This is a list of formerUniversal Studios Florida attractions.
SinceUniversal Studios Florida's opening on June 7, 1990, over 40 attractions have been retired, and usually replaced or re-themed into new attractions, 17 of them being original attractions.
The first major attraction to be retired from the park wasAn American Tail Theatre in 1992, due to low attendance capacity. The show was replaced in the same year byBeetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue, and theFievel's Playland attraction, also based on the filmAn American Tail, opened in the park's Expo Center area simultaneously,[1] and was part of Woody Woodpecker's KidZone.
In 1996, the interactive show attractionMurder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre was closed due to the cancellation of theMurder, She Wrote television show on which it was based; also retired around the same time was the next doorMCA Recording Studio, also an interactive show. The two attractions were replaced the following year byHercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen[2] andStage 54.[3] TheHercules and Xena attraction was later closed and abandoned in 1999,[4] andStage 54 followed in 2003, with the latter of the two replaced by "Donkey's Photo Finish", an interactive meet-and-greet.
Two further attractions were retired in November 1996.Ghostbusters Spooktacular closed on November 8[5] due to the end of a contract, and was replaced in the spring of 1998 byTwister...Ride It Out.[6] The nearbyThe Screen Test Home Video Adventure followed on November 11, and was replaced in the following year with theIslands of Adventure Preview Center. The preview center itself was closed following the grand opening ofUniversal Islands of Adventure in 1999, and its former space was used for Universal Express distribution, and is now used as an extended queue area forRevenge of the Mummy: The Ride.
Other closures of minor attractions occurred throughout the 1990s.The Swamp Thing Set, used for the production of the television seriesSwamp Thing up until 1993, was demolished in 1994.Men in Black: Alien Attack was constructed on the previous site in 2000.[7]How to Make a Mega Movie Deal was closed due to unpopularity in 1993. In 1998, Universal attempted to revive it with the similarAT&T at the Movies attraction, which would later close in 2001, with its entrance used for Universal Express distribution. In the New York area of the park, theStreetBusters show was performed from 1991 until 1993. In 2002, an update version of the show titledExtreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way was brought back,[8] and was later closed in 2005 when the park did not renew their contract to theGhostbusters characters.The Marvel Show, also located in the New York area of the park, was discontinued in the summer of 1995.TheBates Motel Set, which was used for production ofPsycho IV: The Beginning, was demolished in 1995, withA Day in the Park with Barney constructed on the site in the same year.[9] Similarly,The Bates Mansion Set, also used for production ofPsycho IV, was demolished in 1998, withCurious George Goes to Town constructed on the re-landscaped site.
In February 2000, the park's finale showDynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular set in Universal Studios' lagoon was closed[10] due to maintenance issues.Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular began inhabiting the space in July 2006.[11]
In 2002, the park announced thatThe Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera andAlfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies would both be closed by the end of the year.[12] Before that,Kongfrontation was retired in a grand closing ceremony on September 8, 2002,[13] and was replaced in May 2004 byRevenge of the Mummy: The Ride.[14] The closure ofKongfrontation has been viewed as the most park changing and notable closure in Universal Studios' history which caused a great deal of controversy among theme park fans. Following the closure of Kongfrontation,The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera closed on October 20, 2002, and was replaced in April 2003 byJimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast,[15] which utilized the same ride system and technology.Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies was retired on January 3, 2003, and was replaced later in the year byShrek 4-D, a 3-D short film.[16]
In early September 2003 The Wild West Show at Universal Studios Florida was closed[17]due to a loss of the attraction's usual capacity. It was replaced in 2005 byFear Factor Live,another livestunt show.[18] Two years afterWild Wests closure, the Nickelodeon Studios facility and attraction were disestablished on April 30, 2005, due toNickelodeon moving their production facilities toBurbank, California.[19] The former space was left abandoned until it was re-designed in 2007 for the opening ofBlue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre, an attraction inUniversal CityWalk.[20]
In September 2006, half of theBack to the Future: The Ride attraction was shut down,[21] preparing the ride for a complete closure which eventually occurred on March 30, 2007.[22] It was replaced on May 15, 2008, byThe Simpsons Ride.[23] The closure ofBack to the Future has been viewed as the second notable attraction closure in the park afterKongfrontation. The second attraction to be retired in 2007 wasEarthquake: The Big One, on November 5,[24] with the attraction's pre-show portions already having been discontinued on September 8. The ride was replaced two months later, in January 2008, withDisaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!.[25] Similar toJimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, the attraction uses the same ride system and technology as the previous attraction, however, the queue and pre-show portions are completely different. "Disaster!" closed in 2015 and was replaced by Fast and Furious: Supercharged, in 2018.
