Twister...Ride It Out: A Storm of Thrills at Universal Studios Florida
In the history of Universal Studios Florida, one attraction stands out for its immersive special effects and the sheer thrill of experiencing a simulated tornado: Twister…Ride It Out. Based on the 1996 blockbuster film "Twister," this attraction captivated guests for nearly two decades, from its opening in 1998 to its closure in 2015. It was a staple of Universal Studios Florida, terrifying guests and becoming a go-to attraction for many families. Even though Twister…Ride it Out is just a memory, its impact can still be felt in current and upcoming Universal attractions. This article delves into the history, design, and legacy of Twister…Ride It Out, exploring why it remains a beloved memory for many theme park enthusiasts.
From Ghostbusters to Twister: The Genesis of an Attraction
Before Twister…Ride It Out took guests by storm, the building that housed the attraction was formerly home to Ghostbusters Spooktacular, a show themed to the Ghostbusters franchise that was featured at Universal Studios Florida's grand opening on June 7, 1990. By the mid-1990s, the popularity of the attraction had significantly declined, and its final show took place on November 8, 1996. Looking through their modern library for something to replace the Ghostbusters, Universal zeroed in on Twister. While that choice may seem somewhat out of left field today, it certainly wasn’t in 1996. Twister - an “epic disaster film” based around storm chasers starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton - was not only the second-highest grossing film of 1996, it also ended the year as the 10th-highest grossing film in history, leading to an influx of “disaster” films over the next several years.
The decision to replace Ghostbusters with a Twister-themed attraction was announced on February 6, 1997, setting the stage for a new era of immersive entertainment at Universal Studios Florida.
Simulating the Unpredictable: Designing the Tornado Experience
Creating a realistic tornado experience was no easy feat. To accurately simulate a tornado, Universal Parks & Resorts entered talks with tornado meteorologists to discover the actual sights, sound, and feel of the experience. It was necessary to generate constant winds of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) for a full size effect generation. The sound of thunder was piped through 54 speakers powered by 42,000 watts, enough to power five average homes. The roar of the tornado was made of a combination of camel sounds, lion roars, backward human and animal screams. More than 65,000 gallons of water would simulate the rainstorm and could be ready for the next show every six minutes.
Universal brought in meteorologists, tornado experts, and wind-flow experts Cermak Peterka Petersen. With their input, Universal Creative was able to develop a theater show that utilized a system that could “generate constant winds of 35 miles per hour” for a full tornado size effect generation.
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The creative team meticulously recreated iconic scenes from the movie. Key scenes from the film, such as the destruction at Wakita, Oklahoma, and the Galaxy Drive-In assault, were recreated through props like Aunt Meg's wrecked house and the "Barn Burner" bus, immersing guests in the story's world of relentless pursuit and narrow escapes.
A Rocky Start: Opening Day Delayed
Originally slated to open in March 1998, Twister…Ride It Out faced an unexpected delay. Days before the grand opening, an outbreak of tornadoes tore through the nearby Kissimmee area. Over a three day period, 15 tornadoes tore through the area, killing 42 people, injuring 259 more, and causing nearly $200 million in property damage.
In the wake of the February 1998 tornado outbreak in Central Florida, which killed 42 people and injured 250, the attraction’s opening was delayed by a month to May 4, 1998.
The attraction officially opened to the public at Universal Studios Florida on May 4, 1998, following a two-month delay prompted by devastating tornadoes that struck Central Florida in February of that year.
Despite the somber circumstances, Universal Studios used the opening to support the community. During its opening year, staff members performed a demonstration of the attraction experience inside the wind truck. Officials also donated $100,000 to the victims.
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The Attraction Experience: A Journey into the Storm
Guests first pass under the entrance and make a right turn, selecting either the Express line or the standard line. In the first half of the queue, guests bypass some studio props in an enclosed area behind the New York facade. A variety of songs are heard on the speakers in the area. Other visitors can see the guests bypassing the queue in the windows. There are some exit doors that guests can take if they decide not to experience the attraction. This can only be used if they are taking the standard line. A cow imprint in a metal bay door in the wall is shown on the left side. On the right side, there are Steven Spielberg, Bill Paxton, and Helen Hunt director chairs. From time to time in the attraction's later years, guests can hear the roars coming from the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Guests make a left turn and enter the second half of the queue, which takes place outside in a small mock-up of the Oklahoma town of Wakita.
The queue line was an attraction in itself, designed to immerse guests in the world of "Twister." The queue did what some of the best Universal attractions do,” remembers Andy. “It started with the behind-the-scenes story and then suddenly put guests in the middle of it.”
As guests walked through the queue, they saw dozens of movie props, including the Wakita, Oklahoma sign, the “Barn Burner” bus and Dorothy (the weather tracking device from the film). There was even a giant cow that would moo when you pressed a button. In this area, guests can watch real tornado videos on the television screens. Each video begins with the location and date being shown as a sound effect can be heard. There are two types of sound effects, with one being horror-like wind blowing and the other being inspired by the Jurassic Park opening theme. In addition, the television screens show tornado facts that guests can read while waiting in line. Each fact features a symbol being shown on the upper left side and a tornado background. Some of the facts include debris flying across the screen. Occasionally, the Twister logo will be shown on the screens as Bill Paxton can be heard telling guests to follow the safety instructions. Guests can find an Esmoo's Dairy sign above some haybales. They are greeted by a Wakita sign, which is followed by a damaged rectangular New Channel 4 billboard featuring a map and a lady. A plastic talking cow can be found in the queue line. When guests press the button, the cow will moo and say "Drink Esmoo Milk. Fresh from the farm to your fridge." There are signs of the Fujita Scale that feature tornado pictures and description. Each picture has the location, date and type of tornado. DOROTHY II can be seen near the waiting area.
