Jurassic World — The Ride Now Open at Universal, Rrawr

New tech, new terrors, and a new T. Rex, too; what's to be afraid of?

What to Know

  • July 12, 2019 official opening
  • Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Included with park admission

It seems like it was only 14 months ago when dinosaurs gnashed and stomped around the Earth, and 150 million years ago, give or take, when we learned that Jurassic World — the Ride would open where the Jurassic Park attraction once stood at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Wait.

Hold on.

Reverse that, for it was only 14 months ago, in early May 2018, when dinosaur devotees learned this gnashable news, and 150 million years ago when T. Rex was king.

Fourteen months can fly faster than a pterodactyl, however, and now, after a year-plus of high-tech, super-detail'd construction, the buzzy new ride is open.

Open as of Friday, July 12, 2019, which is, give or take, several eons after dinosaurs were dinosauring up our home planet.

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But they're here again, in Universal City, inside the state-of-the-art adventure, a reptile-packed escapade that finds its exciting inspiration in the "Jurassic World" movie universe.

Stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and BD Wong are featured in the attraction, which also includes a "colossal" Indominus rex and the splashy-gnashy Mosasaurus.

Well, Universal was the studio behind "just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water." We're feeling it.

And should an H2O-based behemoth gnaw at your curious bone, stay curious, for the ride will also offer a host of amazing special effects straight from Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm.

Adding to all of this mega more-ness, there's even more outside the ride, with a brand-new Raptor Encounter making its dino-strong debut.

Blue'll be the star, as if there's any celebrity above the rascally raptor in our hearts.

Truly, she fills us with claw, that one. Er, awe.

And should you need to nosh or quench your thirst after you square off with some of the most scaly beasties around? Jurassic Café and Isla Nu-bar, which serves a host of tiki beverages, are now open in the ride's near vicinity, in addition to an updated saur called Jurassic Outfitters.

We mean "store," not "saur," of course.

The upshot? All of this dino goodness is a sight for saur, er, sore eyes. Especially when you've been waiting to mosey-saurus by the Universal City theme park to check out one of the most advanced thrill attractions around.

Best shine up that Gyrosphere and roll for Universal Studios Hollywood as quickly as a raptor runs.

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