List of former Universal Studios Florida attractions
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Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...
attractions.


History

Since
Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...
's opening on June 7, 1990, over 40 attractions have been retired, and usually replaced or re-themed into new attractions, 17 of them being original attractions. The first major attraction to be retired from the park was ''An American Tail Theatre'' in 1992, due to low attendance capacity. The show was replaced in the same year by
Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue ''Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show'' (previously known as ''Beetlejuice's Graveyard Mash-Up'', ''Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue'', ''Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue'', and ''Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue'') is a live ...
, and the Fievel's Playland attraction, also based on the film ''
An American Tail ''An American Tail'' is a 1986 American animated musical adventure film directed by Don Bluth from a screenplay by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss and a story by David Kirschner, Freudberg and Geiss. The film features the voices of Phillip Glass ...
'', opened in the park's Expo Center area simultaneously, and was part of Woody Woodpecker's KidZone. In 1996, the interactive show attraction ''Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre'' was closed due to the cancellation of the '' Murder, She Wrote'' television show on which it was based; also retired around the same time was the next door ''MCA Recording Studio'', also an interactive show. The two attractions were replaced the following year by ''Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen'' and ''Stage 54''. The ''Hercules and Xena'' attraction was later closed and abandoned in 1999, and ''Stage 54'' followed in 2003, with the latter of the two replaced by " Donkey's Photo Finish", an interactive meet-and-greet. Two further attractions were retired in November 1996. '' Ghostbusters Spooktacular'' closed on November 8 due to the end of a contract, and was replaced in the spring of 1998 by '' Twister...Ride it Out''. The nearby '' The Screen Test Home Video Adventure'' followed on November 11, and was replaced in the following year with the '' Islands of Adventure Preview Center''. The preview center itself was closed following the grand opening of ''
Islands of Adventure Universal's Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an ...
'' in 1999, and its former space was used for Universal Express distribution, and is now used as an extended queue area for '' Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride''. Other closures of minor attractions occurred throughout the 1990s. '' The Swamp Thing Set'', used for the production of the television series ''
Swamp Thing The Swamp Thing is a superhero in American comic books published by DC Comics. A humanoid/plant elemental creature, created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, the Swamp Thing has had several humanoid or monster incarnations in v ...
'' up until 1993, was demolished in 1994. Men in Black: Alien Attack was constructed on the previous site in 2000. ''
How to Make a Mega Movie Deal How to Make a Mega Movie Deal was an attraction formerly located at Universal Studios Florida. It opened in 1991, a year after the park opened, and was closed in 1993 to make way for ''AT&T at the Movies''. It was not much of a major attraction, ...
'' was closed due to unpopularity in 1993. In 1998, Universal attempted to revive it with the similar '' AT&T at the Movies'' attraction, which would later close in 2001, with its entrance used for Universal Express distribution. In the New York area of the park, the '' StreetBusters'' show was performed from 1991 until 1993. In 2002, an update version of the show titled ''Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way'' was brought back, and was later closed in 2005 when the park did not renew their contract to the
Ghostbusters ''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, thr ...
characters. ''The Marvel Show'', also located in the New York area of the park, was discontinued in the summer of 1995. ''The Bates Motel Set'', which was used for production of '' Psycho IV: The Beginning'', was demolished in 1995, with A Day in the Park with Barney constructed on the site in the same year. Similarly, ''The Bates Mansion Set'', also used for production of ''Psycho IV'', was demolished in 1998, with Curious George Goes to Town constructed on the re-landscaped site. In February 2000, the park's finale show '' Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular'' set in Universal Studios' lagoon was closed due to maintenance issues. Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular began inhabiting the space in July 2006. In 2002, the park announced that ''
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'' is an American animated syndicated programming block produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that ran on a weekly schedule and was performed in live action. The program ran from 1985 to 1994. Overview The ...
'' and '' Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies'' would both be closed by the end of the year. Before that, ''
Kongfrontation Kongfrontation was a ride located at Universal Studios Florida theme park in Orlando, Florida. As one of the original attractions featured during the park's grand opening on June 7, 1990, it quickly became one of the most popular. It was closed ...
'' was retired in a grand closing ceremony on September 8, 2002, and was replaced in May 2004 by '' Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride''. The closure of ''Kongfrontation'' has been viewed as the most park changing and notable closure in Universal Studios' history which caused a great deal of controversy among theme park fans. Following the closure of Kongfrontation, ''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'' closed on October 20, 2002, and was replaced in April 2003 by '' Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast'', which utilized the same ride system and technology. ''Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies'' was retired on January 3, 2003, and was replaced later in the year by
Shrek 4-D ''Shrek 4-D'' (also known as ''Shrek 3-D'' for the DVD release and ''The Ghost of Lord Farquaad'' for the Shrek's Thriller Tales DVD release and DreamWorks Spooky Stories Blu-ray release, Netflix and other streaming releases) is a computer-animat ...
, a 3-D short film. In early September 2003 The Wild West Show at Universal Studios Florida was closed'' ''due to a loss of the attraction's usual capacity. It was replaced in 2005 by''
Fear Factor Live Fear Factor Live was a stunt stage show attraction located in the World Expo section at Universal Studios Florida and in the Upper Lot section at Universal Studios Hollywood. Both attractions opened in spring 2005. The Hollywood attraction was ...
, ''another live stunt show.' Two years after ''Wild Wests'' closure, the Nickelodeon Studios facility and attraction were disestablished on April 30, 2005, due to
Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...
moving their production facilities to Burbank, California.' The former space was left abandoned until it was re-designed in 2007 for the opening of ''
Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre The Blue Man Group Theatre (previously named the Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre until 2012) was an indoor theatre located at Universal Orlando Resort's CityWalk, which housed a live show and residency by the Blue Man Group, featuring their ...
,'' an attraction in
Universal CityWalk Universal CityWalk is the name shared by the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. CityWalk began as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, and serves as ...
.'''' In September 2006, half of the '' Back to the Future: The Ride'' attraction was shut down, preparing the ride for a complete closure which eventually occurred on March 30, 2007. It was replaced on May 15, 2008, by ''
The Simpsons Ride ''The Simpsons'' Ride is a motion simulator ride located in the Springfield areas of both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood. Based on the animated television series ''The Simpsons'', the ride was announced in 2007 as a r ...
''. The closure of ''Back to the Future'' has been viewed as the second notable attraction closure in the park after ''Kongfrontation''. The second attraction to be retired in 2007 was ''Earthquake: The Big One'', on November 5, with the attraction's pre-show portions already having been discontinued on September 8. The ride was replaced two months later, in January 2008, with '' Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!''. Similar to ''Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast'', the attraction uses the same ride system and technology as the previous attraction, however, the queue and pre-show portions are completely different. "Disaster!" closed in 2015 and was replaced by Fast and Furious: Supercharged, in 2018. In 2008, ''
The Boneyard ''The Boneyard'' is a 1991 American direct-to-video horror film directed by James Cummins and starring Ed Nelson, Deborah Rose, Norman Fell, James Eustermann, and Phyllis Diller. Plot The film plunges into the nightmarish experiences of a de ...
'' attraction was retired, and was replaced in the spring of 2009 with the Universal Music Plaza Stage, and open-air amphitheatre used for the park's music concerts. On March 14, 2011, Universal announced that the '' Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast'' ride would begin operating on a seasonal schedule on April 1, 2011, preparing the ride for a permanent closure which eventually occurred on August 18, 2011. They confirmed on May 19, 2011, that it would be replaced with a new ''Despicable Me'' themed attraction which is among several new concepts in development for the Resort over the next few years. Shortly after the closure of ''Nicktoon Blast'', '' Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular'' was removed in early September 2011, to make room for '' Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories''.Universal Orlando Resort Media Site
. Media.universalorlando.com (January 25, 2012).
On December 2, 2011, Universal Orlando announced that the '' Jaws'' attraction, as well as the surrounding ''Amity'' area of the park, would be permanently closed on January 2, 2012, to make way for a new experience. The removal of ''Jaws'' has been viewed as the third most notable attraction closure in the park's history after ''Kongfrontation'' and ''Back to the Future: The Ride''. Two further shows throughout the park's history have been revamped several times. The first was ''
StarToons StarToons International, LLC. was an animation studio located in the Chicago, Illinois area. It was founded by Jon McClenahan, an animator who had previously worked for other studios like Hanna-Barbera. The initial founding of StarToons was in Octo ...
'' which replaced '' The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show'' which closed in 1993. ''StarToons'', located in the Production Central area, operated from 1993 until 1996. When Woody Woodpecker's KidZone, opened in 1998, the park brought back the show as ''StarToons Character Meet and Greet''. It was revamped once again in 2008 as ''StarToons: 80's Rewind''. The second of the two shows was ''Animal Actors Stage'' which was replaced by ''Animal Planet Live'' in 2001. When Universal's contract with
Animal Planet Animal Planet (stylized in all lowercase since 2018) is an American multinational pay television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. First established on June 1, 1996, the network is primarily ...
ended in 2006, the show was revamped as ''Animal Actors On Location''. The show is similar to the original but with updated segments. Throughout the park's history of attraction closures, merchandise shops connected to major attractions have been closed and refurbished to fit the theming of the replacement attractions.


