Jaws closing for good on Jan 2

[reelmom]

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.

If this is the case, are you gonna have to buy the 2 park pass to ride? What about the people who only buy the one park a day pass?

 

[Bluer101]

Just read the email. I'm here now and just rode it a few hours ago. I guess I will get in a few more this weekend before we leave. I'm sad but also excited to move forward.

 

[Metro West]

With Jaws closed, how is that going to impact the HHN houses/flow?

I doubt HHN will be affected all that much. True...they will need to find another location for a house but that shouldn't be an issue. There are several locations throughout the park that are not being used for HHN but another location will need to be established.

 

[Metro West]

Man...these posts are all messed up!

 

[zack123]

If they did add more Potter stuff in that part of the park, they're either going to have to eliminate 1-park passes, or check everyone's tickets before they board - on either end. The former sounds like something that would make a lot of people upset; the latter sounds like a big mess waiting to happen.

Although if there was Potter stuff in both parks, more people would probably buy 2-park tickets.

 

[hopemax]

I heard the news and I was excited, because I had heard about the concept of putting the London HP stuff in the other park. So at least, part one of that rumor, "Jaws would go away," is happening, so hopefully the 2nd part is right as well. Personally, I think it would be smart to split HP, to get high traffic flow in both parks.

But then I also thought, if Universal would seriously consider removing Jaws, and splitting HP into both parks, then there is no reason NOT to consider the idea that Jaws could come back in a new and updated form, somewhere else in the park. On the map it looks like there is land between MIB and the Simpsons. WWoHP seems to have given Universal Parks the financial advantage it needed to consider these BIG ideas. And a successful HP phase 2 would conceivably bring another financial windfall to pursue additional BIG ideas.

 

[thumbalyna]

i wonder how the closing of the amity area is going to affect the HHN crowds, i always found that area to be crowded at times, especially when the B&T show was letting out.

 

[Metro West]

If this is the case, are you gonna have to buy the 2 park pass to ride? What about the people who only buy the one park a day pass?

Probably but that's a long way off yet. We don't even know what is up Universal's sleeve as a replacement.

 

[ChrisFL]

But then I also thought, if Universal would seriously consider removing Jaws, and splitting HP into both parks, then there is no reason NOT to consider the idea that Jaws could come back in a new and updated form, somewhere else in the park. On the map it looks like there is land between MIB and the Simpsons.

So you think Universal is going to remove Jaws, just to put it somewhere else in the park?

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

On my last trip to US, I wanted to go on Jaws, but my friend didn't want to get wet. (I know, lame.) We skipped it for the time being with the plan to jump back into US before the end of the trip, at which time I was going to go on Jaws by myself. Then, the day we were planning to go back, we mostly drank our lunch and decided to take a nap instead.

FINALLY, I'm going back to Universal with a much more adventurous friend who will ride just about anything, water be damned.

In February.

I missed my chance! Bummer.

 

[macraven]

i wept when Kong left.
(and ghostbusters....)

i have no tears for Jaws biting the dust.
it was great for the first few years i went on it, after that, just ho hum for me.


i'm excited that something new will be coming in to the studios.
whatever it will be, i'm sure it will be great.

 

[tink1957]

I always considered Jaws to be an ok ride...until I rode it at night last year during HHN. It was a totally different experience in the dark...so cool. Sorry to hear that it's going, but at least we get to ride it on our trip as our last day will be the last day that it's open.

I hope they put something amazing in it's place.

 

[DCTooTall]

Can there really be nostalgia for something that opened in 1990? Can something from 1990 really be a classic?

Jaws was a fun little ride... and a huge waste of space. I don't dislike the ride – but if they're going to build something awesome there I'll help fill in Amity Harbor myself (and, FWIW, while I think Transformers will be part of it based on Spielberg's comments, I hope that's not it).

Considering that makes it an opening day ride (Ok... minus all the headaches and problems it originally had that resulted in it being closed more than open at the start)... It's as Classic as Universal gets.

Figure Star Tours and the Great Movie Ride at MGM...er...Disney Hollywood Studios, are about the same age.

