park was made. The bad one sold only on Nintendo Gamecube World wide and a Remake by Konami that was PS2 but only sold in Japan that has no english translation.
It sounds like when these attractions were on and working they were fantastic, but on even given day several of them could be down really ruining your experience at the park. I have never been to see either of the Universal parks in Florida but it still looks cool. I would really loved to have done the Back to The Future ride or see the Live Action Ghostbusters show. That Kong looks amazing compared to the California Universal Studios. I would love to see Michael Keaton perform as Beatlejuice in the park sometime and surprise the crap out of the audience kind of how Johnny Depp does with the Pirates of the Caribbean in California.
Really enjoyed these videos. I miss King Kong but I loooove the Mummy! I miss the Beetlejuice show…don’t care what anyone says, it was bomb. lol I MISS Back to the Future! I enjoyed Jaws as well. I even enjoyed Murder She Wrote & the Hitchcock shows…from what I can remember. You took me back to my childhood. 🧡
I miss so many of these attractions especially in this episode. Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Jaws, and Back to the Future were some of my favorites. I miss it
15:19... man, kids today will never know. Earthquake was so intense I cried on my first ride (I was a kid with a hyperactive imagination, I had really let myself get immersed... don't laugh). Mind you I was a huge thrill ride and coaster fan. There was something about the combination of all the pre-show build up + practical effects on the ride itself... the gas truck sliding down and "exploding" next to you with fire you could FEEL, enough to practically singe off your eyelashes in the right seat, and what looked like a wild tsunami of water, all while the train is shaking and another train collides on top of yours. That and knowing something like that could actually happen IRL was pretty frightening for a little guy like me!! That ride made you feel like you were *legitimately* in danger unlike any other attraction I've ever experienced at any park, save for maybe its siblings Jaws and the OG King Kong. Truly a GOAT in theme park history. Also Richter's, the restaurant next door back in the 90s had theeee BEST cheeseburgers in the park. Didn't think about it until now. Thanks for bringing back all this nostalgia. Very pleased. Great and informative video as always.
I had a very similar experience. The first time I went, I did Twister, followed by Kong, Earthquake and then Jaws. There were so many intense elements to these attractions and they definitely left an impression.
Man I remember the year twister opened, that was the second summer we went to the universal studios and isles of adventure just open, but out of tradition we would go to the original Park first. Been on the ride countless times, when it was packed the key would go all the way around the building and there would be these posters that would show you each of the F-type categories, back then, a lot of the rides had long queues that would wind through the themed part of the set, so I definitely remember a lot of the storyline for the rides and the goofy promos my Mom and I would crack up. Until Isles of Adventure really took off in the 2000s, the original park was a humble delight and one could just see everything in a day or two. What I really liked about universal studios over Disney is that they weren't afraid to use practical effects and fire, guess as a little boy you want to see things blow up! I'm a native born New Yorker I first went to Disney world in the mid-90s, to then later move to Florida and visit universal studios at the end of the decade, watching some of this footage I can vividly remember what it felt like walking those paths again, much of your impressions are spot on, especially of the time, I visited the park both as a child and then later an adult. Seeing a lot of the smaller experiences covered here really bright back memories of when I was too small for roller coaster, but too big for Discovery Zone 😎🤘🏾 the long blistering hot afternoons trodding along with the massive crowds, in a time before smartphones, we ran up them disposable cameras! A lovely time with my parents those really beautiful Summers...a lot of this stuff that without RUclips I would have only had memories 🙂🙏🏾🖤
My dad took me in 1992 & 1994. I got to taste slime at Nick studios, looked down upon the set of Clarissa Explains it All. The Kong ride scared the crap out of me and I was endlessly disappointed to find that it was gone when I finally went back in ‘09. Jaws was AMAZING - back then they were still using all of the pyrotechnics and it felt like your face was going to melt off from the heat of them. E.T. was my absolute favorite. We did Disney as well but Universal was more enjoyable, especially for my dad lol. I don’t find screen rides a big draw but it seems like they get away with it, so why bother with the huge animatronics anymore…
God, this video really made me relive some old memories! I went to universal when I was only 5, and after watching I remember twister!! Same thing with jaws, i wish they were still there
Dude... I never figured out there was supposed to be a family in that diner on Twister... haha I always assumed the light shining from it was to show the electricity winking out. haha
I hope that Universal attempts to bring them back in some form. There was a rumored idea for a classic Universal Monsters attraction a while ago, using a trackless dark ride system to act as cars sitting in a drive-in theater. The cars would then drive "into" the screens, and into various monster films. I think something like this would work but for a wider variety of Universal films. It would allow scenes based on Kong, Jaws, Earthquake, Back to the Future and a variety of other classic Universal films.
I always loved seeing classic universal vids. They were always so cool to see. The only times I went to Universal was in 2008 & again in 2015. From those 2 times I went, I did get to experience most of the attractions that are no longer around. Jaws, earthquake (kinda with disaster), terminator 3d, Beetlejuice, nicktoon blast, & twister. If there was any attraction I'd like to experience that I would enjoy would be back to the future the ride & hanna Barbera I'd love to experience classic universal studios florida someday, but time will tell on whenever that'll happen
1:10 - yes pepper's ghost effect, but the ghosts were NOT under the stage and reflected onto the glass. Instead, they were located directly behind and above the audience and you saw their reflection onto the glass.
The Ghostbusters ghost we're above the audience on the second floor. If you were to walk up to the glass and look back you could see the animatronics. They used to yell at you to stay away from the glass for this reason
I really love your channel. It brings back a little bit of an nostalgia for me when I was a kid going through this quarterback the adult ing today I riding rolli were coasters. Going to Dolly World this may because I've never been
My boy did all this research just to take the fattest dump on current day studios at the end 🤣. These videos were awesome and you did an amazing job putting it together and it was very educational, I learned tons of new information about studios that I didn't know before. That being said the ending was strange to me as you basically talked about how every attraction that replaced an old one is terrible and how much you hate them all HAHA. It went from love story to diss track lol. I know its hard to see older attractions go but Universal needs to keep up with the times in order to stay in competition and unfortunately that means certain classic attractions gotta go, especially if they were faulty and never ran properly. If Universal never updated any of the rides it would be a tacky 90's time capsule that wouldn't attract large masses and crowds. We all wish we could ride Kongfrontation, Jaws, and Back to the Future, but its probably better that we cant anymore because its more beneficial for the park and its growth and for the company's growth rather than trying to appease to a minority who wants old attractions back. Thanks for your time bother.
Just a quick correction, the peppers ghost effect was actually opposite of what you said. The animatronics were not under the stage but on a stage above the audience. If you ever went there in person, and sat down you noticed that the ceiling above the audience was quite low, it's because above the audience was the stage where the ghost animatronics were and you were seeing a direct reflection of them from the glass, because the big windows in front of the containment chamber were not tilted, but straight on, but still a very cool and convincing effect
Can you really believe there are some people who wanted the E.T. ride to be demolished for Super Nintendo World because "no one remembers this movie," despite being referenced in pop culture numerous times?