Production Central


The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show

''The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show'' opened in the summer of 1992. The attraction was a live stage show featuring many characters from the television series of the same name including Rocket J. Squirrel, Bullwinkle J. Moose, Boris Badenov, Natasha Fatale,
Dudley Do-Right Dudley Do-Right is a fictional character created by Alex Anderson, Chris Hayward, Allan Burns, Jay Ward, and Bill Scott, who appears as the main protagonist of "Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties", a segment on '' The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.' ...
and
Snidely Whiplash Snidely Whiplash is a fictional character who originally appeared as the main antagonist in the ''Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties'' segments of the animated television series ''The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show''. He is the archenemy of Dudley Do-Ri ...
. The 16-minute show was removed in 1993 to make way for ''StarToons''.


Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies

''Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies'' was a part-
3-D film 3D films are motion pictures made to give an illusion of three-dimensional solidity, usually with the help of special glasses worn by viewers. They have existed in some form since 1915, but had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion pic ...
, part-live action show at
Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...
, and one of the
theme park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...
's original attractions. The attraction featured attacks from birds similar to Hitchcock's film '' The Birds'' in the pre-show area, and featured the shower scene from '' Psycho'' in the main show with narration by
Anthony Perkins Anthony Perkins (April 4, 1932 – September 12, 1992) was an American actor, director, and singer. Perkins is best remembered for his role as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's suspense thriller '' Psycho'', which made him an influentia ...
who played the part of
Norman Bates Norman Bates is a fictional character created by American author Robert Bloch as the main antagonist in his 1959 thriller novel '' Psycho''. He has an alter, Mother, who takes from the form of his abusive mother, and later victim, Norma, wh ...
in ''Psycho''. It closed on January 3, 2003, and was replaced by ''
Shrek 4-D ''Shrek 4-D'' (also known as ''Shrek 3-D'' for the DVD release and ''The Ghost of Lord Farquaad'' for the Shrek's Thriller Tales DVD release and DreamWorks Spooky Stories Blu-ray release, Netflix and other streaming releases) is a computer-animat ...
'' in mid-2003.


The Boneyard

''The Boneyard'' was an outdoor attraction which opened with the park on June 7, 1990. The attraction featured a variety of
props A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...
from
Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
films and TV programs including '' Jurassic Park'', ''
Waterworld ''Waterworld'' is a 1995 American post-apocalyptic action film directed by Kevin Reynolds and co-written by Peter Rader and David Twohy. It was based on Rader's original 1986 screenplay and stars Kevin Costner, who also produced it with Char ...
'', ''
Back to the Future ''Back to the Future'' is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis, and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. It stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson. Set in 1985, ...
'' and as well as other films like
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
's '' Ben Hur''. The area also housed special events such as
Halloween Horror Nights ''Universal's Halloween Horror Nights'' (originally ''Universal Studios Fright Nights'' in 1991) is an annual Halloween-themed event at Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Japan and Singapore. The event was originally named '' ...
and concerts. It was removed on September 8, 2008, to make way for the Universal Music Plaza Stage.