Similar age Comparisons on the Disney Side.....

The Original Journey Into Imagination was younger that Jaws when it closed in 99. (81-99 = 18yrs.... give or take).

Mission to Mars was from 1975-1993.

If You Had Wings was open from 1972-1987

20k Leagues was only 3yrs older when it closed (1971-1994)

Even Mickey's Toontown Fair that many people were so sad to see go because it was a "classic" part of their Vacation didn't open in it's current form until 1996. The 'Original' version, Mickey's Birthdayland opened in 1988, which means even if you go by just the age of the houses/tents, you are still only looking at 6/1988 - 2/2011, or 23yrs.


Considering many people still see a lot of those Disney Attractions as "Classics", I think an arguement can be made that Jaws at 1990-2012, or 22yrs, could be considered a classic as well.

I heard the news and I was excited, because I had heard about the concept of putting the London HP stuff in the other park. So at least, part one of that rumor, "Jaws would go away," is happening, so hopefully the 2nd part is right as well. Personally, I think it would be smart to split HP, to get high traffic flow in both parks.

But then I also thought, if Universal would seriously consider removing Jaws, and splitting HP into both parks, then there is no reason NOT to consider the idea that Jaws could come back in a new and updated form, somewhere else in the park. On the map it looks like there is land between MIB and the Simpsons. WWoHP seems to have given Universal Parks the financial advantage it needed to consider these BIG ideas. And a successful HP phase 2 would conceivably bring another financial windfall to pursue additional BIG ideas.

I Don't see them splitting the WWOHP into both parks. It's just not logical on a thematic standpoint. (HP doesn't really fit as well into the existing Studio theme or layout). It also would be a marketting and Guest relations nightmare. "Oh! If you want to go to harry potter, You need to go to IOA...UNLESS you want to do One of these Attractions/areas of HP, in which case you'd want to do the Studios."

And that doesn't even get into the issue of logistics from the standpoint of if they DO a train to connect the sections, the fact they'd need to completely rework a large portion of the backstage areas in order to fit a train and make it look right from the Guest's standpoint, which still giving them the needed access to backstage areas for daily business......and the whole admission issues with creating an attraction that links 2 different parks.


And I don't see them moving the Jaws ride to another section of the park. Since it's not a simple "Sets in a show building" kind of attraction, and the issues they had getting it to work properly when it first opened, It's DEFINITELY not worth the cost or hassle to completely rebuild the attraction in a new location.

 

[damo]

If this is the case, are you gonna have to buy the 2 park pass to ride? What about the people who only buy the one park a day pass?

I would assume they would go to a one ticket system if that is the case.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I wonder if they'd do another water-based attraction there. There really isn't a water ride in Universal, like the great ones in IOA...

 

[Planogirl]

Jaws is an icon so color me surprised. I liked it - I thought the shark was hokey but Amity was well-themed and the TM's were often outstanding. Universal had better come up with something special to replace this.

 

[derekburgan]

I would consider myself a pretty big Jaws fan. Have every single DVD release. Several t-shirts. Any type of merch I can find. All that said I thought the ride was a massive disappointment with one of the All Time worst queues. If you pay attention to what is on the TVs during the queue your brain may explode.

I'd love to see a new Jaws ride, but if they can replace it with something cool like they did with the Mummy coaster, I'll be fine with it.

 

[keishashadow]

Wow. Universal is going to have a lot of unhappy people over this one.

This is worse than Disney closing Mr. Toads Wild Ride.

you can still travel to DL to ride Mr Toad's Wild Ride. Once jaws bites the dust, bruce will only be viewed on the USH tram tour...a brief encounter.

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.

i 2nd ur throughts as highlighted but will be back to U regardless but sad to hear this news.

I do enjoy the transformers franchise but have to admit it's pure genius to split HP into both parks and churn pricer ticket sales.

 

[johnnyr]

I am still sick over the closure of Back To The Future. Now Jaws...Oh the agony!

 

[Laurabearz]

I hope Lombards survives in some way... it's one of my favorite places to eat at US