Earthquake - The Big One closed

poohster

poohster

New Member
got back from orlando 2 weeks ago, we rode the earthquake, for the second time was our sons first, glad we did now, i couldnt beleive theyd closed king kong was a great ride, but i must admit when we rode easrthquake for the first time we thought it was fantastic but this time we enjoyed it but didnt seem as good. :confused: not sure why, we felt the same about disney world too :cry:
 
kcnole

kcnole

Well-Known Member
Just to clarify things, the only thing that is really changing is the preshow. Universal felt the show was underwhelming so they gave it over to entertainment to completely rework it. This is what they came up with. The ride portion, at most, will only be getting some minor re-working. I'm excited about the new pre-show portions however.
 
NemoRocks78

NemoRocks78

Seized
Original Poster
Universal Studios to replace Earthquake attraction by December
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 6, 2007

Another of the big, original attractions at Universal Studios is being replaced, this time with a ride that aims to employ the popular 21st century concepts for theme-park rides: digital and interactive.

"Earthquake -- The Big One," a subway ride through a collapsing San Francisco, has closed. The ride, which allowed riders to experience big Hollywood special effects, ranging from fire to flooding water, will be replaced within weeks by a newly themed attraction called "Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride . . . Starring You."

According to Universal Orlando officials, the ride, located in the San Francisco section of Universal Studios, should reopen by the holiday tourism crush in December with more of an interactive element but no specific movie tie-in.

Universal officials weren't commenting directly about the ride Monday. A news release said Disaster! would include "blockbuster celebrity talent, new ride elements, new digital technologies, interactive components and a new story line."

In the release, Universal Orlando President Bill Davis stated that Earthquake, which opened when the Orlando park did in 1990, "has been a popular attraction and a strong part of our history. But we are always looking for ways to create more compelling, more entertaining experiences for our guests."

Earthquake clearly had its fans and critics, considering Internet comments made Monday, shortly after Universal announced the news, that rated the ride everything from fun to boring.

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 and Back to the Future, the movie Earthquake has not remained a popular staple of cable-TV channels or video-rental stores.

Universal's Back to the Future ride is currently being replaced with a ride based on the animated TV show The Simpsons. It's slated to open next spring.

Unlike that conversion, or a few other makeovers that Universal Studios has given its older attractions, the Disaster! overhaul will be quick, lasting perhaps no more than six weeks. Nearly two years passed between the closing of Ghostbusters Spooktacular and the opening of its successor, Twister . . . Ride it Out in 1998. Kongfrontation closed for more than 18 months before Revenge of the Mummy replaced it. The Back to the Future ride will be closed about a year before the Simpsons opens.


Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
 
Sir Hiss527

Sir Hiss527

New Member
Yeah it doesn't really seem to me, that much will change about the ride, except for the pre-show. Earthquake has always felt to me, "a pointless attraction"..They really need to look at things, and set things right. A refurb isn't going to do anything for their guests. They need to gut earthquake, and twister, and put something worth people's time in those areas.
 
kcnole

kcnole

Well-Known Member
The ride portion is actually fun, its the preshows which were horrible. If they can make that part fun and re-ridable, then it'll be a good attraction again.
 
jorgetheviking

jorgetheviking

New Member
haveyoumetmark said:
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.
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Earthquake is from the 70's and Twister is from the 90's and another thing is people actually saw Twister! :p
I actually did see Earthquake and it wasnt too bad. Twister should remain untouched.

I think Universal is changing its name as a marketing technique. In my mind its BS. Maybe the pre-shows will be as good as the original ones.
 
maelstrom

maelstrom

Well-Known Member
jorgetheviking said:
Earthquake is from the 70's and Twister is from the 90's and another thing is people actually saw Twister! :p
I actually did see Earthquake and it wasnt too bad. Twister should remain untouched.
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People "actually saw" Earthquake, too. It's a classic, and far better quality than Twister.
 
J

JT3000

Well-Known Member
maelstrom said:
People "actually saw" Earthquake, too. It's a classic, and far better quality than Twister.
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A classic? Most younger people have never even heard of it. How could it be a classic? I've been going on this ride for years and I STILL haven't seen the film.
 
jorgetheviking

jorgetheviking

New Member
I agree that Earthquake is a classic but not too many people these days have actually seen it compared to some of the other Universal classics such as; Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Back to the Future.
JT3000 said:
A classic? Most younger people have never even heard of it. How could it be a classic? I've been going on this ride for years and I STILL haven't seen the film.
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Did you see Twister?
If you did than I've proven my point that more people these days have seen Twister than Earthquake. Which means that Twister dosen't have to change.
 
Matpez

Matpez

Well-Known Member
from an email from Universal
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Disaster! A Major Motion Picture ride...Starring You.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Universal Orlando Resort will unveil a new attraction called Disaster! later this year that will replace the current Earthquake® attraction.

Disaster! will offer guests an all-new experience that combines the best, most dramatic elements of Earthquake with new celebrity talent, new ride elements, new digital technologies and a new storyline.

A specific opening date for the new attraction and more details about the experience will be released soon.[/FONT]
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bayoutinkbelle

bayoutinkbelle

Active Member
I applaud Uni for finally addressing the waaaaaay out-of-date pre-show. It was sorely needed. The ride itself is fun, especially watching the reactions of those who are new to it.

My friends and I wondered what was up when we were there in late October, when we bypassed the pre-show and went straight to the ride. We figured it was because of HHN (and maybe so. Anyone?)

I'm anxious to see what they unveil.
 
jorgetheviking

jorgetheviking

New Member
I'm sorry to break it to everyone but I visited Universal yesterday, and Earthquake will re-open. None of the Earthquake signs have been replaced. (When BTTF closed the signs were gone the next day) Earthquake has a sign at the entrance that says "Earthquake is temporarily closed for set enhancements." Also if you still don't believe me has anyone checked the Universal Orlando website?
Click Here

The only news of Earthquake closing came from the Orlando Sentinel; a newspaper known for false information. Universal Orlando has not confirmed Earthquake's closure, but they have confirmed a refurbishment.
 
C

coasterphil

Well-Known Member
jorgetheviking said:
I'm sorry to break it to everyone but I visited Universal yesterday, and Earthquake will re-open. None of the Earthquake signs have been replaced. (When BTTF closed the signs were gone the next day) Earthquake has a sign at the entrance that says "Earthquake is temporarily closed for set enhancements." Also if you still don't believe me has anyone checked the Universal Orlando website?
Click Here

The only news of Earthquake closing came from the Orlando Sentinel; a newspaper known for false information. Universal Orlando has not confirmed Earthquake's closure, but they have confirmed a refurbishment.
Click to expand...

No, you are the one that is completely wrong. The Sentinel reported the ride would close, be retooled, and reopen with a new name. I'm sorry your reading comprehension is so poor. :shrug:
 
NemoRocks78

NemoRocks78

Seized
Original Poster
jorgetheviking said:
I'm sorry to break it to everyone but I visited Universal yesterday, and Earthquake will re-open. None of the Earthquake signs have been replaced. (When BTTF closed the signs were gone the next day) Earthquake has a sign at the entrance that says "Earthquake is temporarily closed for set enhancements." Also if you still don't believe me has anyone checked the Universal Orlando website?
Click Here

The only news of Earthquake closing came from the Orlando Sentinel; a newspaper known for false information. Universal Orlando has not confirmed Earthquake's closure, but they have confirmed a refurbishment.
Click to expand...
http://media.universalorlando.com/newsreleases/detail.aspx?id=135&categoryID=0

The signs not being down yet isn't a big deal, they've still got another month until it re-opens.
 

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