The Simpsons Ride is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando, taking the place of Back to the Future: The Ride. Slated to open in mid-May, the ride is already going through technical rehearsals, and some lucky folks have already been able to ride it. It looks like it’s rather interesting. Short form, without spoilers: The Simpsons spoof theme parks and rides in a theme park ride.
Long form, with some spoilers, from what I’ve read:
[spoiler]The Simpson family travels to Krustyland and travels through the various attractions. However, the ride vehicle is powered by radiation, and what’s worse, Sideshow Bob has escaped and is searching for the Simpsons. Will trouble ensue- of course it will! It’s the Simpsons! The waiting area also spoofs theme parks (and contains a cameo appearance by the ride’s former tenant.
Based on the links, the preshow explains the fate of the BTTF ride in a Simpson equivalent of Mr. Toad giving the deed to Toad Hall to Owl:
Attempting to save the Institute of Future Technology, Prof. Frink travels back through time in a DeLorean- and ends up killing the loan officer who is signing the Institute over to Doc Brown (voiced by Chris Lloyd himself). Great scott!
I was hoping it might be a rollercoaster/diorama ride, but it’s just a flight simulator (:(), which I’m not a big fan of (though I hope it’s better than B2tF, which was way too jerky in its movements).
But in the catapult game, there are 3 not-quite-familiar characters: Senator Whitehair, Senator Talkgood, and Senator Pantsuit.
I saw the queue film in rough format a few months ago.
My favorite part is when Krusty thanks the patrons for coming to his theme park so he can afford to keep buying suits made out of pages from Abe Lincoln’s diaries.
You’ll also see the weird Japanese commercial with Homer’s floating head and an ad for the Canyonero while waiting. I love the Canyonero.
For those of you who like to look at things, aren’t bothered by spoilers, and/or don’t live near a Universal park and probably won’t go on this thing (I fit in all three categories), here are some more SPOILER links for you, including RIDE VIDEOS!:
I’m so big of a Simpsons fan, I’m kinda disappointed.
I’d want to have an Itchy and Scratchy Land, Duff Gardens, and many of the other fun-filled attractions set in Springfield before this lame rip-off in Universal Studios.
