During the early days of Universal Studios Orlando’s operation, Nickelodeon held a far stronger presence in the park than it does today. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, Nickelodeon had opened the “world’s first headquarters for kids”, the on-site Nickelodeon Studios inside Universal Orlando. Some shows were filmed live on the studio’s soundstages, and kids nationwide came to visit the iconic green slime geyser.
With the popularity of cartoons growing with younger audiences in the early 2000s, the park was looking to expand further and introduce more popular attractions to its roster. This came in the form of a much-needed ride overhaul to one of the already existing attractions on site.
In 1990, the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera–a motion simulator ride created by Intamin–opened with the park in the Production Central area. The ride featured familiar faces from older cartoons such as the Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, and Yogi Bear. It was the first motion simulator ride to open in Universal.
As guests proceeded through the queue, they were informed that Dick Dastardly and Muttley, a duo of villains, were seeking a role in the next Hanna-Barbera project. When they were denied the request citing The Jetsons were the next project to be featured, Dastardly flew into a fit of rage, kidnapped Elroy Jetson, and threatened to take him where he could never be found again. Yogi Bear and Boo Boo would then encourage guests to join them on a high-speed rocket chase through classic cartoons.
After the riders’ rocket is launched from a giant slingshot, they are transported back in time to the town of Bedrock, the home of the Flintstones. While in hot pursuit of Dastardly, guests flew past familiar faces such as Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, and their wives before flying upward into the sky and being transported through a second portal.
This time, the rocket charges past the Mystery Machine and into a haunted house the gang is exploring. Through twisting corridors and spooky hallways, the rockets give chase, narrowly avoiding collisions with Shaggy and Scooby along the way. Another portal opens and takes the riders to Orbit City, the home of the Jetsons. While weaving through flying cars and other futuristic technology, Elroy Jetson spots his family and attempts to jump from the ship and into their arms, but is promptly stopped by Dastardly and pulled back inside.
The Jetsons join the chase, and thanks to Rosie the Robot’s extendable arms, Elroy is reduced and reunited with his family. Meanwhile, Dastardly and Muttley are apprehended by the futuristic police force. After being thanked by the Jetsons for the successful rescue mission, the riders are sent through one final portal where they are brought back to the real world. The rocket comes to a halt and the riders are thanked one last time by Yogi Bear.
The ride’s gradual decline in popularity over the years resulted in its eventual closure on October 20, 2002, after twelve years of operation. On April 11, 2003, the newest addition to the Universal lineup was opened to the public–Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon blast. Following the success of the 2001 film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Universal was looking to expand Nickelodeon’s influence inside the park.
Nicktoon Blast followed a similar structure and plot as the original Hanna-Barbera attraction, but rather than classic cartoon characters, the ride utilized well-known Nickelodeon cartoons. Instead of chasing Dick Dastardly and his companion Muttley, riders would board the ride and pursue Ooblar, the right-hand man of Goobat, king of the Yolkians, after he stole Jimmy’s high-powered rocketship the Mark IV…
After instructing his best friend, Carl, to board the Mark II rocket, Jimmy informs the riders that they would be taking his original, more unpredictable Mark I rockets. Despite the unstable nature of the Mark Is, Jimmy assures the riders that they will be perfectly safe, as he will be remotely piloting the rockets. After the countdown launch, the rockets pursue Ooblar through the various Nickelodeon soundstages. Beginning in Hillwood, the rockets blaze a path through the home of the Rugrats, evading the babies as Jimmy’s robotic dog, Goddard, moves Angelica from harm’s way.
The rockets move onward and continue their chase through Fairy World, where Cosmo and Wanda offer their assistance. Cosmo gifts Carl use of his wand, and with an unfortunate wave of it, Carl poofs Ooblar and the Mark IV away. Wanda quickly comes to aid and promptly sets the Mark I rockets back on track, poofing Carl and the riders to the Yolkian throne room.
After a close encounter with the Yolkian chicken god, Poultra, the Mark IV rocket is destroyed, and Carl once again waves Cosmo’s wand to poof the riders out of harm’s way. The Mark Is and Carl’s Mark II plummet downward and land in Bikini Bottom, where they are mistakenly swept up in SpongeBob’s jellyfishing net. After careening through downtown Bikini Bottom, Jimmy locates a drain pipe that leads back to his laboratory.
Back inside the lab, King Goobot makes a return, but Carl’s quick thinking and Cosmo’s wand prevents any further damage from taking place. Goobot is quickly apprehended; Jimmy thanks the riders for their assistance in the chase and bids them farewell as the ride draws to a close.
The ride was met with mostly positive reviews, with many guests viewing it as a suitable and modern replacement for the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. The popularity of Nicktoons lasted through the mid 2000s, even after the closure of the on-site Nickelodeon Studios. Though the use of live recordings ceased at the Universal Orlando Resort, Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast remained open for years after the closure of Nickelodeon Studios in 2005, but as the 2010s crept on, it became increasingly obvious that the ride was once again becoming outdated and not resonating as much with the next generation of children.
A replacement would take center stage in 2010, when the hit animated film Despicable Me took the world by storm. Universal began working on implementing a replacement for Jimmy Neutron and the Nicktoons, and finally on August 19, 2011, the ride was closed permanently. Less than a year later, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem would open to the public on July 2, 2012.
Following the closure of Nicktoon Blast, few remnants of Nickelodeon’s influence in the park still remain for nostalgic fans who grew up watching them. Despite the closure of the ride and Nickelodeon Studios, those with a keen eye can still find pieces of Nickelodeon history left behind.
Next time you’re in the park, stop by the SpongeBob Storepants near the ET Adventrue ride for some Bikini Bottom themed gifts, and grab a picture with some of the cast. Though Spongebob has managed to maintain his presence on television while other cartoons of his time have dwindled, there is no guarantee he will always be immune to becoming a part of the Nicktoons past.