In 2008,The Boneyard attraction was retired, and was replaced in the spring of 2009 with theUniversal Music Plaza Stage, and open-air amphitheatre used for the park's music concerts.[26]
On March 14, 2011, Universal announced that theJimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast ride would begin operating on a seasonal schedule on April 1, 2011, preparing the ride for a permanent closure which eventually occurred on August 18, 2011. They confirmed on May 19, 2011, that it would be replaced with a newDespicable Me themed attraction which is among several new concepts in development for the Resort over the next few years.[27][28] Shortly after the closure ofNicktoon Blast,Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular was removed in early September 2011, to make room forUniversal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories.[29]
On December 2, 2011, Universal Orlando announced that theJaws attraction, as well as the surroundingAmity area of the park, would be permanently closed on January 2, 2012, to make way for a new experience.[30][31] The removal ofJaws has been viewed as the third most notable attraction closure in the park's history afterKongfrontation andBack to the Future: The Ride.
Two further shows throughout the park's history have been revamped several times. The first wasStarToons which replacedThe Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show which closed in 1993.StarToons, located in the Production Central area, operated from 1993 until 1996. When Woody Woodpecker's KidZone, opened in 1998, the park brought back the show asStarToons Character Meet and Greet. It was revamped once again in 2008 asStarToons: 80's Rewind. The second of the two shows wasAnimal Actors Stage which was replaced byAnimal Planet Live in 2001. When Universal's contract withAnimal Planet ended in 2006, the show was revamped asAnimal Actors On Location. The show is similar to the original but with updated segments.
Throughout the park's history of attraction closures, merchandise shops connected to major attractions have been closed and refurbished to fit the theming of the replacement attractions.
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show opened on August 13, 1992.[32][33] The attraction was a live stage show featuring many characters from thetelevision series of the same name includingRocket J. Squirrel,Bullwinkle J. Moose,Boris Badenov,Natasha Fatale,Dudley Do-Right, andSnidely Whiplash.[34] The 16-minute show was removed in 1993 to make way forStarToons.[citation needed]
Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies was a part-3-D film, part-live action show atUniversal Studios Florida, and one of thetheme park's original attractions.[35] The attraction featured attacks from birds similar to Hitchcock's filmThe Birds in the pre-show area, and featured the shower scene fromPsycho in the main show with narration byAnthony Perkins who played the part ofNorman Bates inPsycho.[36] It closed on January 3, 2003, and was replaced byShrek 4-D in mid-2003.[37]
The Boneyard was an outdoor attraction which opened with the park on June 7, 1990.[38] The attraction featured a variety ofprops fromUniversal Pictures films and television programs includingJurassic Park,Waterworld,Back to the Future and as well as other films likeMGM'sBen Hur.[38][39] The area also housed special events such asHalloween Horror Nights and concerts. It was removed on September 8, 2008, to make way for theUniversal Music Plaza Stage.[citation needed]
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera was a motion simulator ride with characters created byHanna-Barbera includingYogi Bear,The Flintstones,Scooby-Doo,The Jetsons andDick Dastardly andMuttley.[40] The attraction was presented in two parts; a pre-show which established the attraction's storyline, and a main ride experience which utilized multiple motion simulation based cars manufactured byIntamin. It opened with the park in 1990 and closed on October 20, 2002. It was replaced byJimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast in 2003 which was itself replaced byDespicable Me Minion Mayhem in 2012.
Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen opened in the summer of 1997,[41][42] replacingMurder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre.[2] The attraction was a live show demonstrating production on theHercules: The Legendary Journeys andXena: Warrior Princess series.[41] The live-action show[43] also featured members of the audience fighting stunt performers.[44] It was similar to the Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre which had previously occupied the attraction's soundstage building.[2] The final performance was on February 20, 2000.[45] It was replaced byTransformers: The Ride – 3D, which opened in 2013.
Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast was amotion simulator ride starringJimmy Neutron, and featuring guest appearances of otherNickelodeon characters, includingHey Arnold!,Rugrats,The Fairly OddParents andSpongeBob SquarePants. The ride's experience featured park guests pursuing the villain Ooblar in a rocket chase through the worlds and soundstages of theNicktoons. It opened on April 11, 2003, replacingThe Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, and was permanently closed on August 18, 2011. It was replaced byDespicable Me Minion Mayhem on July 2, 2012.
MCA Recording Studio was an attraction that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990.[citation needed] The attraction was a small interactive exhibit which allowed visitors to experiment with various sound and recording effects, which are used duringpost-production of a movie, television show, commercial, or music video. Guests could also sing along to their favorite songs and purchase a recording of their performance.[3] It was removed in 1996 and, in 1997, replaced with Stage 54.[3]
Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre was an interactive show that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990.[46] In the show, guests were selected to be executive producers on a new episode of theMurder, She Wrote television show. The 25-minute show focused on the production of a variety of effects including makeup, sound and visual effects before showcasing the editing process.[2][47] Following the cancellation of theMurder, She Wrote TV show,[48] the attraction was closed in 1996 and was replaced byHercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen the following year.[2]
Nickelodeon Studios was a television studio and attraction that opened with the park on June 7, 1990. The 40-minute attraction allowed guests to take a tour of Nickelodeon's studio facility followed by an interactive live show which featured games based on Nickelodeon shows of the time. It was closed on April 30, 2005, and was replaced byBlue Man Group Theatre which opened atUniversal CityWalk on June 6, 2007.[20]
TheImpact Zone[49] was the nickname for any one of threesound stages and production facilities which were an attraction at Universal Studios Florida. The sound stages were used for taping episodes ofImpact!, a flagship weekly television series produced by theprofessional wrestling promotion currently known asTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). TheImpact Zone's name is derived from a former name of TNA, which was known as "Impact Wrestling" from March to June 2017, and again from September 2017 to January 2024.
Soundstage 21 opened in 1990, with a seating capacity of 1,400. It also housed programming and events from other wrestling promotions, such asWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the short-livedXcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF).
In 1996,World Championship Wrestling (WCW) began taping their syndicated wrestling shows,WCW Pro andWCW Worldwide, from Soundstage 21, which they called the "WCW Arena". WCW continued to tape the shows and occasional episodes ofWCW Saturday Night until 1998, whenPro was canceled and matches forWorldwide were taped beforeWCW Thunder.[50] On November 12 and 13, 2001, theXcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF) would tape several matches from Soundstage 21.[51]
Between 2004 and March 2013, Impact Wrestling produced and broadcast programming from Soundstage 21. As part of the agreement with Universal, the promotion was not allowed to charge general admission to events held at the Impact Zone, with the exception of VIP packages.[citation needed] From March 2013, until November 21, the promotion left Universal Studios and began to tour nationally.[52] Upon their return to Universal Studios, Impact began using Soundstage 19, which is smaller and holds fewer people than Soundstage 21.[53] Impact would continue to produce programming from Universal Studios until April 2018, when they began touring once again. In 2021, the site served as the main studio for tapings ofAEW Dark, one of the weekly online streaming programs forAll Elite Wrestling (AEW).[54]AEW Dark ran from October 8, 2019, to April 25, 2023.
In 2023, AEW's sister promotionRing of Honor also began tapingits weekly program at the venue. Following the launch ofAEW Collision in June 2023,Dark came to an end and ROH's show began being taped alongsideCollision at arenas around the country.
