Universal To Close 'Jaws' Attraction

[jcgoble3]

(since E.T.'s species is in Phantom Menace).

Do I sense a fellow Star Wars geek?

[kingsrattler]

While Mrs. Kingsrattler and I really enjoyed Jaws, I have to agree with GYK that it is an outdated movie, with outdated technology. Universal was created to show the magic and technology behind movies in an enchanting form of rides. Compared to the technology used in movies today, the Jaws ride is nothing magical, and I suspect Universal has a very good idea what to do with the land area.

[XGatorHead 8904]

Do I sense a fellow Star Wars geek?

The force is strong with this one... Yes, you do.

[TTD-120-420]

All of these pointers and disscusion have me excited for February. Knowing my family, they will just get single day park hopper tickets so I'm hoping I can get all of it done in a day.

[frisbeefan]

Universal Studios won't be the same without JAWS. Sadly when I went in February it was being refurbished and re-opened the day I was flying home. Oh well, I will have have memories from 1995 when I went on JAWS.

[XGatorHead 8904]

^Wow... closed for refurbishment in February when you went, and again in July when I went, only to be taken out shortly thereafter.

[kingsrattler]

^ and ^^ Maybe the costs of "refurbishment (see upkeep costs)" was getting the better of the ride, and it is costing more to maintain than seems appropriate to keep it open.

[KIfan1980]

Or maybe it was closed to allow for surveying the area for a future attraction that was being designed - just guessing.

[LongLiveTheSmurfRide]

Or maybe they were closed because there was a killer shark on the loose.

It's all psychological. You yell barracuda, everybody says, "Huh? What?" You yell shark, we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.

[Gabe]

I rode Jaws when I was there this past October. I have to say, judging by the tenor and attitude of the ride ops, it's time was way past due. (oh look. watch out. a shark. i better sort of make an effort to pull out this pistol and shoot it.). Once Bruce came out of the water, it looked as though he were suffering a seizure. The parks weren't busy the day I went (rode Potter sev times with as little as ten min wait), but Jaws was a walk-on and the ride ops were growing cobwebs under their eyes waiting for people to ride. The park has to stay current, so I'm all for a Potter expansion if that's what goes in that area.

[sheikra_rocks]

"Amity 6, this is Chief Brody. I'm on my way, I'll be there in 10 minutes!"

"10 minutes? We'll be shark bait in 10 minutes!"

[XGatorHead 8904]

I rode Jaws when I was there this past October. I have to say, judging by the tenor and attitude of the ride ops, it's time was way past due. (oh look. watch out. a shark. i better sort of make an effort to pull out this pistol and shoot it.). Once Bruce came out of the water, it looked as though he were suffering a seizure. The parks weren't busy the day I went (rode Potter sev times with as little as ten min wait), but Jaws was a walk-on and the ride ops were growing cobwebs under their eyes waiting for people to ride. The park has to stay current, so I'm all for a Potter expansion if that's what goes in that area.

So were the ride ops' lackluster performances caused by declining popularity of the ride, or was declining popularity of the ride caused by the ride ops' lackluster performances? That is, if in fact the ride has shown a decline in popularity... I have no way of knowing that. All I know is the two prior times I'd been to the park (1997 & 1999), the ride ops gave great performances and greatly added to my enjoyment of the ride. From what I've read on a few websites since the closure was announced, the ride ops the past several years didn't give a crap about how they performed. Sad.... sigh.

[The Interpreter]

I believe the answer to your question is yes. The better question is why management universally tolerated the performance. Perhaps they even directed it. All too often, when a ride has a limited future, it is allowed, or even encouraged to decline.

[kingsrattler]

^^ Gater, not to point out the obvious, but that was 12 years ago A lot of things can change in 12 years. (Think of all that has changed at a small park at KI since 1999) I know that I went last year in October (a somewhat busy time at Universal Orlando) and while most rides there were 30-45 minute wait, Jaws was a walk on. I didn't think the ride op did bad job, but it did leave much to be desired, as did the animontronics (when a shark comes out of the water looking like half robot instead of shark).

[XGatorHead 8904]

I know... I"m just still bitter about it being closed in July and not getting to take GatorGirl on it after I prepped her for months. I'll get over it in time.

[sheikra_rocks]

The last time I experienced JAWS was in 2010. The queue was full, on a week day.

Every time I have queued for that attraction prior, the queue has been full.

There is no doubt in my mind that the attraction is popular.

There is plenty of land to the east of JAWS, MIB, and Simpson's.

Still trying my hardest to get down there on New Years weekend to say goodbye.

My favorite line was by a female skipper as we were nearing the final scene. As we approached the fishing dock and high voltage barge, she said, "We're going to tie up at that old fishing dock, and unload one row at a time, starting with me!."

Oh the memories!

**wipes tear**

[teenageninja]

I only rode this once, back when I was about 6 years old. I still remember it, because it was one of the most terrifying things I'd experienced to that point.

[XGatorHead 8904]

^ That's exactly why I was prepping 6 year old GatorGirl for months! She did very well on Jurassic Park (except for an incident at the bottom of the drop, which I'll cover if/when I get the TR done this off-season), and even kept her eyes open the whole time on Haunted Mansion this time (which is the ride she was worried about the most). I was so proud of her!