Jaws — Former Ride · History & Timeline

Former Ride · the memorial record

⚰ Permanently closed · Jan 2, 2012operated 22 years · 1990–2012

This ride is gone, but its history stays documented — the full lifetime log is below.

Ride history

the lifetime record

✎ Add to the record

2014

◆ Latest milestone

ChangedJul 8, 2014#

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley opened on the cleared Amity Island site, with Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts standing where the Jaws lagoon had been.

The site was demolished and reclaimed rather than re-themed in place, so Gringotts is a site successor rather than a reskin of the Jaws building, and no replaced_by pointer is asserted.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2012

RefurbishmentJan 2, 2012#

Jaws carried its final boatload of guests at 9 p.m. and closed permanently after more than 21 years, with demolition of the ride and the Amity area beginning soon afterward.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2011

Coming SoonDec 2, 2011#

Universal Orlando Resort announced that Jaws and the entire Amity area would close permanently on January 2, 2012 to make room for a new experience.

Wikipedia gives the December 2, 2011 announcement date; the Orlando Informer post carries a later December 2011 stamp but confirms the permanent closure and the 9 p.m. cutoff.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
1993

Back Online1993#

A completely rebuilt Jaws reopened with a new ride system by Intamin and new sharks by Oceaneering International, replacing the original explosive finale with an electrocution ending drawn from Jaws 2.

Wikipedia dates the reopening to the summer of 1993 and Orlando Informer to 'nearly three years' after the 1990 opening, while thestudiotour.com says 1994, so only the year is asserted.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
1990

ChangedAug 1990#

Universal shut the ride down after roughly two and a half months of near-daily breakdowns of its mechanical sharks and effects, and sued the ride's designer over its engineering.

Filed as a change rather than a closure because the ride reopened rebuilt in 1993. Sources place the shutdown in August 1990 without naming a day, so only the month is asserted. Wikipedia names Ride & Show Engineering, Inc. as the defendant; Mental Floss describes the suit as against MCA.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
NewJun 7, 1990#

Jaws opened as an original attraction of Universal Studios Florida, taking guests on a boat tour of Amity Island that was interrupted by a great white shark.

Opening-day attraction, themed as Captain Jake's Amity Boat Tours and the anchor of the Amity Island area.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes

Questions & answers

When did Jaws open?

Per the documented record, Jaws at Universal Studios opened on Jun 7, 1990.

When did Jaws last close for refurbishment?

The most recent closure/refurbishment documented for Jaws is dated Jan 2, 2012: Jaws carried its final boatload of guests at 9 p.m. and closed permanently after more than 21 years, with demolition of the ride and the Amity area beginning soon afterward.

What changed recently on Jaws?

The latest documented change (documented Jul 8, 2014): The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley opened on the cleared Amity Island site, with Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts standing where the Jaws lagoon had been.

How many changes are on record for Jaws?

6 documented changes, dating back to 1990 — the fan-kept ride changelog nobody else keeps.

Cite this page

Citing the record on a wiki or forum? Copy the reference below.