How It Works: The Simpsons Ride at Universal

Today's video takes an in depth look at the development and engineering of The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Videos graciously provided by:
‪@attractionsmagazine‬ ‪@TheCoasterViews‬
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Corrections!:
-The number of vehicles per level is wrong, level 1 has 3, level 2 had 5 and level 3 has 4. Thank you ‪@cowmissing‬ for pointing this out.
-Oceaneering didn't do as much as I make it out to be. 😦

[@samraymond4464]

I'm not gonna lie, i rode this about 5 years ago and thought it was just a simulator that just stayed in the first room 😂😂😂😂

[@alyssa_arlert9842]

Don’t worry, I did too!

[@ThemeParkAvenue]

I was shocked to hear it wasn't.

[@Suttonsucksatskate]

Same

[@hunterhorowitz7299]

Same....

[@kioku119]

Isn't that basically still what it's doing even if it lifts you up?

[@ToastGhost]

I certainly have much more of an appreciation for this ride having seen this than when I rode back in 2009, great work.

[@whyjordie]

I rode it in 2009 too!

[@juanandresfuentes1489]

I rode it in 2008!

[@George-ln6vi]

2019 👋😢

[@jamesodonnell01]

I also rode it in 2009!

[@JoeyBlueJ]

Had no clue it was a large theater with multiple vehicles going at once

[@ultimatedisneycruiselinefa5112]

Me neither. I’m impressed!

[@amyrangel9042]

If you look to the sides on the ride, you can see multiple vehicles

[@urofseron]

Wtf, are you blind? Jesus

[@alyssa_arlert9842]

I totally thought for the longest time it was a bunch of small screens, so I’m shocked it’s one theater with many cars! I’ll have to look to my sides to see if I see other vehicles next time I go.

[@thatrandomgirl4574]

Me neither but then my dad pointed to the side and ruined all the magic lol

[@kylerhoag3550]

The work that went into this is astonishing! The editing, the visualization of the ride system, and the whole narration is super well done not just for this video, but all of the stuff you've done in the past to improve. This is the kind of content I don't mind waiting for.

[@ashipper8223]

I rode this in 2012 and my brain completely bought into the technology. It felt completely real to me! (I mean the motion, not the animation!) It's so interesting to learn the amazing creativity and skill that went into making it.

[@TheNJ54]

I am happy to share, I was one of the producers on the visual part of this ride!

[@AmusementLabs]

Oh wow! Hi! 👋

[@Davidnangle2000]

Hi I love your work

[@ChrisPMuffin]

Should’ve worked longer hours lol, very blurry picture makes everyone sick.

[@ChrisPMuffin]

@@keif859 no offense taken, I definitely could not but it doesn’t mean I can’t be a critic. It’s an objectively terrible viewing experience, look at any review of the ride.

[@ChrisPMuffin]

@@keif859 no worries bro 💖

[@broformers6433]

I never knew how much advanced tech went into this ride, now I appreciate it so much more.

[@Katesaprincess]

Every time I go to universal this still remains one of my favorites and it never feels old unlike other rides.😭

[@GilesWells]

I absolutely appreciate all the throwbacks to BTTF that they put into the pre-show elements and ride itself. Doc Brown being in the queue video was a nice touch but that was the most obvious one. During the ride itself, while you're spinning around the town center of Springfield, you can see that one of the buildings you pass isn't one from the show but is in fact the Hill Valley Courthouse that held the clock tower which provided the finale to the first movie. Shortly after that glimpse, and featured in this video at 8:04 but not explicitly mentioned as a throwback, the scene where Maggie replaces her pacifier for your ride vehicle is a direct throwback to the BTTF attraction where you're partially swallowed by a dinosaur in nearly an identical manner.

[@BrandonTisor]

Fun fact, in Hollywood they are now using a single Christie laser projector that can throw wide enough to illuminate the entire dome

[@nemosthebandit]

But does it look better than it did before? Because the few times I went on this ride everything looked washed out like you were watching a really cheap projector in a dim lit room.

[@BrandonTisor]

@@nemosthebandit I haven't watched it in a while, but laser projectors are generally much brighter than conventional ones

[@zachreichgut]

@@nemosthebanditI was there a few days ago and to me it did look very dim and washed out.

[@klownslab8252]

Really, I’ve been there just a couple days ago and it seems pretty bright

[@KoopaKool12]

​@@klownslab8252 Yeah... I think upkeep is a factor in how the projectors work. I watched a pov online and it look great! Everything was crystal clear. And when I went things were good as well. But I've seen other videos that you can barley see anything. Depends on when you go idk...

[@Gtneff]

This is the first/only ride to have ever given me motion sickness/headache. I thought the concept was cool, but the screen was so blurry compared to newer rides and I just got so nauseous

[@CallumStonewib]

Same with us, we went on it as the first ride when we went and both myself and partner had to shut our eyes because of the screen. Very good ride though apart from that

[@Katesaprincess]

This ride didn’t but Harry Potter does every time lol

[@drewdrizzlin]

Facts, literally the only ride that has ever made me dizzy

[@mindshockz]

They need to upgrade the screen!

[@TreyMo69]

Same!!! I've been goin to amusement parks like 4 times a year for 15 years and the Simpson's ride had me on the verge of puking lol

[@jaystarr6571]

I went to *The Kwik-E-Mart* next to the ride and they ACTUALLY short-changed me! I don't know if they did it for realism or if they were simply trying to rip me off.

[@sweetlifeofsydni]

May have been an accident

[@jaystarr6571]

@@sweetlifeofsydni Yeah, maybe. But you never know these days.

[@Trees_Bees_Onesies]

It was probably an accident, hopefully you did the right thing and went back and politely explained the situation. I'm sure they would have had no problem giving you the correct change.

[@freddyrichards878]

Fitting coming from a store being like a certain tv store that does that.

[@tmobreno]

People trash on this ride too much. I loved the Back to the Future ride, but I think the Simpsons is just as good!

[@AmusementLabs]

BttF was good, but it's popularity was wanting which is why they decided to close it. Nothing is forever. Especially since 2015 was rapidly approaching.

[@urofseron]

No

[@hostmoe]

Plot twist, the ride itself is still 100% the same as back to the future. They had to make the animations to match the movements of the cars.

[@AmusementLabs]

@@hostmoe I did think about that, but it doesn't seem they match up.

[@hostmoe]

@@AmusementLabs That's what the builders of the ride said when they did it. I think I saw it on one of those shows on discovery channel or something. It was cheaper to create an animation based on the movements than to completely re-create the whole ride.

[@loffinet1660]

Recommendation to all visitors, Out of all the rides in Universal studios this is the ride that is most prone to make you feel sick. I sadly always skip it.

[@ojll3917]

i thought that was forbidden journey.

[@gracerosegentry3448]

I will never ride this ride again it makes me so sick!

[@lowell101gaming4]

I always skip despicable me or Kung fu panda

[@MrVeniceking]

Same... It caused me nausea. Same with the Harry Potter castle ride.

[@loffinet1660]

Yes Lol Harry Potter is the second ride I also tend to skip, Too much movement going on

[@FIREBRAND38]

Your research into contractors and behind the scenes footage is still the best. I hope you can someday find the same level of background for the old Ghostbusters Show at USF.

[@ambermt]

i’m normally not really prone to motion sickness but this ride made my head hurt

[@deltaluke1498]

So what you're telling me is... it's a big theater with a bunch of carts and NOT a single screen for every cart? Mind. Blown!

[@gallohalt]

I always thought that the simpsons ride could have been improved by adding the more 4d features like in the spiderman ride, so when your cart is skimming over water you could get sprayed with water or when you descend into hell if it turned on a heater for immersion

[@47ratsinahoodie]

The heater thing would be awesome but also not because that's my least favorite part of the Transformers ride in the summer lmao. I'm all for the water spraying tho

[@hotsauce-ud1by]

i thought you did get sprayed but when maggie spits you out

[@user-hr4cz8qd8r]

@@hotsauce-ud1by you do

[@carrevenger31]

I just went on the ride today and it did have water effects for the part of the ride that was on a boat, it might just be a Hollywood thing though. I didn’t notice a heater sensation when you fall into hell though, so yeah, they should add that.

[@autonomousglisteningwater2286]

I remember this ride. It really played with your mind. Gave you a really good illusion you were actually falling and being in motion where you really were just stationary and your cart was just being shaken around. Its not for those with back problems as its really ruff.

[@nicoleelizabeth4270]

I have a perfectly healthy back but it gave me neck problems lol

[@whatstheword3161]

I’ve loved this piece of the park since I was a kid. My father worked for Universal Pictures so I was always at the amusement park back when the ride was back to the future and ET.

[@PrincessAlmondEyes]

This ride made me SO sick. Fascinating to see how it works though

[@spinhero]

I dont know about Orlando’s but Hollywood’s it’s definitely due for an upgrade to projection system, it’s just too blurry/ low HD.

[@damiangort85]

Yes that’s true, I went last weekend

[@nagatokamado1877]

Ours is the same. Blurry af.

[@karlaarana6999]

i kinda like how blurry it is because its the same quality as the show lol

[@lowell101gaming4]

Yeah I agree

[@irenejang6553]

orlando too!! way too blurry and too dim. saturation is too low for the "fun" and "thrill" feeling of the ride.

[@swp466]

Just a couple of quick notes for clarification (at least for the USH version) -- the ride vehicles do not have cameras onboard to monitor the riders. They do, however have IR illuminators in them, but the actual cameras are located behind the perforated screen. These are the flight cameras. There are also cameras in the individual garages to monitor while the ride vehicle is in the home position. Also, the original installation used 4 Sony 10k lumen projectors for each dome, but those were replaced several years ago by a single Christie 60k lumen laser powered projector in each dome. If you rode the ride originally, you would have seen 4 lenses protruding from the projection booth, but currently there is only the one lens.

[@AmusementLabs]

Ah, the projectors someone told be about below, but the cameras I didn't know. It does make sense though cause it's a circle and not a ring. I just figured it's probably a camera since when people post when they get busted filming it seems like they're able to not just say "you in car 7", but "you in the back row on the right". But I suppose that's achievable with just one.

[@swp466]

@@AmusementLabs Yes, there is a flight camera for each ride vehicle that is zoomed in on the individual vehicle. The onboard illuminators make the image very bright and clear for the ride op. They monitor via a single monitor with all the images on it, but if they need to pay closer attention to a single vehicle, then they just punch a button that brings that vehicles camera on full screen. Also, they can page to an individual vehicle, so when they bust someone, they're speaking directly to only their ride vehicle.

[@adrianrocha4361]

This is cool I just drove 16 hours to Florida rn and I've been wanting to go on this ride since I was 6 and I'm going to universal tomorrow

[@RandomStuff991]

Have fun!

[@michaelrotch9773]

update??

[@alanjiimenez]

How was it?

[@adrianrocha4361]

@@alanjiimenez amazing even after waiting in line for 40 minutes

[@alanjiimenez]

@@adrianrocha4361 Ayee good to hear

[@Another_Hacker]

I need to stop letting YT tell me when my tastes and your uploads line up. I haven't even started the video and I've subscribed. This is always going to be good.

[@alextirrellRI]

I liked this video more than riding the ride. Went to Universal for the first time in March -- this might have been my first Motion Sim of the day and didn't leave me feeling great for all the other ones! I remember the screen being pretty dim.

