Universal Studios Japan to Close Jurassic Park The Ride for ‘Major Refurbishment’

Promo image for Jurassic Park The Ride in Japan, now sporting a Jurassic World render of “Rexy.”

According to Universal Japan’s website, Jurassic Park: The Ride will close for a major refurbishment in September of 2023. 

As of right now, the parks website reads that the ride will close on September 4th, 2023, indefinitely, but also states further down on the same page:

‘The major refurbishment of Jurassic Park the Ride, which begins on Monday, September 4, 2023, is expected to take until early 2025. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.’

This follows the ride being closed from June 6th to June 21st also of this year, most likely for normal yearly refurbishment and maintenance.

There is also no word as to if this is a refurbishment of the existing ride or if it means the ride will be getting the Universal Hollywood treatment and transforming into Jurassic World The Ride. 

Currently, Universal Studios Orlando and Japan are the only Universal parks to still have the classic Jurassic Park The Ride/River Adventure ride. Universal Singapore has its own unique Jurassic ride called Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure that has a circular raft vehicle rather than the long multi-rowed raft (making it close to Islands of Adventure’s Popey and Bluto’s Bilge-rat Barges or Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Kali River Rapids.) Universal Beijing has the award-winning Jurassic World Adventure Ride (a dark ride in the vein of Amazing Adventures of Spider-man at Islands of Adventure,) as well as Jurassic Flyers. As previously stated, Universal Hollywood revamped Jurassic Park The Ride to Jurassic World The Ride, which opened in 2019. Sporting some new visuals, animatronics, and story, the updated ride has been well received, with many applauding the spectacular new animatronics and moments. Universal Orlando still has its original Jurassic Park River Adventure ride and opted for a brand new Jurassic World ride (instead of changing River Adventure) with VelociCoaster, which has been awarded Best Rollercoaster two years in a row. If Universal Japan is changing their Jurassic Park ride to Jurassic World though, we can theorize (“theorize, mind you”) that it’s most likely only a matter of time before Orlando sees its classic Jurassic ride go through a similar refurbishment. 


While closed, guests to Universal Japan can still visit the Jurassic Park area to experience The Flying Dinosaur, a steel flying coaster where guests soar through the air like pterosaurs (which, should be stated, are not dinosaurs,) and experience various dinosaur “meet and greets” throughout the land.

Universal Parks News Video of Jurassic Park The Ride at Universal Studios Japan

“Jurassic World” Attraction to Replace Jurassic Park: The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood!

The rumors are true – the Jurassic Park river adventure attraction, beloved by many at both Universal Studios Hollywood and its sister park, Universal Studios Orlando, will be leaving the original park this fall. Replacing it? A brand new Jurassic World attraction!

Universal Studios Hollywood announced the departure of the original ride on the Twitter on May 10th, with a short video saying that “extinction is coming”, but that, as we all know, “life finds a way”. The video, featuring promotional clips from Jurassic Park: The Ride and footage of a CGI tyrannosaurus rex, detailed not only the closing of the original ride, but the opening of a brand new Jurassic World section of the park.

The video did not give any details about the Jurassic World attraction itself, but announced that it will be coming to Universal Studios Hollywood sometime in 2019. The Jurassic Park: River Adventure at Universal Studios Orlando will remain unchanged.

The official press release reveals that many new Jurassic World dinosaurs will make their debut in the new ride:

In 2019, face Indominus rex when she makes her world premiere in the new, high-tech Jurassic World. Journey to where living dinosaurs roam the earth in the part expedition, part heart-pounding water ride based on the blockbuster film franchise.

On this river-raft adventure, get doused as a colossal Mosasaursus dives for its great white shark snack. But the real danger lies ahead when the brutal Indominus rex escapes its enclosure. Be prepared when a 50-foot Tyrannosaurs rex comes to your rescue… right before your final plunge down a treacherous 84-foot waterfall.

And plan to experience the original Jurassic Park®- The Ride one final time before it becomes extinct on Sept. 3, 2018!

The last day of operation for Jurassic Park: The Ride will be September 3rd, 2018, so local folks, ride it while you can! And stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for more updates in the future.

What do you think about this new Jurassic World attraction? Are you excited for it? Are you sad to see the original Jurassic Park attraction go? Let us know in the comments below!