Category: Theme Parks

The Jurassic World themed ‘Running Universal’ Expands with 5k, 10k, Kids Run, and More!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

This November, Universal Studios Hollywood invites you to a Jurassic World themed run within the park and studio back-lot with an exciting two day event! Running Universal is a chance for fans of all ages to explore the parks and Jurassic World like never before, and is not to be missed – read on for the press release, and be sure to use our exclusive discount code JPOUTPOST when signing up!

On the heels of the successful launch of its new mega attraction, “Jurassic World—The Ride,” Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off its next Running Universal program with the JURASSIC WORLD Run. The two-day event begins on Saturday, November 16 with a 5K, along with the all-new 1K Kids’ Raptor Run, and continues on Sunday, November 17 with the first-ever 10K run.

To experience the ultimate “runner’s high,” participants can register with the Play All Day package, which invites JURASSIC WORLD fans to run it, then ride it.

On your mark, get set, go: the JURASSIC WORLD Run takes fitness buffs, runners and walkers alike (of all fitness levels) on 5K and all-new 10K run, both geared towards guests ages 5-years and older, while the all-new Kids’ 1K Raptor Run targets those between the ages of 4-years and 12-years.

All participants will receive a collectable Finisher medal; those who complete the 5K and 10K runs will receive an exclusive Challenge medal. The JURASSIC WORLD Run will conclude at the Universal CityWalk finish line and feature a lively celebration at the 5 Towers Stage.

As part of the event, participants will venture through areas of the new thrill ride, including the iconic JURASSIC WORLD arches. As guests wind their way through the historic movie set backlot, they will also have the unique opportunity to enjoy a series of fun photo ops set up along the way, including JURASSIC film props, and one with Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD movies.
The JURASSIC WORLD 5K Run begins at 6 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, followed by the Kids’ 1K Raptor Run at 7:30 a.m. The program begins at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 17.

Registration is now open will fill up quickly as space is limited. Click here to register and to learn more about the Standard, VIP and Play All Day packages available.

We’ll be there, and we hope you’ll join as well – and Universal Studios Hollywood was kind enough to offer an exclusive discount code for Jurassic Outpost readers! Using code JPOUTPOST offers 10% off all registration, minus the Kids’ Raptor Run and Team Member or Pass Member Pricing – so don’t miss out!

The expanse of ticket options for the 5k are as follows (and the other race options scale accordingly):

So what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets now before it’s too late – and let your friends know about our code so they can save 10% as well!

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‘Jurassic World the Ride’ Officially Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

It’s official – the Jurassic World ride at Universal Studios Hollywood has opened its gates! While the park has been letting guests ride the new attraction recently as part of technical rehearsals, it was not formally open. However, Universal surprised everyone today with the official announcement!

Universal City, CA, July 12, 2019 – It’s official: Universal Studios Hollywood’s mega attraction “Jurassic World—The Ride” opens and It Just Got Real.

Inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s JURASSIC WORLD blockbuster films, this spectacular new thrill ride features the film’s stars, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong, who reprise their roles as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu, and soars to new heights with the addition of iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus.

“Jurassic World—The Ride” captures the essence of the blockbuster movies and comes to life in collaboration with the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.

The elaborately themed all-new “Raptor Encounter” where Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD movies, engages with guests in daring face-to-face encounters, along with the addition of two new dinosaurs – a Baby Raptor with her Raptor Handler and a life-size Triceratops who greet guests outside the “Jurassic World—The Ride” entrance, further enhance the entire experience. Plus, a new interactive “Dino Play” area is designed to inspire children of all ages to explore and excavate giant dinosaur fossils.

Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails served at Jurassic Café and all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar add to the dynamic guest experience while an array of souvenir collectible, limited edition and one-of-a-kind dimensional dinosaur sculptures from the Jurassic Outfitters store invite guests to savor a piece of this exciting thrill ride even after they have gone home.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, the California Neighbor Pass invites guests to experience 175 days of fun for $149 when purchased online. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

Numerous POV videos are available online from the new Jurassic World ride, so if you’re eager to experience it online prior to visiting the parks, just check out YouTube – or stay tuned, as we’re visiting the park later this month and will provide our own coverage! The ride itself opens with a innovative screen based Mosasaurus encounter, which is adaptive to time of day and weather according to Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow. However, in the videos online, the time of day effect has yet to be seen, so perhaps todays opening will mark its debut. Likewise, the Indominus Rex in videos online is reportedly not at 100% animation, and will likely be even more interactive soon!

Be sure to stay tuned for our full review of the Jurassic World makeover coming later this month after we visit! Will you be visiting the park, or have you already rode the ride? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think!

Jurassic World at Universal Studios Hollywood Revealed – Soft Opens of the Ride Begin and New Dinosaurs Debut!

Posted on by Corey Anderson

The grand opening of the Jurassic World ride at Universal Studios Hollywood is right around the corner and the park has really ramped up activities and stores in preparation for the launch. Just last month, we saw the opening of Isla Nu-Bar, a spirited effort of serving up the latest and greatest cocktails a dino-enthusiast might ever want to enjoy. Spare no expense.

Universal has raised the gate on another attraction sure to drive kids out of their mind: a baby raptor encounter. Pictures and videos have surfaced showing Universal employees dressed in Owen Grady wardrobe carrying a juvenile raptor around to park-goers of all ages. The raptor wrangler engages with people by allowing them to pet the baby raptor under its chin or even having the raptor briefly lash out for dramatic effect. Check out the video below the raptor and wrangler in action.

The great thing about this new addition to the Jurassic World section is just how mobile it is. With the traditional encounter, attendees are relegated to standing in a line and waiting for their photo opportunity with the larger Blue velociraptor. Now, the baby raptor can come to you. What this new raptor lacks in gesticulations, it completely makes up for in utter adorableness. The wranglers we have seen so far look to be doing an amazing job with their new dinosaur partners.

Universal has also unveiled another new mobile attraction this week in the form of a GIANT roaming Triceratops. The creature wanders around in the Jurassic World section interacting with guests as it passes. This is a huge addition to the current lineup in this section of the park. The animatronic looks fantastic as it lumbers around the area. The eyes may look a little off on this creature, but the rest of it is simply stunning. Check out the trike in action in the video below.

The newly redesigned Raptor Encounter is also now up and running. This attraction features a full size Blue character that can pose for pictures and scare nearby parkgoers with a wide range of movements and familiar sounds. The redesign adds a containment unit similar to the raptor pen enclosure in the first Jurassic World film to serve as a backdrop for photographs with guests. Check out the new setup below.

Last, but certainly not least, the Jurassic World ride itself has begun testing with Universal employees and VIP guests at the park. These soft opens are a way for the park to unofficially debut the ride to guests, and work out any last minute issues. Videos of the ride have emerged on YouTube giving us a POV shots of the entire ride. Honestly, most are not the best quality video and recommend people refrain from watching, to avoid spoilers. However, for those who can’t wait – check out the embed below!

Our opinion? Wait until you get the chance to visit the ride itself. The video shows a promising start, but chances are that finishing touches still need to be made and the best way to experience the ride will (obviously) be in person.

What do you think of all the new attractions opening up at Universal Hollywood? Does this get you excited for when the actual Jurassic World ride opens sometime this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for more news about the ride opening soon!

First Look at Universal Hollywood’s New Dinosaur Animatronics from Jurassic World the Ride

Posted on by Chris Pugh

Summer is here, and the ever elusive opening date for Jurassic World the Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood draws closer and closer. While the exact date has yet to be revealed, the brand new attraction opens sometime this Summer, and the marketing continues to amp up. In a new behind the scenes feature, details from the ride are teased, and we’re given our first peak at some of this river adventures tantalizing dinosaurs — check it out below!

While the video doesn’t go into much new detail if you’ve been following the updates closely, the appearance of dinosaurs – particularly the Indominus Rex – are brand new. In the video Jon Corfino – part of the Universal creative team – does reveal that Blue the Velociraptor will indeed feature within the ride, and hints at the much expected showdown between the Indominus and Tyrannosaurus Rex within the rides climax. Jon also talks about the innovative new part of the ride which will mix practical and screen based elements to bring the gigantic Mosasaurus to life.

We’re also given a peek at the returning Dilophosaurus and Parasaurolophus, both legacy dinosaurs from its original Jurassic Park ride iteration. While not featured in the video, it’s been confirmed that the mother and baby Stegosaurus will also return, though we’re unsure on how the animatronics and designs may have been updated for the Jurassic World rebrand. As previously mentioned, Blue will make her debut in the ride, but we’re also hopeful her more deadly and wild counterparts from Jurassic Park will also reappear.

While there is no date for the rides opening yet, many areas of the Jurassic section are now open, such as Jurassic Outfitters, Jurassic Cafe, and the brand-new Isla-Nu-Bar. While the new Raptor Encounter has yet to open its paddock gates, that experience is expected to roar to life soon – so stay tuned for more updates!

What do you think of the new Jurassic World ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, and do you plan to visit once it opens? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to keep your eyes on Jurassic Outpost for more updates!


Jurassic World’s Isla Nu-Bar and Jurassic Café Open at Universal Studios Hollywood

Posted on by Samantha Endres

Image via California Informer on Twitter!

The brand new Isla Nu-Bar and the updated Jurassic Café opened today at Universal Studios Hollywood!

Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails served at Jurassic Café and all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar add to the dynamic guest experience as part of Universal Studios Hollywood’s new mega attraction opening this summer, “Jurassic World—The Ride,” based on the JURASSIC WORLD blockbuster films.

Borrowing its name from the fictitious Central American island in the JURASSIC WORLD movies, the stand-alone, open-air Isla Nu-bar, complete with a thatched roof, serves up tropical-themed Tiki cocktails in three collectible cups: Etched Tiki, Bamboo-styled Tiki and Tiki God.

Whether blended or made-to-order with fresh juices, every aromatic blended drink is adorned with a pineapple leaf and edible orchid flower. Flavorable beverages include Tropical Margarita, Piña Colada and Painkiller, along with island cocktails such as Tiki Tai, Bird of Paradise, Ti Peach, Rum Runner and Mai Tai.

With Universal Studios Hollywood’s Executive Chef Marie Grimm at the helm, the new Jurassic Café caters to a selection of Costa Rican-themed cuisine, inspired by the location of the JURASSIC WORLD movies. Mouth-watering menu items include Sweet Corn Cakes with Slow Roasted Mojo Pork or Spicy Mojo Jackfruit, Citrus Glazed Chicken, Fresh Roasted Red Snapper and Isla Burger. Tempting starters include savory Chorizo and Potato Empanadas, Crispy Lettuce Leaf Roll with Shrimp, Tropical Fruit Salad and Pomegranate Guacamole with plantain chips. All entrees will be accompanied by fresh green papaya salad and Costa Rica’s national dish, Gallo Pinto – traditional rice and beans.

The food and drinks are looking incredible, although we do wish the drinks had appropriately Jurassic World themed names. We can’t wait to fully explore this area, its new secrets and fun to be had, plus ride the Jurassic World ride when it eventually opens later this Summer! In the meantime, more information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com, and be sure to follow their social media pages for all the latest updates!.

Has anybody tried the new drinks or food yet? Let us know in the comments!

Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and BD Wong to Reprise Film Roles for the All New Jurassic World Ride!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

The stars of the Jurassic World Ride opening this Summer at Universal Studios Hollywood are not just dinosaurs! Universal Studios has announced that Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and BD Wong will be reprising their roles of Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, and Dr. Henry Wu respectively, bringing all new authentic story elements to the thrilling ride.

Claire Dearing was Jurassic World’s ‘Park Operations Manager’, and is expected to welcome and introduce guests to the all new ride in a fun in-universe way. All the while, Dr. Henry Wu will likely familiarize guests with some of the science at large bringing the dinosaurs back to life, before teasing the Indominus Rex, which later appears in the ride. How Owen Grady factors in remains to be seen – he wasn’t a face of the park, and is unlikely to be part of the queue’s welcome committee introduction.

Universal promises the inclusion of the cast will “will shed light on their interactions with the dinosaurs along with facts and information about the imposing prehistoric creatures that first roamed the earth more than 65 million years ago.” Read the full press release below!

Stars of the JURASSIC WORLD films Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong reprise their roles as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu, bringing their characters from the silver screen to Universal Studios Hollywood’s much anticipated mega attraction, “Jurassic World—The Ride,” opening this summer.

