Universal Orlando Closing Their ‘Jaws’ Attraction After More Than 20 Years
Posted by BAADASSSSS! | December 5th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Universal Studios announced on Friday on their Facebook page that their Orlando, Florida resort will be closing the Jaws-themed area and water ride Captain Jake’s Amity Boat Tours on January 2, 2012.
The ride, which was inspired by the Jaws portion of the Universal Studios Hollywood resort’s backlot tram experience, has been in operation since the Orlando resort opened in June 1990 at a cost of $65 million. Three months after the ride opened Universal temporarily shut it down due to technical problems, but was successfully re-opened in the spring of 1993 with Jaws director Steven Spielberg and stars Roy Scheider and Lorraine Gary on hand for the occasion. Over the next 18 years the ride would be continuously closed and refurbished often due to hurricanes that struck central Florida.
The Jaws attraction is notable for being one of three original Universal Studios Florida attractions still operating to this day. According to the resort’s Facebook page, the attraction and its Amity area is being closed “to make room for an exciting, NEW, experience we’re planning for you.” As to what that exciting, new experience is the studio has not revealed yet.
I am extremely relieved, as I thought this was referring to the original at Universal Studios Hollywood.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1153303484 Lorien Green
VERY sad to hear this. :( Our kids just saw Jaws for the first time this past weekend, and we were telling them all about the ride, because we plan to go next year. They were so excited.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
