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After instructing his best friend, Carl, to board the Mark II rocket, Jimmy informs the riders that they would be taking his original, more unpredictable Mark I rockets. Despite the unstable nature of the Mark Is, Jimmy assures the riders that they will be perfectly safe, as he will be remotely piloting the rockets. After the countdown launch, the rockets pursue Ooblar through the various Nickelodeon soundstages. Beginning in Hillwood, the rockets blaze a path through the home of the Rugrats, evading the babies as Jimmy’s robotic dog, Goddard, moves Angelica from harm’s way. 

The rockets move onward and continue their chase through Fairy World, where Cosmo and Wanda offer their assistance. Cosmo gifts Carl use of his wand, and with an unfortunate wave of it, Carl poofs Ooblar and the Mark IV away. Wanda quickly comes to aid and promptly sets the Mark I rockets back on track, poofing Carl and the riders to the Yolkian throne room.

Universal Studios Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast Facade
ILA-boy, via Wikimedia Commons

After a close encounter with the Yolkian chicken god, Poultra, the Mark IV rocket is destroyed, and Carl once again waves Cosmo’s wand to poof the riders out of harm’s way. The Mark Is and Carl’s Mark II plummet downward and land in Bikini Bottom, where they are mistakenly swept up in SpongeBob’s jellyfishing net. After careening through downtown Bikini Bottom, Jimmy locates a drain pipe that leads back to his laboratory. 

Back inside the lab, King Goobot makes a return, but Carl’s quick thinking and Cosmo’s wand prevents any further damage from taking place. Goobot is quickly apprehended; Jimmy thanks the riders for their assistance in the chase and bids them farewell as the ride draws to a close.

The ride was met with mostly positive reviews, with many guests viewing it as a suitable and modern replacement for the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. The popularity of Nicktoons lasted through the mid 2000s, even after the closure of the on-site Nickelodeon Studios. Though the use of live recordings ceased at the Universal Orlando Resort, Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast remained open for years after the closure of Nickelodeon Studios in 2005, but as the 2010s crept on, it became increasingly obvious that the ride was once again becoming outdated and not resonating as much with the next generation of children.

A replacement would take center stage in 2010, when the hit animated film Despicable Me took the world by storm. Universal began working on implementing a replacement for Jimmy Neutron and the Nicktoons, and finally on August 19, 2011, the ride was closed permanently. Less than a year later, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem would open to the public on July 2, 2012.

Minion Mayhem Building
Karla Alejandra González Bejarano, via Wikimedia Commons

Following the closure of Nicktoon Blast, few remnants of Nickelodeon’s influence in the park still remain for nostalgic fans who grew up watching them. Despite the closure of the ride and Nickelodeon Studios, those with a keen eye can still find pieces of Nickelodeon history left behind.

Next time you’re in the park, stop by the SpongeBob Storepants near the ET Adventrue ride for some Bikini Bottom themed gifts, and grab a picture with some of the cast. Though Spongebob has managed to maintain his presence on television while other cartoons of his time have dwindled, there is no guarantee he will always be immune to becoming a part of the Nicktoons past.

 
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