TheProduction Studio Tour was an attraction that toured the studio and production facilities of Universal Studios Florida.[55] Inspired by Universal Studios Hollywood'sStudio Tour, the Production Studio Tour opened with the park on June 7, 1990.[55] Guests would board a tram in front of soundstage 19 (which was located next toNickelodeon Studios) or in the middle of two of the soundstages in the park's production facilities. From there they would be taken on a 15-minute journey into and around various sound stages as well as being taken on a general tour around the park. Upon the completion of the tour, guests would exit intoThe Universal Studios Store where they could purchase a variety of merchandise. The tour was closed in 1995, yet The Universal Studios Store remains open to this day.[56]
Shrek 4-D was a 3D attraction that took place after the events of the firstShrek film. With Lord Farquaad's spirit not at peace, he plans to kidnap Fiona and make her his bride in the afterlife. With Fiona captured once again, its up to Shrek and Donkey to rescue her. It opened on June 12, 2003, replacingAlfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies, and was permanently closed on January 10, 2022. Its replacement was Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast, which opened on August 11, 2023.
Stage 54 was an attraction which opened at the park in 1997, replacing theMCA Recording Studio.[3] The attraction was located withinsoundstage 54 of Universal Studios Florida.[3] Throughout the years, the attraction was constantly updated to feature displays and props from Universal Pictures films of the time[3] includingThe Lost World: Jurassic Park,[57]Babe,[58]Babe: Pig in the City,[59]Small Soldiers[57] andThe Mummy.[60] On January 24, 2003, the attraction was closed and was replaced withDonkey's Photo Finish, a meet and greet attraction related to the park'sShrek 4-D attraction.
StarToons was a live stage show featuring Hanna-Barbera charactersFred Flintstone,George Jetson,Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear, andBoo-Boo.[61] It opened in 1993 and closed in 1996.
Universal's Superstar Parade was a parade atUniversal Studios Florida. It was first announced at a live webcast on January 25, 2012. The parade included characters, floats, and themed-vehicles based onUniversal Pictures andIllumination'sDespicable Me,Hop, andThe Secret Life of Pets films, as well asParamount andNickelodeon'sSpongeBob SquarePants,Dora the Explorer, andGo, Diego, Go! television series. The parade ran from May 8, 2012, to June 4, 2022. It was replaced by Universal Mega Movie Parade on July 3, 2024.
Delancey Street Preview Center was an interactivesurvey attraction that allowed park guests to preview and focus-test an upcomingUniversal Studios'film ortelevision show. The attraction was seasonal, and only operated during peak seasons. The attraction closed in 2014 and was replaced byNBC Media Center, in the Hollywood section of the park in 2015.
Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way was an updated version of the park's previousStreetBusters show, with a slightly different plot and music. It opened on October 1, 2002[62] and was discontinued on February 25, 2005.
Ghostbusters Spooktacular was a 20-minute,Ghostbusters-themed stage show that opened with Universal Studios Florida in 1990.[63] The original version of the show was hosted by a production assistant and based upon events and ghosts in the films. The second version was hosted byLouis Tully and featured a pre-show. It was closed on November 8, 1996,[64] to make way forTwister...Ride It Out which opened in 1998.[65][66]
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit was asteel roller coaster that opened in 2009. On this ride, guests could pick a song they wanted to listen to on the ride. The ride was permanently closed on August 18, 2025, to make way for a "new experience."[67] This attraction was originally part of Production Central until 2023.
Islands of Adventure Preview Center was a preview center which operated during the construction ofUniversal Islands of Adventure from 1997 to 1999. It replaced The Screen Test Home Video Adventure. The Preview Center was designed to give guests a sneak peek at some of the themes and attractions forIslands of Adventure. In the attraction, guests would walk through various rooms themed to the various "Islands" in the new park. The final room stated when theIslands of Adventure park would open, and showed guests Universal's future plans for theUniversal Orlando Resort. The Preview Center was closed shortly after the opening ofIslands of Adventure.[68]
Kongfrontation was an attraction that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990, based on the1976 remake ofKing Kong. The ride experience allowed guests to encounter anaudio-animatronicKing Kong while on a New York tram car. The ride was considered to be the flagship attraction of the New York area at the time as well as the landmark attraction of the park.[69] It closed on September 8, 2002, and was replaced byRevenge of the Mummy: The Ride, which opened on May 21, 2004.
The Marvel Show was a seasonal outdoor show that went on, in front of, and on the building to the left of the Firehouse facade forGhostbusters Spooktacular and featured multipleMarvel Comics characters, such asSpider-Man,Storm,Iron Man, andWolverine.[70] It opened in the summer of 1993 and closed in 1995.