Wow! Well that's not going to happen because: 1) We are getting SNW for Epic Universe 2) Steven Spielberg has little control of the rides, that's why E.T. is still there.
Can you imagine just swimming through the water in the Jaws set? Even knowing it’s just a machine on a track it’d still look scary as hell to see a shark in the water.
I think they should take a vacant room or sound stage and fill it with VR machines and bring back the classic rides (Kong frontation, jaws, back to the future, and twister) and make the que really cool with all the stuff rom the classics along with the theme songs of the classics only.
ET isnt technically the last opening day attraction! The monster make up show is alive and well, not to mention it has the same two guys performing it from when i was a kid. I absolutely love that show. Also you could count the animal show despite plot changes over the years
I got to go around 2001 and my favorite part of Universal were the Photo Op spots that were through out the park. In front of Back to the Future, there was a spot where if you took your photo there it looked like a nasa rocket was taking off with you Infront of it. There was another where you were in New York and so on in the park. That left a big impression as a kid visiting the park. Hitchcock, Kong, Back to the Future, Earthquake we're some of my favorite. 🤘🤠
I went to Universal in ye olden days. Very early nineties because Jaws was not yet open. A caveat, I was young, still in middle school, and my memories are very spotty. I will say it was a bad day for the park. Various attractions were having technical problems, and it was a Florida summer. Miserably hot and humid. I remember my mom's biggest complaint was the lack of shade, which made the heat absolutely brutal. Back to the Future had just opened and I remember I was very excited about that having recently acquired a love for simulator rides of that ilk due to Star Tours and Body Wars. Now, I know I went on Back to the Future, but I can't for the life of me remember if it was on that trip or a second one, because I'm almost entirely certain the ride was having terrible troubles during the visit I'm talking about. Long lines, breakdowns, but just the same I don't recall a second visit so who knows. I'm working with some very rusty memories. Anyway, my strongest ones are of the Ghostbusters stage show which I found rather scary but it also broke halfway through and never got back up to finish. I liked Earthquake, possibly because it reminded me of Catastrophe Canyon, which I much enjoyed at MGM. E.T. struggled with my name at the end of the ride, which I thought was very funny. Judging from some of the behind the scenes show from your last video, I think I went to some of those because they seemed vaguely familiar. I have what might be a false memory of going on Kongfrontation, mostly because I can't possibly imagine going on it at that age or anyone trying to convince me to do so, but I swear I remember that animatronic and the smell of bananas. Maybe I spent most of it with my face pressed into a family member's shoulder. Anyway, I really enjoyed these videos. I don't have a huge connection with Universal. We were always more of a Disney family and I'm not sure that'll change any time soon. At least for me since all the really cool rides still seem a bit too intense for me. I never did get over my aversion to a majority of thrill rides. Even still I appreciate your thorough research and presentations. It's really astounding the differences between Disney and Universal in the way they change their parks. I feel like universal seems to have a better track record when it comes to ride replacements and overhauls. It is a shame though that it doesn't have much of a concept of loyalty when it comes to rides themselves, for lack of a better way to put it, but I think maybe the ambition was the problem. The rides were unsustainable, unlike Disney's older ones which were naturally less so due to the constraints of technology (not to mention the pile of money Disney is sitting on to afford to fix and refresh rides). tl;dr: your retrospectives are always very fun and enlightening.
Other than Pirates, Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise, I would argue that Disney doesn't really care too much about the legacy of their technically ambitious attractions either. They love to pretend that Horizons, World of Motion, Journey Into Imagination and the Universe of Energy never existed and I think that current leadership took too many ideas from Comcast executives about replacing attractions on the cheap. Still, it appears that Comcast execs have stepped back and are letting Universal do its thing.
@@PoseidonEntertainment yeah, I was thinking about epcot a lot when it came to that quagmire of Disney and loyalty. Not to mention MGM. Maybe the only thing they pretend to be loyal about is the Magic Kingdom and everything else is negligible. Suppose I don't like thinking about how they've gutted Epcot because that breaks my heart. God I loved Epcot back in the day. I do admire the fact that it seems like Universal takes criticism in mind or at the very least takes into account what parkgoers want. I can't say the same for Disney these days.
This was an awesome series. You did an amazing job. My only wish is that the one legacy ride they left was Jaws. It was my favorite and I love water themed rides.
Have you seen one of my newer videos where I proposed a Universal version of a "Great Movie Ride" for the park? ruclips.net/video/xMigL1SHP8s/видео.html
I miss that both Universal and MGM nee Disney Studios have abandoned many of the learning aspects about the movie making process and just added more action IP. To be fair some of these are excellent and Harry Potter is a huge draw for them. Outside of HP, The Mummy and Transformers are stellar examples that Disney is learning from.
I remember really liking the Ghostbusters show a LOT as a kid then seeing the Ghostbusters again later in the New York section of the park while they chased Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice would possess the Ghostbusters and make them sing and dance like he did at the Day-O dinner party. The Blues Brothers were also walking around that area of the park doing awesome song and dance stuff.
Terrific video. I wanted to ask where you got the info that the Ghostbusters animatronics were below the stage? I've never seen a diagram of the layout despite years of looking. Also, glad for the shout out to the Psycho IV set. After the Motel was torn down there was a photo opportunity spot where you could stand with the Psycho House in the background. My second trip there my wife and I took a VIP Tour and she had arranged a surprise for me. After the Tour ended and the group broke up, the Tour Guide took us up to the house where we had our picture taken standing on the porch of the House. I even managed a set of photos of the back of the House (which you never see). Really sorry that's gone. I share your disdain for the Hollywood Rip, Ride Rock It inasmuch as it adds insult to injury by passing through the Ghostbuster's Firehouse but it also eliminates any pretense that Universal Studios is a working movie set backlot with all the noise it puts out.
I consulted a number of sources and but I couldn't recall exactly where it's stated that they're located underneath. In context with my knowledge on how the effect works in general, I probably just assumed it was the case as well.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Thanks for responding. I know that the classic Pepper's Ghost works that way because being in a concert hall there was literally nowhere else to put them. You'll recall, however, that in the Haunted Mansion you have animatronics above and below the Omni Mover track. It's fortunate that I've only found photos of closeups of the "ghosts" but no diagram of the Spooktacular layout. It's almost like I'd like to talk to any cast members that used to work that show back in the day so you could interview them or something.
I never really did any proper research ahead of time, but I remember being hyped as hell when I heard they were bringing King Kong back to Universal. When I finally got to ride it the disappointment that hit me realizing it was just another screen ride was massive. The animatronic at the end is cool, but I’m beyond done with the screen rides.
Of all the things you talked about I really wish they would make a new Back to the Future ride also I’ve never seen the Terminator movies although the whole idea is cool, but that show you just showed was pretty epic I think they should do more of that, it was just really cool so I’m all for that one 👍
I got my mother to take me to USO shortly after Nick Studios opened but before BttF. Half the rides were down that day and they gave us free passes to return that I hung on to until around 2018. I think the park has made a lot of progress and positive changes, and think you're crazy to hate on Rip Rocket, even if it is derivative of Rock'N.
