The Raptor Encounter has a new home as the popular meet & greet was moved to a new location in Islands of Adventure.
During the park’s closure due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Universal continued to construct the new meet & greet spot, which took over the unused extended queue of the Jurassic Park River Adventure. The “paddock” now features a much more prominent influence of the Jurassic World franchise – notably the blue aesthetic and even mentioning Jurassic World by name. There is no indication as to if this is the beginning of a transition of Jurassic Park to the new films.
The meet & greet features Blue, the Alpha of her Raptor pack, and the beloved dino of Chris Pratt’s character, Owen, in the Jurassic World films. Also debuting was Sierra, a 6-month old velociraptor, who interacts with guests while Blue is on break.
The original location closed to make way for the new Jurassic Park coaster, which is currently under construction. It is believed that a new Raptor Encounter area will be a part of the new project. The meet & greet initially debuted in 2015, with Blue debuting in 2018. Each Raptor puppet bares 56 razor-sharp, bone-crushing teeth and lunges forward with curved talons that extend up to 12 inches from their 18-inch-long feet. Towering 12 feet in height and 15 feet – from tail to snout.
