How A Universal Show Defied All Theme Park Logic

In the world of amusement parks and theme parks, Universal Studios has always been a name synonymous with innovation, creativity, and immersive experiences. From Universal Studios Florida to Universal Studios Hollywood, and even the highly anticipated Universal's Epic Universe in Orlando, their commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment has never wavered.
Join us on a thrilling journey as we delve into the heart of Universal Studios and explore how this powerhouse in the theme park industry defied all logic to create unforgettable attractions and shows. From the adrenaline-pumping rides at Islands of Adventure to the iconic WaterWorld stunt show at Universal Studios California, Universal has redefined what it means to be a theme park. From explosive stunts to jaw-dropping water effects, you'll witness the magic that captivated audiences for years. Explore the legacy of Universal's WaterWorld Show and how it continues to push the boundaries of theme park logic.
Discover the secrets behind the scenes of Universal Orlando Resort, the birthplace of epic adventures, and get a sneak peek at what's to come in the eagerly awaited Epic Universe Orlando. Learn how Universal Studios Los Angeles became a global phenomenon and what makes their brand of entertainment truly universal. Prepare to be amazed by the world of Universal Studios - where fantasy becomes reality, and where the word "impossible" is simply not in their vocabulary. Don't miss this deep dive into the magic, innovation, and sheer audacity that has allowed Universal Studios to create experiences that defy all theme park logic.
Sources:
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The Purge Dangerous Waters Halloween Horror Nights 2023 Universal Studios Hollywood: • The Purge: Dangerous W...
Twitter: / attractionidea

[@brandontrue813]

I was a team member at Universal for a summer. Whenever guests asked me "any tips?" my #1 thing was GO SEE WATER WORLD!! Nobody talks about it, but it's a fantastic show - lowkey the best thing in the entire park. They always do a great job maintaining the hundreds of effects (Seriously, this show has been around forever and everything still works!) and all the actors just chill backstage with the rest of us team members and they are all great people. The main walkway into the park for team members goes right behind the show - you are allowed to stand right next to the skyplane and watch it do the catapult launch from backstage - super cool experience :P. If you're ever in the area, don't miss this thing. Legendary show. Also, the funniest thing at USH is that we get so many international visitors over the summer that don't speak English, a lot of the gags in the show fall totally flat, but it makes it WAY FUNNIER. There's a bit when the Deacon rides in for the first time where he tries to hype up the crowd, and everyone is supposed to boo. (he's the bad guy). I've been in several showings where like 70% of the crowd gets totally hyped up as the villain comes in and then they get all confused and realize their mistake as he starts torturing Helen LOLOL

[@ParkMind]

Waterworld is a prime example of a quality of an attraction over known intellectual property

[@NostalgiaRant]

Subscriber here, the Mummy could I guess be an example of what you said.

[@ParkMind]

@@NostalgiaRant while the mummy movie on its own was a success the rid definitely brought more popularity to the movie. Similar to WaterWorld, the mummy is a popular attraction in universals resort in Singapore despite the film not doing well in the international box office

[@ParkMind]

@@NostalgiaRant thanks for subscribing

[@AmusementLabs]

I'm pretty sure 99.9% of the audience has never seen Water World. Me included.

[@TheParkitect]

I have seen the show and movie

[@LChatmanFL]

I have only seen the movie. The movie was mediocre.

[@TheJurassicSquadYT]

I've seen the movie. It's pretty good imo

[@cmunoz810]

I have seen the show, it's amazing!!!!

[@omegafire6253]

The show holds its own. It's actually more popular than the movie.

[@Porcf81]

Universal Orlando needs a show like this. It doesn’t have to be the Waterworld storyline, but they need a remarkable live stunt show besides borne. The stunt spectacular shows were a very cool era in theme parks that died off way too soon.

[@Nightwing881]

I think Universal could add Waterworld in where Poseidon's Fury was at Islands of Adventure since they now have the space and they can retheme the shopping and restaurant to waterworld as well.

[@KitsuneKhaos]

I would love this!!!!

[@TheParkitect]

Sindbad is the stunt show that can get themed to WaterWorld, I think Poseidon could turn into a WaterWorld water ride

[@wpaunan]

This is an awesome idea.

[@Leandro-xk3co]

I prefer something actually exiting like Zelda

[@thrillingadventures4164]

​@@Leandro-xk3coWaterWorld is just as exciting mate

[@CarterKench]

I’ve only seen the purge overlay from HHN but it was still amazing

[@IVAtheLT]

Went to Universal for the first time since I was a kid and was blown away. I had fond memories of the Miami Vice show, and had heard good things about Waterworld, but was stunned by the quality. My wife was especially skeptical as to why I made the show a priority and after it was over gave me the glorious "you were right" after 😂 That plane, if you don't know it's coming...🤯

[@WMFilms25]

If they can give Kong his own mini-island at IOA, why not WaterWorld? Like you said, it would (possibly) fit right where the abandoned Toon Lagoon amphitheater is

[@peterhedberg9528]

I got to see both The Jurassic Park the Ride and The Waterworld stuntshow in 1996. Both were absolutely amazing.

