Universal Studios junkies might be looking forward to the new Simpsons ride (unless you've read about how lame it's gonna be) or more likely you're mourning the loss of that long time favorite, the Back to the Future ride.

But never fear, we have a solution. There will be one remaining Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios Japan (USJ to the in crowd) in Osaka. No plans to scrap this have been announced yet, and it was only built in 2001 anyway, so should have a bit of life left with it. So combine your craving for a bit of time travel with your desire for sushi. Problem solved.

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· Final Time Travelers to Board Back to the Future Ride [Ultimate Rollercoaster]
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· Travel Stories in Osaka [Jaunted]

[Photo: Yasashisa]]]> amandak 2007-07-27T09:21:35-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/6/1/95032/17055

Harry Potter fans rejoice, the puberty stricken wizard is coming to Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure to be exact, where Mr. Potter will get his own 20 acre island theme park--The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Author J.K. Rowling, who has been working with a team to make sure the park doesn't stray from the book and films says:

The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed.

The par, which opens in 2009 will let visitors view many locations in Rowling's fictional world, like Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts and the shops in Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and even Hogwarts Castle.

The most important note on all of this? The majority of Theme Park Insider commenters are in favor of Park Potter, and those folks know their theme parks.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park sketches are here. ]]> markj 2007-06-01T09:52:46-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/5/3/161128/6120

A Simpsons theme park conjures up so many possibilities. Herschel Schmoikel Krustofski's version of a theme park, some sort of Mr. Burns inspired nuclear power plant ride, an "Escape Side Show Bob" ride perhaps.

Thus when Universal announced a Simpsons inspired ride was set to open at its two parks in Orlando and Hollywood, California, in the spring of 2008, we thought, how perfectly cromulent.

However, while Universal Studios is indeed replacing "Back to the Future: The Ride" with a Simpsons ride, the company is not exactly thinking big:

According to Theme Park Insider:

Apparently, Universal Studios have admitted that the New Simpsons Ride will be a very cheap re-fit of the Back to the Future Ride, incorporating existing fittings, especially the cars.

The overhaul and relaunch of the ride is to be as cheap as possible due to NBC's Minimal Spend approach.

Also it appears that the voices of the Springfield residents may not all be provided by the original actors.

If you take into account the cost of hiring the "Voice Artists" for each episode of the Simpsons (stupid money) there would be no way Universal would pay that much, so they will be using sound-a-likes wherever possible!

Are you kidding? You get a cash cow like "The Simpsons Theme Park" dropped in your lap and you decide to play "blow 'n go"?

Matt Groening is reportedly involved so let's hold out hope NBC rethinks their approach. After all, Theme Park Insiders did all the brainstorming sessions for them years ago, all the executives have to do is steal one of those ideas and run with it.

[Photo: gthills]

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· Simpsons at Universal [Theme Park Insider]
· The World Dubai [Official Site]]]> markj 2007-05-03T16:14:21-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/