Universal Studios Florida (2024)

Universal Studios Florida is one of three theme parks at the Universal Orlando Resort. It is the first park to be built at the resort, and features various rides, shows, and entertainment based on numerous properties in pop culture. Although the park is owned and operated by Universal Parks and Resorts, many of the properties featured in the attractions come from other companies, usually rival film studios.

History[]

Universal Studios Florida is the original park that was built before the area was expanded with two other parks, a shopping venue, and multiple hotels to become a resort. The park opened on June 7, 1990, and originally intended to be a replica of Universal Studios Hollywood. However, it was decided during development that instead of including a studio tour like the Hollywood park that USF would instead feature individual rides based on the numerous events seen in USH's Studio Tour. Examples included the Jaws ride, based on Steven Spielberg's 1975 film of the same name. To this day, similar ideas have been incorporated into newer attractions built at both parks.

Over the years, different rides and intellectual properties have come and gone, but the overall theme of film and television remains in the park.

Park Layout[]

The entrance to Universal Studios Florida is marked by a tall gateway with the park's logo, as well as a large model of Universal's globe logo nearby. Guests approach the park by crossing a bridge that connects the park to Universal CityWalk, which features flags that display the various characters represented in the park. Various music, usually with a theme of adventure can be heard here, including the main themes from Back to the Future and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.

Once guests enter the park, they reach a two-way road. Continuing straight leads them into Production Central, while turning to the right leads them into Hollywood.

Minion Land on Illumination Avenue[]

A new area based on the Despicable Me franchise.

Attractions[]

• Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem - 3D simulator ride based on the Despicable Me film series by Universal's animation subsidiary, Illumination Entertainment.
• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast - Moving Walkway Attraction

Hollywood[]

A recreation of the area of the same name in Los Angeles, California, complete with a Walk of Fame and palm trees. This area is prominent for meet-and-greets with characters whose rides are seen throughout the park.

Attractions[]

• Universal's Horror Make-Up Show - Stage performance with live actors showing a behind-the-scenes look at how horror films achieve their special effects.
• E.T. Adventure - Dark ride based on E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Guests are recruited by director Steven Spielberg to help E.T. return to his home planet, which needs his help. This is the only opening day ride that is still operating in the park.
• Animal Actors on Location - Live show featuring handlers with animals that perform various tricks. Previously known as Animal Planet Live, and Animal Actors Stage.
• The Bourne Stuntacular - A live action stunt show based on the Jason Bourne film series.

Former Attractions[]

• Terminator 2 3D: Battle Across Time - Hybrid show with 3D effects and live-actors, based on the Terminator film franchise. Closed in 2017 to make way for The Bourne Stuntacular in 2020. A port of the ride continues to operate at Universal Studios Japan.
• Lucy, A Tribute - Walkthrough exhibit based on Lucille Ball and the sitcom she starred in, I Love Lucy. Closed in 2015 to make way for a Hello Kitty-themed gift shop that opened the following year.
• How to Make a Mega Movie Deal - An attraction that opened a year after the park, in 1991, and was closed in 1993 to make way for AT&T at the Movies which opened 5 years later.
• - An interactive attraction that included various AT&T-based technologies presented in a movie style. It replaced How to Make a Mega Movie Deal when it opened at the park in 1998, and was closed in 2001. It got replaced by Cafe la Bamba the following year.
• Universal's Superstar Parade - Daily parade featuring characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Despicable Me, Hop, and The Secret Life of Pets. The individual franchises occasionally have mini-shows and meet-and-greets. It shut down on June 4th, 2022.

New York[]

Based on the City That Never Sleeps, this area features tall buildings with 19th-century architecture. The area also features an arcade and its own installments of Starbucks and Ben and Jerry's.

Attractions[]

• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon - 3D simulator ride based on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, featuring various members of the show. The ride is housed in a replica of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, which features the studio where the show is filmed at.
• Revenge of the Mummy - Dark ride/roller coaster hybrid based on the 1999 reboot of The Mummy franchise. Riders are initially on a tour behind the scenes of an upcoming fake sequel to The Mummy Returns shot in the Museum of Antiquities, but it turns out the curse of Imhotep really does exist.
• The Blues Brothers Show - Live show performance based on the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rock-It - Music-themed roller coaster in which riders can choose their own song to play while riding. Videos of the rider's reaction along with the music track they chose are available for purchase.
• Transformers: The Ride - Dark thrill ride based on the Transformers film series created by Paramount Pictures, which in turn is based on the action figures by Hasbro.

