Jaws closing for good on Jan 2

[CentralFloridian99]

Does anyone have any idea if UO will give out hints or when they will announce it?

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I want to hear what's planned as a replacement before I render judgement. Jaws was fun but I'm not going to up in arms about it closing.

Gotta agree with MW. Sure, I liked JAWS (that's when I get a good skipper, which is 25 in a 100 chance), but I'm not that sad to see it go. But I'm going to be super mad if they get rid of ET, but probably not, since Spielburg won't let them close it.

 

[buckeev]

Ouch! What a body blow! One of favs, fer sure!
Only "bright side" is we'll get a chance to ride it in a coupla weeks, but then...
"we're gonna need a bigger...errr...another boat"!!!!!

 

[harding0010]

My son will be thrilled the Jaws ride is gone. He is 21 and terrified of this ride. He will bungee jump but will not ride jaws.

 

[cheerbaybee]

Get rid of Fear Factor! I mean really Jaws over Fear Factor or even Twister? UGH!

I loved JAWS.. and im so sad that i wont even get to ride it before it goes. UGH. i never understood why twister was even there. We always ride Jaws but we never do twister. I dont understand why they are getting rid of a ride that still has a 40 min wait... but keeping a ride that never has a wait. UGH!


Unless universal changes my mind by putting something amazing in.

 

[phamton]

This brings to mind the "most awesome" post of Doc Bosch who used to post on the Disboard regularly:
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:37:43 -0400
Subject: Doc Bosch and universal

Quote:
“Universal was my favorite park as a young child, mainly due to the presence of Back To The Future and my affinity to movie making. To this day, the Universal logo in front of movies gets to me. My dream is for my first film to be a Universal picture.
Universal became the park I visited the most, and one of the things I got most attached to as a kid. USF is literally my favorite place on earth. It's a place where I can recall various thoughts and feelings from different parts of my life just by walking around. Disney was too big and popular for it to feel personal, but Universal to me was something special.

The night they closed Kongfrontation, I started questioning my attachment to Universal. I figured that Disney had its supposed "magic" and history, things that you’re allowed to value, but why did I have such strong feeling for Universal? They had just closed a classic attraction to replace it with a roller coaster. While Kong was iconic, the original ride was just meant to thrill, and when it stopped doing that, it would be replaced by a different movie's high tech ride. I wondered where the reminiscence was in that.

I walked around the USF lagoon at dusk for a bit, contemplating this, when I looked up at the view. I remembered the park as I used to see it as a kid. I remembered how it seemed huge, and how there was always something cool around the corner. I remembered being so impressed with the street facades, and the themeing within the rides. The first visit when I became completely and unreasonably upset that we had to leave, but when we returned soon after, I realized that this was a place I was going to be able to come back to constantly.

When I walked out of the park, I started to think about how there is so much more now then there was in my memories of my first visits. I tracked the expansion of the Universal property for over two years but I wondered if it had grown too much for me to genuinely care for it all. Then I looked over to the IOA skyline, with the lighthouse beaming and Hulk snaking all over the sky, and remembered how amazing it was. Then I looked at CityWalk, all lit up in the night, and remembered how amazing it was. And I remembered that the reason I liked Universal so much the first time was because it was so amazing.

The "nostalgia" of Universal isn't nostalgia at all, but innovation. Universal isn't about things staying the same forever, so we can relive our childhoods over and over again, but about things evolving and getting better, and getting 'cooler'. Disney is magical because of it's classic attractions, and the classic characters they are based on, while Universal's charm comes from it's ability to create spectacular things, regardless of the subject, that will amaze us.

 

[nytimez]

This is just one of the things that stops them from seriously competing with Disney, the lack of consistent classic attractions that remain, from opening day to now; attractions that visitors remember on their first time, and then re-live when taking their children and grandchildren in the future. Uni execs are dumb.

Yes, Disney would never close a classic attraction.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Why is this thread all whacked out of order??

But yeah....I'm still pissed and will be for a long time. I think it's the whole 30 day notice that gets me the most.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Awesome post Phamton ...

