58 replies to this topic

[Up_Up_and_Away]

I would have rather seen them scrap ET before Jaws. The ET ride seems much more dated than Jaws even though the movie is seven years younger.

I'm sure they're already looking at possible alternatives...

[GAcoaster]

I think the size of the plot that Jaws occupies, its location in proximity to IOA (if they really are building HP and connecting with a train) as well as maintenance costs all added up to the decision. They theoretically had the same amount of area on the other side of the park if they removed ET and the area where they knocked down the original Hard Rock, but ET probably costs a lot less to keep running, is a BELOVED story (though not one of my favorites), and since Spielberg is a partner with Universal and both were his movies, I would imagine that film being one of his favorites may mean special consideration would be given to removing it.

I know they are in the process of moving some of the backstage services buildings as well, so it may be they needed (and are taking) even MORE land than Jaws occupied which the ET side doesn't have.

[Thunderbolt]

Universal Orlando could have chosen to remove "Disaster" and Fisherman's Wharf to incorporate "Harry Potter" into the studios park. They also could have finished removing "The Lost Continent" remnants (i.e "Poseidon's Fury") and completed the "Harry Potter" experience within Islands of Adventure. "Jaws" has been cited for removal more than once. Supposably, it's an expensive attraction to operate due to excessive accelerant (either propane or butane) and effects cost.

If urban fokelore is true, "E.T." isn't leaving Universal Studios Florida ever. Steven Speilberg has (allegedly) contractually obligated Universal to operate this attraction through the duration of their partnership. It's valid only at the Orlando park.

[warnerleroy]

Disaster was just upgraded years ago so they wouldn;t remove iut and loose their investment. Still I can;t help but think that this decision to close Jaws was notm something USF has been depbating for planning for along time, it just seems so rushed in nature....

[GAcoaster]

They also could have finished removing "The Lost Continent" remnants (i.e "Poseidon's Fury") and completed the "Harry Potter" experience within Islands of Adventure.

They still may be removing the rest of Lost Continent if the rumors are true. This could be a HUGE expansion with more in IOA as well as a new section in USF. Harry Potter has really brought a LOT of guests into Universal and kudos to them for doing something smart and really capitalizing on it. While the movies may have run their course, children will keep reading the books and watching the movies for years to come. I really see Harry Potter as this generation's Wizard of Oz and even people who aren't necessarily die hard fans can and will enjoy HP related attractions for years to come.

It certainly seems a lot more evergreen than Avatar...

[Up_Up_and_Away]

"The Lost Continent" remnants (i.e "Poseidon's Fury") and completed the "Harry Potter" experience within Islands of Adventure.

From what we're hearing down here, that is part of the plan...

Still I can't help but think that this decision to close Jaws was not something USF has been debating for planning for along time, it just seems so rushed in nature....

This:

"Jaws" has been cited for removal more than once. Supposedly, it's an expensive attraction to operate due to excessive accelerant (either propane or butane) and effects cost.

From Jim Hill Media:

Mind you, even with all of this heavy-duty, guaranteed-not-to-quit equipment that Oceaneering Technologies, Inc. had provided, "Jaws" was still something of a maintenance nightmare. Not to mention being prohibitively expensive to operate. Just the natural gas that was needed to fuel this USF attraction's fiery finale cost the theme park $2 million annually. Which is why - after "Jaws" was officially re-opened in the Summer of 1993 with a gala ceremony that Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary and Spielberg himself attended - this attraction gradually shifted from being a year-round ride to becoming something of a seasonal show. In fact, during the Fall of 2005 when natural gas prices spiked, Universal Studios Florida shut down "Jaws" entirely - citing the high cost of operating this attraction's exploding-fuel-dock sequence as the reason for this closure.

[The Master]

The third and final film in the series was released in 1990 - 22 years ago.

Still doesn't prove those films aren't still popular and enduring.

Regardless of what you may think of the series' quality (which is subjective), it's still on the air - worldwide - in Japanese, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Québécois.

But it may not be on the air for much longer, and it's ratings have been plummeting every year even back when the ride opened. It made sense at the time since The Simpsons had a new movie coming out to tie the ride in with, but it's pretty forgotten now and the raitings are still going down.

[Up_Up_and_Away]

Still doesn't prove those films aren't still popular and enduring.

But it may not be on the air for much longer, and it's ratings have been plummeting every year even back when the ride opened. It made sense at the time since The Simpsons had a new movie coming out to tie the ride in with, but it's pretty forgotten now and the raitings are still going down.

OK, here goes: the "future" segments of the franchise take place in 2015, and now look totally dated... not enduring. As for the Simpsons, what I'm trying to drive home is that they are popular worldwide - and Orlando's percentage of non-US tourists is growing every year. If ratings are "plummeting" so, why would FOX renew the show each year?

BACK ONTO THE TOPIC OF JAWS.

[MarioSonic94]

If ratings are "plummeting" so, why would FOX renew the show each year?

Sorry to go off topic, but here's why.

[Up_Up_and_Away]

Sorry to go off topic, but here's why.

So, you're saying it makes money but isn't popular?

[GAcoaster]

And, if the Simpsons is not popular, why do they run the show three times a day in most markets? Several times in the New York and Philly markets the reruns got dropped for other shows that were supposed to get better ratings and ended up going right back on because people still watch the show. Just because YOU think it's passed its prime doens't mean it is. People keep watching first run episodes as well as re-runs and it makes money.

[29yrswithaGApass]

To keep on the topic of Jaws, I think most people would agree that The Simpsons "jumped the shark" long ago!

[The Master]

And, if the Simpsons is not popular, why do they run the show three times a day in most markets? Several times in the New York and Philly markets the reruns got dropped for other shows that were supposed to get better ratings and ended up going right back on because people still watch the show. Just because YOU think it's passed its prime doens't mean it is. People keep watching first run episodes as well as re-runs and it makes money.

The show's ratings for first run episodes has dropped 19% over the past five years, down from 8.7 million viewers to 7.1 million. All the voice actors and everyone else involved in the show had to take a 30% paycut this past year to prolong the show to a 25th season. Fox has threaten to cancel the show many times now. Most fans agree that the show started to decline in season 10, not just "me". http://en.wikipedia....ons_(season_10)


29yrs, the show jumbed the shark back in season 11 http://en.wikipedia....ons_(season_11)

While the show still makes some money, it doesn't earn nearly as much as it used to. Also just because something isn't popular or not as much as it once was, does not mean it can't earn any money. However it's if the profit margin is enough to be worthwhile? and the paycut shows it's close to being not, at least in Fox's opinion. That is all I have to say about the Simpsons in this thread. One can agree or disagree with it all they want.

Finally, it seems I may have invariantly touched a few people's sore spots about The Simpsons, which I didn't mean to do and I am sorry if I did. But some other people here who will go nameless have brought up controversial statements that touched mine, and I am sure a few other's sore spots as well. So let's just end the argument about Simpsons, BTTF, and other old vs new franchises in Universal right now before it gets anymore heated and lead to something ugly.

Now to get back on topic,

While I think it's sad to see Jaws go, I can understand why being an expensive water ride to staff and maintain. I noticed that the water is pretty oily from the fuel for the fire effects, so maybe the EPA may have cracked down on the park for it in recent years? They have added a big white dischage pipe which I think is part of a retofitted filtering system to clean up the water better. Even though it was still popular when I was there last fall. I guess Universal just thinks the profit margin isn't worthwhile, something that is pretty subjective.

Edited by The Master, 06 January 2012 - 12:01 AM.

[CycloneMan]

Not to beat a dead horse! But I felt the need to share this!


I remember when this came out, my brother, sister, friends and I used to watch this and crack up! Who would of thought 5 years later it would really happen. Anyway, enjoy the video =)

-Dainan

[GAcoaster]

I can't get this to embed properly but check out this video of Jaws in 1990:

[warnerleroy]

^that 1990's skipper sure is energetic!

[GAcoaster]

Jaws is now pretty much completely GONE.

[The Master]

That is sad.

[mrceagle]

such a sad thing to see. The Jaws attraction was one of the attraction I was hoping to see and really exited me about the park.