# Jurassic Park: The Ride

Jurassic Park: The Ride, also known as Jurassic Park River Adventure, is a water-based amusement ride based on the Steven Spielberg 1993 film Jurassic Park and Michael Crichton's 1990 novel of the same name which the film is based on, located at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida, and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. It was formerly located at Universal Studios Hollywood, which was the original. However, it was turned into Jurassic World: The Ride on July 12, 2019.
The ride was researched and built as the film was still in production and opened at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 21, 1996. Duplicates of the ride have since been built at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Japan as the Jurassic Park River Adventure. A river rapids ride version, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, opened at Universal Studios Singapore in 2010.

## History
### Inspiration

The ride was inspired by a line of scenes from Michael Crichton's 1990 novel when Alan Grant, Lex Murphy, and Tim Murphy try to get back to the visitor center on an inflatable boat. Elements like the Tyrannosaurus rex chasing the boat, two baby Velociraptor (novel)/Compsognathus (or Procompsognathus, film & novel) on a boat from an earlier scene, the pair of Dilophosaurus on the river bank, and the drop (ride)/waterfall (novel), were used on the ride.

### Opening

Jurassic Park: The Ride opened to the public at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 21, 1996. Among the guests in attendance at the ride's grand opening celebration were film cast members. Steven Spielberg also attended the opening, but requested that he be let off of the attraction before the 85-foot (26 m) drop. On August 12, 1996, Universal launched an online game, Jurassic Park – The Ride Online Adventure, to promote the ride. The ride was also the primary sponsor of the infamous "T-Rex" car that was driven by Jeff Gordon in 1997 at The Winston that year; it was banned by NASCAR immediately following the race.
Meanwhile, Universal Studios Florida was looking to build their own version of Jurassic Park: The Ride. But it was later decided it would be placed in their brand new second theme park, Universal Islands of Adventure. The park would feature islands themed to Marvel superheroes, Dr. Seuss, ancient myths and legends, cartoons and comic strips, and more importantly, its own Jurassic Park land. The ride would be named Jurassic Park: River Adventure and feature significant changes compared to the original Hollywood version. On March 27, 1999, Islands of Adventure opened for technical rehearsals, with Jurassic Park: River Adventure being one of its debut attractions. On May 28, 1999, the attraction officially opened to the public along with the park.
During its development, Universal Studios Japan was planning to add their own Jurassic Park: The Ride. However, it would be a mirrored version of the Islands of Adventure version. Japan's version opened on March 31, 2001, along with the park.

### Closure and rebranding

On May 10, 2018, it was announced that Hollywood's version would be receiving a Jurassic World re-theme. The attraction was becoming outdated due to the film's huge success in 2015. Jurassic Park: The Ride would have its last operating day on September 3, 2018; the ride then closed the next day, on September 4. After being closed for 9 months, it reopened on July 12, 2019, as Jurassic World: The Ride.

## Universal Studios Hollywood
### Queue and pre-show

The ride was designed to replicate the atmosphere of Isla Nublar. Guests began the queue by walking under the Jurassic Park Sign before waiting under an open-wall building. A tour guide appeared on television monitors in the building, reviewing boarding and ride safety. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) occasionally appeared on the screens, and music from the first film's score played in the background. Guests were then split into two lines to board their rafts.

### Ride

The raft went up a small lift hill, followed by a small plunge. As the raft entered the main gate into Ultrasaur Lagoon, a mother Ultrasaurus (Brachiosaurus on the ride's promotional website) and her young were seen eating plants and communicating with each other. A pair of Psittacosaurus also grazed and hid in the tall grass. The raft then moved behind a waterfall and entered Stegosaur Springs, where riders see an adult Stegosaurus and its young. Two Compsognathus (Procompsognathus on the ride's promotional website) were fighting over an empty popcorn box before the raft enters Hadrosaur Cove, where a Parasaurolophus popped up and sprayed water at riders. An announcement was heard from Jurassic Park Animal Control, saying that the Parasaurolophus had thrown the raft off-course and caused it to enter the raptor containment area, which riders could see had been heavily damaged.
Riders then encountered an abandoned raft where a Dilophosaurus could be seen with the remains of a poncho between its teeth. A nearby motorboat was also abandoned, sent by Jurassic Park Animal Control to guide the raft towards a safe area, but the Dilophosaurus appeared to have also killed its crew. A Mickey Mouse hat was seen floating in the water next to a ruined raft; it was a jab at Universal Studios Hollywood's theme park rival Disneyland. To the raft's right, the growls of a Tyrannosaurus rex were heard, a heavily damaged tour vehicle is being pushed over the wall and fell, splashing water at the guests—an homage to the first film where Tim Murphy is thrown off a ledge in a tour vehicle.
Two more Dilophosaurus jumped out and spit venom (water) at riders. Sparks and floodlights were added to the effect during nighttime rides.
The raft then entered the Environmental Systems Building and began to ascend a long lift hill. A voice on a loudspeaker alerted guests that an emergency evacuation would be attempted. As the raft progressed up the hill, numerous alarms were heard and two Velociraptors lunged out at riders. When the raft reached the top of the hill, it dropped down a small waterfall, just as a Tyrannosaurus broke through the ceiling and lunged out at the riders from above, accompanied by collapsing pipes.
A technician began counting down when the building's life support systems would terminate (due to "toxic gases" released during the Tyrannosaurus encounter). The raft then climbed a small lift hill that brought it closer to the emergency evacuation drop. A second technician yelled, "If you can hear my voice, get out of there! It's in the building! IT'S IN THE BUILDING!".
The Tyrannosaurus then emerged from a waterfall coming from broken pipes in front of the raft, and lunged down to grab the raft, which escaped by plunging down an 85 feet (26 m) drop into a lagoon outside the Environmental Systems Building, splashing water onto nearby spectators. A Dilophosaurus made a final attempt to squirt "venom" (water) at the passengers. A can of Barbasol was seen in the planter just before the ride ended, a reference to the can Dennis Nedry uses in the first film to steal dinosaur embryos. The raft then made its way to the unloading dock where guests disembarked through the Jurassic Outfitters gift shop.

## Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Japan
### Ride

The ride begins as the raft rises against an elevation, followed by a small plunge. It then enters the Jurassic Park Gate. Japan's version is a mirror of Orlando's, as they operate in opposite directions (for instance, rafts in Japan turn to the right after the small lift hill, as opposed to the left in Orlando).
In the Ultrasaur Lagoon, the visitor encounters a large adult Ultrasaurus/Brachiosaurus which raises its neck high above the riders, then slowly lowers it back near the water to feed. Two Psittacosaurus in the lagoon graze on plants and drink from the river nearby. The raft goes through a cave with water trickling down its sides. Riders then enter Stegosaur Springs, a "volcanic" area like Stegosaurus South in the novel. An adult and baby Stegosaurus stand on either side of the river.
The raft then begins to head toward Hadrosaur Cove. A Parasaurolophus pokes its head up from the water and shoots water from its nose onto guests. Seconds later, another startled Parasaurolophus jars the raft, causing it to drift into the Raptor Containment Area, which is shown to be heavily damaged. Jurassic Park Animal Control addresses riders through loudspeakers, telling them to stop the raft and get to a safe place. (Voice-overs on the ride explain that the Raptor Containment Area was a section that had never been successfully integrated into the rest of the park.)
Off in the jungle area, raptors can be heard rustling the bushes and plants. The raft passes a replica of the Raptor Pen from the film, and branches suddenly move, simulating the creatures' attempts to escape their confines. A large hole is torn in the wires of the fence. Two Compsognathus/Procompsognathus are seen fighting over a bloody crew shirt, and a boat ("CP 25") is seen, which Animal Control sent to guide the riders towards a safe area; the Compies have apparently attacked and killed the crew. The raft heads toward the water treatment plant, where a large crate with a Velociraptor snarling inside falls and nearly crushes the riders.
The riders then enter a warehouse and begin to slowly head up a steep hill into a large building in silence and darkness. The riders then enter a dark tunnel with several pipes near the ceiling. To the right of the riders, there is a shadow of two raptors growling inside a pen. A Velociraptor then jumps out of a dark corner and begins squealing and clawing at a gate sparking with electricity. Another raptor is seen jumping up from a control panel and snarls at guests. As the raft follows a short drop and a turn, sirens begin blazing loudly due to an evacuation. only to stop seconds later. Suddenly, a loud Dilophosaurus squeal is heard, followed by a frill-less Dilophosaurus snarling at the riders. A loud roar then can be heard, and a large three-fingered claw mark can be seen ripping through the wall. Moments after, a few Dilophosaurus jump up beside the raft, spitting their "venom" (water) at the guests. In front of the riders is a couple of flashing lights as well as mist and fog. Seconds later, the head of the Tyrannosaurus rex appears in front of the riders, roaring and growling. As the Tyrannosaurus bends its head down to try to eat the riders, the raft then plunges down an 85 feet (26 m), 51° drop and the on-ride photo is taken. Guests exit the ride via the Jurassic Outfitters gift shop.
On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian severely damaged the show building of the Orlando ride. Reports showed that walls close to the main drop were ripped off.

## Jurassic Park in the Dark

During Universal Studios Hollywood's annual "Halloween Horror Nights", the ride was temporarily renamed "Jurassic Park in the Dark". Most of the lights in the Environmental Systems Building near the end of the ride were turned off, and the ride's original soundtrack was replaced with "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses.