Bruce Guthrie Photos Home Page: [Click here] to go to Bruce Guthrie Photos home page.
Recognize anyone? If you recognize specific folks (or other stuff) and I haven't labeled them, please identify them for the world. Click the little pencil icon underneath the file name (just above the picture). Spammers need not apply.
Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.
Accessing as Spider: The system has identified your IP as being a spider. IP Address: 3.21.106.69 -- Domain: Amazon Technologies
I love well-behaved spiders! They are, in fact, how most people find my site. Unfortunately, my network has a limited bandwidth and pictures take up bandwidth. Spiders ask for lots and lots of pages and chew up lots and lots of bandwidth which slows things down considerably for regular folk. To counter this, you'll see all the text on the page but the images are being suppressed. Also, some system options like merges are being blocked for you.
Note: Permission is NOT granted for spiders, robots, etc to use the site for AI-generation purposes. I'm sure you're thrilled by your ability to make revenue from my work but there's nothing in that for my human users or for me.
If you are in fact human, please email me at guthrie.bruce@gmail.com and I can check if your designation was made in error. Given your number of hits, that's unlikely but what the hell.
Help? The Medium (Email) links are for screen viewing and emailing. You'll want bigger sizes for printing. [Click here for additional help]
AAA "Gem": AAA considers this location to be a "must see" point of interest. To see pictures of other areas that AAA considers to be Gems, click here.
Wikipedia Description: Universal Studios Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Universal Studios Florida is an American amusement 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 live shows. The park is one component of the larger Universal Orlando Resort.
In 2009, the park hosted an estimated 5.4 million guests, ranking it the eighth-most visited theme park in the United States.
History:
Park History:
Unlike its sister facility, Universal Studios Hollywood, which is a working film and television studio that became a tourist attraction and theme park, Universal Studios Florida was designed as both a theme park and a studio from the start. It was also the first time that Universal Studios had constructed an amusement park "from the ground up."
A major component of the original park in Hollywood is its studio tour, which featured several special-effects exhibits and encounters built into the tour, such as an attack by the great white shark from the film "Jaws". For its Florida park, Universal Studios took the concepts of the Hollywood tour scenes and developed them into larger, stand-alone attractions. As an example, in Hollywood, the studio tour trams travel close to a shoreline and are "attacked" by Jaws before they travel to the next part of the tour. In Florida, guests enter the "Jaws" attraction and board a boat touring the fictitious Amity Harbor, where they encounter the shark, then exit back into the park at the conclusion of the attraction. Universal Studios Florida originally had a Studio Tour attraction that visited the production facilities, but that tour has since been discontinued.
Over the years, Universal Studios Florida has not limited itself to attractions based on its own vast film library. It has occasionally licensed popular characters from other rival studios, many of whom did not operate theme parks themselves. Some examples include the Ghostbusters and the Men in Black (from Sony's Columbia Pictures), Jimmy Neutron (from Viacom's Nickelodeon), The Simpsons (20th Century Fox), and Shrek (from DreamWorks Animation, now part of Paramount Pictures).
Many of the park's past and present attractions were developed with the actual creators of the films they were based on, and feature the original stars as part of the experience. Steven Spielberg, a VIP for the park, helped create E.T. Adventure and was a creative consultant for Back to the Future: The Ride, Twister...Ride it Out, An American Tail Theatre, Jaws and Men in Black: Alien Attack. Many of the original stars reprised their film roles including Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson in Back to the Future: The Ride, Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt in Twister...Ride it Out, Rip Torn and Will Smith in Men in Black: Alien Attack, Brendan Fraser for Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, Christopher Walken and Dwayne Johnson in Disaster!, the cast from Shrek returned for Shrek 4-D, various Nicktoons voice actors reprised their roles in Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, Roy Scheider recorded a voice over for the conclusion of Jaws, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera made appearances in The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera while Hanna-Barbera voice actors reprised their roles in the same ride, Alfred Hitchcock and Anthony Perkins appeared in Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong and Linda Hamilton reprised their roles for Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time and even Charlton Heston made an appearance in the pre-show for Earthquake: The Big One.
Timeline:
1980-1989:
* 1982: The first concepts for Universal Studios Florida, including a King Kong based ride, are conceived on the front lot at the Universal Studios Hollywood studio. The park project is put on hold shortly afterwards to work on the built-up version of the Hollywood park's Studio Tour.
* 1986: The idea of a Back to the Future simulator ride is brought up during a meeting between Steven Spielberg and Peter N. Alexander on the eve of the debut of the Hollywood Studio Tour's King Kong Encounter. The Universal Studios Florida project is brought back into focus shortly afterwards, and production of the future park's rides and attractions takes place in the Hollywood studio while land clearing takes place on the swamp land purchased by MCA/Universal which will hold the Florida park.
* 1987: Universal Studios Florida is announced at a press conference on the Hollywood property, with a planned opening date of December 1989.
* 1988: Universal Studios Florida's opening date is delayed from December, 1989 to May 1, 1990. Shortly following, MCA/Universal releases a video detailing the future park, which stars Christopher Lloyd as the Universal character Doc Brown interacting with the various attractions at the Florida park.
* Mid 1988: Universal Studios allows guests to witness the production of television shows and motion pictures in the Florida park's soundstages, while the rest of the studio/park is still under construction.
* 1989: Universal Studios Florida's opening date is again delayed from May 1, 1990 to June 7, 1990.
1990-1999:
* Early 1990: MCA/Universal Studios files a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company and it's CEO, Michael Eisner claiming they copied several concepts of the Universal Studios Florida park by way of double agents, and integrated them into Disney's recently opened Disney/MGM Studios park.
* April 1990: Universal Studios Florida begins soft openings for the general public. Many of the park's attractions are not yet open at the time, and still under testing.
* June 7, 1990: Universal Studios Florida is officially opened with a grand opening style ceremony. The park opens with five themed areas: The Front Lot (entrance area), Production Central, San Francisco/Amity, Expo Center, Hollywood as well as a Lagoon located in the center of the park. The Front Lot and Production Central areas are referred to as "In Production", while the other park areas are referred to as "Now Shooting".
* Summer 1990: Due to massive technical problems with the original Kongfrontation, Earthquake: The Big One and Jaws rides, Universal begins a temporary voucher service to allow guests to re-visit the studio/park when the attractions are operating.
* September 30, 1990: Jaws is temporarily closed by Universal due to persistent major technical problems. During the shut-down, Universal sues the original designer of the Jaws ride, Ride & Show Engineering, and hires Totally Fun Company to create a re-designed version of most of the ride.
* Spring 1991: Universal adds four new attractions to the park: The Blues Brothers Show, StreetBusters, The Screen Test Home Video Adventure and How to Make a Mega Movie Deal.
* May 2, 1991: Back to the Future: The Ride officially opens in the Expo Center area of the park, in a grand opening ceremony. The ride is considered to be a success, and receives positive reception from theme park critics.
* July 4, 1991: The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show debuts in the San Francisco/Amity area of the park.
* October 1991: Fright Nights debuts at the park.
* 1992: An American Tail Theatre is closed and replaced by Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue. Following the closure, Fievel's Playland is opened in the Expo Center area of the park.
* October 1992: Fright Nights is re-named Halloween Horror Nights as it returns for its second year at Universal Studios Florida.
* Spring 1993: Expo Center is re-named World Expo; How to Make a Mega Movie Deal closes, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show is discontinued and replaced by StarToons; StreetBusters is discontinued; The Swamp Thing Set is demolished, and a portion of the Cabin set is utilized in the Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular nighttime show.
* Summer 1993: The Marvel Show, a seasonal Summer attraction, debuts in the New York area; Jaws is re-opened, with many scenes altered.
* Spring 1995: A Day in the Park with Barney opens in the World Expo area.
* Fall 1995: The Production Studio Tour is closed due to a dwindle in the studios' recent Film/TV production.
* Spring 1996: StarToons and The Marvel Show are discontinued.
* Summer 1996: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre and MCA Recording Studio close.
* Fall 1996: Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time opens in the Hollywood area; Ghostbusters Spooktacular and The Screen Test Home Video Adventure close.
* Spring 1997: Universal Studios announces that the sole Studio park will be expanded into the Universal Studios Escape, including the Islands of Adventure park, Universal CityWalk Orlando and multiple hotels; Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen opens, replacing Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre.
* Summer 1997: The Islands of Adventure Preview Center opens in the New York area, replacing The Screen Test Home Video Adventure. It is meant to give guests a preview of the up-coming Islands of Adventure park, as well as expansion of the Studio park into the Universal Studios Escape resort.
* 1997: Universal announces that Ghostbusters Spooktacular will be replaced by Twister...Ride it Out, with a planned opening date of Spring 1998; Stage 54 opens, replacing MCA Recording Studio.
* 1998: The expansion begins as the original open parking lot for Universal Studios Florida is demolished and replaced by CityWalk.
* Spring 1998: The Bates Motel and The Bates Mansion sets are torn down; AT&T at the Movies opens in the Hollywood area.
* February 1998: Universal delays the opening of Twister...Ride it Out from March, 1998 to May 4, 1998 out of respect for the 42 deaths caused by a recent El Nino outbreak of tornadoes in the central Florida area.