This marks the first time the cast will appear as their iconic characters outside of the JURASSIC WORLD films for a theme park attraction. As part of original content created exclusively for the new ride, Owen, Claire and Dr. Wu will shed light on their interactions with the dinosaurs along with facts and information about the imposing prehistoric creatures that first roamed the earth more than 65 million years ago.

This spectacular new ride will feature an original storyline that will take guests on a breathtaking excursion through the theme park as depicted in Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s film, JURASSIC WORLD. It will soar to new heights with the addition of iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus in her natural habitat.

For the first time, JURASSIC WORLD fans will have the chance to see this impressive creature and become immersed within her massive Aquarium Observatory. Appearing to span over 60 feet in length and tipping the scales at over 30K pounds through stunning state-of-the-art visual effects, the Mosasaurus is a sight to behold as she moves just inches away from guests throughout her glass enclosure filled with the equivalent of 3.5 million gallons of water.

Universal Creative collaborated with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) to bring the Mosasaurus to life and to capture the realism of her underwater environment using a combination of spectacular visual effects and cutting-edge technologies, including the use of motion parallax, a technique that shifts the guest’s perspective of the Mosasaurus as she moves throughout the tank.

The team also employed a series of lighting enhancements allowing the aquarium to intuitively shift from day to night, as well as visual changes to the environment during inclement weather, thus creating a variety of visual scenarios guests can experience based on when they experience the ride.

“Jurassic World—The Ride” captures the essence of the blockbuster movie and comes to life in collaboration with the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.

When “Jurassic World—The Ride” opens this summer, guests will be welcomed to a dramatically reimagined space reflective of the hit films. A fresh entry statement, stonework landscaping, and a contemporary redesign of the iconic JURASSIC WORLD gates, illuminated with billowing flames, will create the framework for the all new aesthetics.

Once guests pass through the queue, they will board specially designed rafts that will navigate the lush environs of dense vegetation and traverse new areas besieged with towering dinosaurs meandering at just an arm’s length away. Encounters with such docile creatures as the Stegosaurus and Parasaurolophus will quickly turn awry as predatory Velociraptors and Dilophosaurus begin to wreak havoc, turning guests from spectators to prey. When the Tyrannosaurus rex begins to battle one of the attraction’s new ferocious dinosaurs, the rafts will spill down a treacherous 84-foot waterfall as the sole means of escape.

Located adjacent to the ride will be a new elaborately themed “Raptor Encounter” where Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD franchise, will engage guests in daring face-to-face encounters.

Jurassic World the Ride opens sometime this Summer, though the release date remains a tightly guarded secret. Be sure to stay tuned, as it can’t be long until an announcement of when the newest attraction opens will hit, and more official looks into the ride are sure to follow.

Are you excited about the casts inclusion in the Jurassic World ride? Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!


First Look at Universal Studios Hollywood’s ‘Jurassic World the Ride’ in Dino-Filled TV Spot!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

Hold on to your butts! The first trailer for Universal Studios Hollywood’s ‘Jurassic World the Ride’ is here! Unleashing the Tyrannosarus Rex on the backlot, this fun new trailer ends with a tease for what type of action the ride will feature. Check out the trailer below:

Introducing Jurassic World – The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. More real. More intense. It’s an experience like never before. See what awaits you with our new TV commercial and then get ready to survive the new epic adventure opening this Summer.

“Jurassic World—The Ride” will debut an original storyline that takes place within the theme park as depicted in Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s film, JURASSIC WORLD, on the day the Indominus rex escapes.

The exciting thrill ride will soar to new heights with the addition of several iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus that will mesmerize onlookers in her natural habitat from behind a three million gallon glass encased Aquarium Observatory tank.

“Jurassic World—The Ride” comes to life under the direction of the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.

The aesthetics of “Jurassic World—The Ride” will be dramatically enhanced welcoming guests to a reimagined space reflective of the JURASSIC WORLD films. In addition, there will be a fresh new entry statement, stonework landscaping and a contemporary redesign of the iconic JURASSIC WORLD gates, illuminated with billowing flames.

