Universal Studios Florida replacing Earthquake with Disaster

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

"Earthquake -- The Big One," a subway ride through a collapsing San Francisco, has closed. The ride, which allowed riders to experience big Hollywood special effects, ranging from fire to flooding water, will be replaced within weeks by a newly themed attraction called "Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride . . . Starring You." According to Universal Orlando officials, the ride, located in the San Francisco section of Universal Studios, should reopen by the holiday tourism crush in December with more of an interactive element but no specific movie tie-in.

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I always thought the actual ride part of Earthquake was entertaining enough, but the lead-in rooms were torture. It's bad enough to stand in lines all day and walk around, but then to stand during the ride? No thank you.

"Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride . . . Starring You" is a mouthful.

...and Jaws escapes "the bite" once again.... ;)

But I'm still coming for ya like Roy Scheider, baby... :)

How sad...I was so excited to ride that again as an adult the next time I went, but I guess it was time for an upgrade. I wonder if it will at least be similar.

Is an earthquake not a disaster? ;)

I wonder if the ride will remain mostly the same, with the majority of the changes happening to the preshow. The ride vehicles and set kind of lend themselves to only one theme, a subway; I don't see how they could change those enough to make a brand new ride experience in only a few months.

In that short a time span, I can't imagine they're doing anything all that major to it.

Agreed on the pre-show... absolutely painful, especially when you know what the ride is.

Well, at least I got to jump off a building (yes I volunteered) during the preshow, the first time I rode. The preshow does take awhile but I find it enjoyable, but its torture for those really wanting to go straight to the ride. The ride itself appeared to be out dated on some of the props on the ride could use some updating to make them more realistic to todays standards. Now I hope they don't remove all the old Earthquake props that is in the pre show area, I actually like some of them and I liked that movie.

When I was at Universal in September, The preshow areas were closed you went straight from the first holding room to the ride. As others have suggested, I think the ride will remain largely unchanged with a new preshow.

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