What made Rip Ride Rocket cool was not an intended feature, but am Easter egg put in by the programmers, in that there was a secret code you could put in to unlock a hidden song menu that was janky and wasn’t fully fleshed out but added like, 80 more songs, some of which I’m SURE the6 didn’t own copyrights to (like Rainbow Connection), which made the ride kinda fun. Nothing like riding a roller coaster to Movin Right along by Fozzie and Kermit or Night on Bald Mountain.
Well, I don’t recalled going to Universal pre-2005-06 as I only remember going to Disney and Busch Garden at a very young age as I lived in NC from 01-04 before and after that…I live in Florida from 95-01 and 04-Present Day. But, I remember going on some of the remaining opening attractions such as BTTF, Jaws, ET, and Earthquake. So, I am not entirely sure I did Ghostbuster, Nickelodeon Studio, The Original King Kong, Murders, and Alfred as my father claimed that we did go to Universal in 2000 while my mother were taking care of my-then newborn brother and had a feeling that I did some of those. Anyway, I am totally with you on Rip-Rock Roller Coaster as I am hard of hearing. Because, everytime…I get on the ride…I had to hold on my hearing aids throughout the ride because it went too fast as I am afraid that I would lose it. So, love your video essays and keep up the great work ;)
This was very interesting! Aside from Jaws, Back to the future, Kong and earthquake I never knew many of these rides listed in this video and part 1 existed. Really wish I could experience some of them. Now going off topic, I’m going to talk about a Toon Lagoon retheme. Personally I would retheme the land to the Peanuts franchise. I would replace The Popeye ride with a dark ride taking guests through one of the comic strips. I would also retheme Dudley Do to the raft scene in Race for your Life Charlie Brown, the drop at the end representing the waterfall scene from said special.
Cedar Fair owns the rights to the Peanuts franchise for the US parks so Universal would have to negotiate with them in order to have the peanuts characters. I think it could be possible since the nearest CF park to Universal is Carowinds.
An interesting idea, but I enjoy Toon Lagoon as is. Still, I wish they would do something with the abandoned theater. Perhaps they could put in a small dark ride in that space.
Love those videos , unfortunately the movement from footage gives me a really bad motion sickness , but I still enjoy to listen to the video and you narrating ! Cheers
Couple of things: The drive-in scene is from the movie so the flashlight is actually the cast as they're recreating the scene for the guests, you can also see a projection of Bill Paxton in the window of the shed that's by the gas pump. Im also a little disappointed that you didn't talk about the drop floor scare at the end of Twister. Also if I had to nitpick you didn't refer to Jaws Ride's best lines from the script "like 10 minutes?! we'll be sharkbait in 10 Minutes" or "Call off the Marines we're coming home" But a great video and an amazing overview of Classic USF
I'd be interested to see you do a look at Universal Australia which is on the Gold Coast and is a park and active movie studio where a lot of big name movies have been made but I understand the problems involved.
I really wish they’d do a second generation Jaws and Back to the Future ride. I feel like the IP is timeless and both franchises lend themselves to either a dark ride or a story coaster particularly well.
I wholeheartedly agree with you! ESPECIALLY with BTTF. That franchise’s popularity is just as big today as Jurassic Park, and even Star Wars. Much more popular then how it was when the original ride closed in 2007.
@@jonathanwallis3300 exactly!! Both the film industry and fashion industry right now are heavily involved with 80s nostalgia and have been for at least the last decade. I feel like back to the future is just as relevant now as it’s ever been. I watched it last weekend, they still run it all the time on cable TV.
Yeah I wonder why they never bring back classic IP’s as much, hopefully the kong ride proves they can and would
Perhaps a Universal version of The Great Movie Ride is in order? It seems like an easy win for the park.
Big agree! Especially seen as the back to the future musical in the UK is bringing a new gen of fans to the films
I won a trip to Universal Studios for my family through a drawing from my local Fox station when I was a kid in the early ‘90s and this brought back so many great memories. We must had been lucky, because we were able to get on all of the big rides without trouble. We also did Disney doing that trip, which I loved, but my best memories were of Universal and how REAL rides like Earthquake, Kongfrontation and Jaws felt (at least to a 10-year-old). Thanks so much for bringing me back there!
It sounds like a great experience. I also agree that you were lucky, considering the state of so many of the attractions.
As a kid I definitely loved Universal more than Disney. While Epcot was really cool, at the time I was a kid and Epcot was a tad bit too educational. LOL
I remember the Jaws and Back to the Future ride and was surprised to see ET still running on my last visit to the park a few years ago . I hope they never get rid of ET is such a classic ride that everyone can enjoy.
The best part of the Twister attraction was the theater floor effect. At the end of the show, the floor would drop about half an inch. A simple but very cool effect. Great video, as always!
I don't ever recall that being an element. I kept reading about it for this video, but perhaps I was just unusually unlucky and the effect never happened to work when I was there.
I agree with your hate on Rip Ride Rocket. Kidzone should be replaced except ET and should become a classic universal land. More practical effect should be used on Kong Skull Island. Ghostbusters should also have a presence in the park again due to the popularity of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Toon lagoon should be updated with more modern toon like a mix of Hannah Barbera and Nickelodeon but keeping that retro cartoon feel.
I have to say that I agree with all of your points. Still, I'm not really sure what they could add to Skull Island.
Since fear factor is gone the return of Ghostbusters: Spooktacular will be an awesome replacement
@@SirBlackReeds Afterlife had a budget of 75 million and 2016s was 144.
2016 total was 229 million and afterlife is right around 200. That differnce, along with Afterlife kiling it in its digital release, it has EASILY beat 2016 from a financial perpespective.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Maybe they could revive one of those scrapped Jurassic Park ride concepts and have one of them come to fruition
Both parts of this essay are so well done. I love the channel you have created and it is clear that there is an abundance of thought, research and work behind these videos. Thanks so much!
This channel is awesome, dude speaks the truth and only the truth. Keep up the good job G, greetings from Brazil 🙌🏽
That nightly boat show spectacular was amazing when watching right next to the fence. Those stunt drivers could charge at you at top speed and flip the boats 180 within a few feet or less of the wall.
that jaws ride was just So Cool and i love the acting from the skipper in the clips you used as well- it's always so cool seeing actors in theme parks that can pull stuff off that convincingly
The source video on that is incredible. Apparently it was one of the last rides ever and he really went all out. ruclips.net/video/7uALqMMC8mg/видео.html
@@PoseidonEntertainment thanks for the link!
I’m not gonna lie, learning Universal Orlando had the Psycho house and removed it is DEVASTATING! I love those movies and it’s one of those things that should have been a permanent thing. They should have built a haunted mansion style ride.
come to hollywood and see the real one.
@@joeylantis22 yeah but I’d rather have one guests could actually go into!
