Twister...Ride it Out
Encyclopedia
Twister... Ride It Out is a special effects simulation attraction located at Universal Studios Florida
, based on the 1996 film Twister. It was announced in 1997 and replaced the Ghostbusters Spooktacular attraction in the New York area of the park. The attraction is hosted by actors Bill Paxton
and Helen Hunt
, who starred in the original film.
town of Wakita. Video monitors show home movies of tornadoes and signs carry information about the Fujita Scale
.
and Helen Hunt
appear to talk about their experiences filming the movie. Guests next walk into a new room which is a model of Aunt Meg's damaged house after the twister. As guests walk into the kitchen, televisions are seen impaled into the wall, as if by tremendous force. Paxton and Hunt appear on the TVs and talk about what is ahead. The moment they finish, the TVs start to static, and after the static, the channel changes to Channel 5, with a weather anchor issuing a tornado warning
in the area the guests are in. They are finally led onto a set resembling the drive-in theater scene in the movie.
and a diner at dusk as dark clouds roll overhead. Suddenly, a tree gets struck by lightning, scenes from The Shining
appear on the movie screen, sirens sound briefly, and winds in the room get stronger. A small light can be seen inside a house in the distance, as well as voices of a family getting into their storm cellar. A simulated tornado drops from the sky, and rain begins to fall. Guests are squirted with water from above. The tornado wrecks the drive-in screen, the diner, and a car, which causes a fireball to erupt. The roof of the observation platform also threatens to tear off. A cow, lifted by the wind, flies past the spectators. As the "storm" dies, the floor of the standing area lurches with a sudden drop, giving guests a final scare. Participants are then directed to exit through the "Aftermath" gift shop.
entered talks with tornado meteorologists to discover the actual sights, sound, and feel of the experience. Universal originally planned to open the attraction in March, 1998; however, in the weeks just preceding, several large tornadoes occurred in central Florida
, killing many people. Due to this, the opening was delayed until May 4, 1998.
During summer of 2008, the queue was pushed outside due to construction of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit
, where the roller coaster blasts through the firehouse façade. The ride involved the closure of the Boneyard in September 2008, and the moving of the Blue Man Group pathway in November 2008. This was to make room for The Universal Music Plaza Stage and the entrance of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit.
On February 16, 2009, the attraction began operating only during peak seasons. However, it was re-opened by Universal on March 9, 2009 due to guest demand.
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is an American theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies," and it features numerous attractions and...
, based on the 1996 film Twister. It was announced in 1997 and replaced the Ghostbusters Spooktacular attraction in the New York area of the park. The attraction is hosted by actors Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
and Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt
Helen Elizabeth Hunt is an American actress, film director, and screenwriter. She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years, before being cast in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets...
, who starred in the original film.
Queue
The attraction takes guests to a small mock-up of the OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
town of Wakita. Video monitors show home movies of tornadoes and signs carry information about the Fujita Scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
.
Pre-Show
As guests walk into the "Twister filming center", the opening scene from the film is shown on a video screen. When the scene ends, Twister stars Bill PaxtonBill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
and Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt
Helen Elizabeth Hunt is an American actress, film director, and screenwriter. She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years, before being cast in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets...
appear to talk about their experiences filming the movie. Guests next walk into a new room which is a model of Aunt Meg's damaged house after the twister. As guests walk into the kitchen, televisions are seen impaled into the wall, as if by tremendous force. Paxton and Hunt appear on the TVs and talk about what is ahead. The moment they finish, the TVs start to static, and after the static, the channel changes to Channel 5, with a weather anchor issuing a tornado warning
Tornado warning
A tornado warning is an alert issued by government weather services to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted by eye, or more commonly if there are radar indications of tornado formation...
in the area the guests are in. They are finally led onto a set resembling the drive-in theater scene in the movie.
Main Show
The guests line up on a tiered observation platform under a corrugated metal roof, overlooking a simulated outdoor scene featuring a view of a rural drive-in theaterDrive-in theater
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
and a diner at dusk as dark clouds roll overhead. Suddenly, a tree gets struck by lightning, scenes from The Shining
The Shining (film)
The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. A writer, Jack Torrance, takes a job as an...
appear on the movie screen, sirens sound briefly, and winds in the room get stronger. A small light can be seen inside a house in the distance, as well as voices of a family getting into their storm cellar. A simulated tornado drops from the sky, and rain begins to fall. Guests are squirted with water from above. The tornado wrecks the drive-in screen, the diner, and a car, which causes a fireball to erupt. The roof of the observation platform also threatens to tear off. A cow, lifted by the wind, flies past the spectators. As the "storm" dies, the floor of the standing area lurches with a sudden drop, giving guests a final scare. Participants are then directed to exit through the "Aftermath" gift shop.
Ride history and development
To accurately simulate a tornado, Universal Parks & ResortsUniversal Parks & Resorts
Universal Parks and Resorts is the theme park division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and General Electric. The division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the various Universal Studios resort properties around the world...
entered talks with tornado meteorologists to discover the actual sights, sound, and feel of the experience. Universal originally planned to open the attraction in March, 1998; however, in the weeks just preceding, several large tornadoes occurred in central Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, killing many people. Due to this, the opening was delayed until May 4, 1998.
During summer of 2008, the queue was pushed outside due to construction of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a steel roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida. This custom-designed attraction features an on-board sound system to provide a soundtrack for the roller coaster track, as well as video cameras to record the experience...
, where the roller coaster blasts through the firehouse façade. The ride involved the closure of the Boneyard in September 2008, and the moving of the Blue Man Group pathway in November 2008. This was to make room for The Universal Music Plaza Stage and the entrance of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit.
On February 16, 2009, the attraction began operating only during peak seasons. However, it was re-opened by Universal on March 9, 2009 due to guest demand.
External links
- Twister...Ride it Out at Universal Orlando ResortUniversal Orlando ResortUniversal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...