The Screen Test Home Video Adventure was an interactive, upcharge experience which opened in March 1991. Guests were given the opportunity to star in one of two 10-minute films:Your Day at Universal Studios orThe Star Trek Adventure. They would dress in costumes before being filmed in front of ablue screen. The final video could then be purchased by the guests for $29.95 plus tax.[71][72][73] It was closed November 11, 1996, and replaced by the Islands of Adventure Preview Center the following year.[74]
StreetBusters was a seasonal show that opened in early 1991.[71] The plot of the show featured theGhostbusters attempting to catch their biggest foe,Beetlejuice.[71] It was closed in 1993[citation needed] and later replaced withExtreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way.[62]
Twister... Ride It Out was a special effects simulation attraction located based on the 1996 filmTwister. It was announced in 1998 and replaced theGhostbusters Spooktacular attraction in the New York area of the park. The attraction was hosted by actorsBill Paxton andHelen Hunt, who starred in the original film. The attraction closed on November 2, 2015, and was replaced withRace Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon which opened in Spring 2017.
On January 2, 2012, the Amity themed portion of this area was permanently removed to allow for the construction ofThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley.[75] This move also resulted in the closure of theJaws attraction as well as the removal of multiple shopping and dining establishments in the section such asThe Midway Grill andQuint's Surf Shack.
An American Tail Theatre was a live stage show based on the 1991 animated feature filmAn American Tail: Fievel Goes West.[76] The show opened with the park in 1990 and was closed and removed in 1992 to make way forBeetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue.
Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue orBeetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue orUniversal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show was a live stage show based on thefilm of the same name andUniversal Classic Monsters.
On August 25, 2015, Universal announced that the show at Universal Studios Florida would be "closing later this year" to make way forFast & Furious: Supercharged.[77] The attraction closed its doors on January 6, 2016. The venue was demolished shortly after. The space is currently used as the queue entrance forFast & Furious: Supercharged.
Earthquake: The Big One was an attraction based on the 1974 film,Earthquake, which opened on June 7, 1990.[78] The 20-minute experience allowed guests to experience an 8.3magnitude earthquake in Embarcadero station from the comfort of theirBARTsubway train, moving the setting fromLos Angeles in the film, toSan Francisco, as the ride required an indoor location.[66] Two versions of the ride operated. The first version ran from the park's opening in 1990 through to 2002 and was based solely on the film.[66]Earthquake: The Big One initially operated for only short periods of time during the first four months after opening due to a series of operational problems, resulting in Universal filing suit against the rides manufacturer,Ride & Show Engineering, Inc.[78][79] Once operational, the lawsuit was dropped.[80][81]
From 2002 until its closure in 2007, the attraction was based on several films includingE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,How the Grinch Stole Christmas,U-571 andEarthquake.Earthquake was permanently closed on November 5, 2007, to make way forDisaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! which opened on January 17, 2008.[66][82]Disaster! closed its door on September 8, 2015, to make way forFast & Furious: Supercharged; a version of Earthquake: The Big One which is part of theStudio Tour still operates at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Jaws was a special effectswater ride which opened with the park on June 7, 1990, and was based on the1975 film of the same name. The attraction placed guests aboard tour boats for what should be a leisurely tour of Amity Harbor, but instead became a harrowing chase between the craft and a determined great white shark.Jaws experienced massive mechanical difficulties following the opening of the park, which resulted in a large re-construction of the attraction's original ride system.Jaws was permanently removed on January 2, 2012, along with the rest of the Amity Island themed area to make way forThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show was a livestunt show based upon a wide variety of Universal'sWestern films. Opening on July 4, 1991, in theAmity Island section of the park, the show featured severalcowboy themed actors surviving death defying stunts, shootings and explosions.[71][73][83][84] The show closed on September 1, 2003, and was replaced byFear Factor Live which opened on June 3, 2005.[85][86][87]A similar show is still shown at former Universal-owned theme parkPortAventura Park.
