Interactive raptors in the park?

[wdw4rfam]

we are heading to universal for 3 days in September. My oldest daughter was going to stay home this trip because she just moved out and in with her boyfriend. She just stumbled on a video online where there are interactive raptors at universal Orlando. She's a huge Jurassic park fan and I'm seriously considering flying them down for a few days if these are actually there now. So was this a old video? Are they still there? Can anyone tell me more?

 

[NurseKim]

Just came back this morning. There is a raptor encounter...but we didn't do it so I don't know details, but yes, it's there. It was listed under shows on the app.

 

[kuhljeanie]

I can vouch for the encounter! It's a permanent thing - basically a meet and greet that takes breaks throughout the day. It's fantastic. One of my favorite things to do is watch grown-ups freak out when the raptor starts getting jumpy. There's a handler (dude dressed like Chris Pratt) and every time we've walked by, the CM doing this has been completely committed to the role. LOVE THIS.

 

[Poohbug]

The Raptor encounter is a photo op and my family loved it. Get there early, before opening and you can watch the raptor handlers give a little show and the raptor is released from its cage. Then you have your turn for the photo and stand right in front of it while your photo is being taken. I thought the raptor was very life-like and she kept "sniffing" my son's head.

I think it is a great addition to Jurassic island but I don't know if it alone is enough to visit IOA for.

 

[wdw4rfam]

The Raptor encounter is a photo op and my family loved it. Get there early, before opening and you can watch the raptor handlers give a little show and the raptor is released from its cage. Then you have your turn for the photo and stand right in front of it while your photo is being taken. I thought the raptor was very life-like and she kept "sniffing" my son's head.

I think it is a great addition to Jurassic island but I don't know if it alone is enough to visit IOA for.

Thanks. I don't think it alone is worth it, she loves universal and her boyfriend has never been there. He's a huge Harry Potter fan. She just really freaked out when she saw the video and said she really wished they were going with us. I didn't want to book it and then find out that this was a temporary thing.

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't seen it at UO but we experienced USH's version last week. It's AMAZING.

There's a handler (dude dressed like Chris Pratt) and every time we've walked by, the CM doing this has been completely committed to the role. LOVE THIS.

He sure is! All of the TMs involved in it are 100% committed. It's so cool.

I am a grown adult and I was cringing with the velociraptor behind me during the photo op. The TMs at USH described to me the difference between theirs and UO's, and it seems like at UO it's a bit less "wild" in feel than at USH. At USH the raptor walks, with chains, past the whole line of people waiting for the experience, then they release the chains. We were first in line, and I was actually nervous, and nearly asked them to put the chains back on!

Please note I'm NOT a character person at all, I don't like them, and gimmicks irritate me, but the dinosaur stuff they do* is truly impressive.


*in December 2010 my son and I happened upon a randomly reopened Triceratops Trail, and it was fabulous. We were so sad to find out that they decided not to go forward with it...but I'm going to assume they knew, even back then, that JW was going to be made and they would have something "better" to do with "live" dinosaurs.

 

[jaws19798]

We did it and loved it, our 7 year old not so much. Stood in line and when it was our turn he freaked and ran away. Great video we got though. Super realistic I thought.