Get up close to dinos from the blockbuster movie series at Jurassic World–The Ride. This next-generation raft ride and attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood ups the ante from its predecessor, Jurassic Park–The Ride, by also offering a mini-land, a Raptor Encounter with the beloved Velociraptor Blue, an interactive DinoPlay area, and a themed bar and restaurant.
The ride has its own serious Hollywood credentials: Its creation was a collaboration between the park’s team, special effects company Industrial Light & Magic, Universal Pictures, filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall, and Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow, who was reportedly a big fan of Jurassic Park–The Ride.
The new adventure puts you on a 25-person boat that takes you through various lands of dinosaurs, including an elaborate tank filled with realistic schools of fish and a temperamental Mosasaurus. (At the entrance, check out the baby raptor and its "handler," plus a life-size Triceratops.) After you’ve encountered all the “friendly” dinosaurs, you’ll see video warnings from some Jurassic World stars—including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and BD Wong—and then have a front-row seat for a showdown between an Indominus rex and T. rex. The ride’s finale is an 84-foot water plunge, captured in a slo-mo video and available for purchase to share directly on social media.
Spoiler alert: You may get a little wet. While you dry off, have the kids dig for fossils in the play area, sip a tiki cocktail at the new Isla Nu-Bar, or grab a bite of Costa Rican–inspired food at Jurassic Café. Check out the Jurassic Outfitters store to see one-of-a-kind and high-end limited edition collectibles to commemorate your dinosaur experience.