* May 4, 1998: Twister...Ride it Out opens in the New York area, replacing Ghostbusters Spooktacular.
* Summer 1998: A new area of the park, Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone, is officially opened, holding the attractions Curious George Goes to Town, StarToons and the previously opened Fievel's Playland, E.T. Adventure, Animal Actors Stage and A Day in the Park with Barney. Shortly after the opening, the original Hard Rock Cafe in the park is closed and left abandoned, due to the opening of a larger one in CityWalk.
* Spring 1999: Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster opens in the Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone area.
* May 28, 1999: Islands of Adventure opens next door to Universal Studios Florida.
2000-2009:
* February 2000: Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular is discontinued.
* April 4, 2000: Men in Black: Alien Attack opens in the World Expo area, on the former site of The Swamp Thing Set.
* 2000: Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen closes.
* Spring 2001: The park begins using Universal Express; AT&T at the Movies closes; Animal Actors Stage closes.
* Summer 2001: Animal Planet Live opens, replacing Animal Actors Stage.
* Spring 2002: Universal Studios Escape is re-named Universal Orlando Resort; Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way opens, replacing StreetBusters.
* Summer 2002: Universal announces that Kongfrontation, The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, and Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies will all be closed in the near future, confirming that Hanna-Barbera will be replaced by a Jimmy Neutron adventures ride, and Hitchcock with a Shrek 3-D show.
* September 8, 2002: Kongfrontation closes in a closing ceremony. The loss of the attraction causes much controversy among fans of the park.
* October 2002: Halloween Horror Nights is moved to Islands of Adventure.
* October 20, 2002: The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera closes.
* December 2002: Macy's Holiday Parade debuts at the park.
* January 3, 2003: Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies closes.
* Spring 2003: Stage 54 closes.
* April 11, 2003: Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast opens, replacing The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera.
* May 2003: Donkey's Photo Finish opens, replacing Stage 54.
* June 25, 2003: Shrek 4-D opens, replacing Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies.
* Fall 2003: Universal announces that Kongfrontation will be replaced by an indoor roller coaster based on The Mummy; The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show closes.
* May 25, 2004: Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride opens, replacing Kongfrontation.
* October 2004: Halloween Horror Nights takes place in both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
* February 2005: Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way closes.
* Spring 2005: Universal Express Plus is introduced.
* April 30, 2005: Nickelodeon Studios closes.
* May 2005: Fear Factor Live opens, replacing The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show.
* Spring 2006: Delancey Street Preview Center opens in the New York area.
* July 4, 2006: Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular opens, replacing Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular.
* Fall 2006: Animal Planet Live is closed, and replaced by Animal Actors on Location.
* September 2006: Universal quietly closes half of Back to the Future: The Ride in preparation for its closure. Rumors range that the ride will be replaced by either a Simpsons or a Fast and the Furious themed ride.
* October 2006: Halloween Horror Nights returns to Universal Studios Florida for its "Sweet 16".
* March 30, 2007: Back to the Future: The Ride closes.
* April 2007: Universal confirms that Back to the Future: The Ride will be replaced by a Simpsons ride, with a planned opening of Spring 2008.
* June 6, 2007: Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre opens in CityWalk, replacing Nickelodeon Studios.
* Summer 2007: Universal Express is discontinued, but Universal Express Plus remains in operation.
* November 5, 2007: Earthquake: The Big One closes.
* January 17, 2008: Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! opens, replacing Earthquake: The Big One.
* Spring 2008: Universal announces Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, with a planned opening of Spring 2009.
* May 15, 2008: The Simpsons Ride opens, replacing Back to the Future: The Ride.
* September 9, 2008: The Boneyard closes.
* Fall 2008: StarToons is re-vamped as StarToons: 80's Rewind.
* February 21, 2009: The Universal Music Plaza Stage opens, replacing The Boneyard.
* Spring 2009: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's opening is delayed until Summer, 2009.
* August 19, 2009: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit opens.
2010-present:
* August 2010: StarToons: 80's Rewind is revamped as StarToons Summer Jam.
* October 2010: The 20th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida.
...
Bigger photos? To save server space, the full-sized versions of these images have either not been loaded to the server or have been removed from the server. (Only some pages are loaded with full-sized images and those usually get removed after three months.)
I still have them though. If you want me to email them to you, please send an email to guthrie.bruce@gmail.com
and I can email them to you, or, depending on the number of images, just repost the page again will the full-sized images.
Connection Not Secure messages? Those warnings you get from your browser about this site not having secure connections worry some people. This means this site does not have SSL installed (the link is http:, not https:). That's bad if you're entering credit card numbers, passwords, or other personal information. But this site doesn't collect any personal information so SSL is not necessary. Life's good!