What you'll see

So picture this – Krusty the Clown has just opened a new theme park dubbed “Krustyland” and you’re invited to the premiere of his new “thrilltacular, upsy-downsy-spins-aroundsy-teen-operated” thrill ride. As the ride’s name would imply, the Simpsons also appear as you venture through the low-budget park.

Coincidentally, Sideshow Bob (former sidekick of Krustry and arch nemesis of the Simpsons) happens to escape from the local prison and is out on a vengeance to kill his rivals while you happen to get sucked along. Standard theme park plot, if I say so myself.

So how is it?

Surprisingly fun and well done, all things considered. The animation is superb and the whole attraction manages to capture your attention from the start of the queue to the end of the ride. They mix in the usual satire the Simpsons are well known for, and most of your favorite characters manage to make an appearance one way or the other during some portion of the ride. In all, despite using technology nearing almost 18 years of age, it still has the heart and soul to captivate a modern day audience – making this a somewhat worthy successor to Back to the Future: The Ride.

Having said that, the Simpsons Ride still manages to exhibit some fatal flaws that could disappoint some die-hard fans. My first and foremost complaint would be the dismal budget used to refresh the entire building. To sum things up, the ride feels cheap. With almost 21 years of cataloged material, one would think that the folks over at Universal would realize the enormous potential that they’re working with. As such, one would also expect that they would give the ride the proper budget it so rightfully deserves.

Unfortunately for us, it appears as if they never have. The queue, for the lack of a better term, is simply mediocre. Universal basically repainted the structure purple and called it a day, adding new monitors and posters to coincide with the new ride. And even then, there are some areas of the queue still left over from Back to the Future – areas that appear mangled and outdated from years of use and neglect.

Once we head into the midway and further into the small preshow rooms, things start to improve – but not as much. The ride still uses the same jumbled layout as its former predecessor and the whole thing is still a giant mess for guests to figure out, despite having prior knowledge of the adverse effects it has had on Back to the Future.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still think this is a great ride in its own respect, but as a long time fan of Universal, that feeling of cheapness simply doesn’t bode well in my stomach. Universal is fully capable of producing a truly groundbreaking attraction as witnessed in the past, but they simply fell short in this capacity. And as a replacement to a ride that was nearing 16 years of age, I’m not too sure the Simpsons will last over 10. But that’s my theory, and I could very well be wrong, but this ride simply doesn’t have the longevity needed to sustain as a major e-ticket.

At the end of the day, it’s still something I would suggest you take a look at. It’s really a fun ride experience despite the flaws, and I’m sure you and your enjoy it.

Tips and Tricks

Before you ride

As one of the largest and most prominent rides at the park, it usually garners one of the highest wait times, though I wouldn’t immediately hit this one off once I arrive at the park. Like all rides at Universal, it runs continuously throughout the day, so there’s plenty of room to work in shows and the Studio Tour.

Did I also mention that this ride has complicated layout? As such, be sure to count how many members are in your party beforehand and be prepared to follow directions.

…and one last important note, because of the nature of this ride, there is a 40” inch height requirement for those wishing to ride.

Seating

Each simulator holds 2 rows of 4, so 8 people total. Taller people are almost always instructed to sit in the front due to safety concerns.

As with any other ride, I always suggest riding in the front (marked in red) for the fullest experience, but the back (marked in gray) isn’t that bad either.

During the ride

Before the ride actually starts, you’ll be instructed to place large belongings to the side of the room. Be sure to pick these up when you leave.

Also – flash photography and video taping is strictly frowned upon on the Simpsons. This is one ride where they have a complete view of every rider in the room – so I high suggest you don’t test them out. They can easily bring your ride down if they feel the need.

After the ride

Pick up your belongings and check out your outrageously overpriced ride photo. There’s also a gift shop if you want some Simpsons Ride memorabilia.

Parents

Like I mentioned earlier, there is a height requirement of 40 inches for those wishing to ride, to be sure to measure your child at the entrance or beforehand at home.

In terms of how family friendly this attraction really is, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring along a seven or eight year old child along for the ride. Despite being a bit loud, I haven’t seen much kids have problems with it.

There’s also a child swap located on the left side of the entrance for those who wish to ride and are willing to swap their child out with another party member. When you're finished, the roles are reversed as you attend to the child while your other party member experiences the ride.

Photographs & Discussions

You can view photos of the Simpsons Ride over at our Photo Album. We also have a discussion forum dedicated to the ride for any questions or comments you may have.