The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera

''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'' was a motion simulator ride with characters created by Hanna-Barbera including
Yogi Bear Yogi Bear is an anthropomorphic animal character who has appeared in numerous comic books, animated television shows and films. He made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in '' The Huckleberry Hound Show''. Yogi Bear was the first ...
,
The Flintstones ''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the activities of the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighb ...
,
Scooby-Doo ''Scooby-Doo'' is an American animated media franchise based on an animated television series launched in 1969 and continued through several derivative media. Writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the original series, ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are ...
,
The Jetsons ''The Jetsons'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. It originally aired in prime time from September 23, 1962, to March 17, 1963, on ABC, then later aired in reruns via syndication, with new episodes produced ...
and
Dick Dastardly Dick Dastardly is a fictional character who has appeared in various animated series by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1968 onward. Dastardly's most famous appearances are in the series ''Wacky Races'' (his initial appearance) and its spin-off, ''D ...
and
Muttley Muttley is a fictional dog created in 1968 by Hanna-Barbera Productions; he was originally voiced by Don Messick. He is the foil to the cartoon villain Dick Dastardly, and appeared with him in the 1968 television series '' Wacky Races'' and its ...
. The attraction was presented in two parts; a pre-show which established the attraction's storyline, and a main ride experience which utilized multiple motion simulation based cars manufactured by Intamin. It opened with the park in 1990 and closed on October 20, 2002. It was replaced by '' Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast'' in 2003 which was itself replaced by ''
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a computer-animated simulator ride attraction located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, as well as upcoming to Universal Studios Si ...
'' in 2012.


''Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen''

''Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen'' opened in the summer of 1997, replacing ''Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre''. The attraction was a live show demonstrating production on the ''
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' is an American television series filmed in New Zealand, based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles (Hercules was his Roman analogue). Starring Kevin Sorbo as Hercules and Michael Hurst as ...
'' and '' Xena: Warrior Princess'' series. The live-action show also featured members of the audience fighting stunt performers. It was similar to the Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre which had previously occupied the attraction's soundstage building. The final performance was on February 20, 2000. It was replaced by '' Transformers: The Ride 3D'', which opened in 2013.


Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast

''Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast'' was a
motion simulator A motion simulator or motion platform is a mechanism that creates the feelings of being in a real motion environment. In a simulator, the movement is synchronised with a visual display of the outside world (OTW) scene. Motion platforms can provi ...
ride starring
Jimmy Neutron James Isaac Neutron is the titular and main character from the film '' Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'' and its spin-off Nickelodeon computer animated television series '' The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius''. Created by show runner John A. ...
, and featuring guest appearances of other
Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...
characters, including
Hey Arnold! ''Hey Arnold!'' is an American animated comedy television series created by Craig Bartlett. It originally aired on Nickelodeon from October 7, 1996, to June 8, 2004. The show centers on fourth grader Arnold Shortman, who lives with his grandpar ...
, the
Rugrats ''Rugrats'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The show focuses on a group of toddlers; most prominently— Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, and twins Phil and Lil, a ...
,
The Fairly OddParents ''The Fairly OddParents'' is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon. The series follows the adventures of Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old boy with two fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda who grant him ...
and
SpongeBob SquarePants ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' (or simply ''SpongeBob'') is an American animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It chronicles the adventures of the title character ...
. The ride's experience featured park guests pursuing the villain Ooblar in a rocket chase through the worlds and soundstages of the
Nicktoon Nicktoons is a collective name used by Nickelodeon for their original animated series. All Nicktoons are produced partly at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio and list Nickelodeon's parent company (Viacom, now known as Paramount Global) in their ...
s. It opened on April 11, 2003, replacing ''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'', and was permanently closed on August 18, 2011. It was replaced by ''
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a computer-animated simulator ride attraction located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, as well as upcoming to Universal Studios Si ...
'' on July 2, 2012.


MCA Recording Studio

''MCA Recording Studio'' was an attraction that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990. The attraction was a small interactive exhibit which allowed visitors to experiment with various sound and recording effects, which are used during post-production of a movie, television show, commercial, or music video. Guests could also sing along to their favorite songs and purchase a recording of their performance. It was removed in 1996 and, in 1997, replaced with Stage 54.


Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre

''Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre'' was an interactive show that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990. In the show, guests were selected to be executive producers on a new episode of the '' Murder, She Wrote'' television show. The 25-minute show focused on the production of a variety of effects including makeup, sound and visual effects before showcasing the editing process. Following the cancellation of the ''Murder, She Wrote'' TV show, the attraction was closed in 1996 and was replaced by ''Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen'' the following year.


Nickelodeon Studios

''Nickelodeon Studios'' was a television studio and attraction that opened with the park on June 7, 1990. The 40-minute attraction allowed guests to take a tour of Nickelodeon's studio facility followed by an interactive live show which featured games based on Nickelodeon shows of the time. It was closed on April 30, 2005, and was replaced by
Blue Man Group Theatre The Blue Man Group Theatre (previously named the Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre until 2012) was an indoor theatre located at Universal Orlando Resort's CityWalk, which housed a live show and residency by the Blue Man Group, featuring their ...
which opened at
Universal CityWalk Universal CityWalk is the name shared by the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. CityWalk began as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, and serves as ...
on June 6, 2007.


Production Studio Tour

The ''Production Studio Tour'' was an attraction that toured the studio and production facilities of Universal Studios Florida. Inspired by Universal Studios Hollywood's Studio Tour, the Production Studio Tour opened with the park on June 7, 1990. Guests would board a tram in front of soundstage 19 (which was located next to
Nickelodeon Studios Nickelodeon Studios was a production studio and theme park attraction run by the television network Nickelodeon at Universal Studios Florida. Opening on June 7, 1990, as ''The First World Headquarters for Kids'', the studio attracted young tour ...
) or in the middle of two of the soundstages in the park's production facilities. From there they would be taken on a 15-minute journey into and around various sound stages as well as being taken on a general tour around the park. Upon the completion of the tour, guests would exit into ''The Universal Studios Store'' where they could purchase a variety of merchandise. The tour was closed in 1995, yet The Universal Studios Store remains open to this day.


