Florida News: The best attractions that were sadly closed at Universal Studios

With the park looking to be more modernised and enter the world of different franchises, many new attractions have opened up at Universal Studios Florida.

This means that over the years, we have seen many iconic rides and shows lose their place at one of the best theme parks in the country. 

Here, Florida News Blitz writer Luke Maddison takes you through the best attractions that were sadly closed at Universal Studios. 

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - Attraction closed 2025

With demolition underway already, this ride is the most recent closure at Universal Studios Florida.

Opening in 2009, the roller coaster offered a unique experience where riders could select their own song to listen to during the ride. 

The coaster had a height of 167 feet and a length of 3,800 feet, with a maximum speed of 65mph. 

It was one of the most intense rides at the park, and many fans were sad to see it go. 

As seen in a YouTube video from Andrew Platt, Universal ensured the ride was honoured on the final day with a tremendous send-off.

Last riders received special merchandise, including guitar picks, VIP lanyards, and Polaroid pictures of them after their final encounter with the coaster.

With the replacement still unknown, it will need to be something special to compete with the popular Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

Shrek 4-D - Attraction Closed 2022

Opening in 2003, this ride allowed you to team up with Shrek and his magical friends to rescue Princess Fiona in an animated adventure like never before. 

This attraction would be one of the first things you’d see when entering the Universal Studios gates and would have definitely been many people's first ride of the day. 

Grabbing your green 3-D glasses, watching the pre-show, and then defeating the spirit of Lord Farquaad is ingrained in the park's history. 

This ride was so loved that petitions by theme park-goers were launched on change.org.

Unfortunately, the ride closed in 2022 and made way for Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. 

Minion Blast has had very mixed reviews since its arrival, with many people asking whether it really needed to replace Shrek.

After being open for nearly 19 years, Shrek 4-D will live on in the memories of anyone who had the chance to experience it. 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tampa Bay news: Busch Gardens’ top seven roller coasters

Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue - Attraction Closed 2016

Our first show on the list, Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue, was a high-energy rock show featuring popular horror characters.

Beetlejuice gave the public one of Universal’s best shows, featuring the Wolf Man, Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Bride of Frankenstein. 

Full of comedy and music, the 2006 version of the show ended up winning the Big E award from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)

As it grew older, the 2014 version wasn’t well received, which ultimately prompted a change due to popular demand. 

The final Beetlejuice show was in January 2016, making way for arguably the worst Universal ride of all time, Fast & Furious - Supercharged.

Supercharged has been widely considered one of the worst rides due to its poor visual effects and boring storyline, showing that sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for. 

Even though his attraction has been gone for nearly ten years now, Beetlejuice can still be seen lurking near Universal’s Horror Makeup show!

Jaws - Attraction closed 2012

This attraction was, without doubt, one of the most legendary parts of the theme park for many years.

Made after the 1975 Jaws movie, this was a boat-based attraction where you would come face-to-face with a deadly mechanical shark. 

This was a classic ride for anyone at any age, but it did have its faults along the way.

Technical problems plagued the ride from the very start of its 1990 opening, leading Universal to shut it down that same year. 

Reopening in 1993, the fully redesigned Jaws had 19 great years at the park before permanently closing in 2012. 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley replaced Jaws, and it was one of the better substitutions that Universal has made. 

If you miss Jaws like we all do, you can still snap a selfie with the hanging shark in the San Francisco area of the Florida park!

Back to the Future - The Ride - Attraction closed 2007

Gone, but never forgotten. Back to the Future - The Ride is the oldest closure on our list, but one of the most special. 

Created to honour one of the greatest films of all time, this ride will always live fondly in the memory of theme park goers around the globe. 

Doc Brown sent you spiraling through 2015 Hill Valley to stop Biff from altering the future, only to run into problems along the way. 

This attraction opened in 1991, 6 years after the release of Back to the Future, which hit cinemas in 1985. 

The Simpsons Ride eventually replaced this in 2007, another attraction that hasn’t been the most loved by visitors of the park. 

For fans of the iconic ride, it has been rumoured that a new Back to the Future attraction could make a return to the anticipated Universal Studios Great Britain.

As seen on behindthethrills.com, we could potentially see the UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster being built in homage to the old Florida experience. 

READ NEXT: Florida NFL weekend news: Jaguars dominate, Dolphins win in Spain, Buccaneers fall in shootout