It stands to reason that fans of high-adrenaline theme park rides, sci-fi fans and thirty-somethings who grew up watching them on Saturday mornings will love TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D, the newest attraction at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. In fact, the lively demographic where these three things overlap (if you've ever been to a comic book convention, you know who I'm talking about) will practically foam at the mouth at the idea of heading into fierce head-to-head battle partnered with a three-story Autobot. And well they should; the ride's technology is wonderfully immersive.
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride - 3D officially opens for business — Photo courtesy of 2013 Universal Orlando Resort
Younger park-goers more familiar with the modern movie franchise (those 40 inches and up, to be specific) will be just as thrilled to suit up to defeat Decepticon villains alongside familiar favorites such as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee and a host of other famed Autobots. State-of-the-art 3D projection on 14 screens makes for hyper-real animation, and paired with a fast-paced, action-packed storyline, riders explode into a giant robot war zone between good and evil, eventually coming face-to-face with the infamous Megatron.
Already a must-do at Universal’s Hollywood and Singapore attractions, TRANSFORMERS’ Orlando installation was constructed in a year’s time, the fastest build in the park’s history. The ride will serve to whet the appetites of fans currently awaiting the fourth film in the $2 billion franchise, which is slated to hit theaters in July 2014, likely creating new fans in the process and well into the movie's post-release beyond.
Heroes High-Five: Guests greet the Autobots at Universal Orlando Resort's newest attraction — Photo courtesy of 2013 Universal Orlando Resort
Parents, take note: TRANSFORMERS is intense – riders dodge attacks, explosions and missiles and its incredible engineering simulates high-speed movement – and therefore could be a bit much for some youngsters, but everyone can enjoy the meet-and-greets with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and even Megatron outside the attraction (characters tower at a staggering nine feet) and grab a photo-op to capture the event for posterity.