Shrek 4-D

''Shrek 4-D'' was a 3D attraction that took place after the events of the first
Shrek ''Shrek'' is a 2001 American computer-animated comedy film loosely based on the 1990 book of the same name by William Steig. It is the first installment in the ''Shrek'' franchise. The film was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jen ...
film. With Lord Farquaad's spirit not at peace, he plans to kidnap Fiona and make her his bride in the afterlife. With Fiona captured once again, its up to Shrek and Donkey to rescue her. It opened on June 12, 2003, replacing ''Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies'', and was permanently closed on January 10, 2022. Its replacement will be Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast. Which is expected to open in the Summer of 2023.


Stage 54

''Stage 54'' was an attraction which opened at the park in 1997, replacing the ''MCA Recording Studio''. The attraction was located within
soundstage A sound stage (also written soundstage) is a soundproof, large structure, building, or room with large doors and high ceilings, used for the production of theatrical film-making and television productions, usually located on a secured movie stu ...
54 of Universal Studios Florida. Throughout the years, the attraction was constantly updated to feature displays and props from Universal Pictures films of the time including '' The Lost World: Jurassic Park'', ''
Babe Babe or babes may refer to: * Babe, a term of endearment * A newborn baby * An attractive (especially female) person People Nickname * Babe Adams (1882–1968), American Major League Baseball pitcher * Babe Barna (1917–1972), American Maj ...
'', '' Babe: Pig in the City'', ''
Small Soldiers ''Small Soldiers'' is a 1998 American action comedy film directed by Joe Dante and written by Gavin Scott, Adam Rifkin, Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio. It stars Kirsten Dunst and Gregory Smith, along with the voices of Frank Langella and Tommy ...
'' and '' The Mummy''. On January 24, 2003, the attraction was closed and was replaced with Donkey's Photo Finish, a meet and greet attraction related to the park's
Shrek 4-D ''Shrek 4-D'' (also known as ''Shrek 3-D'' for the DVD release and ''The Ghost of Lord Farquaad'' for the Shrek's Thriller Tales DVD release and DreamWorks Spooky Stories Blu-ray release, Netflix and other streaming releases) is a computer-animat ...
attraction.


StarToons

''StarToons'' was a live stage show featuring Hanna-Barbera characters
Fred Flintstone Fred Flintstone is the main character of the animated sitcom '' The Flintstones'', which aired during prime-time on ABC during the original series' run from 1960 to 1966. Fred is the husband of Wilma Flintstone and father of Pebbles Flintsto ...
,
George Jetson George J. Jetson is a fictional character from the animated television series ''The Jetsons''. He is the patriarch of the Jetson family. He is the husband of Jane Jetson and the father of teenage daughter Judy and son Elroy. Fictional charac ...
, Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear, and Boo-Boo. It opened in 1993 and closed in 1996.


Universal's Superstar Parade

Universal's Superstar Parade was a parade at
Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...
. It was first announced at a live webcast on January 25, 2012. The parade included characters, floats, and themed-vehicles based on
Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
and
Illumination Entertainment Illumination (formerly known as Illumination Entertainment) is an American computer animation studio, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007. Illumination is owned by Meledandri and the Illumination brand is co-owned by Universal Pictures, a divisi ...
's '' Despicable Me'', '' Hop'', and ''
The Secret Life of Pets ''The Secret Life of Pets'' is a 2016 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Yarrow Cheney (in his feature directorial ...
'' films, as well as
Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...
and
Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...
's ''
SpongeBob SquarePants ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' (or simply ''SpongeBob'') is an American animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It chronicles the adventures of the title character ...
'', ''
Dora the Explorer ''Dora the Explorer'' is an American children's animated television series and multimedia franchise created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes and Eric Weiner that premiered on Nickelodeon on August 14, 2000, went on hiatus on June 5, 20 ...
'', and ''
Go, Diego, Go! ''Go, Diego, Go!'' is an American children's animated television program that premiered on Nickelodeon on September 6, 2005 in the United States. Created and executive produced by Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes, the series is a spin-of ...
'' television series. The parade ran from May 8, 2012, to June 4, 2022.


New York City


Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way

''
Extreme Ghostbusters ''Extreme Ghostbusters'' is an American animated television series based on the ''Ghostbusters'' franchise. It is a spin-off to the animated series '' The Real Ghostbusters''. The series originally aired on the syndicated Bohbot Kids Network's ...
: The Great Fright Way'' was an updated version of the park's previous ''StreetBusters'' show, with a slightly different plot and music. It opened on October 1, 2002 and was discontinued on February 25, 2005.


Ghostbusters Spooktacular

''Ghostbusters Spooktacular'' was a 20-minute,
Ghostbusters ''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, thr ...
-themed stage show that opened with Universal Studios Florida in 1990. The original version of the show was hosted by a production assistant and based upon events and ghosts in the films. The second version was hosted by Louis Tully and featured a pre-show. It was closed on November 8, 1996, to make way for '' Twister...Ride it Out'' which opened in 1998.


Islands of Adventure Preview Center

'' Islands of Adventure Preview Center'' was a preview center which operated during the construction of ''
Islands of Adventure Universal's Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an ...
'' from 1997 to 1999. It replaced The Screen Test Home Video Adventure. The Preview Center was designed to give guests a sneak peek at some of the themes and attractions for ''Islands of Adventure''. In the attraction, guests would walk through various rooms themed to the various "Islands" in the new park. The final room stated when the ''Islands of Adventure'' park would open, and showed guests Universal's future plans for the ''
Universal Orlando Resort Universal Orlando Resort, commonly known as Universal Orlando or simply Universal, formerly Universal Studios Escape, is an American theme park and entertainment resort complex based in Orlando, Florida. The resort is operated by Universal Pa ...
''. The Preview Center was closed shortly after the opening of ''Islands of Adventure''.