Engaging and interactive queue-line videos featuring facts and information about the dinosaurs within the ride will set the tone for the expedition ahead, as guests learn more about these imposing prehistoric creatures that first roamed the earth more than 65 million years ago.

Once aboard specially designed rafts, guests will navigate the lush environs of dense vegetation, traversing new areas besieged with towering dinosaurs meandering at just an arm’s length away from visitors. Encounters with such docile creatures as the Stegosaurus and Parasaurolophus will quickly turn awry as predatory Velociraptors and Dilophosaurus begin to wreak havoc, turning guests from spectators to prey. When the Tyrannosaurus rex begins to battle one of the attraction’s new ferocious dinosaurs, the rafts will spill down a treacherous 84-foot waterfall as the sole means of escape.

Located adjacent to the ride will be a new elaborately themed “Raptor Encounter” where Blue, the most beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD franchise, will engage guests in daring face-to-face encounters.

In addition, a new interactive “Dino Play” area will incorporate educational components within an inspired space where children of all ages can explore and excavate giant dinosaur fossils.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, the new California Neighbor Pass invites guests to experience 175 days of fun for $149 when purchased online. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

The new Jurassic World ride is built upon the basic outline and structure of the original Jurassic Park ride, and much of it will remain the same – including many dinosaur species. One of the largest changes is underwater Mosasaurus viewing atrium, which is believed to have replaced the Ultrasaur Lagoon – and of course, the addition of the Indominus Rex later in the ride.

We can’t wait to see more, especially the new dinosaur animatronics replacing the old ones, which promise to be state-of-the-art, and more lifelike than ever! Further, we can’t help but wonder if any elements of ‘Jurassic Park’ will remain, perhaps in the form of the parks old ruins once the boat is knocked off course?

Be sure to stay tuned for news and updates – such as the opening date – and always, sound off in the comments below!


‘Jurassic World: The Ride’ to Open at Universal Studios This Summer – First Details!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

While Jurassic Park may be extinct at Universal Studios Hollywood, the dinosaurs will live on at Jurassic World. Today fresh details have been released, such as confirming the ride will make its opening debut this Summer in 2019! Further, many exciting new details have been released in the press release – so read on!

Leaping from the silver screen to the theme park, “Jurassic World—The Ride” will immerse guests into newly themed environments and breathe new life into dimensional animatronic dinosaurs, including some all-new fan favorites featured in the Jurassic World films from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

This ambitious ride is being reimagined under the direction of the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., the brand stewards at Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.

The state-of-the-art attraction will debut an original storyline that takes place within the theme park as depicted in Jurassic World. It will feature additional new dinosaurs from the film, lush scenic design, and ground-breaking technology that has yet to be experienced within a theme park.

The aesthetics of “Jurassic World—The Ride” will be dramatically enhanced, welcoming guests to a reimagined space reflective of the Jurassic World films. A fresh, new entry statement, stonework landscaping and a contemporary redesign of the iconic pillars illuminated with billowing flames will support a prominent “Jurassic World” marquee logo.

Engaging queue-line videos featuring facts and information about the dinosaurs within the ride set the tone for the adventure ahead, as guests learn more about these imposing prehistoric inhabitants that first roamed the earth more than 65 million years ago.

And the daring expedition begins. Face Indominus rex when she makes her world premiere in the new, high-tech Jurassic World.

Once aboard specially designed rafts, guests will navigate the lush environs of dense vegetation, traversing new areas besieged with towering dinosaurs meandering just an arm’s length away from visitors. On this river-raft adventure, get doused as a colossal Mosasaursus dives for its great white shark snack. Encounters with such docile creatures as the Stegosaurus and Parasaurolophus will quickly turn awry as predatory Velociraptors and Dilophosaurus begin to wreak havoc, turning guests from spectators to prey. But the real danger lies ahead when the brutal Indominus rex escapes its enclosure. When the Tyrannosaurus rex begins to battle the attraction’s new behemoth dinosaur, the rafts will spill down a treacherous 84-foot waterfall as the sole means of escape.

While much of the ride sounds to remain the same, such as the dinosaurs who are not the new Jurassic World species, we believe fans can expect modernized and film accurate replacements of their original animatronics from the Jurassic Park ride. Perhaps the biggest new addition is that of the Mosasaurus, which is believed to be included within a screen based tunnel which now replaces the Ultrasaur Lagoon. However, we expect the usage of screens to be more innovative than their typical implementation, hybridizing practical effects for a seamless transition.