[@adecree]

I went to Universal/Disney for my senior trip so we filled this ride easily, I leaned forward a few times to wave to friends and saw some of the inner workings of this ride 😅🤙

[@averyeml]

When I went back in 2010-2013 or so as a teen my little brother and I both had “the ride.” You know, the one that sticks to you and you want to ride 7,000 times before you leave. His was the MIB ride and mine was this. I was truly disappointed on a level I can’t describe that I never got to see the Back to the Future ride, but this was still a lot of fun.

[@Taniere]

This ride is a lot of fun. The drop feels real 🤭

[@thirstaev]

whenever i go on this ride and rides like these i always look around the attraction and it’s so cool. i love seeing the carts next to mine just move

[@rainpluh]

when I was a kid, I thought that the whole first part where the coaster car lifted up to the main simulation area was actually a real part of the whole thing, and they were their own rooms. convincing overall, made me fall for it.

[@AmusementLabs]

Many years ago when I first saw POVs I did too! It's very realistic. Figured it was a set.

[@rainpluh]

@@AmusementLabs we're in the future now lol

[@MARVEL_KING1114]

ngl, this is one of the top 3 rides at universal. short line, fun, not too much movement but still lots of movement

[@mayalovesloona]

i remember not riding because i ended up crying in the lobby out of fear

[@flyhighlittlebirdie]

It's definitely interesting to see how the ride works. I knew there were other vehicles to the sides because I had seen them while on the ride, but didn't realize there were three levels. Unfortunately, this ride makes me extremely nauseated and is the only one in either park that I won't ride

[@jellylife4766]

This ride had to be my favorite especially at the end when it smelt like baby powder it was so strange but awesome!

[@benjamindenton]

There's me thinking the side walls went up and down.

[@children3146]

I went on this ride about 9 times and I recently went and if you turn to your right or left you to see the other carts going at the same time, I've seen it. You are correct, it is a giant theater

[@PenguinYayOne]

Wow, they even kept the DeLoreans' gull-wing doors in the Krusty carts.

[@boomiconic]

i love how i rode this ride 10 years ago when i was 3 and i still have nightmares from it

[@nucleardino8992]

What part scared you the most? Just curious

[@TheCoasterViews]

Nice job on this video, Thanks for using our clip.

[@AmusementLabs]

Is that okay? I thought I had left a request, but I guess it didn't go through.

[@TheCoasterViews]

@@AmusementLabs No problem, happy to support your channel, thanks for the credit.

[@AmusementLabs]

@@TheCoasterViews oh okay, thank you. 🙂 I was trying to send you an email about clip use, but it bounced back. Do you have a preferred email? It was basically saying "is it okay if I continue to use some clips in the future as long as they're credited?"

[@rainityyy]

I love this ride, so excited!

[@Davidnangle2000]

Always wanted to know how this works thanks for posting

[@Happymali10]

1:39 You can see where they ran out of interest when painting the large showbuilding.

[@DryEyeBuilds]

Couldn’t find them all, but I found: 0:45 D 2:40 O 3:33 H 6:14 O Hope this helps somebody find the completed code!!

[@samueltrinh1668]

The Simpson's ride is one of my favorite rides at universal studios Hollywood

[@seanoneill5799]

0:24 - Are you kidding me? During the ribbon cutting ceremony they led of with LISA???? That's like starting off with Meg or Nickelback.

[@hundredfaye618]

8:57 Krusty only presses the Emergency Button in Florida, in Hollywood, he instead takes the on-ride photo.

[@adia123]

After seeing this video definitely makes me wanna go to Universal studios cause Its been such a long time and looks really fun to be honest !

[@arayogi]

This was the only ride that has ever made me sick to my stomach!

[@syrazollmann2058]

Same!!

[@gioishere]

Really? I never felt nauseous at all

[@vincents_GH0ST]

same it made me motion sick and nauseous

[@Trey_816]

The line, "Hey, Nerden-heimer!" is so great! I had to write that one down.

[@alex_thegreatt07av71]

BTF ride “You foiled my plans for the last time” Bart “ You soiled your pants for the last time 🤣”

[@colby6893]

One of the few rides that makes me motion sick. Especially when i look around and see all the other cars.