Kongfrontation

''Kongfrontation'' was an attraction that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990, based on the 1976 remake of ''King Kong''. The ride experience allowed guests to encounter an
audio-animatronic Audio-Animatronics (also known as simply Animatronics, and sometimes shortened to AAs) is the registered trademark for a form of robotics animation created by Walt Disney Imagineering for shows and attractions at Disney theme parks, and subsequent ...
King Kong King Kong is a fictional giant monster resembling a gorilla, who has appeared in various media since 1933. He has been dubbed The Eighth Wonder of the World, a phrase commonly used within the franchise. His first appearance was in the novelizat ...
while on a New York tram car. The ride was considered to be the flagship attraction of the New York area at the time as well as the landmark attraction of the park. It closed on September 8, 2002, and was replaced by '' Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride'', which opened on May 21, 2004.


The Marvel Show

''The Marvel Show'' was a seasonal outdoor show that went on, in front of, and on the building to the left of the Firehouse facade for ''Ghostbusters Spooktacular'' and featured multiple
Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
characters, such as Spider-Man,
Storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), ...
, Iron Man, and
Wolverine The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for " glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscul ...
. It opened in the summer of 1993 and closed in 1995.


The Screen Test Home Video Adventure

''The Screen Test Home Video Adventure'' was an interactive, upcharge experience which opened in March 1991. Guests were given the opportunity to star in one of two 10-minute films: ''Your Day at Universal Studios'' or ''The Star Trek Adventure''. They would dress in costumes before being filmed in front of a blue screen. The final video could then be purchased by the guests for $29.95 plus tax. It was closed November 11, 1996, and replaced by ''The Islands of Adventure Preview Center'' the following year.


StreetBusters

''StreetBusters'' was a seasonal show that opened in early 1991. The plot of the show featured the
Ghostbusters ''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, thr ...
attempting to catch their biggest foe,
Beetlejuice ''Beetlejuice'' is a 1988 American fantasy horror comedy film directed by Tim Burton, written by Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson, and Warren Skaaren, produced by The Geffen Company, distributed by Warner Bros., and starring Alec Baldwin, ...
. It was closed in 1993 and later replaced with ''Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way''.


Twister...Ride it Out

''Twister... Ride It Out'' was a special effects simulation attraction located based on the 1996 film ''
Twister Twister may refer to: Weather * Tornado Aviation * Pipistrel Twister, a Slovenian ultralight trike * Silence Twister, a German homebuilt aircraft design * Wings of Change Twister, an Austrian paraglider design Entertainment * ''Twister'' (1989 ...
''. It was announced in 1998 and replaced the Ghostbusters Spooktacular attraction in the New York area of the park. The attraction was hosted by actors
Bill Paxton William Paxton (May 17, 1955 – February 25, 2017) was an American actor and filmmaker. He appeared in films such as '' Weird Science'' (1985), ''Aliens'' (1986), '' Near Dark'' (1987), '' Tombstone'' (1993), ''True Lies'' (1994), '' Apollo 1 ...
and Helen Hunt, who starred in the original film. The attraction closed on November 2, 2015, and was replaced with '' Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon'' which opened in Spring 2017.


San Francisco/Amity

On January 2, 2012, the Amity themed portion of this area was permanently removed to allow for the construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley. This move also resulted in the closure of the '' Jaws'' attraction as well as the removal of multiple shopping and dining establishments in the section such as ''The Midway Grill'' and ''Quint's Surf Shack''.


''An American Tail Theatre''

''An American Tail Theatre'' was a live stage show based on the animated film '' An American Tail: Fievel Goes West''. The show opened with the park in 1990 and was closed and removed in 1992 to make way for ''
Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue ''Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show'' (previously known as ''Beetlejuice's Graveyard Mash-Up'', ''Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue'', ''Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue'', and ''Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue'') is a live ...
''.


Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue

''
Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue ''Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show'' (previously known as ''Beetlejuice's Graveyard Mash-Up'', ''Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue'', ''Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue'', and ''Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue'') is a live ...
'' or ''Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue'' or ''Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show'' was a live stage show based on the film of the same name and Universal's Classic Monsters. On August 25, 2015, Universal announced that the show at Universal Studios Florida would be "closing later this year" to make way for Fast & Furious: Supercharged. The attraction closed its doors on January 6, 2016. The venue was demolished shortly after. The space is currently used as the queue entrance for '' Fast & Furious: Supercharged.''


Earthquake: The Big One/Disaster!

''Earthquake: The Big One'' was an attraction that opened with the park on June 7, 1990. The 20-minute experience allowed guests to experience an 8.3
magnitude Magnitude may refer to: Mathematics *Euclidean vector, a quantity defined by both its magnitude and its direction *Magnitude (mathematics), the relative size of an object *Norm (mathematics), a term for the size or length of a vector *Order of ...
earthquake in Embarcadero station from the comfort of their
BART Bart is a masculine given name, usually a diminutive of Bartholomew, sometimes of Barton, Bartolomeo, etc. Bart is a Dutch and Ashkenazi Jewish surname, and derives from the name ''Bartholomäus'', a German form of the biblical name ''Bartho ...
subway train. Two versions of the ride operated. The first version ran from the park's opening in 1990 through to 2002 and was based solely on the film ''
Earthquake An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fr ...
''. ''Earthquake: The Big One'' initially operated for only short periods of time during the first four months after opening due to a series of operational problems, resulting in Universal filing suit against the rides manufacturer, Ride & Show Engineering, Inc. Once operational, the lawsuit was dropped. From 2002 until its closure in 2007, the attraction was based on several films including '' E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial'', ''
How the Grinch Stole Christmas ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' is a Christmas children's story by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch, a grouchy, solitary creature who tries to cancel Christmas by st ...
'', '' U-571'' and ''Earthquake''. ''Earthquake'' was permanently closed on November 5, 2007, to make way for '' Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!'' which opened in January 2008.''Disaster!'' closed its doors at USF on September 8, 2015, to make way for '' Fast & Furious: Supercharged'', a version of which still operates at Universal Studios Hollywood.


Jaws

''Jaws'' was a special effects
water ride Water rides are amusement rides that are set over water. For instance, a log flume travels through a channel of water to move along its course. Notable types *AquaLoop * Bumper boats * Fishpipe * FlowRider *Lazy river *Log flume * Old Mill * Ri ...
which opened with the park on June 7, 1990, and was based on the 1975 film of the same name. The attraction placed guests aboard tour boats for what should be a leisurely tour of Amity Harbor, but instead became a harrowing chase between the craft and a determined great white shark. ''Jaws'' experienced massive mechanical difficulties following the opening of the park, which resulted in a large re-construction of the attraction's original ride system. ''Jaws'' was permanently removed on January 2, 2012, along with the rest of the Amity Island themed area to make way for '' The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.''


The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show

''The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show'' was a live stunt show based upon a wide variety of Universal's
Western films Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia * Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that ...
. Opening on July 4, 1991, in the Amity Island section of the park, the show featured several cowboy themed actors surviving death defying stunts, shootings and explosions. The show closed on September 1, 2003, and was replaced by
Fear Factor Live Fear Factor Live was a stunt stage show attraction located in the World Expo section at Universal Studios Florida and in the Upper Lot section at Universal Studios Hollywood. Both attractions opened in spring 2005. The Hollywood attraction was ...
which opened on June 3, 2005. A similar show is still shown at former Universal-owned theme park
PortAventura Park PortAventura Park is a theme park located in the PortAventura World Resort, 85 km southwest of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in the municipalities of Salou and Vila-seca, on the Costa Daurada. The park opened on 1 May 1995 under the manageme ...
.


World Expo


Back to the Future: The Ride

''Back to the Future: The Ride'' was a
simulator ride Simulator rides are a type of amusement park or fairground ride, where the audience is shown a movie while their seats move to correspond to the action on screen. There are many types but they fall into the heading of entertainment unlike the ...
based on and inspired by the ''Back to the Future'' trilogy that opened on May 2, 1991. The ride story centered on a first-person adventure through time, in pursuit of
Biff Tannen Biff Howard Tannen is a fictional character and a major antagonist in the ''Back to the Future'' trilogy. Thomas F. Wilson plays Biff in all three films as well as the Universal Studios ride, and voiced the character in the animated series. Biff ...
, the trilogy's villain. It was closed on March 30, 2007, and replaced on May 15, 2008, by ''
The Simpsons Ride ''The Simpsons'' Ride is a motion simulator ride located in the Springfield areas of both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood. Based on the animated television series ''The Simpsons'', the ride was announced in 2007 as a r ...
''.


The Bates Mansion Set

''The Bates Mansion Set'' was a set of
theatrical property A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...
which recreated the set of the Bates Mansion from ''Psycho''. Like ''The Bates Motel Set'', it was also used to film ''Psycho IV: The Beginning''. It opened with the park on June 7, 1990, and was later closed and demolished in 1998, being replaced in the same year by the now-defunct water play area Curious George Goes to Town.


The Bates Motel Set

''The Bates Motel Set'' was a set of
theatrical property A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...
which recreated the set of The Bates Motel from 1960's '' Psycho'', and was built for the filming of '' Psycho IV: The Beginning''. It was later used to house the haunted house ''The Psycho Path Maze'' for several years during
Halloween Horror Nights ''Universal's Halloween Horror Nights'' (originally ''Universal Studios Fright Nights'' in 1991) is an annual Halloween-themed event at Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Japan and Singapore. The event was originally named '' ...
at the park. It opened in 1990 and was closed and demolished in 1995 to make way for A Day in the Park with Barney which opened later in the year.


Fear Factor Live

Fear Factor Live Fear Factor Live was a stunt stage show attraction located in the World Expo section at Universal Studios Florida and in the Upper Lot section at Universal Studios Hollywood. Both attractions opened in spring 2005. The Hollywood attraction was ...
was a stunt
stage show A theatrical production is any work of theatre, such as a staged play, musical, comedy or drama produced from a written book or script. Theatrical productions also extend to other performance designations such as Dramatic and Nondramatic theatre, a ...
based on the
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...
show series '' Fear Factor''. The show opened in June of 2005 and, unofficially at the time, temporarily closing in March of 2020. The announcement of the show's permanently close was made in October of 2021.


The Swamp Thing Set

''The Swamp Thing Set'' was a set of
theatrical property A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...
that were built for the filming of the television series ''
Swamp Thing The Swamp Thing is a superhero in American comic books published by DC Comics. A humanoid/plant elemental creature, created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, the Swamp Thing has had several humanoid or monster incarnations in v ...
''. Opening with the park on June 7, 1990, the sets were featured as part of the park's ''Production Studio Tour''. The sets were demolished in 1994, following the cancellation of the TV series one year prior. In 2000, the area which formerly held the ''Swamp Thing'' sets became the home of '' Men in Black: Alien Attack''.


Woody Woodpecker's KidZone


Animal Actors Stage

''Animal Actors Stage'' was a live stage show which opened with the park in 1990 and featured Universal's animal actors performing amazing stunts and tricks. It was later closed in 2001 and replaced by ''Animal Planet Live''.


Animal Planet Live

''Animal Planet Live'' was a live stage show inspired by the TV channel
Animal Planet Animal Planet (stylized in all lowercase since 2018) is an American multinational pay television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. First established on June 1, 1996, the network is primarily ...
, and featured multiple animals performing stunts and tricks. It replaced ''Animal Actors Stage'' when it opened at the park in 2001, and was closed in 2006 and replaced with '' Animal Actors on Location''.


