IOA's Trike Encounter Returns

[bkroz]

As has been long-speculated, Islands of Adventure's long-lost Triceratops Encounter has returned just in time for the busy holiday season, albeit in a little different form than it used to be. When it originally opened, Triceratops Encounter was one of the much-touted attractions at Islands that helped it live up to its "most technologically advanced theme park on Earth" subtitle. But the attraction (where guests surround an animatronic trike and a lucky few are chosen to interact) closed four years into the park's run, and re-opened some years later as a quick, no-interaction walk-through.

It has returned now as the Triceratops Discovery Trail, a sort of hybrid between the two former forms of the attraction. While it lacks the original incarnation's immersive, detailed, interactive queue, it has returned to the one-group-at-a-time interaction that was absent during its prior run (likely to suck up some guests who might otherwise be overwhelming Hogwarts).

From the video offered at the site linked below, it looks like (for now at least) they haven't resumed the up-close, hands-on interaction, which (unfortunately) limits some of the animatronics capabilities (such as urinating and sneezing) which are believed to have been responses to physical touch.

Still, it's great to see an attraction come back at the park that opened years ahead of its time, but is now becoming uncomfortably "average."

Source, and more information (videos, pictures, etc)

You can see more of Jurassic Park and the Triceratops Enouncter in its original form in this video:

[The Interpreter]

Oh, pooh. With the headline, I was hoping for something with three wheels!

[bkroz]

In due time, Terp! I'm sure it'll happen!

[kjkjkj]

Thats the worse John Hammond impersonator ever lol. The attraction looks really cool, I'm glad they brought it back. Although i've never been to IOA, I'm a huge Jurassic Park fan, and I have always liked looking at pictures and videos from the jurassic park area of IOA.

[thekidd33]

I'm taking my first trip to IOA in January, I'm glad to see this back in time for my visit!

[XGatorHead 8904]

I was wondering if this attraction was still there since I didn't see it on their website. I think GatorGirl would like it (I know I did when I went to IoA back in June '99), so hopefully this will be open when we go this summer. The animatronic is quite impressive.