[@malxredleader]

I had no idea about the linear sled! Thank you for the awesome video as always!

[@dennyr4847]

Great video! But this ride never fails to give me motion sickness 😂

[@sparkles5789]

I went on the ride and it was scary but I didnt get motion sick somehow

[@Blocky_Frog]

When I was first going on the ride I was kinda nauseous and after being on it I actually felt like 20x better somehow

[@bigk777]

When the ride first came out in California. They got a TON of complaints that the ride was too jarring and people got hurt or were quite sore after riding it. I've heard the ride was toned down a bit since it's launch and not so aggressive.

[@alextirrellRI]

I rode it a few months ago for the first time -- if it's been toned down, the original must have been pretty scary. I felt pretty knocked around in its current version.

[@carrevenger31]

I went on the ride today and I’m not sure if my mind is messing with me but it felt way rougher. I’ve only been on the Simpson ride 2 times after all with today being the 2nd time. So I think they might have perhaps toned the sensations back up to increase thrill. I did sit in the front row this time unlike the first time when I sat in the back row, so that might be the issue instead?

[@MrSirSquishy]

I've never watched the Simpsons but I loved this ride!

[@dowhado5518]

Perhaps The. Best. AMUSEMENT. Ride. EVER. Laughed so hard I didnt think I could catch my breathe. Thoroughly entertained and galvanized. Commend Project Development and hoot and half scripting. The Simpson's Ride or cartoon is much like Life. Where you start is not neccessarily when you finish. Bitchen experience. Maggie Saves The Day!

[@weresofansie1457]

My dad loved this ride, my mom got motion sick, my siblings were too young to know what the Simpsons was, and I think my mind was elsewhere…

[@dc4525]

omg best ride I still remember this like it was yesterday

[@A22DNAL]

I am so late to the game by just riding this in 2021 but when I tell you this ride was soooo much fun! I loved it so much, I rode it twice!

[@PianoDisneygal10]

I love this ride so much! The first time we went to Universal Florida, we went on it like 3 times at least!

[@tanner4214]

Why has the screen projection become so dark after so many years??

[@imani8261]

i was wondering the same, i remember first riding this in 2014 and i remember it being much brighter and lively

[@KyokiPon]

I loved this! Rode it back in 2010 with my mom and my sister and we all thought it felt super real!

[@Palmtreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

Rode this in 2017, now I saw that 3D model of that green life thing, I was right to be terrified to find out the ride goes up

[@FancyAlly]

I really enjoyed riding this last year

[@Hawkster78]

rode on it today in orlando - funny when you here thru the speaker the word „delorean“ 😂 before the show starts ….

[@GMoney-B]

I love your videos. They are very well done, and I like your script writing wit and music at the end. Makes me think of just wonderful fun and good times. Good stuff man! :)

[@internetgalaxy8756]

I remember this being the first ride I ever got stuck on

[@pault5557]

AWESOME! You got incredible footage of the hydraulic system and I appreciate the animation showing exactly how it works!!!

[@Brian-bq8tj]

I miss the back to the future ride but the the simpsons ride is great been on it at least 40-50 times since it opened.

[@armanchermakyan9924]

My parents always told me that this ride is only powered and montioned by a large spring... now I know the truth behind the scenes of this ride

[@lovelightstarboy]

This was by far my favorite ride at Universal in Florida, and the only ride that I truly miss. Aside from the Spider-Man one that was also similar to this. It was just so fun and also humorous!

[@elizabethcastro5756]

Thank you for the video

[@Jonesingforever]

It is the exact same ride motion that was used when it was set up as Back to the Future. They just made a new Simpsons animation to match the pre-programmed car motion. What a way to save money.

[@someguy9778]

lol...that's lame.

[@FeloniousGru20104]

@@someguy9778ur lame

[@XxSaranayxX]

The ride actually got interrupted the first time I rode it, so I got to see everything with the lights on!

