Universal Studios Florida to Close Terminator 2 3-D on October 8th

© Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida will close Terminator 2 3-D: Battle Across Time after October 8th, 2017, the theme park quietly announced yesterday.

A small news release along with a blurb on the park's website revealed that:

Terminator 2: 3-D at Universal Studios Florida will run its last shows on Sunday, October 8 to make way for an all-new live action experience based on a high-energy Universal franchise. It will open in 2019. This is one of many exciting new experiences coming to Universal Orlando Resort as we continue our epic growth. Stay tuned – more details will be released soon.

© Universal Studios Florida

The attraction opened in 1996 to much fanfare, as it was one of the most technologically advanced theme park attractions of the time.  T2 3-D features a combination of 3-D film with live actors, physical effects, animatronics and more.  After a pre-show in Cyberdyne Systems that has garnered a cult following of its own, up to 700 visitors at a time would enter the main theater for a demonstration of the company's latest technology.

Naturally things quickly go wrong when John and Sarah, from the feature films, enter the theater and are saved by the Terminator himself.  The characters hop into a portal that takes them on a wild adventure to destroy Skynet, presented in 3-D and accompanied by in-theater special effects.

© Universal Studios Florida

The use of live actors along with a massive 3-D film screen created quite an impression on guests when the attraction first opened.  A clone of the ride opened later at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan, however the Hollywood version closed at the end of 2012.

Universal's description of T2 3-D's replacement mentions that it will be "live action" and based on a "high-energy Universal franchise."  That certainly sounds like the replacement, to open in 2019, will be based on a major action film series.  Stay tuned for the park's announcement at a later date, and be sure to visit the attraction one last time in the next month.