Thanks for describing Terminator 2 in so much details ! I was 10 when I saw it back in the days, could not understand a word of English, and yet, it left such a mark on me. I loved it ! Seeing the actors popping out of the screen and Schwarzenegger ride the motorcycle through the ruin of the city in 3D was beyond awesome to me ! :D
It was an interesting show for sure.
Learn to speak mexican
This was an amazing video and very nostalgic. Universal Studios has grown so much and it's wonderful to see the roots of Universal Florida. I cannot definitively say the classic 90’s Universal rides would absolutely beat the crap out of screen rides we have at Universal today. While Universal ride seems to have had their strengths and weaknesses; when it came to large animatronic and screen based rides. The rides were still actually unique, different, and interesting and the one thing I see is Universal Florida seemed to try to learn from their mistakes and problems and improve on them; which WDW refuses to do.
I really hope they do learn from this, as the Jurassic World retheme in Hollywood and the Secret Life of Pets look great. Still, whatever Minions themed attraction is replacing Shrek seems like a possible misstep. I'll wait until it opens to judge, but it sounds to be more screens.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I feel like the minions replacement is a cheap way to capitalize on the popularity of the new despicable me movie and fill the void of a family friendly attraction while focusing their real time and efforts to epic universe. It’s a little bit of a shame though because studios needs more to do in general compared to IOA and Epic.
From what I have heard and read the current rumour is that Universal thinks they have found a supplier who has successfully created a moving walkway that can turn corners with people on it. The new Minions attraction allegedly is this experience was rumoured to take place at the Villain-Con location from the first Minions movie. Instead of walking from booth to booth to try your hand at firing interactive zappers, guests would instead be moved from one interactive shooting gallery to the next on large moving walkways (similar to what they use at airport when you collect your language).
The biggest reason "behind the scenes" type attractions have gone away is that with things like DVD extras and info on the internet how movies are made became more accessible to the common person (not to mention we can easily do green screen type effects on our phones). Beyond that, how movies are made also changed to where the physical effects they would demonstrate aren't widely used. Harry Potter really marked the change where people now want to become part of the fantasy of the movies instead of pretending to be making them.
I don't believe that narrative and regard it as a myth. If the Horror Makeup Show can continue to be updated for contemporary audiences, why not everything else?
@@PoseidonEntertainment I think the Management really missed out on the Nostalgia Market. It opened in 1990, 31 years ago. Kids that were taken there by their parents now have kids of their own. Management doesn't appreciate how powerful it is to have someone who spent a day at the park with Barney as a toddler can now watch their toddler sitting in maybe the same spot and enjoying the show as well. Same with the Hitchcock Theater Show. My oldest boy got to demonstrate the "runaway" Carousel Special effect in 1992. He has a 7 year old now, what do you think it would be worth to him to vacation at the park where he can maybe watch _his_ son have the same experience?
@@PoseidonEntertainment because makeup is still part of making movies and practical effects increasingly are not.
The Barney and animal shows were the two things I remember experiencing during my one trip to the park as a kid - mostly because other rides like the Hanna Barbera one scared me at the time, so we just went to low-scare attractions like those.
Makes sense. I only did the Barney show a day before it closed and I was surprised at its production value.
Twister genuinely terrified when I did it. I was only 12 and the previous year I had just gone through my states most horrific tornado event in the last century, and I was deathly afraid of storms, so Twister was an experience that sticks with me even as an adult.
Fantastic part 2 video! This was like walking back into my childhood memories. I didn't really understand English much back then, but the rides and shows still left an impression nonetheless. I have fond memories of Earthquake and the Wild West stunt show. It was nice to see a video of it again. Different era, for sure.
The western stunt show was incredibly underrated. Watching videos of it again, I forgot how good it was.
Hearing the Back to the Future music on the ride is probably the most Exciting and satisfying feeling Ever for anyone who was lucky enough to have gone on that ride 😎🎶🎶🎵🎶🎻🎻🎻🎺🎺🎺🔊🔊🔊
My former roommate in the 1990s worked at the Wild West Stunt show and i loved that show. The nighttime lagoon show was challenging because the good viewing areas were limited and it was difficult to tell what was going on.
Your video refreshed my memories. I’m so glad I got to see most of these attractions before they closed. The last time I went to Universal Florida was in 2001.
I finally saw the new rides when I went to California in 2018.
39:05 fun fact (from experience) if you happen to be there when it’s spontaneously raining so hard the paths are flooding the structure you can see just off to the left is a great place to dodge the rain without having to cram into an indoor space with all the other park goers
16:46 there was another pre-show they switched to before the Disaster reskin. Where in the first pre-show, they have 3 displays demonstrating how weather is made on screen (giving one of my favorite facts about Halloween, how the set used the same leaves for certain shots, and would have to rake and collect them all before each shot.) The second pre-show was the same. And the third pre-show, eventually, introduces, not only a scale model of a submarine, but would move on to the tub-o-balls.
I used to love Earthquake, too... Being someone who finds the making of films interesting, Universal used to be one of my ideal parks... Now, not so much. The learning aspect of attractions like Earthquake and Twister was a lot of fun to me, even when I was a kid. I thought they were so neat and unique in how they used participation to teach audiences... I really miss old Universal. Nothing hurts worse though than missing Graveyard Revue but that's because I'm ADDICTED to the Beetlejuice cartoon and that show almost seems lifted from an episode, especially since the set resembles Lydia's transformed room from the theme song and BJ would wear his cartoon counterpart's outfit. NOTHING ELSE that has closed has quite approached that level of heartache for me. I used to go to Universal every two years, whenever I also went to Disney World, growing up. Now, I haven't been to Universal since Graveyard Revue closed because I'm afraid of how I'm going to feel when I pass its old location... I get the feeling that I might start to cry uncontrollably. :(
I always enjoyed going from twister, right over to disaster. Good back to back shows
The transition from the Bates Motel to Barney is the wildest swing in theming ever
Love seeing all this amazing old footage. I miss some of these original attractions. When I was in high school, we went to the Studios and I still never ever forget a thing my friend said on Jaws. He said why does every ride have to have fire? It’s 9,000 degrees outside and these parks are like well hey let’s just light a fire! Lol. It’s so true though. With as hot as it already is why do we need to start fires outside? Lol
I do remember how almost all of the attractions had pyrotechnics of some kind. Still, I enjoyed that aspect of it.
You've slowly become one of my favorite youtubers to enjoy for a long video. If any the folks at Disney and Universal took a look at some of your videos.
Apparently people send my more critical videos to Disney management. I doubt it's going to change anything, but it's kind of funny.
Another great video. I miss the edutainment aspect from both universal and disney that used to be prevalent in their attractions. My recent visit to universal echoes your thoughts, hagrids is truly a triumph and velocicoaster does what hollywood RRR fails to do: be a world class roller coaster first and also have a fun theme and excellent queue
I'm interested to see what you think of the rumored shrek 4d replacement and your coverage of epic universe, once more is revealed about the park
Jaws, Twister, and Poseidon’s Furry had me crying when I was little 😂😂!!! I have done Jaws and Twister again after that and enjoyed it the second time 😇🙏.
