The Future of The Simpsons Ride/Springfield (Orlando)

[mccgavin]

Yes, DCA TOT was relatively weak in comparison to TOT at WDW.

Yet, to Disneyland locals and those on the West Coast, it was the only ToT. Many people do not have luxury to visit both coasts, and never had any other version as a frame of comparison. It still had a stunning exterior, a beautifully detailed queue, and the main ride experience primarily in tact. In contrast, once the current version of the MCU becomes outdated, I cannot imagine that this ride will age particularly well compared to the timeless theming of Tower.

Even though I've had plenty of opportunities to experience Florida's ToT since the CA version closed, I still miss it quite a lot.

 

[Sneakman]

Yea, so they remove the signs and minor facade work that was plastered onto preexisting ride, shopping, and dining buildings that were there before Simpsons. And remove the flat ride.

I don’t think it’d do that well with a generic theme really. Idk what they’d even call the area.

I know people here have half jokingly brought up the notion of “turn it back into BTTF”, and as much as I don’t think that is what is happening or probably universal is thinking, Springfield probably could be turned into hill valley on both coasts pretty easily, at least in my opinion. Slap some bttf stuff and could be a new land while keeping the bones. Like that’d ever happen though.
And even if this did happen, the system would probably need to be rebuilt and a new film would have to be made, putting aside the process of turning krustyland back into the institute.

I don’t think it’d do that well with a generic theme really. Idk what they’d even call the area.

I know people here have half jokingly brought up the notion of “turn it back into BTTF”, and as much as I don’t think that is what is happening or probably universal is thinking, Springfield probably could be turned into hill valley on both coasts pretty easily, at least in my opinion. Slap some bttf stuff and could be a new land while keeping the bones. Like that’d ever happen though.
And even if this did happen, the system would probably need to be rebuilt and a new film would have to be made, putting aside the process of turning krustyland back into the institute.

Also at this point I don’t know how much of the “Pokémon potential location” convo is hypothetical vs genuinely real. This convo has brought some genuinely interesting points from multiple people, and I do appreciate that. Who knows, but I am along for the ride.

 

[highdefrex]

I don’t think it’d do that well with a generic theme really. Idk what they’d even call the area.

Alicia isn’t saying they’d strip all the Simpsons stuff and leave it as some sort of land with a generic theme. Reread the conversation: It’s that any and all trace of the Simpsons would need to be gone or covered up by the expiration date; they can’t just close the land and let it sit with Simpsons stuff once that date has passed, hence why it’s being discussed that the land would probably close ahead of the expiration date so that Universal could start removing said traces to be safe.

 

[Sneakman]

Alicia isn’t saying they’d strip all the Simpsons stuff and leave it as some sort of land with a generic theme. Reread the conversation: It’s that any and all trace of the Simpsons would need to be gone or covered up by the expiration date; they can’t just close the land and let it sit with Simpsons stuff once that date has passed, hence why it’s being discussed that the land would probably close ahead of the expiration date so that Universal could start removing said traces to be safe.

Oh ok. That makes sense. That’s what I thought anyway, seems the logical thing to do. The timing of when all comes down to comcast/universal at the end of the day. I apologize, I’ve been slightly confused by this whole thing.

 

[BatCom]

Read WDW Magic Forums and it's pretty obvious that many think they'll ultimately get the Marvel rights for WDW and the results well be as good as the Guardians coaster. It's really just the one ride (Spider Man) and the too plain looking Marvel Campus at DCA that aren't highly thought of. The TOT transformation to Marvel is well received.

I spend probably 90% of my theme park forum reading time on WDWMagic. I guess we're just reading the room differently. I think almost everyone on there would take the DCA ToT back, even though we all admit it was an inferior version.

 

[Mad Dog]

I spend probably 90% of my theme park forum reading time on WDWMagic. I guess we're just reading the room differently. I think almost everyone on there would take the DCA ToT back, even though we all admit it was an inferior version.

I'm guessing our different view is more a mis read of what my original comment meant. I wasn't referring to what Disney has done with Marvel, where they have been able to build it. They really haven't come close to what Universal achieved with MSHI, except Guardians. But it seems to be a fairly large fan faction that believes that Disney will ultimately get it's east of Miss. rights back, sooner rather than later, and WDW will magically build great Marvel attractions (even though their track record isn't all that great). I think it's extremely unrealistic that Universal will give up those valuable rights in the foreseeable future.

 

[Michael S]

Hey everyone. Let’s try to keep the Marvel conversation out of this thread, and keep it focused on the Simpsons/Springfield and its future at USF. Thanks.

 

[HHN Maddux]

Rode Simpsons for the first time since 2022 today just cus it's been a while.

Remind me to never ride this again until its closing day.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Rode Simpsons for the first time since 2022 today just cus it's been a while.

Remind me to never ride this again until its closing day.

I said this about 3 years ago, so I can't imagine what it's like now lol

 

[docholiday]

Bring back International Food and Film Festival you cowards

Defintely in favor of that. Those random Animal House and Harry and the Hendersons clips while waiting for my dad to bring the pizza over.

 

[FBarnhill]

Just because Simpsons may have to close, doesn’t mean Universal has to immediately replace it.

Then a 2nd Universal Plaza, it is.

 

[HHN Maddux]

The one good thing I can say about the last time I rode was that the terrible squeaking that's usually present when the vehicle rises up wasn't there, although maybe I just lucky with a good car.

Besides that though?

• First pre-show that sets up the story not being run at all.
  
  
• In my theater (right side), the second floor had two cars not running.
  
  
• Homer's audio when boarding wasn't playing.
  
