Universal Orlando (Studios/IOA) : General Discussion

[Benjsh]

Vegas is obviously a huge tourist City / tourist trap but is it the type of place for rides or scare attractions? Not really. Most people who go to Vegas go for the casinos and the partying surely? I dont think haunted attractions is really that high up on the agenda for most folk.

I think it would do much better in Orlando personally.

 

[Maelstrom]

Jurassic park River adventure will be closing for an extended refurb next year Jan 5th to Nov 19th 2026.

A refurb has been rumoured for a while now and is much needed- however it is not expected to be turned into Jurassic world like the Hollywood version and will remain as Jurassic Park but all of the dinosaurs will be refurbed/ upgraded/replaced.

Hopefully they will add some new effects etc but not seen anything official so that’s just my wishful thinking.

 

[Benjsh]

Jurassic park River adventure will be closing for an extended refurb next year Jan 5th to Nov 19th 2026.

A refurb has been rumoured for a while now and is much needed- however it is not expected to be turned into Jurassic world like the Hollywood version and will remain as Jurassic Park but all of the dinosaurs will be refurbed/ upgraded/replaced.

Hopefully they will add some new effects etc but not seen anything official so that’s just my wishful thinking.

Thats a very long closure by Universal standards so its safe to say that what they have in store will be more than a simple spruce up.

I still enjoyed a few rides on it in late August but it definitely looked a bit tired in places.

Glad it seems to be staying as JP too instead of World.

 

[The_bup]

I still enjoyed a few rides on it in late August but it definitely looked a bit tired in places.

I remember getting off if it, and aside from my siblings ranting that it got them wet (we went on popeye’s later, then they saw wet) and I asked my Dad what he thought of it, to which he put it adequately;

“It was impressive for when it opened”

Which makes me think if the ride was actually a lot more impressive when it opened and poor maintenance has made it worse, or the ride is just inherently… old.

 

[Maelstrom]

It’s 26 years old now and not had anything much more than its annual winter maintenance, think it was closed a little bit longer for the rock work to be painted a few years ago and when there was hurricane damage to the building.

The first version in Hollywood closed in 2018 for its lengthy refurb when changed to Jurassic world- that opened in 1996 so 3 years older.

The version in Japan from 2021 has recently reopened after its own very lengthy refurb.

From what I read - One of the major problems is the Animatronic Dinosaurs. Those old animatronics don’t particularly do well being outside and exposed to the Florida rain storms and also the fact many are in water in the first place.