Close Menu
Inside Universal
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Threads
    Wednesday, July 9
    Trending
    • Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 tickets go on sale July 25
    • What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of July 7, 2025
    • Johnny Rockets closes at CityWalk Hollywood
    • Universal Orlando offering Florida Residents “Buy 2 Days, Get 1 Day Free” on a 2-Park 2-Day Ticket this Summer
    Inside Universal
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    • Home
    • News
      • Hollywood
        • Photo Updates
        • CityWalk Hollywood
        • Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood
        • Events
      • Orlando
        • Photo Updates
        • Universal Studios Florida
        • Islands of Adventure
        • Epic Universe
        • Universal’s Volcano Bay
        • CityWalk Orlando
        • Universal Resorts
        • Halloween Horror Nights – Orlando
        • Events
      • Japan
        • Photo Updates
        • Events
      • Singapore
      • Beijing
      • Other Universal Destinations
      • Outside Universal
        • Walt Disney World
        • SeaWorld Orlando
        • Around Orlando
        • Disneyland Resort
        • Knott’s Berry Farm
        • Around California
    • Forums
    • Inside Universal Podcast
    • Features
    • Merchandise
    Inside Universal
    Home»Features»The Closing of Shrek 4D – A 42-year history of past and present attractions; Part 2

    The Closing of Shrek 4D – A 42-year history of past and present attractions; Part 2

    August 11, 2017 Features By Jonathan Green
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit Copy Link

    This is part 2 of our look at the history of Shrek 4D and its predecessors. To check out part 1 of our feature, please click here.

    While Shrek 4D has been a mainstay at the park for over a decade, many may not know that the theater has been home to seven shows over the course of nearly 40 years.

    So as Shrek 4D prepares to close on August 13, let us take a walk through Universal’s history and see how the venue has changed over the years.

    The Flintstones Show

    To coincide with the release of The Flintstones in 1994, Universal closed Star Trek Adventure and retrofitted the show into a full-fledged musical revue with their own take of the classic cartoon.

    Aptly named The Flintstones Show, which also debuted in 1994, Universal describe the musical as a “Rockstravaganza” that allowed the audience to join Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty and Dino for a – their words – “funkfest of mammoth proportions.” For Universal, the show pushed the boundaries for a live musical theme park theater by showcasing a detailed set juxtaposed to costumed characters. More importantly, the show featured an original score along a flying rig that could transport the show’s characters over the audience – a feat never attempted before at a theme park.

    It was a clever show and a risky step for Universal, considering the park also featured two musical shows at that time. Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue  (until it was renamed Beetlejuice’s Rockin’ Graveyard Revue, when it moved into the Castle Theater) was just a short distance away alongside An American Tail Show, which was located next to Fivel’s Playland.

    While the musical had a decent budget, The Flintstones Show didn’t have the appeal Universal was hoping for. The show subsequently closed in 1997.

    Totally Nickelodeon

    Thus, in 1997, Totally Nickelodeon was born. This high energy game show brought Nickelodeon’s most notable cartoons and game shows to life, including the Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, All That, Family Double Dare, Guts and What Would You Do?.

    While guests would queue, a host would come out and ask the crowd trivia questions based on popular Nickelodeon shows. Those that answered correctly would be given the opportunity to pie a family member in the face. For a select few, they’d also be given the chance to participate in the show.

    Once seated, the audience was split into two teams – red and blue. And as the games progressed, the teams would earn points and at the end one team would be declared the winner. The finale of the show featured a massive Nickelodeon blimp, featuring a connection to a reactor that would prevent a slime overload. Since this is Universal, it was almost a foregone conclusion that an overload would occur, with green confetti showering the audience.

    The show had a modest run, with constant adjustments to ensure its relevancy in the park. With the popularity of the Rugrats picking up, Universal converted Totally Nickelodeon and the surrounding area into a new play area and show. Since budget cuts during this era was the norm, Universal had been replacing live action shows – such as the Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show – with cheaper, more automated experiences.

    The Rugrats Magical Adventure

    To help reinvigorate the Nickelodeon Brand and to compensate for the recent closures, Universal expanded the Nickelodeon footprint with the Nickelodeon Blast Zone, which included a water playground alongside dry playground for colder days. As a capstone to the new area, Universal created The Rugrats Magic Adventure. Based on Angelica the magnificent, Angelica – along with the help of Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil – would perform magic tricks in the hopes becoming a world-class magician.

