Updated 4/23: The ride is NOW OPEN in Universal Florida for technical rehersals and will most likely remain so until the grand opening. Head over to http://orlandounited.com/news/simpsonsnowopen.html for tons of pics.
SPOILER WARNING: There is a full description of the ride at the end of the article.

Updated 4/22: Pic from Universal Hollywood (courtesy of westcoaster.com)


Updated 4/15: According to screamscape.com: Universal Studios Florida has now set May 15-16th as the grand opening dates for The Simpsons Ride. No word yet on if they will try to plan another set of passholder preview dates or if the ride will still soft-open to the public.

Update 4/14: Apparently not all the original voice actors signed on to this project which is probably why it was held up early on
According to screamscape.com:

I don't know how true this really is, but according to a Screamscape reader there is a reason why certain Simpsons characters have not been listed as appearing in the ride… and they all seem to have one thing in common… Harry Shearer. According to our reader, you'll notice that none of the characters voiced by Harry Shearer are included on the list of characters the LA Times posted. Shearer provides the voices for Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Smithers, Dr. Hibbert, Rev. Lovejoy, Lenny, Otto, Principal Skinner and Kent Brockman. Now… he is also credited with being the voice of Scratchy (the cat) and Kang (the alien) who ARE listed as being in the ride, but Scratchy never really talks and half the time Kang just laughs along with Kodos, the other alien.
According to our reader, Shearer apparently declined any offers to do voice work for the ride and by opting out, apparently he's taken most of the characters he does along with him. Readers will remember the many early rumors claiming that the Simpsons ride was delayed for quite some time due to troublesome negotiations with the cast members. You may also remember an early rumor claiming that the ride's story would deal with Mr. Burn's nuclear power plant, possibly with the plan to re-theme the BTTF ride building to look like a pair of nuclear cooling towers. (Obviously this look would have been much easier with the Hollywood building than the Orlando one.) Of course this leads us back to why it may have been called Project FISH in the first place, named after Blinky the 3-Eyed Fish that came from the toxic waste. So if you connect all the dots here correctly, our source believes that the ride's entire delay and original storyline revolving around Mr. Burns as the villain was likely due to Harry Shearer opting out of the project.

Update 4/2: Watch Krusty's eyes dance --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi6xJ1jSWg0

Update 3/24: "The Simpsons RIDE" sign is up outside Krustyland with OFF posed in one of the ride vehicles.

Update 3/17: Krustyland sign and most outside elements are almost done. Local scuttlebutt is that the ride will open at 1/2 capacity since only one dome is complete inside. Is it me, or are Krusty's pupils too small?


Update 3/10: Krusty's giant head is taking shape outside the ride entrance


Update 3/5: According to the latest issue of the Universal Orlando employee newsletter, "Over the next several weeks, groups including UO Team Members and special guests will be invited to participate in technical rehearsals for The Simpsons Ride."



Update 2/18: Universal Orlando has a front-end webpage for "The Simpsons Ride" up with some minor teaser info.

The Simpsons Ride

Update 1/18: Storyline info & pics from screamscape.com:

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Though the information is coming second hand, apparently Universal was showing off some early footage of the new Simpson ride to a focus group over the weekend along with some pictures or artwork showing off the inside of the building. As I said, the information is coming second hand from a Screamscape reader who only knows the people who were shown the footage who are apparently not the biggest Simpsons fans. That said, we believe the basic gist of the rides story is that Sideshow Bob is out for revenge once again and will chase you through Krustys theme park. Fun Fun Fun

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Picture of RV parked outside Orlando attraction


Update 12/19: Grainy closeup of a partial (?) banner spotted at Universal Orlando. May refer to the haunted house ride from the "Bart Carny" episode. Anyone got any ideas?
from screamscape.com



Update 11/1: Androids Dungeon and Moe's Tavern at Universal Hollywood (this is the back part of their Kwik-E-Mart)
from insideuniversal.net


Update 10/24: Inside the Kwik-E-Mart - So...much...Simpsons! " src="http://www.simpsonscollectors.com/images/smilies/drool.gif">
from screamscape.com


Update 10/17: Homer and Marge in Orlando - Pic
from screamscape.com


Update 10/11: The Kwik E Mart in Universal Orlando is now open! No Simpsons merchandise yet, but check out the window displays at www.screamscape.com:



Update 9/28:

Here's a pic from coasterrealm of the Kwik E Mart going up at Universal Hollywood:



Update: 9/26:

Construction walls are up, complete with Simpsons characters!



Update- 4/24 New Simpsons Ride and Characters in Parks " src="http://www.simpsonscollectors.com/images/smilies/joy.gif">

from screamscape.com

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Since last July weve swam through the rivers of speculation and rumor, but once again Screamscape has proven to be right on the pulse of the industry today as Universal finally announced the new Simpsons ride that will replace Back To The Future. The yet to be named Simpsons simulator ride will open in Orlando and Hollywood in Spring 2008 but the deal will allow for parks to start using the Simpsons walk-around characters this year in time to take advantage of the Simpsons feature film.
Few details of the ride itself were revealed, only that guests will be, rocketed along with the Simpson family on a hysterical, almost unimaginable adventure. Theyll experience a side of Springfield previously unexplored as they enjoy the new rides interpretation of thrill rides, dark rides and live shows that make up a new fantasy amusement park dreamed up by the shows cantankerous Krusty the Clown. During your trip through Krusty Land, youll encounter most of your favorite cast members from the long running show, all voiced by the original actors. On the rumor side of things, we did hear that we can expect to see a few funny Simpson-ized takes on Universal characters such as King Homer (Kong) and a Mr. Burns version of Dracula. The article at the Orlando Sentinel did confirm that the simulator ride would continue to use the 80 foot tall screens from the old Back To The Future ride. More as we find it.

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Several sites are reporting that Back to the Future in Orlando will be closing this month permanently (Orlando Sentinel - October 1st) and there are several rumored overlays being considered. The most prominent one is a Simpsons based ride which would coencide with the release of the Simpsons Movie.

from screamscape.com

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The Simpsons, which are opening a new feature film next summer, just in time for a new ride to open. This isnt as crazy as it sounds either, since many dont realize how hard Universal attempted to negotiate with Fox to get the rights to use The Simpsons for a whole themed island inside Islands of Adventure. A deal could never be reached at the time, but I remember hearing about one of the main attractions was going to be called the Otto-Mobile, named after Springfields crazy bus driver, who was going to take you on an out-of-control simulator bus driven tour of Springfield. With the new Simpsons movie on the way and the TV series reaching the end of its life, perhaps Fox was more willing to negotiate a deal to grant the Simpsons theme park immortality this time around.

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Update: (1/10)
It appears there may be a snag in the contract negotiations with one of the main voice characters involved in the project. This has lead to a delay in the announcement and closure of the current ride and could potentially kill the entire project....stay tuned... " src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif">

Update: (3/13)
Universal has offically announced that the ride will close for good on March 30th. BTTF Closing Forever
Unfortunately, they have still not announced what will be replacing it although current rumors say that the project ( codenamed "Fish" ) " src="http://www.simpsonscollectors.com/images/smilies/blinky.gif"> will hopefully be completed by June.