Former Attractions[]

• Ghostbusters Spooktacular - Special effects show based on the 1984 film, and hosted by Louis Tully (Rick Moranis' character from the film). The show primarily recreates the final act of the film with the battle against Gozer and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, with other characters such as Slimer and Walter Peck making appearances. Closed in 2002 to make way for Twister...Ride it Out.
• Kongfrontation - Dark thrill ride based on the first remake of King Kong from 1976. Guests boarded a New York City cable car in an attempt to escape from Kong's rampage through the city during the final act of the film. Multiple Kong animatronics, including one that released a banana scent from its mouth, were featured in the ride. Despite being one of the most popular rides at the park at the time, it closed in 2002 to make way for Revenge of the Mummy. No official reason was given for the closure, but many speculate it was due to the unreliability of the Kong animatronics. A golden statue of King Kong can be found in Revenge of the Mummy as a homage to the ride.
• Twister...Ride it Out - Special effects show in which guests witness a simulated tornado, and the effects it has on the nearby environment. The attraction building and its Aftermath gift shop were depicted as being heavily damaged, as if hit by a tornado. The stars of the film, Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, appear in the preshow of the film. Closed in 2015 to make way for Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
• StreetBusters - A seasonal show that opened in early 1991. The plot of the show featured the Ghostbusters attempting to catch their biggest foe, Beetlejuice. It was closed in 1993 and later replaced with Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way.
• Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way - An updated version of the park's previous StreetBusters show, with a slightly different plot and music. It opened on October 1, 2002 and was discontinued on February 25, 2005.
• The Marvel Show - A seasonal outdoor show that went on, in front of, and on the building to the left of the Firehouse facade for Ghostbusters Spooktacular and featured multiple Marvel Comics characters, such as Spider-Man, Storm, Iron Man, and Wolverine. It opened in the summer of 1993 and closed in 1995.
• The Screen Test Home Video Adventure - An interactive, upcharge experience which opened in March 1991. Guests were given the opportunity to star in one of two 10-minute films: Your Day at Universal Studios or The Star Trek Adventure. They would dress in costumes before being filmed in front of a blue screen. The final video could then be purchased by the guests for $29.95 plus tax. It was closed November 11, 1996, and replaced by The Islands of Adventure Preview Center the following year.
• Islands of Adventure Preview Center - A preview center which operated during the construction of Islands of Adventure from 1997 to 1999. It replaced The Screen Test Home Video Adventure. The Preview Center was designed to give guests a sneak peek at some of the themes and attractions for Islands of Adventure. In the attraction, guests would walk through various rooms themed to the various "Islands" in the new park. The final room stated when the Islands of Adventure park would open, and showed guests Universal's future plans for the Universal Orlando Resort. The Preview Center was closed shortly after the opening of Islands of Adventure.

San Francisco[]

A small area based on the California town of the same name. Due to being close to the park's center lagoon, part of this area is themed to Fisherman's Wharf, and features a replica of the sign from the same area.

Attractions[]

• Fast and Furious: Supercharged - Based on the long-running film franchise, riders are tasked with helping Dominic Torretto and his team escape from Owen Shaw in a high-speed, action-packed chase.

Former Attractions[]

• Jaws - Boat ride with various special effects, based on the 1975 film by Steven Spielberg. The surrounding area of this ride was themed to the Amity Island beach from the film (despite being set in New England and not California), and featured gift shops selling Jaws merchandise. Closed in 2012 to make way for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley. The suspended shark statue formerly located at the entrance of this attraction was relocated and is still on display in the neighboring San Francisco area. A port of this ride at Universal Studios Japan continues operations to this day.
• Earthquake: The Big One - Special effects show themed to the 1974 film Earthquake, in which riders experienced the effects of a 8.3 magnitude earthquake, similarly to the tornado simulation in Twister...Ride it Out. Closed in 2007 to make way for Disaster!, though the resulting ride was generally the same.
• Disaster! - Also known as Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!. The ride was essentially the same as its predecessor, but the storyline was heavily altered, and this time featured guests volunteering as extras for a fictional disaster movie starring Dwayne Johnson. The trailer for the film with the guests' scene was later shown at the end of the ride. Closed in 2015 to make way for Fast and Furious: Supercharged.
• An American Tail Theatre - A live stage show based on the animated film An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. The show opened with the park in 1990 and was closed and removed in 1992 to make way for Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue.
• Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue - Music show based on the 1988 film Beetlejuice, starring the character of the same name and the Universal Monsters. Closed in 2016 to make way for Fast and Furious: Supercharged, though Beetlejuice still makes meet-and-greet appearances in the Hollywood section of the park.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley[]

