Tribute to Twister - Ride it Out! at Universal Studios Florida

Twister closed at Universal Studios Florida just a few weeks ago, yet work on the new experience that will replace that former attraction has already begun.
While we wait for the new Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon ride, let's take a quick trip back in time to walk around the queue and pre-show areas of Twister. This tribute should prove to be very helpful when the new attraction opens, as it will be easier to compare how much the space will have changed.

As you might recall, the exterior of Twister was very bare, with only a few, sparse themed elements:





The very last day of operation drew a lot of people in the area (which was usually not very crowded):







Guests walking near the attraction's entrance could see various props smashed "through" the building:



Upon entering the queue, Guests would walk through a long corridor featuring minor props:













Some chairs bared the names of some of the people behind Twister, like Steven Spielberg...



...Helen Hunt, and the "one and only" Bill Paxton:



Up next was a small area themed after Esmoo's Dairy:





One of the many cows seen throughout the attraction:



Other props reminded people that they were entering a set themed after the Twister movie:





Multiple overhead TV monitors showed dated (but real) footage of twisters:



Part of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster could be seen from the waiting area:



This large area was located right before the first pre-show room:







The first pre-show room included many more props as well as some TV screens showcasing scenes from the Twister movie and some comments from Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. This part of the attraction did not include any major special effects other than loud noises and darkness:





The second pre-show was definitely more exciting. While it still featured more TV screens (this time they were actually themed after old-style TVs), it immersed Guests into the story much further than any of the other environment seen previously. Here, Guests would walk through a house that was completely destroyed by a twister, featuring broken glass, dripping water, an overturned car (with Mickey Mouse ears stuck on one of the tires!), and much more. Wind effects were also used in this area:





The main show room was (obviously,) the focal point of the attraction, featuring multiple special effects going off in sequences, leading to the grand finale that included water, fire, high winds... and even a surprising effect that caused the floor where Guests were standing to drop a few inches.

Here's a video of the entire experience, including the two pre-shows and the main show:

Keeping in line with the majority of the other Universal Studios attractions, Twister's exit lead to a shop:

And that is all for now. Before concluding, remember to like us on our official Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for live updates from the parks. Thank you for your support, and see you again soon.

PHOTOS BY: Alex, Official Orlando Theme Park News Team Member and Photographer.