Back to the Future: The Ride was asimulator ride based on and inspired by theBack to the Future trilogy that opened on May 2, 1991.[88] The ride story centered on a first-person adventure through time, in pursuit ofBiff Tannen, the trilogy's villain. It was closed on March 30, 2007, and replaced on May 15, 2008, byThe Simpsons Ride.[88][89]
The Bates Mansion Set was a set oftheatrical property which recreated the set of the Bates Mansion fromPsycho. LikeThe Bates Motel Set, it was also used to filmPsycho IV: The Beginning. It opened with the park on June 7, 1990, and was later closed and demolished in 1998, being replaced in the same year by the now-defunct water play areaCurious George Goes to Town.
The Bates Motel Set was a set oftheatrical property which recreated the set of The Bates Motel from 1960'sPsycho, and was built for the filming ofPsycho IV: The Beginning. It was later used to house the haunted houseThe Psycho Path Maze for several years duringHalloween Horror Nights at the park. It opened in 1990 and was closed and demolished in 1995 to make way forA Day in the Park with Barney which opened later in the year.
Fear Factor Live was astuntstage show based on theNBCtelevision show seriesFear Factor. The show opened in June 2005 and temporarily closed for COVID-19 in March 2020. The announcement of the show's permanent closure was made in October 2021; the stage is only used for shows during Halloween Horror Nights.
The Swamp Thing Set was a set oftheatrical property that were built for the filming of the television seriesSwamp Thing.[90] Opening with the park on June 7, 1990,[90] the sets were featured as part of the park'sProduction Studio Tour. The sets were demolished in 1994, following the cancellation of the TV series one year prior. In 2000, the area which formerly held theSwamp Thing sets became the home ofMen in Black: Alien Attack.[91]
On January 15, 2023, the majority of the KidZone area was closed and replaced byDreamWorks Land, which opened on June 14, 2024. Only E.T. Adventure and the Animal Actors on Location! show remained and became a part of the park's Hollywood section. Below are a list of rides and attractions that ceased operations before or in 2023:
Animal Actors Stage was a live stage show which opened with the park in 1990 and featured Universal'sanimal actors performing stunts and tricks. It was later closed in 2001 and replaced byAnimal Planet Live.
Animal Planet Live was a live stage show inspired by the TV channelAnimal Planet, and featured multiple animals performing stunts and tricks. It replacedAnimal Actors Stage when it opened at the park in 2001, and was closed in 2006 and replaced withAnimal Actors on Location.
Curious George Goes to Town was a play area that featured two large water troughs that dumped 500 gallons of water on its visitors every few minutes, and an interactive area where guests could shoot soft foam balls out of cannons. The attraction opened in 1998 replacing The Bates Mansion Set and closed on January 15, 2023, and was replaced by Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp and an interactive show called Po Live! in 2024.
A Day in the Park with Barney was a live show, based on the popular children's television show,Barney & Friends. It also had a "Barney's Backyard" playground area with a chance to meet Barney in a meet and greet session before and/or after the main show in the Barney Theatre. It opened on July 11, 1995, and was closed on February 3, 2021, following theCOVID-19 pandemic in Florida. It would be replaced withDreamWorks Destination, a show/meet and greet opportunity with various characters fromDreamWorks Animation films. The "Barney's Backyard" area was used as a backstage area. The Barney Shop area was re-themed to a new meet and greet location calledShrek's Swamp Meet until it closed in 2023, when it moved into the former Fievel's Playland in 2024.
DreamWorks Destination was a stage show and character experience that featured various characters fromDreamWorks Animation, such as Po fromKung Fu Panda, Poppy fromTrolls, King Julien fromMadagascar, among others from each franchise. The attraction opened in 2021, replacingA Day in the Park with Barney, and closed on January 15, 2023, later being reimagined into a show calledDreamWorks Imagination Celebration
Fievel's Playland was a children's playground added to World Expo (later moved to Kidzone) in 1992. The attraction was based on the animated filmAn American Tail, and featured a 30-foot (9.1 m) spider web climbing attraction and a 200-foot-long (61 m) water slide, Fievel's Water Slide. The attractions closed on January 15, 2023, along with most of KidZone, and was replaced by Shrek’s Swamp Meet and Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres.
StarToons Character Meet and Greet was a live show where Universal Studios' cartoon characters would briefly sing and dance, followed by them posing for autographs and pictures with park guests. It was the second of four versions of theStarToons show to be featured at the park, the former beingStarToons which operated in the Production Central area from 1993 until 1996. It opened in 1998 and was re-themed in 2008 asStarToons: 80's Rewind.