Sadly, yes, the iconic Jurassic Park gates are being removed and replaced with their Jurassic World homage doppelgangers. Further, the architecture has been confirmed to get a “contemporary” makeover, which means plenty of sterile grey and blue – but hopefully some liberties are taken, and elements of the original inviting safari adventure will live on.

The changes don’t stop there though – expect a new play area, and it sounds like the Velociraptor Encounter may receive background animatronics of Charlie, Echo, and Delta!

Located adjacent to the ride will be a new elaborately themed “Raptor Encounter” where Blue, the most beloved and deadly Velociraptor from the Jurassic World franchise, and her beta Raptors will engage guests in daring face-to-face encounters.

In addition, a new interactive “Dino Play” area will incorporate educational components within an inspired space where children of all ages can partake in excavations and investigate giant dinosaur fossils.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, the all-new 2019 Season Pass invites guests to experience the fun throughout the year for $149 when purchased online. Blackout dates and restrictions apply. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details.

One thing is for certain – we cannot wait to see official images of new elements and attractions that are hitting as part of the Jurassic World Ride, and hope to see you there when it opens! Be sure to let us know what you want from this ride, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!

More Jurassic Park at Universal Orlando Updates Roar in as Roller Coaster Layout is Unearthed!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

Just three days ago we covered some of the updates coming to Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure, pertaining to a new roller coaster and Jurassic World re-theme – now even more concrete details have surfaced, revealing the (current) layout of the ride!

First reported by WFTV News, and then covered in greater detail by Alicia Stella at Orlando Park Stop, we have a great idea of what changes are coming to the Florida park. The layout was obtained by both parties by looking into permits filed for the demolition and construction activities planned for the park – take at look at the layout reconstructed by Orlando Park Stop in the image below!

Image courtesy of Orlando Park Stop

The ride, as proposed, is a high-thrills multi-launch roller coaster which begins its queue down in front of the Discovery Center by the waterfront. Not much is know about it, other than theming will be kept to a minimum (more Incredible Hulk, less Expedition Everest) and will be Velociraptor themed – reportedly letting riders “be a raptor” as they escape from their paddock. Velociraptor’s are known for their speed, and this ride will be no different as it’s rumored to be the fastest multi-launch roller coaster eclipsing 73 mph.

As shown in the track layout, there will be a small show scene at the opening of the ride, which reportedly features a Raptor paddock. While it’s unknown if it will be themed off of the iconic paddock from Jurassic Park, or the one from World, most signs point to the latter. In all likelihood, this scene and ride is based upon Jurassic World when the Velociraptors are released from their enclosure to hunt for the Indominus Rex (“Hunt for the Indominus Rex” would make a great ride name now that I think about it).

Construction is expected to take about 1 and 1/2 years, gearing for a mid 2020 or early 2021 opening at the latest.

The majority of the ride will takeover the abandoned Triceratops Encounter plot of land, but will effect numerous other smaller attractions in the area, leading to some relocation. In my last article I talked about why I’m not exactly thrilled about this coaster (which sounds like a lot of fun to be fair), as I’d rather have an authentic and well themed addition to Jurassic Park which really transports me to that prehistoric island. However, I remain hopeful that Universal Creative will keep innovating, and perhaps add more show scenes and theming to this ride before it’s locked in.

Jurassic is Universal’s biggest brand, and it’s overflowing with imagination including inspiring adventure, iconic movie scenes, beautiful locales, and incredible dinosaurs to bring to life – the area could easily rival the Wizarding World, Avatar Land, and Star Wars Land if they really allow it to grow and thrive.

As for the rumored Jurassic World re-theme, it’s almost assuredly coming, although this coaster may open prior. However, as reported by Midway Mayhem, the construction walls are sporting the colder and modern Jurassic World themed key art as opposed to the brighter more safari themed Park aesthetic.

Whatever the future may hold, one thing is for certain: Jurassic Park at Orlando Florida is evolving, and something new will be hatching soon. Be sure to sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!

