| Back to the Future: The Ride | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Universal Studios Florida | |
| Area | Expo Center (1991–1999) World Expo (1999–2007) |
| Status | Removed |
| Cost | $40 million |
| Soft opening date | May 1, 1991 |
| Opening date | May 2, 1991 |
| Closing date | March 30, 2007 |
| Replaced by | The Simpsons Ride (Springfield)[1] |
| Universal Studios Hollywood | |
| Area | Upper Lot |
| Status | Removed |
| Cost | $60 million |
| Opening date | June 12, 1993 |
| Closing date | September 3, 2007 |
| Replaced | Battle of Galactica |
| Replaced by | The Simpsons Ride (Springfield) |
| Universal Studios Japan | |
| Area | San Francisco |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | March 31, 2001 |
| Closing date | May 31, 2016 |
| Replaced by | Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Minion Park) |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | OMNIMAX motion simulator |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Designer | Universal Creative |
| Theme | Back to the Future |
| Vehicle type | DeLorean time machine |
| Vehicles | 12 |
| Riders per vehicle | 8 |
| Rows | 2 |
| Riders per row | 4 |
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| Height restriction | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Host | Doc Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd) |
| Back to the Future: The Ride | |
|---|---|
 Promotional Poster | |
| Directed by | Douglas Trumbull (ride) David deVos Les Mayfield (pre-show) |
| Written by | Peyton Reed |
| Story by | Bob Gale Peter N. Alexander |
| Produced by | Steven Spielberg Peter N. Alexander Sherry McKenna Craig Barr Philip Hettema Terry Winnick |
| Starring | Christopher Lloyd Thomas F. Wilson Darlene Vogel Douglas Trumbull Michael Klastorin |
| Music by | Alan Silvestri |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 32 minutes |
Back to the Future: The Ride was a simulator ride located at several Universal Destinations & Experiences locations. The first installation opened on May 2, 1991, at the World Expo area of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida. A second installation opened on June 12, 1993, in the Hollywood Lot area of Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California. A third installation opened on March 31, 2001, in the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan. Based on the Back to the Future franchise, the ride is a first person adventure that takes place after the events depicted in Back to the Future Part III. Riders engage in a race through time in pursuit of Biff Tannen, who has stolen the DeLorean time machine.
Steven Spielberg, looking to match the success of the Star Tours ride at Disneyland, served as the ride's creative consultant. Declining popularity in the early 2000s led to the ride's eventual closure in 2007, although the version at Universal Studios Japan continued to operate until 2016. The Simpsons Ride opened in its place at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida, while Despicable Me Minion Mayhem opened in its place at Universal Studios Japan.