[@Emerii1]

When I went in 2016 the screen was dull and had flickers. I guess the projecter was on the fritz... I was kinda surprised they didn't replace it when it first started showing issues. I guess they eventually replaced it or we wouldn't be watching this video lol

[@AmusementLabs]

Apparently they now use one single laser projector with a custom lens. Much more efficient and throws light with ease and brightness/lux/lumens.

[@abbielawrence1388]

this ride fucked my back up soo much im still in pain today i went on the ride feb 2015

[@ReddKnight10]

I’m a huge Simpsons fan and this ride was so fun

[@therandomnessfacility9948]

If there are multiple carts in the done at the same time, couldnt people see the real floor and other cars in the dome?

[@InflatedBanana]

By the way on that last drop part where marge says: “this is the part where they take your picture!” Is not when the take your picture, It takes your picture when krusty says: Hey! What does this do?!”

[@lindsaybaptiste2417]

For the death drop part, how does the technology work to give you the sense that you’re falling?

[@jimboswamps5602]

Your eyeballs. If you close your eyes you don’t feel anything.

[@exiles4503]

@@jimboswamps5602 thats what I like about it I'm so scared of rollar coasters I wish I could just close my eyes but I could still feel the drop but in 4d I could actually close my eyes

[@carrevenger31]

@@jimboswamps5602don’t they have air blowing in your face to make it feel like you’re dropping fast though?

[@boca.firefighter.videos]

Can you do the aqua coaster in volcano bay at universal

[@Sulucion6Tone]

Everyone i know that goes on this ride feels like crap or has a headache for hours after. I myself felt sick and had to sit down for an hour after i went on it.

[@wise_soul8886]

*all this time i thought it was an actual rollercoaster*

[@scottpeckham]

Last week, I had the pleasure of getting all motion stopped for the entire ride and stayed on the cart post-ride due to a sensor getting damaged. I didn't ride again after that, but I'll be sure to hit the ride next time I go.

[@katiej3873]

the projection is so real that its like im moving!

[@kenolsen13]

Not sure how it is in Hollywood, but the Simpson’s Ride in Orlando actually has 5 ride vehicles on the middle level, and 4 on the third level. Also the projectors are located on the third level, which is why that level is so much more colder compared to the other two so they don’t overheat.

[@swp466]

That's the USH layout also. 1,2,3 on level 1; 4,5,6,7,8 on level 2; and 9,10,11,12 on level 3 with the projection room between the garages for 10 & 11.

[@TheThemeParkJunkies]

Really wish they would bring back to the future back. It was way better than the Simpsons ride.

[@ethanfoss6801]

Ooh! A roller coaster! I’m scared dad!

[@DONjamaicanDIVA]

When I went to universal last week we got on it for the last ride of the night. Where we sat we were able to see all the other cars in the large imax room. It was definitely a different feeling seeing how big the room was

[@fireproofline]

Great video just one quick correction. Level 2 is actually the one with 5 cars while level 3 has 4 per dome.

[@AmusementLabs]

Oh, well TIL

[@anonymous-jj3cw]

this I think is my favourite ride and it was made so long ago

[@randomuser1567]

That ride gave me a HELLish Headache And i love rollecoasters

[@alexgoestosleep8123]

For some reason It became my favorite 4d ride

[@jerrym2513]

I’ve been waiting for this episode for a long time, yes!!!

[@Wallowsiskeepingmealive]

I loved this ride it was so cool and fun. There was barely any line since it was a rainy day in January

[@disliked1390]

I did this one. Cool ride had a lot of fun. Was around there when the Simpsons movie came out i think

[@Dragonk116]

I freaking love the ride, having an entire simulator room to yourself.

[@rmannayr2129]

THE SIMPSONS RIDE IS JUST AS GOOD AS BACK TO THE FUTURE RIDE!

[@Richs_reef]

I really enjoyed this ride when I went to Orlando 5 years ago