The Complicated History of JAWS at Universal Studios Florida

Reception

The return of JAWS was well-received by guests. This version of the ride was a bit more clever and resonated with parkgoers. It would even grow a devoted fanbase over the coming years.

Simply put, the new and improved JAWS was exciting. The boat’s motion base was intense, and the ride didn’t hold back on giant animatronic sharks. The unpredictability of being outdoors on the water gave it an expansive, real feeling with the uneasiness of not knowing what was under the surface. On a ride like Kongfrontation, King Kong was out in the open, seen from far away—but Jaws could pop out from anywhere in the lagoon. No other ride could replicate the uncontrollable, secluded tension JAWS had. Plus, night rides were a bonus.

The improved JAWS ride did exactly what Universal wanted it to do: It was reliable, unlike the original version. Most guests could actually get on it and experience JAWS for themselves.

Having JAWS back at Universal Studios felt right. But, even though the new JAWS ride was a huge improvement over the old version, it still had its fair share of issues.

The Issues of JAWS 2.0

Some of the ride’s issues were very simple and out of the park’s control; obviously, being an outdoor ride, JAWS was prone to weather delays, and Central Florida is known for its afternoon showers.

The outdoor ride had other weird quirks, like “duck stops.” As the story goes, a duck was in the lagoon one day—as is common during certain seasons—and was unfortunately on top of a special effect during the ride. The duck shot up and landed on a horrified guest. From then on, skippers were instructed to stop the ride if a duck were in danger.

Oddities aside, JAWS also had more complex issues. For starters, the ride needed constant maintenance, but the water made work difficult; some tasks required either certified scuba divers or draining the entire lagoon. The sharks could be raised above water level via lift platforms for convenient maintenance.

The animatronics themselves were prone to breaking down. They weren’t necessarily faulty like in the original version of the ride, but they were still tricky to keep fully operational. The shark skins were replaced biannually, and other components of the ride needed custom parts.

Additionally, the animatronics occasionally leaked hydraulic fluid, which contaminated the lagoon water. In extreme situations, this turned the water lime green and stained some guests’ clothes.

These leaks among other pollutants affected local stormwater ponds when the lagoon was drained. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received an anonymous tip about the issue, forcing Universal Studios to change its practices with the lagoon water. Universal switched to a more efficient hydraulic fluid for the animatronics, among other improvements for drainage.

The ride actually closed every so often—about once per year—for deep maintenance. During those times, the entire lagoon was drained, and team members scraped sludge from the bottom to clean it.

The Costs of JAWS 2.0

The intricate JAWS ride was also expensive to operate—from staffing needs, to regular maintenance, to costly resources. Every ride vehicle had a spieling team member on board, costing slightly more than the staffing of typical attractions. The explosion effect reportedly cost around $2 million annually in natural gas. The boats ran on diesel fuel, which added to the ride’s expenses; that cost went up even more when Universal Orlando switched to a more environmentally friendly diesel.

Speaking of fuel prices: The cost of gas skyrocketed in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina. Universal Orlando, which was struggling in attendance at this time, temporarily closed JAWS to save on rising fuel costs. The ride operated seasonally, but after overwhelming guest complaints, the attraction reopened in 2006.