Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) is finally here, but the theaters aren’t the only place where you can get your fix for all things Jurassic. While the park might be long gone in the film series, there are still dinosaur-inhabited theme parks here in the real world, at Universal Studios Orlando and Hollywood.
Jurassic World: Dominion is the sixth movie in the hugely popular Jurassic Park franchise, which finds dinosaur populations causing huge problems across North America, following the events in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), in which the prehistoric beasts are released into the wilderness during the third act.
The film unites Jurassic World (2015) characters Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) with original Jurassic Park (1993) characters Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), as they face new and unprecedented prehistoric threats on the mainland.
The original Jurassic Park was a hugely influential film, in that not only has it spawned five sequels, but it also inspired themed attractions at Universal Studios, which remain incredibly popular to this day. Sure, you won’t find actual genetically-engineered dinosaurs at the resorts, but you will encounter the next best thing.
Here’s your guide to all things Jurassic Park at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando…
Jurassic Park in Universal Studios Orlando
Universal Studios Orlando’s designated Jurassic Park-themed area is simply known as “Jurassic Park”, but is also known as “Camp Jurassic”. Located at the heart of the Island of Adventure, InGen’s dinosaur cloning facility is home to Jurassic Park experiences both old and new, spared no expense.
Jurassic World Velocicoaster
Jurassic World Velocicoaster is the newest attraction at Jurassic Park in Universal Studios Orlando. However, unlike the other attractions, it’s actually inspired by the Jurassic World movies and not the Jurassic Park ones (although they all form part of the same continuity nonetheless).
This adrenalin-fuelled roller coaster rises high above the ground, and is described as “the apex predator of roller coasters”. And it’s plain to see why, because it launches at an incredible speed through Jurassic Park’s raptor paddock, allowing you to feel the same rush these prehistoric predators feel while they’re out hunting!
You’ll twist and soar above the land, and you’ll even spot velociraptors as you go too. Jurassic World Velocicoaster is the ultimate Jurassic thrill ride, and the perfect way to experience the more action-packed side of the Jurassic franchise at Universal Studios Orlando.
Pteranadon Flyers
Pteranadon Flyers might sound like a thrilling experience, but it’s actually designed for those “small versions of adults”, as Dr. Ellie Sattler so eloquently puts it in the original 1993 classic. The ride, which sees children taking flight beneath the 10-foot wings of a pteranadon, offers amazing views of the surrounding area.
The seat is suspended from an overhead track, and allows the little ones to swing their legs freely as they fly through the air slowly and gently. So, fortunately, there are no scary moments on this ride, because that’s the great thing about Jurassic Park – it knows how to strike a balance between wonder and terror!
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Many Jurassic Park fans don’t know this, but Jurassic Park River Adventure is based on a scene from Michael Crichton’s 1990 best-seller “Jurassic Park”, the novel upon which Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic is based. The scene in question never made it to the film, but now survives in the form of this thrilling log flume ride.
In the book, Dr. Alan Grant, Lex Murphy, and Tim Murphy attempt to reach the visitor center using an inflatable boat, during which they’re stalked by the tyrannosaurus rex. In the Universal Studios Orlando version, however, you’ll see all sorts of dinosaurs, including brachiosaurs, stegosaurs, compys, parasaurs, and velociraptors.
After starting out in your raft with fellow guests, you’ll pass through the watery haven of Hadrosaur Cove, but it won’t belong before things go awry. Soon, you’ll encounter compys and raptors, before your raft enters a dark facility, where you’ll face the wrath of the mighty t-rex, before plunging down a 85-foot drop!
And now for Universal Studios Hollywood…
Jurassic World in Universal Studios Hollywood
At Universal Hollywood Studios, “Jurassic World” offers different experiences to its Orlando counterpart, which is great when you consider that many attractions and themed lands tend to be “twinned” between different resorts. Not unlike the 2015 film of the same name, you could say that Jurassic World is a “soft reboot”.
Jurassic World – The Ride
Jurassic World – The Ride is also very much a reboot of Jurassic Park: The Ride, which was very similar to Jurassic Park River Adventure in Universal Studios Orlando. Once again, you’ll take to the water for this dark ride, except this time everything is themed around the Jurassic World film series, as opposed to Jurassic Park.
Some things have survived from the former version of the attraction, but this time you’ll come face to face with the terrifying dinosaur hybrid known as the Indominus Rex, as well as the t-rex! Your journey will follow the same path for the most part, but there are some major changes to take note of.
One of those changes comes in the form of the underwater mosasaur, which you’ll marvel at as she swims all around your raft. But in true Jurassic World fashion, this prehistoric beast doesn’t want to stay caged for too long, as she begins to hammer the glass windows, causing water to spray out all around!
DinoPlay
Jurassic World might not have Pteranadon Flyers, nor does it have “Gentle Giants” as seen in the 2015 film, but it does have DinoPlay, a children’s play area that offers exciting activities. These include excavating dinosaur fossils at a dig site and exploring a t-rex skulls and caring for dinosaur eggs.
There’s even a jungle climber and rope bridge, so your little ones will feel like they’re exploring Jurassic World in no time. And who knows – it may even inspire them to go on to become a paleontologist in later life! Just be sure to let them know that there’s no such thing as genetically-engineered dinosaurs, just to avoid disappointment.
Raptor Encounter
While not an attraction per se, this Jurassic experience will leave you feeling awe struck all the same. Come face to face with Blue the Raptor as seen in the Jurassic World movies (who is nowhere near as dangerous as all the other raptors in the franchise), as well as a large Triceratops and a Baby Raptor!
The fun doesn’t end there at Universal Studios Hollywood where Jurassic World is concerned, as you can also sink your teeth into some mouth-watering snacks at Jurassic Café, enjoy a beverage at the Isla Nu-bar, or pick up one of many souvenirs from the merchandise store Jurassic Outfitters.
Remember – if it isn’t Universal Studios, then it’s extinct!
