I just got back from Universal Studios Orlando and thought I'd share this, as it was killing me. It's just rumor, and mods feel free to delete this if it's out of place. But while down there, on two different days wearing two of my Decepticon faction shirts I had three different Universal employees come up to me and tell me that word around park is they're getting the Transformers Ride soon. All three of them had heard the same the thing, that it will be replacing the area where the previous Jaws ride was. They have the whole area walled off and are doing construction right now, but of course no clues for the public as to what's going in. But apparently it's big chatter amongst the workers there, it may be nothing other than a rumor amongst workers. But having three separate individuals come up and tell me the exact same thing got me very hopeful.
sorry but I can tell you for a fact they are putting/extending Harry Potter in the area where the Jaws ride was. When ever their licensing runs out for Marvel themed rides (it is not exactly clear when that is), Spiderman will then turn into transformers as it is the same based system and it will not take much to change/retheme the ride.
MTME that's actually more what I was hoping for. They could do a LOT more with Transformers in Islands of Adventure, than in the regular park. In just Universal it would be a ride and a gift shop, and there's WAY to much they could pull from. One of the park workers had mentioned that he'd heard about the extension to the Harry Potter section too, but said it would "be a logistic nightmare." because there was a lot of back lot between there and where the Wizarding World is. Either way, whichever park it ends up in, I'll be happy. Orlando is about 8 hours away from where I live as opposed to over seas or the other side of the country.
I also read that tf-the-ride would probably move into spiderman's home eventually. With disney owning marvel, you wonder how long universal can keep marvel land. I'd hate to lose spiderman-the-ride, though. With universal owning the tech behind it, it can't be moved down to disney. I'd hate to sacrifice 1 great ride in order to get another.
Nope not true. The only thing Transformers shares with Spider-Man are the ride vehicles, and projection technology, it's not a simple theme. I can guarantee you 100% and would be willing to put money on the fact that Transformers will NEVER come to Orlando. Trust me man I know what I am saying. Spider-Man has another 10 years on it, at minimum. They just spent millions of dollars updating the projection tech, by then even the Transformers Ride in Hollywood will be dated. Universal will replace the theme but it wont be Transformers. Spielberg confirmed himself that there never was any plan to duplicate the ride in Fla.
I imagine they would re=theme the entire Marvel Superhero Island at that point. I don't know what they would do with the Hulk (Battlestar Galactica, maybe?) but I have a strong feeling someone at Universal has to want those Marvel properties out of their park as soon as the Harry Potter expansions are finished.
Too bad it sounds like the rumors are wrong and the Jaws ride won't be replaced. When I rode that ride, it honestly kind of sucked, namely because it didn't feel scary at all and I don't remember there being an oil platform so close to a small coastal settlement that exploded to kill the shark (although I never saw the movies). It also heavily relies on the boat "driver" being able to act and fire a prop shotgun at precise times, and obviously that can work out poorly depending on the person. Replacing Jaws would also work out as really, I can't see them doing much other than a new ride and themed gift shop. There's also the photoshoot area that they could possibly replace. All the rides in the Universal Studios area are pretty much detached from one another without any thematic connections (Simpsons being nearby the MIB alien shooter), so it would be easier to drop in Transformers in that setting as opposed to having to retheme an entire section of the park for the sake of one ride.
i had a couple employees tell me that too. i even had a rickshaw guy say the same thing. they could do so much in Islands of Adventure though. i mean i like harry pothead and all but that place doesn't need an extension. IMO they should put it in Islands of Adventure and make a Cybertron themed part of the park. the pits of Kaon, the halls of Iacon, Maccadam's, a store for TFs and TFs alone. hell, they could have FOC ride! (yes i know this is wishful thinking but IMO it'd kick ass)
Being from the area, I also have high hopes for TF: The Ride in Orlando, but Marvel's deal with Universal put most of the power in Universal's hands, and Disney is basically stuck not being able to use those characters until Universal chooses to get out of the contract. Universal probably isn't interested in spending the money to redo IOA- especially if Disney starts being more competitive with their own, new Marvel stuff. As has been pointed out earlier, everything regarding the Jaws area points towards more Potter. Of course, MIB or Simpsons could also go away to make room for TFTR.
Well I doubt they're closing spider-man any time soon, seeing as how they just refurbished it. The park workers told me to make sure I tried it out while I had early admission, as it's been closed for the past 3 months while they added some features to it. So yeah, doubt it's moving out in the near future. Where as they already have closed Jaws, moved it out, walled off part of the lagoon and drained it. The construction on a HUGE area of the park is already underway but I'm sure so far that's just filling in the lagoon. I'd love to see it move in the Islands, if only for the extra stuff they could do. But I just don't see it happening. I have a few pictures from there, but because of the blinder walls all you could see was dust clouds an the occasional digger arm over the top.
It's a shame that the ride wont be coming to Orlando Oh well, at least that gives me an excuse to replicate this