    The show only catered to families and tourists and mostly operated on a seasonal basis.  Once Rugrats closed in 2001, the Panasonic Theater became the new home of a 3D attraction.

    Shrek 4D

    With tourism falling, Universal needed a franchise that would resonate with locals. With Shrek picking up steam, Universal opened Shrek 4D in 2003 as a low cost renovation to the theater.

    Incidentally enough, Shrek would mark the first time since the late 1980s that the theater saw a major transformation. The theater’s seating was taken out in favor of individualized moving seats, and what was once the dressing room for Star Trek became the new pre-show area.

    With Shrek 4D continuing the story arc of the original film, which also includes all the voice actors returning to their roles, the attraction allowed Universal to capitalize on a hot film (and later, franchise).

    Unfortunately, not long after the attraction debuted, a DVD version of the film came out.  With the entire main show now available for sale, and eventually on Netflix, Shrek 4D’s pre-show remained as the only unique element of the overall film.

    The venue eventually began to pull double-duty, as Shrek 4D’s queue was utilized for mazes at Halloween Horror Nights – including My Bloody Valentine, Nightmare on Elm Street, and La Llorona. The side of the theater, which was thematically set to New York Street, served as a scarezone location during the event as well.

    Fast forward to 2017 and we come upon the end of Shrek 4D and its 14 year run at Universal.

    This theater, and its location, continues to survive; despite the Wizarding World’s footprint nearly encroaching onto the venue. On June 5, 2017 Universal announced that the theater would be re-branded to reflect NBCUniversal’s new ownership of DreamWorks Animation. The new art-deco theater is slated to offer guests an all-new, multi-sensory attraction based on the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Other DreamWorks franchises will eventually be rotated in on an ongoing basis, leaving the theater to re-imagine itself for seemingly years to come – furthering the history of the location.

    ♦♦♦

    DreamWorks Theatre features shrek 4d The Flintstones Show The Panasonic Theater The Rugrats Magical Adventure The Star Trek Adventure Totally Nickelodeon Universal Studios Hollywood
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleThe Closing of Shrek 4D – A 42-year history of past and present attractions; Part 1
    Next Article Inside Universal Radio: Hollywood – 4. Horror Nights and Horror Cons
    Jonathan Green
    • X (Twitter)

    Jonathan may be reached at jonathan.g@insideuniversal.net - Senior Editor - Hollywood

    Related Posts

    Features

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of July 7, 2025

    July 7, 2025
    CityWalk Hollywood

    Johnny Rockets closes at CityWalk Hollywood

    July 2, 2025
    Features

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of June 30, 2025

    June 30, 2025
    LATEST POSTS

    Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 tickets go on sale July 25

    July 8, 2025

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of July 7, 2025

    July 7, 2025

    Johnny Rockets closes at CityWalk Hollywood

    July 2, 2025

    Universal Orlando offering Florida Residents “Buy 2 Days, Get 1 Day Free” on a 2-Park 2-Day Ticket this Summer

    July 2, 2025

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of June 30, 2025

    June 30, 2025
    About Inside Universal

    Inside Universal is a website dedicated to covering Universal Parks & Resorts, specifically Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. Our team of editors is committed to providing fact-based, non-sensationalist content that educates and informs our readers while still focused on having fun.

    Inside Universal aims to maintain a rational perspective, allowing us to offer commentary, news, and analysis about Universal Parks. Our mission is to provide you, the reader, with accurate and in-depth reporting to the best of our ability. This is our goal - nothing more, nothing less.

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON OUR FORUMS
    If you’re looking to have your Universal-related question answered, or if you’d simply like to chat about the park’s future developments, Inside Universal's forums is the Internet’s leading unofficial forum dedicated to Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. MEI Travel
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    • About Us
    • Masthead
    • Contact
    • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    © 2025 All Rights Reserved - Inside Universal is not affiliated with Comcast, NBCUniversal, Universal Parks & Resorts, or Universal Destinations & Experiences. You may not copy, redistribute, publish, sell, or otherwise make the original contents of this website available to third parties unless you have received prior authorization from Inside Universal.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT