Jurassic Park River Adventure
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The Jurassic Park River Adventure is a water-based amusement ride that was based on Steven Spielberg's hit movie Jurassic Park. The Hollywood incarnation, called Jurassic Park: The Ride was actually researched and built while the Jurassic Park film was still in its production phase. It opened first at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 21, 1996. The ride later appeared at Islands of Adventure at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida in 1999. The ride is also part of Universal Studios Japan. There is little difference between all three rides, but the Hollywood version is considered to have the most elements.
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[edit] Ride-Through
The ride is meant to evoke the island environment featured in the Michael Crichton novel and Spielberg film. The concept is that Jurassic Park opened as planned; the river adventure is an actual attraction in the park itself. It begins as a jungle river cruise past huge dinosaurs. After encountering an Ultrasaurus (a dinosaur since discovered to be a chimera), a pair of Stegosaurus, and Psittacosaurus, the raft begins heading toward a part of the park known as Hadrosaur Cove. A duck-billed Parasaurolophus bumps the raft, causing it to begin drifting into the Raptor Containment Area, a section of the adventure that (according to voiceovers on the ride) had never successfully been integrated into the rest of the park. "Unauthorized Entry," says a female voice over the intercom. The raft passes by a replica of the Raptor Pen from the film, and riders hear snarling Velociraptors in the dense foliage while branches move to simulate the creatures attempting to escape from their confines. Turning a corner, riders see a boat that appears to be in a state of disrepair: two Compsognathus are seen eating a bloody shirt (The CP5 which has been sent by Jurassic Park Animal Control to guide the boat towards a safe area but the compsognathuses came and killed the crew). The boat heads towards the pump station where riders see a Velociraptor run into a dark corner. On a wall next to the boat, a Jurassic Park Vehicle falls over the top and nearly crushes the riders.Velociraptors jump out at the guests. A large crate with something snarling inside also nearly falls on the riders. The riders begin to slowly head up a hill into a large building in silence. The riders enter a dark tunnel with several mock red lights on the ceiling. Several Dilophosaurus's spit their poisonous venom (actually, water) at the guests. As the Raft follows a 180 degree turn, the snout of a T-rex lumbers ahead. A raptor is seen tearing up a control panel. "Attention, this is an emergency. Toxic gases are present in this area. Life support is imminent...Life support systems will terminate in 15 seconds...10, 9, 8, 7, 6," says a female voice over the intercom. The Tyrannosaurus's head reappears once more in front of the riders to distract them from the 85 ft plunge below. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1," and the raft plunges down an 85ft near-vertical drop.
The ride exits into a Jurassic Park-themed gift shop, where guests may purchase souvenir photographs of themselves in the ride during the drop.
[edit] Hollywood
Among the guests at the ride's grand opening in 1996 were cast members Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Richards, and Joseph Mazzello. Steven Spielberg also attended, but asked the staff members that he be let off the attraction before the 85-foot drop and does each time while riding.
The Hollywood version features a falling Ford Explorer (from the first film) instead of the raptor crate (which is the case in Orlando and Japan), and two appearances by the menacing T. rex. A bloody set of Mickey Mouse ears is used with the name "Michael" (an obvious reference to then Disney CEO Michael Eisner) stitched on the hat, rather than a poncho, and is floating near a boat inhabited by a dilophosaurus, rather than compsagnathus. In the Hollywood version, the pair of Mickey ears now have the name "Kerr" stitched on them.
Dilophosaurus also attack the boats outside the pump station, emerging from behind barrels. After the second lift hill, the Hollywood version has a slightly bigger drop as well before it makes the turn to the main drop.
The Project Team credited with bringing this classic attraction to life is as follows: Project Director - David Pushkin, Project Manager - David Wilson, Project Coordinator - Michael McGuire, Show Producer - Neil Engel, Project Engineer - Gene Leisure, Ride Manager - David Malpass, Technical Manager - John Canavan, Construction Manager - Blaine Rhea, Project Architect - Craig Doyle.
Trivia: - Most of the designers and architects who worked on the attraction have been immortalized throughout the attraction in the form of their three initials followed by their birth date. Most can be found on pipe runs i.e. DVP101257. - "Dino" Don Lessem[1]fresh from the Jurassic Park film as its authenticator worked closely with Universal Creative staff to ensure accuracy of the attractions dinosaurs. - Exterior scenes shot for the attraction preshow were filmed on location at the Los Angeles Arboretum and the Franklin Canyon Reservoir which is the same location where the opening of the Andy Griffith Show was shot. - During the Preshow when John Hammond is addressing the guests, Steven Spielberg makes a quick cameo appearance as he walks through the set, behind Hammond looking upwards. - The Visitors Center you see in the Preshow is the actual set from the motion picture. The exterior set was built on location in Hawaii while an interior set was constructed on sound stage 12 at Universal Studios in Hollywood. Filming for the attraction was completed the day after Spielberg wrapped. - Dr. Margaret Engel (from the preshow) is a homage to Neil Engel the attractions producer. - The scene with the two dinosaurs fighting over a popcorn box is the first subliminal message that things may not be so tightly controlled at Jurassic Park as riders have been led to believe. This is confirmed when the boat is knocked off course by a Parasaurolophus, sending riders careening towards a backstage, off limits area and ultimately, an encounter with Velociraptor.
During summer peak season, two "paleontologists" roam the ride's queue and immediate vicinity, interacting with guests, answering questions, and squirting kids with water. [2]
[edit] Florida
In the Florida ride, the entire front section of the Tyrannosaurus comes into view before the final drop, scaled somewhat more realistically in accordance with both the movie and real-life animal.
The Florida version has its own Jurassic Park section featuring a re-creation of the Jurassic Park Visitors Center, Pteranodon Flyers, a suspended kiddie coaster, and a themed play area titled Camp Jurassic. There was also a (discontinued) "Triceratops Encounter" attraction.
In the ride, there are two parasaurs. Two compys are fighting over the shirt for someone who works at Jurassic Park and a crate nearly falls on riders, too. Several Dilophosauruses spit out water while guests are in the building.
Merchandise depicting "Jurassic Park: The Ride" can be found in Florida, where the "River Adventure" title is used.
[edit] Japan
In Universal Studios Japan (located in Osaka), the Tyrannosaurus goes wilder than its other two versions. Like the Florida version, the entire front of the T-rex comes to view before the final drop, and a crate nearly falls on the riders. Also similar to the Florida version, Universal Studios Japan has an entire section of the park, with themed foods, buildings, and vehicles, dedicated to the Jurassic Park ride.
[edit] Future
Jurassic Park River Adventure is expected to open at the future Universal Studios Singapore, Universal Studios Dubai, and Universal Studios South Korea theme parks.
It is rumored that all versions of the ride will get more major refurbishments to tie in with the future Jurassic Park 4 release.
It has been rumored for a while that there will be a new jeep based ride based on Jurassic Park. Universal was originally planning to put it in the unused area next to Islands Of Adventure and even had sketches of ideas for the ride, but instead are using the area for the new Harry Potter themed area expected to open in 2009 or 2010. It is not known if Universal has entirely scrapped the idea.
[edit] External links
- Universal Orlando Resort - Jurassic Park River Adventure
- Universal Studios Hollywood - Jurassic Park: The Ride
- Brent McMullen's Jurassic Park - The Ride Site
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