The second phase of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, based on the small marketplace in which Harry and other wizards can find supplies for their time at Hogwarts. However, the exterior of this area is designed to resemble London, with King's Cross Station being nearby. Diagon Alley is accessed through a doorway that imitates the brick wall that Hagrid opens in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Attractions[]

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts - Dark thrill ride set during the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, in which Harry, Ron, and Hermione infiltrate Bellatrix Lestrange's Gringotts vault to find and destroy one of Lord Voldemort's horcruxes.
• Hogwarts Express - Train ride with special effects that transports guests between both sections of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, connecting the two main parks of the resort. Guests must have a two-park pass to access this attraction. The entrance at this park is intended to resemble King's Cross Station in London, England.

World Expo[]

An area themed to an exposition, heavily implied to be the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Attractions[]

• Men in Black: Alien Attack - Interactive dark ride based on the Men in Black films by Columbia Pictures. Riders are recruited by the Men in Black, but are cut short in training when an alien invasion hits New York City.

Former Attractions[]

• Back to the Future: The Ride - Motion simulator that served as a mini-continuation to the trilogy of the same name. Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) recruits guests at his Institute of Future Technology to test a new DeLorean Time Machine convertible model capable of holding eight passengers. Series antagonist Biff Tannen invades the institute, and steals one of the DeLoreans. Doc enlists the help of the riders to stop Biff and prevent him from messing up the time-space continuum. Closed in 2007 to make way for The Simpsons Ride. The DeLorean Time Machine from the films, as well as Doc Brown's Locomotive from the third film are still on display in the park, and Doc Brown appears in the park as both a meet-and-greet character and as a cameo in the queue preshow of The Simpsons Ride. The main theme of the films can also be heard throughout certain areas of the park.
• The Swamp Thing Set - A set of theatrical property that were built for the filming of the television series Swamp Thing. Opening with the park on June 7, 1990, the sets were featured as part of the park's Production Studio Tour. The sets were demolished in 1994, following the cancellation of the TV series one year prior. In 2000, the area which formerly held the Swamp Thing sets became the home of Men in Black: Alien Attack.
• The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show - A live stunt show based upon a wide variety of Universal's Western films. Opening on July 4, 1991, in the Amity Island section of the park, the show featured several cowboy themed actors surviving death defying stunts, shootings and explosions. The show closed on September 1, 2003, and was replaced by Fear Factor Live which opened on June 3, 2005. A similar show is still shown at former Universal-owned theme park PortAventura Park.
• Fear Factor Live! - A live stage adaption of the NBC TV show. Guests over 18 can fill out waivers to participate in events such as allowing certain creatures to crawl on their head, eating nasty food combinations, and daredevil minigames. Closed in 2020.

Springfield[]

The hometown of The Simpsons, featuring numerous restaurants and shops from the show, as well two rides, and carnival games.

Attractions[]

• The Simpsons Ride - Simulator ride based on the long-running animated show on Fox. Guests join The Simpsons family in escaping the wrath of Sideshow Bob during their trip to KrustyLand, a theme park operated by Krusty the Clown.
• Kang and Kodos' Twirl 'N Hurl - Small ride similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant at rival Disney Parks, based on the alien duo who usually appear during the Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials.
• KrustyLand Carnival Games - Numerous carnival games surrounding the entrance to The Simpsons Ride.

Upcoming lands[]

DreamWorks Land []

A new area based on DreamWorks Animation, which includes the characters from Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. Opening in Summer 2024.

Upcoming attractions []

• DreamWorks Imagination Celebration - A live-stage show and character experience that featuring DreamWorks characters from DreamWorks Theater.
• Mama Luna Feline Fiesta - An interactive children's play area based on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
• Po's Kung Fu Training Camp - Po and a Kung Fu Trainer teach Kung fu poses to children and families.
• Po Live! - An interactive play area based on the Kung Fu Panda series.
• Trollercoaster - A Steel trolls-themed Vekoma Junior Coaster based on Trolls.
• Shrek's Swamp for Little Ogres - A children's play area based on Shrek's Swamp.

Former sections[]

Production Central[]

Production Central is an area intended to resemble a film set. As such, many of the ride buildings appear as if they are studio buildings for filmmaking.

