Simpsons Ride spoilers: Universal Studios Florida ride opens

Universal Studios Florida allowed the first visitors on the new $40-million Simpsons Ride this week during “technical rehearsals” in advance of the official opening May 15, 2008. An identical Simpsons Ride debuts at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 17.

The early reviews of the Simpsons Ride in Florida filtering in from fan sites:
— “Just as good as Back to the Future.” (Orlando United)
— “A great ride … packed with laughs.” (Theme Park Insider)
— “A ton of fun.” (IOA Central)

Orlando United, a Florida theme park fan site, provides four pages of Simpsons Ride photos inside the attraction with a “highly detailed spoiler” at the end of the post. IOA Central, a Universal Studios fan site, offers eight pages of photos with no spoilers.

>>SPOILER ALERT | Based on Orlando United’s report, our summary of the ride’s storyline begins after the jump (you’ve been warned):

Krusty the Clown selects the Simpsons clan to be the first family to ride his upsy-downsy, spins-aroundsy, teen-operated ride thrilltacular. Bart picks you to join the family on the first ride.

As visitors board the ride, Professor Frink explains that the power source for the attraction is radioactive. Any exposure to the radiation causes people to grow extremely large.

During the Itchy & Scratchy safety spiel, Grandpa Simpson suffers a stroke (and heart attack) and can’t go on the ride. Marge asks Grandpa to watch Maggie. Grandpa falls asleep and Maggie crawls into the radioactive room.

As the motion-simulator vehicle rises, the first thing riders see on the 90-foot-tall domed screen is a vengeful Sideshow Bob armed with a wrecking ball and bent on destroying the Simpsons. Your vehicle settles on a partially demolished wooden roller coaster and the ride begins.

During the next six minutes, riders careen through Krustlyland — passing through the Happy Little Elves in Panda Land attraction and Captain Dinosaur’s Pirate Rip-Off ride — with Sideshow Bob in hot pursuit.

The ride surreally passes through Springfield and finally ends up in the Simpsons home, where the family is sitting on the familiar living room couch. Then the walls and floors fall away and the ride continues with the couch attached to a track.

In the end, a giant radiated Maggie saves the day, crushing Sideshow Bob with a massive Krusty the Clown head.

The ride vehicle lowers amid a shower of smoke and fire effects.

Previous stories:
Sneak peek: Simpsons ride careens through Krustyland
Simpsons ride more than a Back to the Future clone
Krustyland theme park: 10 rides, 5 shows
Simpsons ride features 29 characters, original voices
Simpsons carnival midway takes shape at Universal Studios

Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the
Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[Photo courtesy of Orlando United]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 3:04 pm by Brady MacDonald and is filed under Family & Kids, Los Angeles, Southern States, Theme Parks, Universal Studios Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.