Before entering the main show, guests were ushered into a preshow area. As guests walk into Soundstage 50, there will be more props, such as a piano and road signs. The Twister soundtrack can be heard in this room. There are two large screens and two smaller ones in front. The beginning of the film will be shown on the screens first. When the scene ends, the Twister logo is shown. Guests next walk into a new room which is a model of Aunt Meg's damaged house after the twister. As guests walk into the kitchen, televisions are seen impaled into the wall, as if by tremendous force. There is a Hidden Mickey on one of the car wheels on the ceiling. Paxton and Hunt appear on the televisions and talk about the extreme experiences while filming Twister, such as enduring the blasts of jet engines, having bits of chopped-up ice shot at them to simulate hail, and even having a gas tanker dropped in front of them and explode. They also mention that during filming, actual tornadoes started touching down south of the filming locations. Paxton in particular claims that the role leaves one in fearful awe of tornadoes and the terrible power they can unleash. The moment they finish, a thunder sound effect is heard as the televisions start to static and tornado warning sirens begin to blare. Inside the main showroom, a message is playing telling guests to get out of the house as television screens show the Channel 5 News report, with a weather anchor issuing a tornado warning.
The main show was a technological marvel, creating the illusion of a real tornado. Guests are eventually led onto a set resembling the Drive-in theater scene from the movie. They line up in three separate rows on a tiered observation platform under a corrugated metal roof, overlooking an authentic sound stage outdoor scene featuring a view of the rural Galaxy drive-in theater and the Rocket Hamburgers diner at dusk as dark clouds roll overhead. Ambient night sounds and a dog barking from a distance can be heard as music plays from the diner. Suddenly, a tree gets struck by lightning, scenes from The People Under the Stairs appear on the drive-in movie screen, sirens sound briefly, strong winds are simulated, and rain falls seemingly from the sky. A small light from a flashlight can be seen moving inside the diner, as well as voices from a family within the restaurant screaming to get inside. A projected tornado drops from the sky and forms in the background. It turns and destroys the drive-in theater. Another tornado appears on stage five stories tall and twelve feet wide. Sparks of electricity come out from the bottom of a power transformer. The glass on the Rocket Hamburgers window shatters and as the sound effect is heard, water spits behind the guests. Dorothy, the name given to the weather device in the film, flies out of the back of a Jeep J10 (a replica of Jo's truck from the movie) as lightning flashes. The Jeep itself rolls out of its parking space and hits a fire hydrant, causing water to spray out. The Galaxy Drive-in sign rips away and crashes inside Eric's garage, followed by a prop cow flying by guests paying homage to a scene in the film. The roof of the observation platform moves as if it will be torn off, being pulled upwards. A Dodge Ram (a replica of Bill's truck from the movie) parked in front of the garage slides toward gas pumps, hitting one causing gasoline to leak. Sparks from the truck's impact can be seen starting a fire, which merges with the tornado creating a fireball that erupts three stories. As the twister dissipates, the roof falls down above guests, and the floor below gives a sudden, short drop giving guests a final scare. Bill Paxton thanks everyone for surviving Twister, directing them to exit to their left through the "Aftermath" gift shop.
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A Lasting Impact: Legacy and Influence
Twister…Ride It Out was an instant hit with thrillseekers, as many praised the elaborate theming and special effects. Within the first few weeks of operation, the wait times were approximately three hours long.
Beyond the thrills, the attraction also had a significant impact on the careers of many who worked on it. It was the gateway that led many to being both an HHN and theme park fan. The more they went back to the experience, the more they became fascinated with how it worked. And they were not the only ones who pursued a career at Universal thanks to this attraction.
Even though it looked like a tornado had haphazardly destroyed the room, there was intention in what fell where. The car in the ceiling was stuck at a specific angle, which meant the roof pieces needed to appear broken in the same way.
Twister…Ride it Out blurred the line of implied peril in a way few theme park attractions can.
The End of an Era: Closure and Replacement
In early 2015, rumors began to spread that Twister: Ride It Out would be replaced by an attraction inspired by Jimmy Fallon. Over the years, it had become outdated and one of the park's least popular attractions. The film it was based on lacked long-term cultural significance, and the cost of operation was expensive.
On October 27, 2015, Universal Studios Florida announced that Twister: Ride It Out would not reopen for the 2016 season. The final day of operation was November 1.
In November of 2015, Universal closed the attraction for good, announcing it would be replaced by the much more “current” Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon 3D simulator attraction, which opened in 2017.
Remembering Twister: Tributes and Collectibles
Even after its closure, Twister…Ride It Out remains a beloved memory for many. There is a tribute to the attraction in the windows of the ride facade behind the queue. The items include Bill Paxton's light blue shirt, a stapler that reads B.
In a window display of the Jimmy Fallon attraction featuring elements of NBC's broadcasting history, there are multiple references to the former Twister attraction including one that honors Bill Paxton, who died on February 25, 2017, shortly before the new ride's debut. It includes Bill Paxton's light blue shirt that became synonymous with the actor's performance in a video displayed in Twister's pre-show queue. Other references include a stapler on a nearby desk labeled "B."
For some, the memory lives on through collectibles. Official merchandise, including posters, T-shirts, and plush toys like the flying cow, remains popular among collectors, often traded on secondary markets as symbols of the attraction's enduring appeal.
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