[@kieran8792]

Holy crap, a memory of seeing this show when I was younger was just unlocked 😭

[@ottot3221]

With the additional Halloween overlay it would be a perfect addition for Universal Studios Orlando. I'd book a flight to see it as I have never seen the show.

[@seanmulligan4123]

Orlando had T2-3D and now Borne Stuntacular. IOA had the Sinbad show with stunt performers as well.

[@gameboygamer6498]

The Waterworld movie is fucking awesome, yall should give it a try. The movie cost so much to make because the director insisted everything be made with practical effects. They literally built a massive artificial floating island off the coast of Hawaii for the film.

[@Kerplunked_insomniac39]

Still baggles my mind that waterworld manages to live on despite everything, Now since it's lifespan just increased due to being the only stage show at the park, and yet still being popular that it had 4 hhn overlays (slaughterworld and the purge) but i hope it never gets removed.

[@history_leisure]

Flash and Indiana Jones have nothing to do with those movies-they already have pre-existing staying power. Besides, people will forget about The Dial of Destiny if the Animal Kingdom addition does go ahead. As for the Flash, maybe you have a point since that will open by July (probably)

[@JohnTC9]

The closest thing to a Waterworld show that we had at UO was the Dynamite Night Stunt Spectacular located at UO Lagoon. The show was themed to Miami Vice, I enjoyed it but sadly it closed in the year 2000. I have never been to UH but when I do go Waterworld is a must, even though the show opened in parks abroad I strongly doubt they will open 1 in Orlando but I would love to be proved wrong.

[@lyndakorner2383]

The license Universal has in Orlando is limited to only a few Marvel characters, and Black Panther isn't one of them.

[@kirkvandewalker3574]

I should mention I'm jealous of the Universal Studios Japan version as during some years, they've received anime overlays, like a One Piece overlay (which honestly fits!)

[@Spenwall]

Best stunt show ever. I haven't seen it in 20 years but excited to see it next year when I go.

[@KatikaCreations]

I'm honestly shocked that nobody considered doing some kind of Mad Max overlay after Fury Road did so well. Since Waterworld is basically Mad Max in the ocean....

[@Jake_5693]

Wonder if it’ll open at the new park that’s planned for the UK!

[@geralddigioia5161]

11:16 I would love to see Waterworld open up in Epic Universe as a mini land expansion. Like make it the Atoll and open up the Waterworld show there along with a family roller coaster and a thrill tower ride or something, and boy, would it actually work, I think. Still, I liked the movie, I watched it a couple of times and it was good. I think opening that land could be possible.

[@diegovargasdiego]

I love water world, its a must visit every time

[@doubleflores8350]

8:32 why did they feel the need to change part of the show. For those who don’t know, when Deacon was talking about how the mariner poked his eye out, his lackey imitated it by throwing a gold ball into the water before laughing about it, causing Deacon to stand silent for a minute or two, his lacky knocking his forehead and deacon hitting him with his speaker. Why did they need to change this part? It was legit funny, and the new version is really stupid!

[@MotionGoing]

AI CAME BACK FROM HIS CAVE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@karkatvantas7820]

Watched this every time I could when I visited universal

[@javier-m75]

i really like the movie. sometimes its hard to please everyone. seen the water world show 100 times its pretty good

[@cameronsommers2784]

Universal Orlando has already defied logic though they made two of the best roller coasters in the country, had the greatest hits in a while, and is builds an entire new land to expand their current park

[@therealventures]

The show looks incredible. I need to see it in person whenever I visit UH.

[@skycreeper0173]

Super awesome video. I really enjoyed it!

[@graffiti.777]

Bro you gotta talk about The Bourne Stuntacular. That's one of the best shows ever at universal studios!

[@HarvestStore]

Great video.