While I am sad that they are getting rid of Jaws, and agree with the others who said there are other attractions they "should" close instead, I do understand why Universal is doing it. I was sad too about Disney demolishing Toon Town in the Magic Kingdom (I loved walking through Mickey and Minnie's houses), but am looking forward to the new land as well. Technology has changed so much over the years, I'm sure that whatever Universal puts in the Jaws/Amity area will be awesome.

 

[princess_ariel_85]

I'm absoultely gutted. I never really got the chance to go to Orlando as a kid & it was always a random childhood dream to go on Jaws lol It's my fave film ever and I'm saddened to find that the last time I went on it was my last time ever. I've only had 2 trips to Orlando and both times I've been thrilled to go on this ride. How sad.

 

[hibricc]

We'll be there on January.... 3rd. ARGHHHH!

 

[damo]

Hmmmm. I don't think I'll miss Jaws much. I've heard rumours that some sort of Harry Potter phase 2 might be going in there with a train connecting the two areas. It will be very interesting to see what happens.

 

[Seeker615]

Aw bummer...When we were there in September that was the first ride my daughter wanted to ride. It was still a decent experience and we enjoyed it. There was about a 25 minute wait when were there!

I was bummed when King Kong was removed too. Yeah it was kind of lame in some ways but the theming of both of these attractions were really cool.

As much as I enjoy the new high tech stuff there is something to be said about coming face to face with a giant ape or having a shark come up out of the water and give you a jolt!

 

[cuddlykp]

My son and I are so upset right now....it's silly,lol....

This was by far our fave ride at US and I can't believe it's closing!
First they took King Kong away which was our first fave and now Jaws!

Thank god we just had a trip there or we would be even sadder! It's weird when we were there my son said he wanted to ride it as much as possible because he had a feeling it would be the next ride to close because it was an original. Wow he was right on!

I hope they don't replace it with another stupid motion simulator ride that I won't enjoy and only make me sick!!!

These were family friendly rides that we could all enjoy, this is not good.

I have no desire to return to US now.

 

[RMulieri]

The big rumor has it as a Transformers attraction...I sure hope not.I absolutely HATED those movies and I think that would be a HUGE mistake.

 

[RMulieri]

Also, any word on how we can get around construction when Jaws closes?

This is what is also bothering me...It is my 1st trip to Universal..With Jimmy Neutron closed and Despicable me not open yet and now Amity/Jaws closing..Are there just going to be HUGE construction walls all over the place? I hope to god nothing else is down in JAN..I have 4 days schedule there and no car to go elsewhere and with JAn weather you never know if you will get any swimmable weather.Sorry..just thinking out loud here.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Thank you for sharing that, Phamton! Definitely a sentiment that I can relate to.

I really like Jaws, but I understand its need to go from a Universal standpoint. I've been hearing over and over how much it costs to run daily due to the intense pyrotechnics. It may be nostalgic, but it just doesn't make sense from a business standpoint to keep such an expensive attraction when it isn't a headliner anymore.

Anyway, I'll definitely try and get my fill of it this month before it goes.

 

[iwish81792]

The big rumor has it as a Transformers attraction...I sure hope not.I absolutely HATED those movies and I think that would be a HUGE mistake.

I don't think they'll be a mistake at all. They're extremely popular movies and frankly, it would be nice to get something interesting in that area instead of boring old Amity. I feel the same way about the Dinosaur area at AK, sideshow games (for extra $$$, of course) just don't interest me. A cool, 3D ride like Spiderman but with new technology and a bright, shiny franchise? Count me in. The ride opened today in Singapore, I can't wait to hear reviews.

 

[damo]

There is way too much area over by Jaws for it to be the Transformers ride.

 

[damo]

This is what is also bothering me...It is my 1st trip to Universal..With Jimmy Neutron closed and Despicable me not open yet and now Amity/Jaws closing..Are there just going to be HUGE construction walls all over the place? I hope to god nothing else is down in JAN..I have 4 days schedule there and no car to go elsewhere and with JAn weather you never know if you will get any swimmable weather.Sorry..just thinking out loud here.

Jaws is over in the corner and they will just reroute people around it. It won't be that big of a deal.