Twister and Jaws seriously scared me when I went there as a kid
Understandable. The park did catch a lot of people off guard, expecting it to be like Disney and not expecting something to be blowing up in their faces at every attraction lol
Amazing video as always. I honestly think Twister is a classic attraction that should've never left
I agree.
Been waiting for part 2!! Ready to watch! Thanks for all your content! Super Good!!
It took longer than anticipated. The entirety of the script was supposed to be no longer than 40 minutes, rather than an an hour and a half 🤷♂
I've come to wonder if my life long fascinating with filmmaking and practical effects comes from the one two punch of visiting both MGM Studios and Universal Studios Orlando in the early 90s. I was too young to go on many of the more scary attractions (and apparently Jaws was down, like usual) but both parks really dove deep into the art of filmmaking and MGM even had me go up on stage for the first time! I won't do my long rant about screen based attractions, I will only say that they don't leave anything to the imagination. They overload you with so much sensory information and I just can't help but feel that one or two practical effects would have far more of an impact than all of the CGI nonsense in the Transformers ride.
I agree. While there is a decent handful of things that make Spider-Man better than Transformers, one of the elements is the physicality. Even small elements like the garbage truck, the levitating crates, and the moving skyscraper effect make a significant difference.
Love this!! Just something about movies that are magical to me. Including these theme parks. I remember being on king Kong ride back in the 90s as a kid and absolutely loving it
Your brief talk of ET was so helpful. When I went last August the wait was never more than 10 minutes, so no preshow, or passport. I greatly enjoyed the retroness of the ride, but without any context I had no idea what actually was happening with the ride.
You always provide the best videos with so much depth in your research
My first trip to Universal was in 2012, I wish I could've experienced these 90s attractions. I missed out on so much.
I missed out on quite a few as well, but I was still able to get on Kong about a year before it closed. Definitely a cool experience.
A part of me really wishes I could’ve seen the old Universal. I would argue tho that the park hasn’t severely downgraded.
It's just completely different I suppose. The current park is fun, but it just has the issue of being so overmatured with screen based experiences. They're not bad (perhaps with the exception of Fast and Furious) but they need other attractions to balance them out.
@@PoseidonEntertainment definitely
@@andrewphaggot297 fax. I believe he even brought this up as a point in one of his videos as well
I just finished watching. Thank you for taking me back to my first trip to Universal Studios Florida (pre Universal Orlando) in 1992. We did take the tram tour and joke about it to this day. One thing you did not mention, and yes, admittedly it was a separate price vendor, was the "Star Trek Adventure" which was in the same building as King Kong. The entrance was the movie theater-looking doorway to the left side of the building. In fact, the "P" from Paramount is still there, even though the sign above the door now reads "Paradise."
I only just realized that you only have 35k subs, dude with the quality of your content and consistency of your channel I thought you were getting close a mil at least.
Thanks, I appreciate the support lol
I think the fact that they replaced twister with Jimmy Fallon says everything about the downsides of the parks nowadays. I know twister was far from perfect, but it had a lot of really cool practical effects and sets and a lot of charm as well. The jimmy Fallon ride is just following jimmy Fallon on a screen. You could watch the video on your phone at home and get the same effect
I love learning new things about the Jaws ride. Even still today, it is one of a kind. I can’t believe it use to actually damage the boat 😅😂
My parents brought me (we were joined by aunts, uncles, and same-age cousins as well)twice within its first 5 years, including the first summer of operation. Having been born in one of the five boroughs, it was so cool walking through "home" to get to Kong. The feeling of intense heat, the smell of fuel and the sight of Kong...man...burned into memory. It was so LOUD which, yknow, little kids don't always do too well with super loud things. Just like with fireworks, I had to cover my ears. I buried my face against my mom when we got to Kong. The helicopter part, I was confused by, then my dad pointed out we had passed Kong. I just stared and stared at him and went "wwoooooow" the way little kids do when they see something awe-inspiring. Funny enough the thing that made me cry hardest wasnt anything at Universal, it was the Disney portion of our vacation. I remember a weird little mermaid themed ride where your vehicle is under water or something and you see statues or anmatronics of the characters. Idk why but Ariel FREAKED me out. She looked like a horror movie creature to me. I have to of been mistaken but I remember her having like a kind of pointy spiral beak thing for a face despite the rest of her being Ariel. So I hid my head and closed my eyes for the rest of the ride. Jaws was wild, too. For whatever reason, maybe bc we were out in the light and the noises weren't as loud, I was able to remmeber it was just "a robot" and not get bothered. Earthquake was always my favorite for some reason.
I was very lucky my family hadn't torpedo'd itself yet and I happened to be born when I was. The experiences I got to have were unlike anything any most kids could've even dreamed of at that age, and I got to share them with the people I loved most. Getting to excitedly recount each experience with my best friend/cousin at the time, getting to dance to goofy stage shows at both Universal and Disney and do things like gawk at the Ghostbusters (that show had an awesome cold air effect when the marshmallow man died). I hope epic recaptures a lot of that magic. I look forward to giving Universal a shot when it does.
Shame what the greedy, awful, bottom line focused, cynical execs at Disney have done. I dont see myself going there for at least a decade or two...and even that's pending them unscrewing themselves. But at that point Ill no longer be the wide-eyed 3 year old barely familiar with the world, getting to walk around with my family and being so shy that I hide my head when cinderella comes to say hi. I'll be a 40+ year old man, with an entire life behind me, wondering how the hell time moved so fast and far. These two videos looking back at the earliest iteration of Universal were a huge gift for me. They allowed me to relive things that would be near impossible otherwise.
With how big 80s and 90s nostalgia is for 30-50 year olds and with them being way more willing to spend on just themselves than in the past when things were mostly about family expenses, I'd bet that within the next 15 years they'll look to bring back some of these rides in some form. Jesus...I'll be in my 50s. Maaaaybe with a successful book or YT channel finally after years of trying so hard. Gt be honest, I don't like the look of that number! Anywaaaays, thx for the look back and the opportunity to meander through a long winded compilation of hot air, cold air and memories
as someone who's lived in the bay area my whole life it sure is interesting to see how universal themed the san francisco area + what their interpretation of bart was like
Ahh, this makes me a bit sad I missed out on experiencing the original Twister/Disaster attraction but glad to hear of it here. Backdraft in Hollywood was one of the most memorable (albeit scary as a child) experiences I ever had at a theme park and Twister seems in the same flavor of attraction.
Also lamenting the amazing Ghostbusters show I never got to see - it sounds awesome! These deep dives are interesting, thanks for another great vid!
Backdraft seemed incredibly interesting, and I think it would fit well at USF. The former Fear Factor stage seems like the perfect location.
Those really were the glory days of universal .
As someone who's been lucky enough the visit Universal ( from the UK ) , during the 90's thru to last year, it really feels like the original essence and ' realness ' of the Ride the Movies idea has been sadly lost .
