UniversalParksBlog News for May 14th, 2023
The show must not go on at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, as a classic attraction has closed forever.
We will mourn Poseidon’s Fury and discuss what comes next in this week’s UniversalParksBlog News.
The News That Will Make You Furious
Farewell, Global Discovery Group. pic.twitter.com/4Af5SOVBUM
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) May 10, 2023
UniversalParksBlog previously warned you that this day was coming. Now, it has arrived.
Islands of Adventure has toasted Poseidon’s Fury one last time before closing the show forever.
The final day of the event proved sentimental, as loyal Universal Studios fans mobbed the place.
To Universal’s credit, it anticipated the hefty demand on May 9th, Poseidon’s Fury’s last day in operation.
Universal handed out wristbands for the final performance. You can watch highlights of that show here:
Notably, you only needed the wristband at the end of the day. Before then, Universal offered a standard standby queue.
The wristbands work as a final memento of the popular but expensive show.
Poseidon’s Fury operates several pyrotechnics that turn each performance into a costly endeavor.
For many years, Universal happily paid that price. After all, Poseidon’s Fury opened with the park in 199.
Alas, the pandemic changed management’s opinion about the show’s necessity and bang for the buck.
For roughly two years after the pandemic’s start, Poseidon’s Fury stayed closed even though Universal Orlando Resort reopened within two months.
In hindsight, that decision signaled that fans weren’t pounding the table for the show’s return.
Eventually, Poseidon’s Fury reopened in early 2022, but its popularity had waned. It was an instance of out of sight, out of mind.
Photo:uofanguide.com
So, Universal executives chose to save money by ending the daily performances of this unique experience.
In the wake of Disneyland’s recent Fantasmic! fire, I cannot say I blame Universal, even though the pyrotechnics weren’t the rationale for the closure.
An unpopular, costly show with potentially combustible special effects doesn’t sound like something you’d want at a theme park, does it?
What We’ve Lost and What Comes Next
Even allowing for the two-year closure, Poseidon’s Fury has run for more than 20 years.
Guests at The Lost Continent typically gave the show a chance since it was the only attraction of note at The Lost Continent for most of that time.
During the show, Taylor, the host, utilizes his experience as an archaeologist to show guests a mystical aquatic setting.
Photo: Universal Orlando
Tourists walked through unique sets, including a water vortex that appeared as if you were traveling through a tsunami wave.
Ultimately, the dreaded Lord Darkenon would capture Taylor’s tour participants, leaving them potentially “trapped forever.”
Then, aid came in the unlikeliest possible form as Poseidon, the water deity, rescued everyone. In your face, Lord Darkenon!
The whole thing was impossibly silly and felt like a cheap Indiana Jones rip-off, which it pretty much was. But people loved it anyway.
Now, those same fans are left speculating what comes next, with rumors ranging from the likely to the absurd but fun.
When Universal announced the closure, the details matched a longstanding rumor that park executives sought more space/content for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
So, a reasonable guess would involve Poseidon’s Fury switching into something Potter-related.
The Wilder Rumor
Photo: Facebook/Universal Orlando
However, critics of this proposal point out that an entirely new Wizarding World will debut at Epic Universe in 2025.
Wouldn’t any potential Potterverse show attraction go there instead?
Universal fans who hold this opinion are hoping for something far less likely.
A recent fan film suggested a Legend of Zelda re-theme of Poseidon’s Fury instead.
I’m inclined to dismiss that idea completely. However, in 2020, Theme Park Stop published blue sky plans for that idea. So, it’s impossible, just unlikely.
Whatever comes next, I think we’ll all miss Poseidon’s Fury. Also, it’s super-weird that Universal refurbished a ride in 2022, only to close it in 2023.
Still, that’s a sizable amount of space that has suddenly opened at The Lost Continent…and it’s probably time to wonder whether we will have The Lost Continent in a few years.
At this point, the primary selling point of this entire themed land is Mythos Restaurant. And I’m not joking when I say that.
Miscellaneous Park News
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Universal had added a Mario Bros. work van photo op.
Well, I’m sad to say that Universal has gotten rid of it in favor of…Fast X cars.
Look, I love sports cars as much as the next person, but that Mario Bros. van was awesome.
This…is another reminder that the Fast & Furious franchise is old and tired.
In other park news, the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle has officially closed for refurbishment. One of our park reporters confirmed this the other day.
Photo: Universal
Universal Studios Hollywood is also now selling tickets for Pride Night 2023.
The event occurs on June 8th, and tickets probably will sell out. You should speak with an agent at Let’s Adventure Travel ASAP to ensure you can go.
