What is the most memorable moment that former staff or riders of Jurassic Park: The Ride recall?
An Oral History of Jurassic Park: The Ride
Introduction
Ever since its opening on June 21, 1996, Jurassic Park: The Ride has been a beloved attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. For more than two decades, visitors have come to experience the thrill of a water-based adventure through a prehistoric world filled with animatronic dinosaurs. As the ride approaches its 25th anniversary, we sat down with some of the people who worked on creating and maintaining this iconic attraction to hear their stories and insights.
The Early Days
According to former Universal Studios Hollywood art director Gregory Jein, the concept for Jurassic Park: The Ride began as far back as 1989, when Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park movie was still in production. Universal wanted to create a ride based on the film that would be both thrilling and immersive, and they tasked Jein with creating the animatronic dinosaurs that would appear throughout the attraction.
“It was a huge challenge,” Jein recalls. “The technology wasn’t quite there yet to create the kind of lifelike dinosaurs we wanted, so we had to be innovative and really push the boundaries.”
The Making of the Ride
It took four years of planning and construction before Jurassic Park: The Ride was ready to open to the public in 1996. One of the key challenges was finding a way to combine water-based thrills with animatronic dinosaurs in a way that felt cohesive and exciting. Tobin Dobbs, a former ride supervisor, explains:
“Ensuring that the ride had a cohesive story was critical. We needed to make sure that the dinosaurs didn’t feel like incidental set pieces, but rather that they were an integral part of the ride experience. We also had to make sure that the water aspects of the ride were timed and executed perfectly to maximize the thrills.”
The Legacy of Jurassic Park: The Ride
For more than two decades, Jurassic Park: The Ride has been a fan favorite at Universal Studios Hollywood, consistently drawing long lines and rave reviews. The ride has even undergone significant updates over the years, including a full renovation in 2018 that saw the previously static dinosaurs replaced with high-tech animatronics that are even more lifelike and terrifying than before.
But what is it about this ride that has made it so enduringly popular?
- The mixture of thrills and prehistoric creatures has never lost its appeal to audiences of all ages.
- The storytelling and theming are immersive, making riders feel like they’re truly in another world.
- The ride experience is constantly evolving, with new updates and changes keeping it fresh and exciting even for repeat visitors.
Whether you’re a die-hard Jurassic Park fan or just someone who loves a good water ride, Jurassic Park: The Ride has something for everyone. As Universal Studios Hollywood looks to the future of its attractions, we can only hope that this classic ride will continue to thrive for many more years to come.
