Author: J. Malone

Universal’s VelociCoaster Awarded “Best Roller Coaster” Second Year in a Row

Posted on by J. Malone

The popular ride VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure was awarded “Best Roller Coaster” for the second year in a row, by Theme Park Insider.

To ring in the New Year, the popular theme park information site released their list of 2023 winners of different attractions and parks across the globe, and the Jurassic World-themed thrill ride staked its claim as the apex predator of rollercoasters again.

“With outstanding coaster elements, engaging theming, and wonderful decoration from the queue through the ride itself, VelociCoaster wins raves both from devoted roller coaster enthusiasts and casual theme park fans, making a winning combination for everyone, including our readers.”

VelociCoaster brings guests closer than ever before to one of Jurassic World’s most popular dinosaurs – the Velociraptors! Be a part of the “squad” as you race through a raptor paddock alongside four cunning predators at high speed before being launched 155 ft straight up.

This follows the groundbreaking Jurassic World Adventure ride at Universal Studios Beijing being awarded the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement for an Attraction in November, as well as Universal Orlando opening up The Great Movie Escape which features a Jurassic World themed escape room in December. VelociCoaster was awarded Best Roller Coaster AND Best New Ride in Theme Park Insider’s 2022 awards.

What’s next for Jurassic at Universal Theme Parks? Be sure to check back at Jurassic Outpost for all the latest news! And comment below with what you hope to see next at Universal Parks around the world.

Universal Orlando’s “Great Movie Escape” Opening This Month – Featuring a Jurassic World Escape Room

Posted on by J. Malone

Universal Studios Orlando Resort has officially announced the opening day of their newest attraction, The Great Movie Escape! Opening December 9th, 2022, and located in the City Walk portion of the resort, The Great Movie Escape offers Universal guests a chance to become a part of their favorite films like never before! One of the two escape rooms offered is centered around Universal’s biggest franchise- Jurassic World.

In Jurassic World: Escape, you find yourself with a team of new geneticists on Isla Nublar on training day. While it may all begin with some “ooo’s” and “ahh’s” as you learn to work with the park’s star attractions and learning what it takes to make dinosaurs, it quickly devolves into “running and screaming” as one of the park’s apex predators escapes and starts heading your way. You must work together as a team to figure out how to survive. The new experience mixes an engaging story with state of the art effects, highly detailed and immersive sets, and ‘more teeth (and claws) than anything you’ve experienced before.’

This new Jurassic adventure is sure to please casual and die-hard fans of the franchise alike. The escape room experience is randomized, so the solution can vary with each visit and offers rare replay-ability that many normal escape rooms do not. The experience is also customizable depending on party size to ensuring everyone in the group gets to participate, and is also designed to adjust based on skill level (so Jurassic fans thinking this will be a piece of cake are in for a surprise- Chaos Theory in action!)

This latest foray into the Jurassic franchise by the creative teams at Universal Orlando is sure to be another hit for the resort. It follows several dino-sized wins for Universal parks and the Jurassic franchise across the world, on the tails of VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure being awarded Best Roller Coaster and Best New Attraction of 2021,  Jurassic World: Dominion grossing over $1 billion at the box office, and Jurassic World Adventure at Universal Studios Beijing being awarded the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement for an Attraction just last month. We can only hope to see this trend for Jurassic continuing to grow and expand at the parks!

Tickets for Universal’s Great Movie Escape start at $49.99 (plus tax) for individuals, or guests can reserve a private escape room experience for $300 (plus tax) for groups of up to 8 people. You can order your tickets by visiting the Universal Orlando website , or by calling (407)224-8463. Besides Jurassic World: Escape there will also be Back to the Future: OUTTATIME, a Back to the Future themed escape room experience where guests have to stop Biff from stealing Doc Brown’s latest invention (featuring the return of Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown!)

I Like His Spirit: Celebrating Irrfan Khan’s Legacy

Posted on by J. Malone

Many Jurassic fans and cinephiles alike woke up Wednesday with the sad news that prolific film actor Irrfan Khan had passed away.  It’s always hard when someone beloved leaves this world, and it only makes it all the more devastating when they are taken away too soon.

I wanted to take a moment to say goodbye, and thank this incredibly talented actor for his passion, and dedication.

I remember watching the moment Irrfan Khan is introduced as Simon Masrani for the first time on the big screen. You can’t help but smile. Filling the shoes of a John Hammond-like role is no easy task, but Khan did it with such ease in his first few moments on screen, that I was sold. Khan portrays Masrani as a kind-hearted, adventurous soul who wants people to appreciate life and the mystery, and grandness of it all.

Anybody who has watched interviews with Khan, or watched his other work, can see that was the kind of actor and creative person Irrfan Khan was. He valued every little moment and choice.  That spirit is forever captured in film.

For Jurassic fans specifically, we have been gifted with a memorable performance by Khan, that solidified his place in the world created, and also in our hearts. His excitement and love for the dinosaurs and the park that he owned was palpable, and made it all the more fun for us, as viewers, to finally experience a functioning park. His energy, and enthusiasm are infectious and leap off the screen.

Ultimately, that’s what we need right now.  In this time where so much is happening around us, and after loosing such a talented person, we can find strength and reassurance in the characters Khan left behind for us to treasure forever.