Former Attractions[]

• The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera - Motion simulator themed to the cartoon characters of Hanna-Barbera. The ride focuses on riders joining Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo as they travel through various worlds to save Elroy Jetson from Dick Dastardly. Other characters such as Fred Flintstone and Scooby-Doo make guest appearances throughout the ride. Closed in 2002 to make way for Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast. However, Scooby-Doo continues to make meet-and-greet appearances at the park.
• Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast - Motion simulator starring Jimmy Neutron as he races through the worlds of multiple Nickelodeon shows to stop the alien Ooblar, who has stolen a new rocket model Jimmy is working on. Guest appearances included SpongeBob SquarePants and Cosmo and Wanda of The Fairly OddParents. Closed in 2011 to make way for Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. However, SpongeBob SquarePants continues to make meet-and-greet appearances at the park.
• Alfred Hitchco*ck: The Art of Making Movies - 3D show that served as a tribute and behind-the-scenes look of the late, frequent Universal collaborator Alfred Hitchco*ck. A variety of his films such as The Birds, Psycho, and Dial M for Murder were featured in the show. Closed in 2003 to make way for Shrek 4-D.
• Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen - A live show demonstrating production on the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess series. The live-action show also featured members of the audience fighting stunt performers. It was similar to the Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre which had previously occupied the attraction's soundstage building. The final performance was on February 20, 2000. It was replaced by Transformers: The Ride, which opened in 2013.
• Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre - An interactive show that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990. In the show, guests were selected to be executive producers on a new episode of the Murder, She Wrote
• Shrek 4-D - 3D show with special effects based on the Shrek films by DreamWorks Animation, set between the events of Shrek and Shrek 2. It shut down on January 10, 2022.
• Donkey's Photo Finish - Near Shrek 4-D, a meet-and-greet area in which guests can meet Shrek, Princess Fiona, and Puss in Boots (despite not appearing in the first film), as well as an animatronic Donkey that interacts with the guests. It then shut down on August 18th, 2022. television show. The 25-minute show focused on the production of a variety of effects including makeup, sound and visual effects before showcasing the editing process. Following the cancellation of the Murder, She Wrote TV show, the attraction was closed in 1996 and was replaced by Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen the following year.
• The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show - A show that opened in the summer of 1992.^[32] The attraction was a live stage show featuring many characters from the television series of the same name including Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris, Natasha and Snidley Whiplash.^[33] The 16-minute show was removed in 1993 to make way for StarToons.
• StarToons - A live stage show featuring Hanna-Barbera characters Fred Flintstone, George Jetson, Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear, and Boo-Boo. It opened in 1993 and closed in 1996.
• MCA Recording Studio - An attraction that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990. The attraction was a small interactive exhibit which allowed visitors to experiment with various sound and recording effects, which are used during post-production of a movie, television show, commercial, or music video. Guests could also sing along to their favorite songs and purchase a recording of their performance. It was removed in 1996 and replaced by Stage 54.
• Stage 54 - An attraction which opened at the park in 1997, replacing the MCA Recording Studio. The attraction was located within soundstage 54 of Universal Studios Florida. Throughout the years, the attraction was constantly updated to feature displays and props from Universal Pictures films of the time including The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, Small Soldiers and The Mummy. On January 24, 2003, the attraction was closed and replaced with Donkey's Photo Finish, a meet and greet attraction related to the park's Shrek 4-D attraction.
• The Boneyard - An outdoor attraction which opened with the park on June 7, 1990. The attraction featured a variety of props from Universal Pictures films and TV programs including Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Back to the Future and as well as other films like MGM's Ben Hur. The area also housed special events such as Halloween Horror Nights and concerts. It was removed on September 8, 2008, to make way for the Universal Music Plaza Stage.
• Production Studio Tour - An attraction that toured the studio and production facilities of Universal Studios Florida. Inspired by Universal Studios Hollywood's Studio Tour, the Production Studio Tour opened with the park on June 7, 1990. Guests would board a tram in front of soundstage 19 (which was located next to Nickelodeon Studios) or in the middle of two of the soundstages in the park's production facilities. From there they would be taken on a 15-minute journey into and around various sound stages as well as being taken on a general tour around the park. Upon the completion of the tour, guests would exit into The Universal Studios Store where they could purchase a variety of merchandise. The tour was closed in 1995, yet The Universal Studios Store remains open to this day.
• Nickelodeon Studios - A television studio and attraction that opened with the park on June 7, 1990. The 40-minute attraction allowed guests to take a tour of Nickelodeon's studio facility followed by an interactive live show which featured games based on Nickelodeon shows of the time. It was closed and disestablished on April 30, 2005, and was replaced by Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre which opened at Universal CityWalk on June 6, 2007.

Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone[]

Children's area featuring tamer rides and attractions with characters intended for young children.

