Simpsons Ride Video

Out of Control

No joke is left untold as the original creators of The Simpsons and Universal's own creative chappies have combined to present a truly eye-popping extravaganza of comedy, film, sound and simulator ride.

Imagine an episode of the TV programme played on fast forward, on an 80-foot screen, broadcast over 400 custom speakers and with your couch as a lunatic, out-of-control ride vehicle.  

Then throw in more visual gags than you might get in a whole series, a stunning array of special effects (from water splashes to an electric buzzer and even the smell of Maggie's baby powder!) and a truly wild ride platform that tilts and plunges in seemingly impossible fashion, and you have the basic idea of this new attraction.

Nice to know the Simpsons are just in front of you...

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→ Next Page: Hundreds don Marge wigs for the grand opening of The Simpsons Ride

The Wigs and the Big Wig 

The overall effect is The Simpsons on steroids; a ride that tickles your funny-bone until it hurts; and an all-new theme park experience that boldly goes where no ride has gone before, leaving its riders breathless, bemused and totally entertained.

Even those who have never seen an episode of the programme before (or the film or the video game, or the Monopoly version) would be hard-pressed to sit straight-faced through the mayhem that Homer and Co inflict on their helpless audience.

We were also treated to the now-obligatory Grand Opening, with Universal chief executive officer Tom Williams cutting the ribbon in the presence of an audience of Marge-bewigged visitors to enormous fanfare.

Following Marge's hair fashion, onlookers watch the tape being cut

Even before the celebratory confetti had settled, there was a positively enormous throng of park-goers pressing forward eager to soak up a ride that has a reported $40million price tag.

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→ Next Page: The queue filters into Krusty's big mouth

Cheap Chuckles 

And here's how people will experience this six-minute laugh-athon (provided they avoid the queues which will surely reach two hours at peak periods this summer): 

They will enter via Krustyland, a thoroughly immersive environment that is the erratic brainchild of Springfield's own Krusty The Clown: "Twice the cost, same cheap fun!" insists the irascible entertainer.

Visitors enter Krustyland, through the famous clown's mouth

This is the cue for a positive scatter-gun riot of send-ups of all and every theme park under the sun - get ready for Captain Dinosaur's Pirate Rip-Off (‘Wait time 300 minutes!'), Haunted Condo, Happy Little Elves in Panda Land and Krusty's Wet & Smokey Stunt Show - before guests reach the ‘inner sanctum' of the mock theme park.

This is where Krusty has prepared the Ultimate Ride, and Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie have been chosen to be the first aboard, closely followed by their faithful real-life audience.

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→ Next Page: The Ultimate Ride revealed

Authentic Voice

It is the (take a deep breath)....‘Upsy Downsy Spins Aroundsy High Flying Teen Operated Thrilltacular.' And it is about to go wrong in just about every way possible.

The pace is absolutely breathtaking - almost literally - as the ride vehicle careers all over Krustyland with the most devastating results, not to mention the laugh-a-second buffeting of the avalanche of visual gags. Disney, SeaWorld, Universal, even the Simpsons themselves all get lampooned in a merciless, all-out attack on our sense of humour. 

Homer gets crushed by a demolition ball; Lisa successfully lassos a killer whale; Maggie becomes a giant, radiation affected mutant; and the whole family are dropped from outer space on the longest, steepest roller-coaster ever invented. And all done totally in character, voiced by the original artists, and with the true Simpsons stamp of imagination that makes this one of the most-watched TV series of all time.

Watch as Homer is chased by a demolition ball

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Laughs and Giggles 

Thus the six-minute mirth-fest will conclude, with its hapless victims staggering forth to purchase gifts and other souvenirs at the Kwik-E-Mart or a signature Squishee from the nearby stall. A Springfield overload of epic proportions.

Judging by the reaction of that first building-load of giggling guests, though, this runaway ride is a five-star runaway success.

It adds a new level of excitement and fun to this 17-year-old park and a fresh, almost magnetic, appeal to Universal's mix of brash, over-the-top style of entertainment.

Miss it at your peril!

A media reporter gives the ride the thumbs up

Simon and Susan Veness live in Orlando and are acknowledged as Britain's foremost experts on Orlando and Central Florida through their guidebook ‘A Brit Guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World' and website www.askdaisy.net/orlando.

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