More technology doesn't always mean something is better .
I enjoyed the preshow and scenery of Twisted better than the actual ride
I kind of agree. It wasn't even that involved, mostly just covering clips from the film. Still, they managed to do a really great job of making it feel exciting and building anticipation.
The Twister attraction’s opening was delayed due to real world events too. Right before it was going to open, Orlando and Kissimmee were hit by tornadoes, causing a lot of damage and many lives were lost. Universal decided to delay the opening out of respect to the victims, as well as wanting to avoid the poor optics of appearing to sensationalize and profit from the misery of their neighbors.
I recall reading that somewhere. As interesting as it would be to go into the history of the individual attractions, the script was far too long as is though.
This is exactly why I was so fearful of Twister. I went in 2007 with my friend’s family and I literally cried when they made me get on, as it triggered flashbacks to me getting trapped in my school as a tornado knocked down trees and blocked the exits a few years prior. I definitely did not feel the need to relive anything similar. I ended up somewhat enjoying it, as the pre show calmed me down a bit, but every single time someone mentions that ride, that’s all I can think about lol
Ghostbusters looked amazing!!
I agree. Even with the lack of story, the technical aspects of the show looked impressive.
Brings back great memories
They need to release a vr game recreating og universal. Would be effin awesome and easily doable considering most of the og rides were more just sit and watch type rides vs the thrill u actually get from a real roller coaster or something.
A VR game that allows you to walk around the parks would be awesome. It always seemed like a missed opportunity for both them and Disney.
This kinda Exist with Universal Studios Japan two video games based on that version of the park was made. The bad one sold only on Nintendo Gamecube World wide and a Remake by Konami that was PS2 but only sold in Japan that has no english translation.
It sounds like when these attractions were on and working they were fantastic, but on even given day several of them could be down really ruining your experience at the park. I have never been to see either of the Universal parks in Florida but it still looks cool. I would really loved to have done the Back to The Future ride or see the Live Action Ghostbusters show. That Kong looks amazing compared to the California Universal Studios. I would love to see Michael Keaton perform as Beatlejuice in the park sometime and surprise the crap out of the audience kind of how Johnny Depp does with the Pirates of the Caribbean in California.
You did an excellent job, it broguht me back to my days visiting the park in the 90's.
Had to get my popcorn for this one 🍿
Definitely longer than I anticipated. The full thing, which I'll probably upload in a few months, is an hour-fourty.
Really enjoyed these videos. I miss King Kong but I loooove the Mummy! I miss the Beetlejuice show…don’t care what anyone says, it was bomb. lol I MISS Back to the Future! I enjoyed Jaws as well. I even enjoyed Murder She Wrote & the Hitchcock shows…from what I can remember. You took me back to my childhood. 🧡
I miss so many of these attractions especially in this episode. Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Jaws, and Back to the Future were some of my favorites. I miss it
I don't dislike the first part, but the other attractions throughout the park were definitely more interesting than everything in Production Central.
15:19... man, kids today will never know. Earthquake was so intense I cried on my first ride (I was a kid with a hyperactive imagination, I had really let myself get immersed... don't laugh). Mind you I was a huge thrill ride and coaster fan.
There was something about the combination of all the pre-show build up + practical effects on the ride itself... the gas truck sliding down and "exploding" next to you with fire you could FEEL, enough to practically singe off your eyelashes in the right seat, and what looked like a wild tsunami of water, all while the train is shaking and another train collides on top of yours. That and knowing something like that could actually happen IRL was pretty frightening for a little guy like me!!
That ride made you feel like you were *legitimately* in danger unlike any other attraction I've ever experienced at any park, save for maybe its siblings Jaws and the OG King Kong. Truly a GOAT in theme park history. Also Richter's, the restaurant next door back in the 90s had theeee BEST cheeseburgers in the park. Didn't think about it until now.
Thanks for bringing back all this nostalgia. Very pleased. Great and informative video as always.
I had a very similar experience. The first time I went, I did Twister, followed by Kong, Earthquake and then Jaws. There were so many intense elements to these attractions and they definitely left an impression.
Been looking forward to this since you dropped part 1. Excellent content, as always, Mr. Poseidon.
Man I remember the year twister opened, that was the second summer we went to the universal studios and isles of adventure just open, but out of tradition we would go to the original Park first. Been on the ride countless times, when it was packed the key would go all the way around the building and there would be these posters that would show you each of the F-type categories, back then, a lot of the rides had long queues that would wind through the themed part of the set, so I definitely remember a lot of the storyline for the rides and the goofy promos my Mom and I would crack up. Until Isles of Adventure really took off in the 2000s, the original park was a humble delight and one could just see everything in a day or two.
What I really liked about universal studios over Disney is that they weren't afraid to use practical effects and fire, guess as a little boy you want to see things blow up! I'm a native born New Yorker I first went to Disney world in the mid-90s, to then later move to Florida and visit universal studios at the end of the decade, watching some of this footage I can vividly remember what it felt like walking those paths again, much of your impressions are spot on, especially of the time, I visited the park both as a child and then later an adult. Seeing a lot of the smaller experiences covered here really bright back memories of when I was too small for roller coaster, but too big for Discovery Zone 😎🤘🏾 the long blistering hot afternoons trodding along with the massive crowds, in a time before smartphones, we ran up them disposable cameras! A lovely time with my parents those really beautiful Summers...a lot of this stuff that without RUclips I would have only had memories 🙂🙏🏾🖤
My dad took me in 1992 & 1994. I got to taste slime at Nick studios, looked down upon the set of Clarissa Explains it All. The Kong ride scared the crap out of me and I was endlessly disappointed to find that it was gone when I finally went back in ‘09. Jaws was AMAZING - back then they were still using all of the pyrotechnics and it felt like your face was going to melt off from the heat of them. E.T. was my absolute favorite. We did Disney as well but Universal was more enjoyable, especially for my dad lol. I don’t find screen rides a big draw but it seems like they get away with it, so why bother with the huge animatronics anymore…
The original park was the best. So sad that it's gone forever. Lots of great memories.
Agreed. I was lucky enough to ride Kongfrontation only about a year before it was removed.
God, this video really made me relive some old memories! I went to universal when I was only 5, and after watching I remember twister!! Same thing with jaws, i wish they were still there
I agree. I wouldn't mind all of the coming back in some form as a "Great Movie Ride" for Universal.
@@PoseidonEntertainment that would be amazing! I was so sad to hear about the great movie ride closing down, so that would definitely fill the void!
Dude... I never figured out there was supposed to be a family in that diner on Twister... haha I always assumed the light shining from it was to show the electricity winking out. haha
This was fantastic! I love these deep dives into attractions that are no longer with us. It helps to preserve those fun times.
