Two of Universal Orlando’s long-running headliner attractions are currently closed, and today the Unofficial Guide is taking a look at how the absence of Revenge of the Mummy and Shrek 4-D might impact crowds during your next visit to the Universal Orlando Resort.
On January 7, 2022, the Revenge of the Mummy indoor roller coaster closed at Universal Studios Florida for an extensive refurbishment expected to last until Summer 2022. During this time, the ride’s track and effects will receive much-needed maintenance, and there are rumors that elements of the Brendan Frasier-era theming may be replaced.
To partially compensate for the loss of New York’s biggest draw, Universal has revived the Sing It! a cappella group to perform pop songs on Delancey Street. The street show isn’t a major attraction, but it makes a nice diversion during the afternoon after you’ve experienced all the E-tickets.
Shrek 4-D closed at Universal Studios Florida a few days later, on January 10. Unlike Revenge of the Mummy, the DreamWorks-based film’s closure is permanent, although you can relive Shrek and Fiona’s honeymoon adventure at home minus the moving seats.
No replacement for Shrek 4-D has been officially announced, but all signs (including those on the construction walls) point to another Minion-themed attraction, possibly an interactive experience inspired by Villain-Con. In the meantime, Shrek and Donkey are still greeting guests across the street from their former attraction’s gift shop.
Although both of these attractions are decades old and no longer primary reasons most guests visit Universal Orlando, their closures will still have some impact on crowd patterns and touring plans in the parks. For starters, Universal Studios Florida traditionally has enjoyed higher average daily attendance than Islands of Adventure, but IOA has been gaining ground recently thanks to the popularity of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and VelociCoaster. The loss of two more attractions from USF’s lineup is likely to push marginally more people to begin their day at IOA as opposed to the Studios.
For those guests who do visit Universal Studios Florida, Revenge of the Mummy’s temporary closure will push coaster-lovers towards Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, inflating their wait times. Visitors who would have attended Shrek 4-D will be drawn towards other screen-based attractions instead, like Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as attractions in KidZone.
In the bigger picture, the closure of two attractions that lie directly ahead from the park’s main entrance may lead more guests to start their day by turning right down Hollywood Boulevard, rather than going straight into Production Central and New York. As a result, the back half of the park—including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley—may become crowded earlier in the day.
Looking ahead, the reopening of Revenge of the Mummy this summer is likely to garner a brief flurry of interest as passholders and fans reacquaint themselves with the ride, but that boost in attendance is likely to fade if the attraction itself is largely unchanged.
When the replacement for Shrek 4-D arrives in (hopefully) 2023, it will have a major impact on Universal Studios Florida’s traffic patterns near the front gate, as it is likely to intensify the bottleneck already created by Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
For right now, our advice is to continue following the touring plans published in the Unofficial Guides, omitting Revenge of the Mummy and Shrek 4-D when you come to those steps. The good news for those following our plans is that Revenge of the Mummy being MIA means you’ll make it through the morning half of your tour even more efficiently, leaving a little more breathing room before lunch; and skipping Shrek 4-D should let you squeeze in showings of both the Bourne Stuntacular and Horror Makeup Show—our two top-rated live productions—during the afternoon.
For all there is to see and do at Universal Orlando, check out The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter here. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