Source: WFTV News, Orlando Park Stop


Preparation Begins for New Roller Coaster and Rumored Jurassic World Overhaul at Islands of Adventure Florida

Posted on by Chris Pugh

Hold on to your butts, big changes are coming.

Jurassic Park is a staple of blockbuster filmmaking, awing and inspiring audiences of all ages across the world to this day – not to mention its huge impact in 1993, redefining what can be achieved with visual effects and paving the way for CG to become commonplace in today’s movies. Jurassic Park’s impact is long lasting, and wide reaching – but its name is soon to just be a distant memory, as Jurassic World roars in as the new permanent franchise moniker.

While it’s yet to be officially confirmed, the rumor mill has long pointed to Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure for an upcoming Jurassic World retheme. Reportedly, Universal Parks teetered back and forth on the idea, considering Jurassic World for their upcoming ‘fourth gate’ in Orlando and saving Jurassic Park at IOA. However, Universal has apparently opted NOT to include Jurassic in any capacity within the upcoming new park (barring major last minute changes) and will put their focus on Islands of Adventure for everyone’s dinosaur needs.

This equates a re-theme to Jurassic World – and is backed by new trademarks for ‘Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous‘, the suspected ‘Camp Jurassic‘ rebrand.

Objectively, a ‘Jurassic World’ rebrand isn’t a bad thing (although I find the more adventure infused safari resort look of Park to be more unique, compared to World which reflects Universal’s City Walk) – it makes sense, as it’s the name the current film saga and merchandising all share. While Jurassic Park certainly isn’t unfamiliar to younger fans, World is the more relevant brand identifier at this time. In fact, Universal Studios Beijing is doing some incredible things with the Jurassic World branding – building a replica of Main Street, the Innovation Center, Aviary, and heavily themed innovative roller coaster that will cut through Jurassic themed mountainsides – check out the artwork below!

However, the plans for Islands of Adventure are far more limited – primarily due to the Jurassic Park land being blocked in by the new Harry Potter and Kong sections, both of which took expansion plots originally planned for Jurassic. This limited space has created the inability to create all new Jurassic attractions at the scale of other headlining properties, like those seen within the Wizarding World rides. As such, the roller coaster coming to Islands of Adventure (which has yet to be officially announced) is reportedly not a heavily themed coaster, simply putting the focus on thrills over an authentic dinosaur filled movie based experience.

In fact, you can learn a lot more about the upcoming coaster from theme park enthusiast Alicia Stella within this video!

While that video is a few months old, the information is believed to be accurate – and now work within the park corroborates it, albeit circumstantially.

Essentially, we’re looking at a steel coaster with numerous tight twists and turns to make use of the smaller area it can expand across. Its starting location will see the coaster launching and intersecting itself numerous times before it shoots out in front of the Discover Center, over the lagoon and then eventually loops back again. While the track layout is far more complex, the rough surface area can be observed here:

As stated earlier, the upcoming coasters theming is rumored to be minimal to nonexistent – which is too bad, as it was originally concepted as a coaster that would traverse through mountainsides, with the insides themed to amber mines. That idea could easily be applied to Fallen Kingdom’s volcanic disaster theme, taking inspiration from Disney’s Expedition Everest ride, all while using the current track layout as we’ve roughed together in this mock-up down below:

While these new changes coming to Jurassic Park are exciting as the area itself is in desperate need of a modern makeover and new attractions, it’s hard not to be a little bit disappointed by what’s been reported. I can travel to any park and experience a great roller coaster – but the Universal Parks are the only place that can truly offer a chance to step inside the diverse an exciting Jurassic World, and bring dinosaur thrills to life within state of the art rides, making us believe those animals are alive once again – and ready to eat us if we’re not careful.

If there was room for further expansion, I’d more accepting of a thrill coaster with minimal theming coming to Jurassic – but fans of all ages who love the films, or simply want a authentic adventure alongside prehistoric flora and fauna are sure to be left wanting more if the plans carry forward as is. Fingers crossed this coaster surprises, and infuses itself the state of the art dark ride elements for the ultimate Jurassic experience.

Be sure to stay tuned for all the latest Jurassic news, and as always, sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think about the changes coming to Islands of Adventure!