When visiting any theme park, there are rides that are perceived as masterworks and those that are, well, probably better left to rest in pieces. These attractions may have been poorly received from the start, or perhaps over time may have lost their appeal to guests. Whether it’s due to changing technology or simply poor design, there are some attractions that we wouldn’t miss.
Here are 5 attractions at Universal Orlando Resort that have to go, and 3 that should never leave.
1. Fast & Furious-Supercharged (Has to go!)
Fast & Furious- Supercharged is likely the most hated attraction at the Universal Orlando parks. It is not at all fast and may make you furious you wasted time riding it at all. The mechanics of the attraction are similar to Skull Island: Reign of Kong where riders are loaded onto a large bus-type vehicle. In this case, it’s a party bus. The ride is spent traveling from screen to screen and the projections give the illusion that the vehicle is moving quickly when it is not.
Most of the main cast from the film franchise reprise their roles, however, the acting and script are not great, and the projections are even less impressive. There is one scene where Vin Diesel even looks to be the same size as a helicopter. Overall, the ride lacks excitement and many believe it to be boring.
Such a massive action film franchise deserves so much better. There have been rumors of a Fast & Furious roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, and that’s exactly what they should have done at the Orlando park as well. They need to get rid of the current attraction and build a ride that is worthy of the Fast & Furious name. At this point, if it was actually fast, it would be an upgrade from Fast & Furious-Supercharged.
2. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (Has to go!)
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit isn’t necessarily a bad roller coaster. However, it is almost 14 years old and it shows. The music choices on the coaster are somewhat outdated and have recently been cut considerably, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Downsizes Playlist, Fueling Closure Speculation and many say the coaster is even painful. The coaster’s stats include a 90-degree lift hill, a top speed of 65 miles per hour, and a duration of about one and a half minutes.
While it has its fun elements, when you compare Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit to other coasters at those parks like Velocicoaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, and even The Incredible Hulk Coaster, it definitely falls behind in the excitement factor.
Not to mention, all of those coasters are located at Islands of Adventure. Universal Studios needs a top-tier coaster in its park to compete with these other coasters, especially the newer ones. Perhaps, this is where the Fast & Furious franchise could be redeemed within the park. We know based on Velocicoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure that Universal is capable of creating incredibly themed, technologically impressive, and overall thrilling coasters. We can only hope that the next great coaster comes to Universal Studios.
3. Doctor Doom’s Fearfall (Has to go!)
Have you ever ridden a drop tower or launch tower at your local theme park or state fair? That is essentially what you are getting when you ride Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. It is a standard spaceshot model drop tower. The ride launches riders up and allows them to fall back down with gravity, back up a second time, and then down for a final time. While the initial launch gives some slight adrenaline-pumping thrills, it cannot compete with the other themed drop tower over at the Disney parks.
Doctor Doom’s Fearfall is nothing compared to Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It doesn’t have the immersive theming, the unpredictable number of drops, or the anxiety-provoking ambiance that Tower of Terror has. But it could. With a redesign, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall could be changed to include better theming, more unpredictability, and even dark ride elements to make the attraction longer. While there are legal factors in play regarding Unviersal’s use of the Marvel characters in their attractions, this ride could technically be updated.
4. The Simpsons Ride (Has to go!)
The Simpsons land and even The Simpsons Ride itself are immersive and fun for fans of the long-running show. The traditional 4-D motion simulator ride follows the famous family on a silly adventure filled with well-known characters and lots of hijinks. However, it cannot be denied that the motion simulation technology used for The Simpsons Ride is a bit outdated and causes this to be one of the most nauseating attractions in the Universal Orlando parks.
The ride is in dire need of a technological upgrade. Unfortunately, due to ownership of this IP moving to Disney and rumors that the end of Universal’s contract to use the IP is drawing near, it makes it unlikely Universal would invest in upgrading this attraction.
5. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
Like Fast & Furious- Supercharged, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon has been widely disliked by guests since its opening in 2017. While the queue is immersive and interesting, the ride itself is more of a service to Tonight Show fans rather than guests to the park as a whole.
If you do not watch The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, you may find the attraction dull. Even fans of The Tonight Show may find the attraction lackluster. The 3D motion simulation attraction follows riders as they race with Jimmy Fallon through New York while visiting several iconic locations and incorporating many of the bits and inside jokes from the show.
This attraction could be removed and replaced with a dark ride or incorporated into a new themed area when paired with the removal of Rip Ride Rockit. However, considering that the ride is only six years old, it is probably unlikely that Universal would be interested in removing the attraction so soon.
While we could probably name a few other attractions that aren’t too impressive, some of the other attractions could be improved greatly with a few simple cosmetic upgrades. We are looking at you Cat In The Hat.
However, there are also a few attractions that we hope never leave Universal Orlando Resort. Let’s take a look at these 3 attractions that we think should NEVER leave…
There are some attractions at Universal Orlando Resort that have simply become classics amongst fans, those that fundamentally have all the elements to stand the test of time, those we can never imagine leaving the resort. Here is our list of three attractions that we hope never see the chopping block…
1. Revenge of the Mummy (Has to stay!)
This coaster is not only the best coaster in Universal Studios, it stands as one of the best indoor coasters in the world. The theming is immersive, it has unpredictable drops and turns, and impressive special effects. The coaster has stood the test of time and proven itself as a top-tier theme park attraction overall.
2. E.T. Adventure (Has to stay!)
Many may argue with this attraction being untouchable, but it now stands as the only opening-day attraction still operating at Universal Studios. Honest, it still holds up too. The flying bicycle ride vehicles are unique, the effects are immersive, and E.T. personally bids you farewell at the end of the attraction. It is a classic dark ride and a classic dark ride done well. Sure, it is a bit outdated, but there isn’t any other attraction quite like it.
3. Jurassic Park River Adventure (Has to stay!)
Jurassic Park River Adventure is another attraction that combines thrill with immersive dark-ride elements. In a time when screens and coasters seem to dominate at Universal Orlando Resort, Jurassic Park River Adventure delivers that classic attraction feel like Jaws or Kongfrontation that came before it.
You genuinely feel like you are transported into the movie with lush foliage, immersive set pieces, and animatronic dinosaurs. Not to mention, the final drop narrowly escaping the T-Rex’s jaws is iconic.
Which attractions at Universal Orlando Resort would you most like to see go, and which would you like to stick around forever? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
