4. New technological advancements

It is human nature to want ever bigger, faster, and more impressive experiences. As Universal Orlando has built its reputation on its technological advancements, the complex cannot simply sit on its laurels. As new technology becomes available, Universal’s reputation partially hinges on its ability to incorporate that technology in exciting and dynamic new ways.

5. Death of the Florida film industry

When Universal Studios Florida opened, it was designed as a real, working movie studio that also provided plenty of theme park attractions. Psycho IV: The Beginning was filmed at the park during its first month of operation, Nickelodeon Studios housed many of its 1990s productions there, and several other movies and TV shows also called Universal Studios Florida home. By the early 2000s, though, only a handful of infomercials and sports events filmed at the park. Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) also suffered a similar fate.

What happened to the Florida film industry would be worthy of its own documentary film: a complicated web of failed tax structures, high costs, director and actor snubs, and other human dramas that could rival anything on the silver screen. But the reality is that cities like New Orleans and Chicago got the piece of the moviemaking pie that had been slated for Orlando, and the parks were eventually forced to concede defeat.

Without active production activity, a large part of Universal Studios Florida’s original concept simply no longer worked. With nothing to see, the Production Studio Tour closed in 1995. Nickelodeon Studios packed up and moved back to California between 2001 and 2005, and its former soundstage now houses the Blue Man Group. The glittering age of Hollywood East never came about, and its early adopters have moved on for good.

Universal Orlando is a very different place today than it was during the 1990s. While long-time fans mourn their losses and new visitors marvel at the modern wonders, one thing is certain. Affectionately dubbed “The Little Park That Could” for its ability to bounce back from a disastrous opening day in the shadow of the mighty Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando has proven time and again that agility, the willingness to reinvent, and a whole lot of heart can be a recipe for success. Regardless of what anyone says, the future looks bright for The Little Park That Could.