I hope that Universal attempts to bring them back in some form. There was a rumored idea for a classic Universal Monsters attraction a while ago, using a trackless dark ride system to act as cars sitting in a drive-in theater. The cars would then drive "into" the screens, and into various monster films. I think something like this would work but for a wider variety of Universal films. It would allow scenes based on Kong, Jaws, Earthquake, Back to the Future and a variety of other classic Universal films.
I always loved seeing classic universal vids. They were always so cool to see. The only times I went to Universal was in 2008 & again in 2015. From those 2 times I went, I did get to experience most of the attractions that are no longer around. Jaws, earthquake (kinda with disaster), terminator 3d, Beetlejuice, nicktoon blast, & twister.
If there was any attraction I'd like to experience that I would enjoy would be back to the future the ride & hanna Barbera
I'd love to experience classic universal studios florida someday, but time will tell on whenever that'll happen
I remember in twister the back row floor would drop out from under you. That was scarier then the twister. Great video
The Dynamite Stunt Show is the best show i have seen at any theme park.
1:10 - yes pepper's ghost effect, but the ghosts were NOT under the stage and reflected onto the glass. Instead, they were located directly behind and above the audience and you saw their reflection onto the glass.
The Ghostbusters ghost we're above the audience on the second floor. If you were to walk up to the glass and look back you could see the animatronics. They used to yell at you to stay away from the glass for this reason
Best video I’ve seen of the actual rides!!! Thank you
Babe wake up the new Poseidon Entertainment video just dropped!
I really love your channel. It brings back a little bit of an nostalgia for me when I was a kid going through this quarterback the adult ing today I riding rolli were coasters.
Going to Dolly World this may because I've never been
My boy did all this research just to take the fattest dump on current day studios at the end 🤣. These videos were awesome and you did an amazing job putting it together and it was very educational, I learned tons of new information about studios that I didn't know before. That being said the ending was strange to me as you basically talked about how every attraction that replaced an old one is terrible and how much you hate them all HAHA. It went from love story to diss track lol. I know its hard to see older attractions go but Universal needs to keep up with the times in order to stay in competition and unfortunately that means certain classic attractions gotta go, especially if they were faulty and never ran properly. If Universal never updated any of the rides it would be a tacky 90's time capsule that wouldn't attract large masses and crowds. We all wish we could ride Kongfrontation, Jaws, and Back to the Future, but its probably better that we cant anymore because its more beneficial for the park and its growth and for the company's growth rather than trying to appease to a minority who wants old attractions back. Thanks for your time bother.
T2-3D seems really cool, I wish I had seen it when it was still around
You can still see it in Universal Japan if I'm not mistaken.
Outstanding work, Poseidon!
Just a quick correction, the peppers ghost effect was actually opposite of what you said. The animatronics were not under the stage but on a stage above the audience. If you ever went there in person, and sat down you noticed that the ceiling above the audience was quite low, it's because above the audience was the stage where the ghost animatronics were and you were seeing a direct reflection of them from the glass, because the big windows in front of the containment chamber were not tilted, but straight on, but still a very cool and convincing effect
Can you really believe there are some people who wanted the E.T. ride to be demolished for Super Nintendo World because "no one remembers this movie," despite being referenced in pop culture numerous times?
Wow! Well that's not going to happen because:
1) We are getting SNW for Epic Universe
2) Steven Spielberg has little control of the rides, that's why E.T. is still there.
Twister was honestly a cool attraction
Love these videos , I miss old universal studios
Can you imagine just swimming through the water in the Jaws set? Even knowing it’s just a machine on a track it’d still look scary as hell to see a shark in the water.
Yea I've always thought this just falling in and seeing it that going on. 😢
I think they should take a vacant room or sound stage and fill it with VR machines and bring back the classic rides (Kong frontation, jaws, back to the future, and twister) and make the que really cool with all the stuff rom the classics along with the theme songs of the classics only.
ET isnt technically the last opening day attraction! The monster make up show is alive and well, not to mention it has the same two guys performing it from when i was a kid. I absolutely love that show. Also you could count the animal show despite plot changes over the years
I got to go around 2001 and my favorite part of Universal were the Photo Op spots that were through out the park. In front of Back to the Future, there was a spot where if you took your photo there it looked like a nasa rocket was taking off with you Infront of it. There was another where you were in New York and so on in the park. That left a big impression as a kid visiting the park. Hitchcock, Kong, Back to the Future, Earthquake we're some of my favorite. 🤘🤠
I went to Universal in ye olden days. Very early nineties because Jaws was not yet open. A caveat, I was young, still in middle school, and my memories are very spotty. I will say it was a bad day for the park. Various attractions were having technical problems, and it was a Florida summer. Miserably hot and humid. I remember my mom's biggest complaint was the lack of shade, which made the heat absolutely brutal. Back to the Future had just opened and I remember I was very excited about that having recently acquired a love for simulator rides of that ilk due to Star Tours and Body Wars. Now, I know I went on Back to the Future, but I can't for the life of me remember if it was on that trip or a second one, because I'm almost entirely certain the ride was having terrible troubles during the visit I'm talking about. Long lines, breakdowns, but just the same I don't recall a second visit so who knows. I'm working with some very rusty memories. Anyway, my strongest ones are of the Ghostbusters stage show which I found rather scary but it also broke halfway through and never got back up to finish. I liked Earthquake, possibly because it reminded me of Catastrophe Canyon, which I much enjoyed at MGM. E.T. struggled with my name at the end of the ride, which I thought was very funny. Judging from some of the behind the scenes show from your last video, I think I went to some of those because they seemed vaguely familiar. I have what might be a false memory of going on Kongfrontation, mostly because I can't possibly imagine going on it at that age or anyone trying to convince me to do so, but I swear I remember that animatronic and the smell of bananas. Maybe I spent most of it with my face pressed into a family member's shoulder.
Anyway, I really enjoyed these videos. I don't have a huge connection with Universal. We were always more of a Disney family and I'm not sure that'll change any time soon. At least for me since all the really cool rides still seem a bit too intense for me. I never did get over my aversion to a majority of thrill rides. Even still I appreciate your thorough research and presentations. It's really astounding the differences between Disney and Universal in the way they change their parks. I feel like universal seems to have a better track record when it comes to ride replacements and overhauls. It is a shame though that it doesn't have much of a concept of loyalty when it comes to rides themselves, for lack of a better way to put it, but I think maybe the ambition was the problem. The rides were unsustainable, unlike Disney's older ones which were naturally less so due to the constraints of technology (not to mention the pile of money Disney is sitting on to afford to fix and refresh rides). tl;dr: your retrospectives are always very fun and enlightening.
Other than Pirates, Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise, I would argue that Disney doesn't really care too much about the legacy of their technically ambitious attractions either. They love to pretend that Horizons, World of Motion, Journey Into Imagination and the Universe of Energy never existed and I think that current leadership took too many ideas from Comcast executives about replacing attractions on the cheap. Still, it appears that Comcast execs have stepped back and are letting Universal do its thing.