Former Attractions[]

• Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster - Junior coaster themed to the character of the same name. Closed in 2023 to make way for Trollercoaster in the section of DreamWorks Land.
• A Day in the Park with Barney - Live show with pre-recorded dialogue based on the PBS children's show Barney and Friends. Barney is also available for meet-and-greets. Closed in 2021 to make way for DreamWorks Destination, until 2023 to kae way for DreamWorks Imagination Celebration in the section of DreamWorks Land.
• Curious George Goes to Town - Small water playground based on the books by H.A. and Margret Rey. Closed in 2023 to make way for Po's Kung Fu Training Camp in the section of DreamWorks Land.
• Fievel's Playland - Playground themed to the 1986 animated film, An American Tail. Fievel is the main protagonist of the film. Closed in 2023 to make way for Po Live! in the section of DreamWorks Land.
• Animal Actors Stage - A live stage show in Expo Center, which opened with the park in 1990 and featured Universal's animal actors performing amazing stunts and tricks. It was later closed in 2001 and replaced by Animal Planet Live, while the Expo Center area would be permanently closed to make way for KidZone.
• Animal Planet Live - A live stage show in KidZone, inspired by the TV channel Animal Planet, and featured multiple animals performing stunts and tricks. It replaced Animal Actors Stage when it opened at the park in 2001, and was closed in 2006 and replaced with Animal Actors on Location.
• The Bates Mansion Set - A set of theatrical property which recreated the set of the Bates Mansion from Psycho. Like The Bates Motel Set, it was also used to film Psycho IV: The Beginning. It opened with the park on June 7, 1990, and was later closed and demolished in 1998, being replaced in the same year by Curious George Goes to Town.
• The Bates Motel Set - A set of theatrical property which recreated the set of The Bates Motel from Psycho, and was built for the filming of Psycho IV: The Beginning. It was later used to house the haunted house The Psycho Path Maze for several years during Halloween Horror Nights at the park. It opened in 1990 and was closed and demolished in 1995 to make way for A Day in the Park with Barney which opened later in the year.
• StarToons Character Meet and Greet - A live show where Universal Studios' cartoon characters would briefly sing and dance, followed by them posing for autographs and pictures with park guests. It was the second of four versions of the StarToons show to be featured at the park, the former being StarToons which operated in the Production Central area from 1993 until 1996. It opened in 1998 and was re-themed in 2008 as StarToons: 80's Rewind.

Trivia[]

• Universal Orlando opened in July 1990 with a raft of original rides. Since then, many of those rides have evolved into new ones. ET’s Adventure is actually the only original ride that still remains at the park. You can find this ride at Universal Studios Park in the Woody Woodpecker Kid Zone. We’d recommend riding this extraterrestrial-themed attraction for some ‘out of this world’ fun!
• The Harry Potter-inspired attraction, Diagon Alley, is designed to look exactly how it’s played out in the movies. Located at Universal Studios, it features the film’s famous secret alleyways and quirky buildings including Gringotts Bank and Olivander's – plus many more elements to make it super authentic. In Diagon Alley all the buildings are at least 3 stories tall, and the sky is part of the set. This means that when you look around you can’t see any part of the real world. This special effect makes Diagon Alley feel even more magical!
• If you head down to the Fast-Food Blvd at ‘Springfield: Home of the Simpsons’, you can buy a pint of original Duff Beer from Moe’s Tavern. Taste-tested by writers of the Simpsons television show, the beer can only be purchased at Universal parks. Fast Food Blvd also features foods that you can’t buy anywhere else in the parks.
• For all Harry Potter fans this is one of Universal’s must-see experiences. If you’re taking the Hogwarts Express train from Universal Studios’ Kings Cross Station, you can actually walk through a solid brick ‘wall’ to Platform 9 3/4 to catch the train. Once you’re onboard, you’ll wind your way through scene of the British countryside before alighting at Hogsmeade Station in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. By the way, the brick wall isn’t really solid, it’s just a special effect!
• At Diagon Alley in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, can you actually speak to the Ministry of Magic. Dial 62442 in the red phone booth outside King’s Cross Station and it will directly connect you with the Ministry. What people don’t know is that 62442 on an old phone translate to ‘MAGIC’ on a new one.
• Most ride queues in Universal are located indoors as a way of helping visitors stay cool. As such, there are plenty of extra attractions in the queue lines. These include special attractions and themed video clips packed with fun facts and entertainment. At the beginning of the queue at ‘Revenge of the Mummy’ look out the gold King Kong statue which commemorates the old King Kong ride once located there. Over at the Simpsons ride, you’ll see animated appearances of Doc Brown while you’re queuing; it may sound random but it’s a throwback to the Back to the Future Ride originally located there.