[@LChatmanFL]

UO does need another great show. EU is out of the question. No need to bring it to Orlando, but... put it where Poseidon is. Save the Toon Lagoon area for either Bikini Bottom & the auditorium area for a Marvel expansion. Maybe a "Marvel Claasic Superhero Celebration" a walk through attraction filled with all the IPs they control (which are biggest ones anyway). You coukd have rare collectible storyboards, behind scenes stories of the creators and their creations, interactive augmented reality experiences, scaled versions of iconic HQs (this is where you slip in the Wakanda props). Would not take up the area of a big coaster & comic book fans would love it

[@joshmaier18]

Wish we can get it in Orlando. It’s not like they don’t have two theaters. Abandon ready to go

[@TheSparks818]

Nice video, but I think you should check your history a little. Back in the day Universal was all about large stadium style shows. There was a semi interactive stadium show where Shrek is now. Conan was in the castle. And Miami Vice was in the Waterworld location. So the Waterworld stadium wasn’t built for Waterworld. It already existed for Miami Vice. And that show was very 80’s and needed updating. So yes, Universal was betting heavy on Waterworld in the theatre and this provided the opportunity to “update” the Miami Vice stadium show. In fact there are many aspects of the MV show that are part of the WW set. The second half of this video seems pretty good, but it would have been nice if the first half focused on the actual real history of that specific location and the MV show before it. That show had the water tower and jet skis and it even had a little hovercraft. It was a great little action show. Keep up making the videos, but I encourage you to dig a little deeper into the history of the park because it’s rich.

[@mikeotway6912]

They should go full circle and turn the ride into a movie

[@alkraus8818]

I saw Waterworld Movie...the movie was horrible. I saw the Waterworld Show...it is amazing!

[@nickgargiulo2055]

We need a room tour!

[@Rachel-xu4br]

I don't think Indiana Jones should be counted as a flop that's being made into a new attraction. Dino USA (that is being taken out) has an attraction named Dinosaur that already has the Indiana Jones vehicles being used in the attraction that comes from California. They were both being constructed around the same time in the 1990s. More than likely the new attraction will either be a copy, or if they do make a different Indiana Jones attraction they'll be more than likely keeping the same rider vehicles. The track is even technically the same layout. So technically they already built a "Indiana Jones", just minus Indy + dinosaurs and a different set. The reason why Water World doesn't exist in Orlando is, because Universal Orlando doesn't need Water World (or at least that's how they feel I think). Orlando is the largest theme park and resort out of all of them. They brought Water World to those other parks since they need to draw people in. That's what Water World was originally made for right? Not just to promote, but to draw people to want to come to the parks. Currently in Orlando, the only original show that exists now is Horror Make Up Show and Blues Brothers. All other stage shows are replaced, or in more cases, simply closed up shop. Beetlejuice was ripped away from us for Fast and Furious. Fear Factor and Sinbad are still rotting right now as we speak. They have space, they just choose not to use it. They got bigger fish to fry in Orlando. Other than the size of the location, one of the reasons why Jaws was taken out for WWOHP was also due to the cost of the explosives they used for the attraction (there were periods when it was turned off due to budget). Which is a big part of Water World's budget, so yeah, I don't think it's coming anytime soon to Universal Orlando. They seem done with stage shows. We're lucky we got T2 replaced with Bourne instead of that place rotting away too. Wish we still had T2, but oh well... I honestly think they just feel like they don't need stage shows like everyone else does anymore, especially with everything going on with the new theme park.

[@jamesl1130]

Waterworld was popular in Asian markets, thus the attraction is still here and in other parks

[@Waterfall.2024]

Nice video 👍

[@mcadr4925]

I doubt it’ll ever come to Florida :(

[@JustinCoasters]

9:00 What about Horror Makeup?

[@andredoesntknow]

I take offense to Deacon not being funny, suspend your disbelief and this is better than the movie and it also depends on what's going recently the jokes have been changed and the comedy has gotten better , I'm an avid fan of the show I know many of the stunt performers of this stunt show

[@SOADGOD]

Hmm they didn't wait 3 years after the movie. The park itself didn't open till years later. So there was no way it was going to open at the same time. Should probably research that part with the point you were trying to make.

[@rebeccasaborio]

I think I’m tripping because I 100% remember a stunt show like this in UO but apparently it’s never been there. I’ve also never been to UH so I’m a bit confused. Has there ever been a similar stunt show in UO in the past?

[@JohnTC9]

I believe you are referring to the Dynamite Night Stunt Spectacular show that was located in the UO lagoon. The show closed in 2000, it was themed to Miami Vice. You can find some old videos of the show here on KZbin.

[@BrandonTyner]

i said this before water world replaces the lost content

[@popcornpizza8869]

Nice

[@AddisonSmith-f7y]

That one is not real 6:38

[@Noodlemonkey7]

Omg I freaking got soaked at Water World in L.A. but the L.A. Universal sucked ass over all. There was a single roller coaster over there. Like WTF 😅!!!?

[@MsMissX]

I saw the show. When I realised there was a movie I got exicted. One problem. It was SO LONG! It might pick up over time but the intro was so long and boring and all I could think of was 3 hours. 3 HOURS of this boring, slow moving movie. So I have never gotten past that point.

[@Roogan86]

First

[@ridehaven]

Your videos never fail to thoroughly entertain me. Please keep up the good work 🫡