@@PoseidonEntertainment yeah, I was thinking about epcot a lot when it came to that quagmire of Disney and loyalty. Not to mention MGM. Maybe the only thing they pretend to be loyal about is the Magic Kingdom and everything else is negligible. Suppose I don't like thinking about how they've gutted Epcot because that breaks my heart. God I loved Epcot back in the day. I do admire the fact that it seems like Universal takes criticism in mind or at the very least takes into account what parkgoers want. I can't say the same for Disney these days.
This was an awesome series. You did an amazing job. My only wish is that the one legacy ride they left was Jaws. It was my favorite and I love water themed rides.
Have you seen one of my newer videos where I proposed a Universal version of a "Great Movie Ride" for the park? ruclips.net/video/xMigL1SHP8s/видео.html
@@PoseidonEntertainment Sounds good I will check it out
I miss that both Universal and MGM nee Disney Studios have abandoned many of the learning aspects about the movie making process and just added more action IP. To be fair some of these are excellent and Harry Potter is a huge draw for them. Outside of HP, The Mummy and Transformers are stellar examples that Disney is learning from.
I remember really liking the Ghostbusters show a LOT as a kid then seeing the Ghostbusters again later in the New York section of the park while they chased Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice would possess the Ghostbusters and make them sing and dance like he did at the Day-O dinner party. The Blues Brothers were also walking around that area of the park doing awesome song and dance stuff.
Terrific video. I wanted to ask where you got the info that the Ghostbusters animatronics were below the stage? I've never seen a diagram of the layout despite years of looking. Also, glad for the shout out to the Psycho IV set. After the Motel was torn down there was a photo opportunity spot where you could stand with the Psycho House in the background. My second trip there my wife and I took a VIP Tour and she had arranged a surprise for me. After the Tour ended and the group broke up, the Tour Guide took us up to the house where we had our picture taken standing on the porch of the House. I even managed a set of photos of the back of the House (which you never see). Really sorry that's gone. I share your disdain for the Hollywood Rip, Ride Rock It inasmuch as it adds insult to injury by passing through the Ghostbuster's Firehouse but it also eliminates any pretense that Universal Studios is a working movie set backlot with all the noise it puts out.
I consulted a number of sources and but I couldn't recall exactly where it's stated that they're located underneath. In context with my knowledge on how the effect works in general, I probably just assumed it was the case as well.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Thanks for responding. I know that the classic Pepper's Ghost works that way because being in a concert hall there was literally nowhere else to put them. You'll recall, however, that in the Haunted Mansion you have animatronics above and below the Omni Mover track. It's fortunate that I've only found photos of closeups of the "ghosts" but no diagram of the Spooktacular layout. It's almost like I'd like to talk to any cast members that used to work that show back in the day so you could interview them or something.
I never really did any proper research ahead of time, but I remember being hyped as hell when I heard they were bringing King Kong back to Universal. When I finally got to ride it the disappointment that hit me realizing it was just another screen ride was massive. The animatronic at the end is cool, but I’m beyond done with the screen rides.
Admittedly I thought it was one of the better ones. Better to replace stuff like jimmy and minions.
@@ooninjapenguin7286 Minions the ride is meh but the end when you exit and get greeted by the Minions themselves dancing is pretty fun .
Of all the things you talked about I really wish they would make a new Back to the Future ride also I’ve never seen the Terminator movies although the whole idea is cool, but that show you just showed was pretty epic I think they should do more of that, it was just really cool so I’m all for that one 👍
I got my mother to take me to USO shortly after Nick Studios opened but before BttF. Half the rides were down that day and they gave us free passes to return that I hung on to until around 2018.
I think the park has made a lot of progress and positive changes, and think you're crazy to hate on Rip Rocket, even if it is derivative of Rock'N.
currently recovering from the absolute vibe check of the bates motel being replaced with barney of all things
The area clearly became Kid Zone before Kid Zone was a thing, yet still kept the Bates Mansion sitting back there all that time.
What made Rip Ride Rocket cool was not an intended feature, but am Easter egg put in by the programmers, in that there was a secret code you could put in to unlock a hidden song menu that was janky and wasn’t fully fleshed out but added like, 80 more songs, some of which I’m SURE the6 didn’t own copyrights to (like Rainbow Connection), which made the ride kinda fun. Nothing like riding a roller coaster to Movin Right along by Fozzie and Kermit or Night on Bald Mountain.
Well, I don’t recalled going to Universal pre-2005-06 as I only remember going to Disney and Busch Garden at a very young age as I lived in NC from 01-04 before and after that…I live in Florida from 95-01 and 04-Present Day. But, I remember going on some of the remaining opening attractions such as BTTF, Jaws, ET, and Earthquake. So, I am not entirely sure I did Ghostbuster, Nickelodeon Studio, The Original King Kong, Murders, and Alfred as my father claimed that we did go to Universal in 2000 while my mother were taking care of my-then newborn brother and had a feeling that I did some of those. Anyway, I am totally with you on Rip-Rock Roller Coaster as I am hard of hearing. Because, everytime…I get on the ride…I had to hold on my hearing aids throughout the ride because it went too fast as I am afraid that I would lose it. So, love your video essays and keep up the great work ;)
Great video. Did you discuss spiderman or backdraft? There was so much great information I may have missed it. Have a great day
This was very interesting! Aside from Jaws, Back to the future, Kong and earthquake I never knew many of these rides listed in this video and part 1 existed. Really wish I could experience some of them.
Now going off topic, I’m going to talk about a Toon Lagoon retheme. Personally I would retheme the land to the Peanuts franchise. I would replace The Popeye ride with a dark ride taking guests through one of the comic strips. I would also retheme Dudley Do to the raft scene in Race for your Life Charlie Brown, the drop at the end representing the waterfall scene from said special.
Cedar Fair owns the rights to the Peanuts franchise for the US parks so Universal would have to negotiate with them in order to have the peanuts characters. I think it could be possible since the nearest CF park to Universal is Carowinds.
An interesting idea, but I enjoy Toon Lagoon as is. Still, I wish they would do something with the abandoned theater. Perhaps they could put in a small dark ride in that space.
Love those videos , unfortunately the movement from footage gives me a really bad motion sickness , but I still enjoy to listen to the video and you narrating ! Cheers
Couple of things: The drive-in scene is from the movie so the flashlight is actually the cast as they're recreating the scene for the guests, you can also see a projection of Bill Paxton in the window of the shed that's by the gas pump. Im also a little disappointed that you didn't talk about the drop floor scare at the end of Twister.
Also if I had to nitpick you didn't refer to Jaws Ride's best lines from the script "like 10 minutes?! we'll be sharkbait in 10 Minutes" or "Call off the Marines we're coming home"
But a great video and an amazing overview of Classic USF
I haven't seen Twister in such a long time that I don't recall any scenes, so I wouldn't have picked that up. You make good observations though.
I'd be interested to see you do a look at Universal Australia which is on the Gold Coast and is a park and active movie studio where a lot of big name movies have been made but I understand the problems involved.
Also now that we're 2021 I wished they'd kept all the classic rides ,because they were part of my childhood.
Another great video. Love this channel!