A Day in the Park with Barney

'' A Day in the Park with Barney'' was a live show, based on the popular children's television show,
Barney & Friends ''Barney & Friends'' is an American children's television series targeted at young children aged 2–7, created by Sheryl Leach. The series premiered on PBS on April 6, 1992. The series features the title character Barney, a purple anthropomo ...
. It also had a "Barney's Backyard" playground area with a chance to meet Barney in a meet and greet session before and/or after the main show in the Barney Theatre. It opened in 1995 and was closed in 2021 following the
COVID-19 pandemic in Florida On March 1, 2020, the U.S. state of Florida officially reported its first two COVID-19 cases, in Manatee County, Florida, Manatee and Hillsborough County, Florida, Hillsborough counties. On April 1 Governor of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis de ...
. It would be replaced with ''DreamWorks Destination'', a show/meet and greet opportunity with various characters from DreamWorks Animation films. The "Barney's Backyard" area was used as a backstage area. The Barney Shop area was re-themed to a new meet and greet location called
Shrek ''Shrek'' is a 2001 American computer-animated comedy film loosely based on the 1990 book of the same name by William Steig. It is the first installment in the ''Shrek'' franchise. The film was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jen ...
's Swamp Meet until it closed in 2023.


Curious George Goes to Town

Curious George Goes to Town was a play area that featured two large water troughs that dumped 500 gallons of water on its visitors every few minutes, and an interactive area where guests could shoot soft foam balls out of cannons. The attraction opened in 1998 replacing The Bates Mansion Set and closed on January 15, 2023 along with most of KidZone.


DreamWorks Destination

DreamWorks Destination was a stage show and character experience that featured various characters from DreamWorks Animation, such as Po from Kung Fu Panda, Princess Poppy from Trolls, King Julien from Madagascar, among others from each franchise. The attraction opened in 2021 replacing A Day in the Park with Barney and closed on January 15, 2023, along with most of KidZone.


Fievel's Playland & Fievel's Water Slide

Fievel's Playland was a children's playground added to World Expo (later moved to Kidzone) in 1992. The attraction was based on the animated film ''
An American Tail ''An American Tail'' is a 1986 American animated musical adventure film directed by Don Bluth from a screenplay by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss and a story by David Kirschner, Freudberg and Geiss. The film features the voices of Phillip Glass ...
'', and features a 30-foot (9.1 m) spider web climbing attraction and a 200-foot-long (61 m) water slide, Fievel's Water Slide. The attraction closed on January 15, 2023, along with most of KidZone.


StarToons Character Meet and Greet

''StarToons Character Meet and Greet'' was a live show where Universal Studios' cartoon characters would briefly sing and dance, followed by them posing for autographs and pictures with park guests. It was the second of four versions of the ''StarToons'' show to be featured at the park, the former being ''StarToons'' which operated in the Production Central area from 1993 until 1996. It opened in 1998 and was re-themed in 2008 as ''StarToons: 80's Rewind''.


Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster

Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster was a
Woody Woodpecker Woody Woodpecker is an animated character that appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz Studio and distributed by Universal Studios between 1940 and 1972. Woody, an anthropomorphic woodpecker, was created in 1940 by ...
-themed family roller coaster manufactured by
Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is a Dutch amusement ride manufacturer. Vekoma is syllabic abbreviation of Veld Koning Machinefabriek (Veld Koning Machine Factory) which was established in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld. History The company originally m ...
and was located in the Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone section of the park. The attraction closed on January 15, 2023, along with most of KidZone.


Hollywood


Lucy: A Tribute

''Lucy: A Tribute'' was a walk-through museum featuring the best of "America's favorite redhead",
Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Golde ...
. The attraction opened at the park in May 1992, and was permanently closed on August 17, 2015. It was replaced with an interactive
Hello Kitty , also known by her full name , is a fictional Character (arts), character created by Yuko Shimizu, currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Sanrio depicts Hello Kitty as an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphi ...
-themed store which opened in March 2016.


AT&T at the Movies

''AT&T at the Movies'' was an interactive attraction that included various
AT&T AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the world's largest telecommunications company by revenue and the third largest provider of mobile te ...
-based technologies presented in a movie style. It replaced ''
How to Make a Mega Movie Deal How to Make a Mega Movie Deal was an attraction formerly located at Universal Studios Florida. It opened in 1991, a year after the park opened, and was closed in 1993 to make way for ''AT&T at the Movies''. It was not much of a major attraction, ...
'' when it opened at the park in 1998, and was closed in 2001. It got replaced by Cafe la Bamba the following year.


How to Make a Mega Movie Deal

''How to Make a Mega Movie Deal'' opened a year after the park, in 1991, and was closed in 1993 to make way for ''AT&T at the Movies'' which opened 5 years later.


T2-3D: Battle Across Time

''T2-3D: Battle Across Time'' was an attraction at Universal Studios Florida. The version of the show at Universal Studios Florida closed in 2017 to make way for The Bourne Stuntacular, which opened in June 2020.


Lagoon


Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular

''Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular'' was an attraction that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990. The attraction was a live stunt show themed to ''
Miami Vice ''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two M ...
'' located on the Lagoon in the center of the park. The show featured pyrotechnics and explosions, mixed with live actors on
jet ski Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft (PWC) manufactured by Kawasaki, a Japanese company. The term is often used generically to refer to any type of personal watercraft used mainly for recreation, and it is also used as a verb to ...
s. The 20-minute show was always performed during the final hour of the park before its closing for the day. It closed on February 17, 2000, after almost 10 years of performances. Many of the props and sets in the show still remained in place until 2006, when the show was replaced by '' Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular''.


Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular

''Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular'' was a nighttime show attraction located at Universal Studios Florida. It featured famous scenes from
Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
' films projected onto four large inflated domes in the middle of a lagoon, while various
fireworks Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large number of devices ...
, flame effects, lasers, lights and water effects are set off. The show generally took place at the hour of the park's closing. The show opened at the park on July 1, 2006, replacing ''Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular'', and was removed in September 2011. It was replaced by '' Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories'' on May 8, 2012.


Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories

''Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories'' was a lagoon show at Universal Studios Florida. The attraction replaced Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular in the park's center Lagoon. It featured famous scenes from Universal Pictures films projected onto large waterfall screens mixed with fountains and pyrotechnics. The show was narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, and was part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for Universal Studios throughout 2012. It opened on May 8, 2012. The music for the "spectacular" was a combination of scores from different films, with some original pieces composed by Brian Tyler, who also adapted Jerry Goldsmith's Universal Pictures fanfare for the studio's current logo and composed the "Universal Centennial Fanfare" that was also based on Goldsmith's fanfare. The closure of the show was announced on October 10, 2017. Universal stated that the show will be replaced with a new night show named Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration, which opened in Summer 2018.