  
• Audio on the right side of our car wasn't working.
  
  
• Pre-ride segment with the teen trying to study for his math test constantly being interrupted by "Your ride vehicle will begin moving momentarily", despite the ride of course not even starting yet.
  
  
• Granted this could've very easily been because of another car having to do wheelchair transfer, but boarding also took forever. The teen studying segment was over and we were about 2-3 minutes into the repeating screen of Krusty and the monkey dancing before a TM finally came in to close the ride doors.
  
  
• I cannot preface this enough, why is the car almost always leaning back during the actual ride? That's what kills your back.
  
  
• Please... clean the screen.

 

[TheUniC6]

The one good thing I can say about the last time I rode was that the terrible squeaking that's usually present when the vehicle rises up wasn't there, although maybe I just lucky with a good car.

Besides that though?

• First pre-show that sets up the story not being run at all.
  
  
• In my theater (right side), the second floor had two cars not running.
  
  
• Homer's audio when boarding wasn't playing.
  
  
• Audio on the right side of our car wasn't working.
  
  
• Pre-ride segment with the teen trying to study for his math test constantly being interrupted by "Your ride vehicle will begin moving momentarily", despite the ride of course not even starting yet.
  
  
• Granted this could've very easily been because of another car having to do wheelchair transfer, but boarding also took forever. The teen studying segment was over and we were about 2-3 minutes into the repeating screen of Krusty and the monkey dancing before a TM finally came in to close the ride doors.
  
  
• I cannot preface this enough, why is the car almost always leaning back during the actual ride? That's what kills your back.
  
  
• Please... clean the screen.

Yikes. The fact the ride is in this state proves Universal has no intent of keeping the Simpsons once the contract is up. Part of me even thinks the ride system won't last to 2028 at this point.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

The one good thing I can say about the last time I rode was that the terrible squeaking that's usually present when the vehicle rises up wasn't there, although maybe I just lucky with a good car.

Besides that though?

• First pre-show that sets up the story not being run at all.
  
  
• In my theater (right side), the second floor had two cars not running.
  
  
• Homer's audio when boarding wasn't playing.
  
  
• Audio on the right side of our car wasn't working.
  
  
• Pre-ride segment with the teen trying to study for his math test constantly being interrupted by "Your ride vehicle will begin moving momentarily", despite the ride of course not even starting yet.
  
  
• Granted this could've very easily been because of another car having to do wheelchair transfer, but boarding also took forever. The teen studying segment was over and we were about 2-3 minutes into the repeating screen of Krusty and the monkey dancing before a TM finally came in to close the ride doors.
  
  
• I cannot preface this enough, why is the car almost always leaning back during the actual ride? That's what kills your back.
  
  
• Please... clean the screen.

It sounds like you maybe didn't get a good car because I had none of these issues on my most recent ride lol

(Granted it was in September, but still)

 

[HHN Maddux]

The one good thing I can say about the last time I rode was that the terrible squeaking that's usually present when the vehicle rises up wasn't there, although maybe I just lucky with a good car.

Besides that though?

• First pre-show that sets up the story not being run at all.
  
  
• In my theater (right side), the second floor had two cars not running.
  
  
• Homer's audio when boarding wasn't playing.
  
  
• Audio on the right side of our car wasn't working.
  
  
• Pre-ride segment with the teen trying to study for his math test constantly being interrupted by "Your ride vehicle will begin moving momentarily", despite the ride of course not even starting yet.
  
  
• Granted this could've very easily been because of another car having to do wheelchair transfer, but boarding also took forever. The teen studying segment was over and we were about 2-3 minutes into the repeating screen of Krusty and the monkey dancing before a TM finally came in to close the ride doors.
  
  
• I cannot preface this enough, why is the car almost always leaning back during the actual ride? That's what kills your back.
  
  
• Please... clean the screen.

One more thing: The motion sync felt off by about a solid second, which may not sound like much but it really is all the difference in this.

 

[saint.piss]

Can someone please put this ride out of its misery please. This should've been on the chopping block BEFORE RRR but alas

 

[WebHead1138]

Can someone please put this ride out of its misery please. This should've been on the chopping BEFORE RRR but alas

I love the Simpsons area

 

[TheUniC6]

Can someone please put this ride out of its misery please. This should've been on the chopping BEFORE RRR but alas

Universal knows the Simpsons ride system isn't long for this world hence the current rough shape it's in and no apparent effort to fix it. Hopefully if EU pulls enough guests away from USF for a majority of the year save for HHN, that will compel Universal to shutter the land at some point before the HRRR replacement comes online.

 

[MistaDee]

Hey y'all - as someone trying to catch up on the general status of rumors and what not, is the consensus among insiders/rumor masters still that Pokemon will be coming to replace Simpsons at USF? Any idea on details for attractions etc?

 

[Viator]

Hey y'all - as someone trying to catch up on the general status of rumors and what not, is the consensus among insiders/rumor masters still that Pokemon will be coming to replace Simpsons at USF? Any idea on details for attractions etc?

With the license expiring by 2028, the speculative consensus has stuck to Pokemon. The bigger question is when they'd want to start work on the matter more than if.

I mentioned this before on the USH side--but I think Springfield's gone by 2027. I don't know if it'd be both coasts, but the detheming process is going to be more intricate than that of when USJ closed Spider-Man. And while Universal seemed to have a specific date when they closed Spider-Man in Osaka; I can't help but think due to the scale of the land that they will want to get ahead of the curve.

Honestly my main wondering right now is if we'll get new Sprungs next year to replace the current ones, if the Springfield replacement encroaches into that.