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster was aWoody Woodpecker-themed family roller coaster manufactured byVekoma. It was closed with the rest of KidZone in 2023, and was replaced by Trolls' Trollercoaster.
Lucy: A Tribute was a walk-through museum featuring the best of "America's favorite redhead",Lucille Ball. The attraction opened at the park in May 1992, and was permanently closed on August 17, 2015. It was replaced with an interactiveHello Kitty-themed store which opened in March 2016.[92]
AT&T at the Movies was an interactive attraction that included variousAT&T-based technologies presented in a movie style. It replacedHow to Make a Mega Movie Deal when it opened at the park in 1998, and was closed in 2001. It got replaced by Cafe la Bamba the following year.[93]
How to Make a Mega Movie Deal opened a year after the park, in 1991,[72][94] and was closed in 1993 to make way forAT&T at the Movies which opened 5 years later.
T2-3D: Battle Across Time was an attraction at Universal Studios Florida. The version of the show at Universal Studios Florida closed in 2017 to make way for The Bourne Stuntacular, which opened in June 2020.
Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular was an attraction that opened with Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990. The attraction was a live stunt show themed toMiami Vice located on the Lagoon in the center of the park. The show featuredpyrotechnics andexplosions, mixed with live actors onjet skis.[95][96][97] The 20-minute show was always performed during the final hour of the park before its closing for the day. It closed on February 17, 2000, after almost 10 years of performances. Many of the props and sets in the show still remained in place until 2006, when the show was replaced byUniversal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular.
Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular was a nighttime show attraction located at Universal Studios Florida. It featured famous scenes fromUniversal Pictures' films projected onto four large inflated domes in the middle of a lagoon, while variousfireworks, flame effects, lasers, lights and water effects are set off. The show generally took place at the hour of the park's closing. The show opened at the park on July 1, 2006, replacingDynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular, and was removed on September 9, 2011. It was replaced byUniversal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories on May 8, 2012.[29]
Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories was a lagoon show at Universal Studios Florida. The attraction replaced Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular in the park's center Lagoon. It featured famous scenes from Universal Pictures films projected onto large waterfall screens mixed with fountains and pyrotechnics. The show was narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, and was part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for Universal Studios throughout 2012. It opened on May 8, 2012. The music for the "spectacular" was a combination of scores from different films, with some original pieces composed by Brian Tyler, who also adapted Jerry Goldsmith's Universal Pictures fanfare for the studio's current logo and composed the "Universal Centennial Fanfare" that was also based on Goldsmith's fanfare. The closure of the show was announced on October 10, 2017. Universal stated that the show would be replaced with a new night show namedUniversal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration, which opened in opened on July 16, 2018, and closed on March 9, 2023, and it was replaced by a new show,Cinesational – A Symphonic Spectacular, which opened on June 14, 2024.
A Celebration of Harry Potter was an annual three-day weekend event held on the last weekend of January at bothUniversal Studios Florida andUniversal Islands of Adventure theme parks at theUniversal Orlando Resort. The event was a celebration of the fandom of theHarry Potter books authored byJ. K. Rowling and theWizarding World franchise (including theHarry Potter film series andFantastic Beasts film series), in a collaboration betweenUniversal Destinations & Experiences,Warner Bros. Entertainment andScholastic.
Below is a list of retail and dining establishments that have been closed since the park's inception, grouped by the section of the park in which they were formerly located.
Production Central
New York City, New York
San Francisco, California/Amity Island
World Expo
Woody Woodpecker's KidZone
Hollywood
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)[dead link][dead link]{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[dead YouTube link][dead link]| Hollywood | |
|---|---|
| Illumination's Minion Land | |
| New York | |
| San Francisco | |
| The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley | |
| Springfield | |
| World Expo | |
| DreamWorks Land |
|
| Events | |
| Production Central | |
|---|---|
| New York | |
| San Francisco | |
| Amity | |
| World Expo | |
| Woody Woodpecker's KidZone | |
| Hollywood | |
| Lagoon | |
| Events | |