Events


''A Celebration of Harry Potter''

''A Celebration of Harry Potter'' was an annual three-day weekend event held on the last weekend of January at both
Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...
and
Islands of Adventure Universal's Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an ...
theme parks at the
Universal Orlando Resort Universal Orlando Resort, commonly known as Universal Orlando or simply Universal, formerly Universal Studios Escape, is an American theme park and entertainment resort complex based in Orlando, Florida. The resort is operated by Universal Pa ...
. The event was a celebration of the fandom of the
Harry Potter books ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Ho ...
authored by
J. K. Rowling Joanne Rowling ( "rolling"; born 31 July 1965), also known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and philanthropist. She wrote ''Harry Potter'', a seven-volume children's fantasy series published from 1997 to 2007. The ser ...
and the ''
Wizarding World The Wizarding World (previously known as J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World) is a fantasy media franchise and shared fictional universe centred on the ''Harry Potter'' novel series by J. K. Rowling. A series of films have been in production si ...
'' franchise (including the ''Harry Potter'' film series and ''Fantastic Beasts'' film series), in a collaboration between
Universal Parks & Resorts Universal Parks & Resorts, also known as Universal Studios Theme Parks or solely Universal Theme Parks, is the theme park unit of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The company, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, operates Universal theme par ...
,
Warner Bros. Entertainment Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...
and Scholastic.


Former services

Below is a list of retail and dining establishments that have been closed since the park's inception, grouped by the section of the park in which they were formerly located. Production Central *Nickelodeon Kiosk (
Nickelodeon Studios Nickelodeon Studios was a production studio and theme park attraction run by the television network Nickelodeon at Universal Studios Florida. Opening on June 7, 1990, as ''The First World Headquarters for Kids'', the studio attracted young tour ...
) (1990–2005) *Hanna-Barbera's Store (
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'' is an American animated syndicated programming block produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that ran on a weekly schedule and was performed in live action. The program ran from 1985 to 1994. Overview The ...
) (1990–2002), replaced by Nick Stuff ( Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast) *The Bates Motel Gift Shop ( Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies) (1990–2003), replaced by Shrek's Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe (
Shrek 4-D ''Shrek 4-D'' (also known as ''Shrek 3-D'' for the DVD release and ''The Ghost of Lord Farquaad'' for the Shrek's Thriller Tales DVD release and DreamWorks Spooky Stories Blu-ray release, Netflix and other streaming releases) is a computer-animat ...
) *Studio Stars Commissary (1990–1991), replaced by Universal Studios' Classic Monsters Cafe *Nick Stuff ( Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast) (October 2002 – August 18, 2011), now Super Silly Stuff (
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a computer-animated simulator ride attraction located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, as well as upcoming to Universal Studios Si ...
) (Minion Land on Illumination Avenue) *Shrek's Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe (
Shrek 4-D ''Shrek 4-D'' (also known as ''Shrek 3-D'' for the DVD release and ''The Ghost of Lord Farquaad'' for the Shrek's Thriller Tales DVD release and DreamWorks Spooky Stories Blu-ray release, Netflix and other streaming releases) is a computer-animat ...
) (June 2003 – January 10, 2022) *Universal Studios' Classic Monsters Cafe (1998-2022) now Minion Cafe (Minion Land on Illumination Avenue) New York City, New York *Paranormal Store ( Ghostbusters Spooktacular) (1990–1996), replaced by Aftermath ( Twister...Ride it Out) * Aftermath ( Twister...Ride it Out) (May 4, 1998 – November 2, 2015), now The Tonight Shop ( Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon) *Safari Outfitters Ltd. (
Kongfrontation Kongfrontation was a ride located at Universal Studios Florida theme park in Orlando, Florida. As one of the original attractions featured during the park's grand opening on June 7, 1990, it quickly became one of the most popular. It was closed ...
) (1990–2002), now Sahara Traders (
Revenge of the Mummy Revenge of the Mummy, officially named Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, is an enclosed roller coaster located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Singapore. Its theme is based on ''The Mummy'' film f ...
) San Francisco, California/Amity Island *Shaiken's Souvenirs (Earthquake: The Big One) (1990–2007) *Quint's Surf Shack ( Jaws) (1990 – January 2, 2012) *Jaws Gift Stall ( Jaws) (1990 – March 22, 2015) *The Midway Grill (1990 – January 2, 2012) *Boardwalk Snacks (1990 – January 2, 2012) World Expo *Back to the Future: The Store ( Back to the Future: The Ride) (May 1991 – March 2007), now Kwik-E-Mart (
The Simpsons Ride ''The Simpsons'' Ride is a motion simulator ride located in the Springfield areas of both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood. Based on the animated television series ''The Simpsons'', the ride was announced in 2007 as a r ...
) (Springfield) *International Food and Film Festival (1990 – November 13, 2012), now Fast Food Boulevard (Springfield) Woody Woodpecker's KidZone *Hard Rock Cafe (original location) (1990–1998) *Universal Studios Cartoon Store (1999–2012), now SpongeBob StorePants *The Barney Store ( A Day in the Park with Barney) (1995–2021) replaced with Shrek's Swamp Meet * Shrek's Swamp Meet (2022-2023) * Woody’s Snacks (1999-2023) Hollywood *Horror Make-Up Store ( Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show) (1990–1996), replaced by Cyber Image ( Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time) *Cyber Image ( Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time) (1996–2017), now The Five & Dime (The Bourne Stuntacular/Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show)


See also

*
List of former Universal Studios Hollywood attractions This is a list of former Universal Studios Hollywood Attractions. Former attractions Former services Upper Lot * Time Travelers Depot (Back to the Future: The Ride) removed in 2003, now Kwik-E-Mart (The Simpsons Ride) * T2 Gear & Supply Co ...
*
List of former Universal Studios Japan attractions is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of NBCU ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Universal Studios Florida Attractions, List Of Former * Lists of former amusement park attractions Lists of former buildings and structures * Universal Parks & Resorts lists Universal Parks & Resorts attractions by name