JAWS Ride closing at Universal Orlando

[jaws3dfan]

Orlando-area Jaws fans, now is the time to get your fill of the Universal Studios attraction. On January 2nd, the theme park is shutting down the ride. Forever. That's right, the amusement park best known for shutting down other classic attractions like E.T. and Back to the Future is adding another to the ride graveyard. Jaws. What is even worse is that the rumor currently has it that the reason they are tearing it down is to expand the Harry Potter area and add a Twilight ride. What is even worse than that is the message that came from Universal Studios about the change. Steel yourself, and check it out after the jump.

From Universal Orlando's Facebook page:

Hey fans, we want you to be the first to know… JAWS! and the Amity area will officially close on January 2 to make room for an exciting, NEW, experience we're planning for you.

We know you love JAWS! and we do too. It has been an amazing attraction and after terrorizing the waters of Amity here at Universal Orlando for 20 years, it's a VERY important part of our history. So, we've got a couple things planned to ensure we always remember and honor it. We know it's hard to say goodbye, but we can't express how EXCITED we are about the new, innovative & amazing experience we're going to be bringing you.

It's rather nauseating, isn't it? Such crap. "We love Jaws, that's why we have to kill it." Bastards.

As far as I know, Universal Hollywood has no plans to remove Jaws from their tram ride.

[Beta Man]

Whew..... I can finally downsize to a more manageable sized boat now.

[TLeeTx2012]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/general-ch...l-orlando.html

[Blu Ian]

Never had the chance to ride that and now that is impossible.

One thing I can remove from my bucket list.

And I dare them to remove the Jurassic Park Ride, if they do I'll sue dem asses for destroying my childhood

[West E]

It's a tricky situation. Great rides should stick around but you also can't stop moving forward. I know Universal has a new 20 year rule in place so Jaws isn't the last one going away soon. A lot of their rides today are based on what are "old" films to kids today. I wish they could just buy 15 more acres to add on to the park but I guess it's not that simple.

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

I think the one thing that terrified me was the flames. It was a little too close for comfort as a kid.

+1. I can still remember the "heat" felt like. I remember thinking "I am way too close to this lol."

[sfmarine]

I do agree that Universal Studios has gone downhill. The place was dead when I was there 2 yrs ago but that was mainly because HP just opened. Jaws is a classic much like BTTF..it's a shame but I guess they need the space. It's shocking we just heard about this now. January is right around the corner. Many will miss out on a last ride..they should have shut it down in a year from now or something. What's next ET? IOA is doing well but they need to expand. Will Jurassic Park be doomed in the upcoming years?

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I do agree that Universal Studios has gone downhill. The place was dead when I was there 2 yrs ago but that was mainly because HP just opened. Jaws is a classic much like BTTF..it's a shame but I guess they need the space. It's shocking we just heard about this now. January is right around the corner. Many will miss out on a last ride..they should have shut it down in a year from now or something. What's next ET? IOA is doing well but they need to expand. Will Jurassic Park be doomed in the upcoming years?

Not with another film coming out.

[OrlandoEastwood]

I went in 2001 right after 9/11, so the park was dead. But, I remember taking the Jaws ride and Bruce comes up right beside me and water shot at me as he was splashing around. The 12 year old me felt so honored at the time.

[kpkelley]

Here is what the rumors entail:

Universal Orlando: Phase II of the Wizarding World would include a new section of the park to take over where the Jaws and Amity portion recently closed down. The rumored plans include a reproduction of London, which would house Diagon Alley - a 'true' location for Ollivander's Wand Shop, Gringotts Bank with an amazing new roller coaster cart ride, and the Leaky Cauldron.

Additionally, they would add Platform 9 and 3/4 where patrons would pass through the muggle side and be whisked away to Hogsmeade Station via an actual train ride on the Hogwarts Express.

This doesn't seem to make much sense, considering Amity is in the Universal section while the Wizarding World is in Islands of Adventure, and they are one opposite sides of the park.

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

This doesn't seem to make much sense, considering Amity is in the Universal section while the Wizarding World is in Islands of Adventure, and they are one opposite sides of the park.

It's all about making more money. If you want the full HP experience, then you get a 2-park pass.

[Trekkie313]

Never cared for the "wooden" sharks in Florida, but I appreciated the atmosphere of the ride. The pre-1994 rehab had some really incredible animatronics that would literally bite the boats and shake them. Plus a "blood geyser" at the end was amazing.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Downhere

It's all about making more money. If you want the full HP experience, then you get a 2-park pass.

I was referring specifically to the train part. I always thought they were just going to axe the section right next to the Wizarding World, the "foreign lands" or whatever it is with the Greek restaurant and Poseidon thing.

[bhampton]

Never been to Universal Studios and never will go.

I love Jaws more than anyone though.

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Never been to Universal Studios and never will go.

I love Jaws more than anyone though.

Studio Tour in Hollywood will always have their Jaws attraction.

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by jawsfan1975

I expect they will put in some crappy newer movie type of ride (Transformers roumored).

If it's Transformers, I hope it's the Megan Fox ride.

[TheAnimeLegend]

Though I am not a fan Jaws, I know enough that it is one of those type of famous movies that almost everyone has seen a million times. Why after all these years would they plan to get rid of it?

[Steve]

I always enjoyed the Jaws ride and am sad to see it go, although I'm not even sure when was the last time I went in the Universal Studios side of the park. I usually go to Islands of Adventure because I prefer roller coasters. When my wife and I got married, she worked for Universal Orlando in security and I could go any time I wanted (I had a spouse's pass) and park and enter the parks for free. Even then I didn't go to Universal Studios very often.

I can see it from their side though. While I really enjoy rides like this (Jaws, King Kong, BTTF) and appreciate the nostalgia, it's now getting to the point that the younger generation often isn't interested in rides based on movies that are older than they are. They only have so many acres to build on, so the old stuff has to go.