Earthquake - The Big One closed

[NemoRocks78]

Bye, bye Earthquake - The Big One
posted by ScottPowers on Nov 5, 2007 11:54:40 AM

Another early Universal Studios ride has closed so that it may be transformed into a new attraction.

"Earthquake - The Big One," a train ride through a collapsing San Francisco, allowing riders to see how Hollywood used to handle some big special effects, has closed. It will be replaced within weeks by a newly-themed attraction, called "Disaster!"

According to Universal Orlando resort, the ride, located in the San Francisco section of the theme park, should repen by the December rush, with more of an interactive experience and no specific movie tie in. The new ride's full name will be "Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride ... Starring You."

The ride originally was based on the 1974 disaster movie, Earthquake!, starring Charlton Heston. Unlike many of the other movies that Universal rides are based on, such as Jaws, Terminator 2: 3D or the other recently closed ride, Back to the Future: The Ride, so many visitors to Universal might never relate to the movie tie in.

Back to the Future is being replaced with a ride themed on the animated TV show, The Simpsons, slated to open next spring.

 

[cmatt]

so arent they urrrm just er gah confused :hammer:

im going for a lie down - soo soo confused


*gets headache*

 

[coasterphil]

I wonder what, if anything, they are going to change about the ride portion of the attraction. A one month closure doesn't seem long enough to do much of anything. The show part has been closed for a while now though, so hopefully that will be much improved.

 

[maelstrom]

Even if you've never seen Earthquake, I think most people still "get" the ride. Why does Universal keep doing stupid things like this?

 

[DisneyChick1984]

I highly doubt they'll be doing any major changes to the ride. From what I've heard it's just the entire preshow that's being reworked...which it seriously needs to be.

 

[Cynderella]

Aww that was one of the few rides I actually really liked there. So sad Oh well Disney's better anyway! :lol::lookaroun

 

[ChrisFL]

I don't know of anything changing about the ride itself but it was long overdue for a refurb.

I think the sentinel ran too quickly with this one....

 

[haveyoumetmark]

I'm happy with this one as it looks now. The ride revisions will be minimal, while they get rid of that god awful tutorial/preshow as it were. :lol:

 

[sknydave]

We'll see if anything changes at all

 

[Figment1986]

So they remove a ride... and put in the same one

really, it seems they are removing the stuff making it this single movie the current generations might not know... and making it more just special effects.

makes sense

 

[marni1971]

As mentioned above, the entire preshow was closed last month - once you entered you went straight to load via the holding area alternate exit.

The ride wasn`t in too good a shape either; whole sections wern`t operating.

 

[haveyoumetmark]

Does anyone think this may affect Twister somehow in the future as it is a "Disaster!" too? For some reason I just love Twister and Earthquake the same way I love Jaws, Mummy (& Kongfrontation), and BttF.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Does anyone think this may affect Twister somehow in the future as it is a "Disaster!" too?

I was wondering the same thing too. This could be good if done right though - it will be nice to see an attraction that has to deal with filmmaking again. I've always said we need a clone of Special Effects Stages from USH over here.

While Twister has recently really grown on me, I wouldn't mind if it went. That space should be used for a War of the Worlds or Transformers attraction. :lookaroun :lol:

 

[dxwwf3]

I was wondering the same thing too. This could be good if done right though - it will be nice to see an attraction that has to deal with filmmaking again. I've always said we need a clone of Special Effects Stages from USH over here.

While Twister has recently really grown on me, I wouldn't mind if it went. That space should be used for a War of the Worlds or Transformers attraction. :lookaroun :lol:

The Special Effects Stages from USH are a waste of space and time. I wish we had skipped it and rode BTTF one more time.

I really wish they would gut the entire Earthquake building and put something worthwhile in there. I always thought Kongfrontation and Earthquake were the two worst theme park attractions in Central Florida (of course considering size and scope). I like Jaws much less than most people as well, but it is really time for something new at Earthquake.

 

[darthjohnny]

Wow, this kind of came out of nowhere.

It does sound like not much will change. But if that's the case, why bother with the whole name change and everything. Just give it a a good refurb and it'll be a-okay.

 

[RozFan]

so if this is true whats the plan for richters burgers, lombards landing and the san francisco area? its all part of the cohesive element that is/was earthquake.



doesnt seem well thought out

 

[coasterphil]

It is still going to be about experiencing an Earthquake, just not one from the dated movie that no one knew existed titled Earthquake.

 

[JT3000]

so if this is true whats the plan for richters burgers, lombards landing and the san francisco area? its all part of the cohesive element that is/was earthquake.



doesnt seem well thought out

The ride's theme is not changing. They're just throwing out the movie tie-in. Besides, no one complains about a mummy in New York City....

 

[Matpez]

It would seem the short amount of time it is down implies it is a quick refurb, name/sign change, and possibly slight show changes. The pre-show was already down recently, so that work may have already begun.

 

[ectomstr]

The ride's theme is not changing. They're just throwing out the movie tie-in. Besides, no one complains about a mummy in New York City....

Mummy in NYC isn't a problem. they've got the Ghost-oh, wait...that's right it's "Twister" now. Nevermind.

Seriously, Twister? That's the BEST they can come up with for a replacement for Ghostbusters? Universal has gone down the hole. Everything I loved from the place when I went nearly 20 years ago is gone or almost gone. At least at disney 95% of it still there.