Earthquake: The Big One
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Earthquake: The Big One | |
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| The former entrance to the Earthquake: The Big One attraction at Universal Orlando Resort | |
| Universal Studios Florida | |
| Area | San Francisco |
| Theme | Earthquake |
| Opening date | June 7, 1990 |
| Closing date | November 5, 2007 |
| Vehicle type | Tram |
| Ride duration | 20 minutes |
| Height requirements | 40" (102 cm) |
| Replaced By | Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! |
Earthquake: The Big One was an attraction formerly located at Universal Studios Florida which opened with the park on June 7, 1990 and was removed on November 5, 2007 to make way for Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!. It put guests in scenes inspired by the major motion picture disaster film. Unlike many other rides at Universal, it did not have a theme which used a general movie tie-in.
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[edit] Ride summary
The attraction was located in a building themed after San Francisco's old fire department.
[edit] Original version
This version was in operation from 1990 through 2002.
[edit] Queue
As guests walk through the queue, they pass models and plaques from Earthquake. When they reach the end, a sign welcomes them into San Francisco Golden Gate transit.
[edit] Pre-Show
Guests are moved through three rooms total. In one room, Charlton Heston appears on a screen and explains to guests how the film was made. In the second room, guests take part in scenes re-created from the film, including a shopping mall sequence, and a high fall stunt. After the Pre-show, guests board ride vehicles.
[edit] Ride
Guests enter a backdrop of the Golden Gate transit. After boarding trams, the trams enter a San Francisco subway station. Soon, the roof collapses, the lights go out, a gasoline truck nearly hits the tram, a fire starts, another tram flies off its tracks, and a flood comes down from above. Charlton Heston then appears on a screen on the right side of the tram and says a farewell "Thanks, And I'll see you in the movies".
[edit] Second Version
This version was in operation from 2002 to the attraction's final closure.
[edit] Queue
As guests queue, they pass sets and props from Universal's films as well as old flintstone supplies fromThe Boneyard and a tour tram from the park's former Studio Tour. Guests then enter a museum themed to San Francisco's 1906 earthquake and the earthquake from the film.
[edit] Pre-Show
Among the changes in this version, are added prop models from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and U571 and a lifesize model of the submarine from U571. Also seen in this version is the blue screen from the park's former Screen Test Home Video Adventure attraction. After this, guests enter the ride trams.
[edit] Ride
The only differences in this version are more fire effects and a new ending, which has a USF employee, posed as a film director, stepping out of their control booth and saying "Congratulations, you've just survived 'Earthquake' give yourselves a round of applause!".
[edit] Shakin's Souvenirs
After the ride, guests could enter Shakin's Souvenirs a gift shop shop for the attraction which sold Earthquake, Disaster, and Universal Studios related merchandise. This gift shop has now been replaced by Disaster! Studios Gifts.
[edit] History
The ride closed completely on November 5, 2007 to make way for Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!. In preparation for the Disaster! attraction, the pre-Show ended on September 8, 2007 while the ride closed on November 5, 2007.
[edit] Trivia
- The ride would reset itself in just 3 seconds for the next Tram.
- In a homage to the attraction, in the ride portion of Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! a Disaster! Studios attendant refers to the Mutha Nature Disaster as "The Big One!".
