Feeding Time
Since the late 1960s, SeaWorld has featured their signature "Shamu" shows where an orca performs tricks for an amphitheater full of onlookers. In a nod to this, the movie Jurassic World included what its official website calls the "Mosasaurus Feeding Show." The 18 meter long beast was seen jumping out of the water to devour a shark, and splash dozens of park visitors in the process.
No spoilers here, but the Mosasaurus also plays an integral role at a key time later in the movie, solidifying its stance as a memorable character. In other words, the perfect character to use in a real-world theme park attraction! Feeding Time, coming to Jurassic World in Universal Studios, is a show that will use a combination of 3D screens and practical effects to create an immersive experience that not only shows off the Mosasaurus's eating habits, but also delivers educational information on the creature, shows off some of its other tricks, and provides a few scares when (of course) something goes wrong.
The facade is designed to look like the back of the outdoor amphitheater, but is partially hidden by trees. The queue is small, as this is a high-capacity attraction, and passes underground with views into the underwater portion of the "tank." In the queue are posted warnings that this attraction might be too scary or violent for young children.
The facade is designed to look like the back of the outdoor amphitheater, but is partially hidden by trees. The queue is small, as this is a high-capacity attraction, and passes underground with views into the underwater portion of the "tank." In the queue are posted warnings that this attraction might be too scary or violent for young children.
The theater is indoor and features a smaller version of the amphitheater seating equipped with seat restraints (because the audience moves at one point during the show), a relatively small pool of water onstage, and a half-spherical rear projection screen domed over the entire area. The screen is designed to make the room appear as if it is outdoors, with more amphitheater seats and a larger crowd, as well as a larger and deeper pool of water than in reality. The screen will change to display daytime or nighttime depending on what time it is in real life.
A live actor enters the stage, playing the role of the "trainer" (the CMs will be given some room to develop the personality of their particular trainer, adding their own lines to the script and giving the attraction some extra re-watchability). He or she announces their name to the audience and leads in with a few lines about how the Mosasaurus actually existed in the past, and is not genetically modified. The trainer describes the creature's eating habits, and warns that they are not for the faint of heart. After this buildup, they ask if the audience is ready. They step into their protective suit, noting that it would not do much good if the Mosasaurus were to attack. Thankfully, they reassure the audience that nothing will go wrong as long as the creature is placated with a substantial amount of food.
With a dramatic drumroll, a shark is lowered from a crane above the stage. The trainer tells the audience to get ready, and the Mosasaurus explodes into the air, gulping down the shark in one piece to thunderous applause. When the creature splashes back into the water, it generates huge waves (in the actual pool in the theater, mildly sprinkling on those sitting in front. On the back of each seat, mist is sprayed into the guest in front's face.)
Next, the trainer proceeds by getting the Mosasaurus to perform tricks and flips. Each time, the splashes are higher and higher. Eventually, each seat in the theater starts shaking like an earthquake when the Mosasaurus lands. Next, the trainer invites the creature up into the shallow pool next to him, rewarding it with a shark (the body of the creature is still on the screen, but the head is a giant animatronic). The Mosasaurus mirrors the trainer with its giant fins, and each time a shark is lowered from a crane into the pool to reward it.
Eventually, the crane gets stuck when it is trying to pick up a shark for the Mosasaurus to eat. The trainer, realizing this, tries to get out of the way. But it is too late. With nothing else to eat, the jaws of the Mosasaurus lunge at the trainer, pulling him or her underwater and devouring him or her while out of sight. For a few seconds, all is silent. Then the "crowd" on the screens start screaming in terror and begin to try to push their way out. Still hungry, the Mosasaurus goes after this "crowd" as its next victims. It lunges partially out of the water and breaks down the electric barbed wire fence that is in place, knocking a few "people" into the water, where we can see it dive under to chase them hungrily. The dark shape underwater comes closer and closer to the real audience, and suddenly, the huge creature resurfaces and flops its body into the bottom of the stands. The amphitheater seating cracks down the middle and splits in two, beginning to collapse with the audience still on it (held in by the seating restraints, of course). The Mosasaurus waits hungrily below. Thankfully, the seating sections rest precariously on each other, not quite collapsing.
At that moment, the crane mechanism is finally unjammed and more sharks are hastily released into the enclosure. The Mosasaurus swims away and the audience escapes unscathed.
**Disclaimer** While elements and themes of this attraction are gory or frightening, all violence will be kept underwater or out of sight.
A live actor enters the stage, playing the role of the "trainer" (the CMs will be given some room to develop the personality of their particular trainer, adding their own lines to the script and giving the attraction some extra re-watchability). He or she announces their name to the audience and leads in with a few lines about how the Mosasaurus actually existed in the past, and is not genetically modified. The trainer describes the creature's eating habits, and warns that they are not for the faint of heart. After this buildup, they ask if the audience is ready. They step into their protective suit, noting that it would not do much good if the Mosasaurus were to attack. Thankfully, they reassure the audience that nothing will go wrong as long as the creature is placated with a substantial amount of food.
With a dramatic drumroll, a shark is lowered from a crane above the stage. The trainer tells the audience to get ready, and the Mosasaurus explodes into the air, gulping down the shark in one piece to thunderous applause. When the creature splashes back into the water, it generates huge waves (in the actual pool in the theater, mildly sprinkling on those sitting in front. On the back of each seat, mist is sprayed into the guest in front's face.)
Next, the trainer proceeds by getting the Mosasaurus to perform tricks and flips. Each time, the splashes are higher and higher. Eventually, each seat in the theater starts shaking like an earthquake when the Mosasaurus lands. Next, the trainer invites the creature up into the shallow pool next to him, rewarding it with a shark (the body of the creature is still on the screen, but the head is a giant animatronic). The Mosasaurus mirrors the trainer with its giant fins, and each time a shark is lowered from a crane into the pool to reward it.
Eventually, the crane gets stuck when it is trying to pick up a shark for the Mosasaurus to eat. The trainer, realizing this, tries to get out of the way. But it is too late. With nothing else to eat, the jaws of the Mosasaurus lunge at the trainer, pulling him or her underwater and devouring him or her while out of sight. For a few seconds, all is silent. Then the "crowd" on the screens start screaming in terror and begin to try to push their way out. Still hungry, the Mosasaurus goes after this "crowd" as its next victims. It lunges partially out of the water and breaks down the electric barbed wire fence that is in place, knocking a few "people" into the water, where we can see it dive under to chase them hungrily. The dark shape underwater comes closer and closer to the real audience, and suddenly, the huge creature resurfaces and flops its body into the bottom of the stands. The amphitheater seating cracks down the middle and splits in two, beginning to collapse with the audience still on it (held in by the seating restraints, of course). The Mosasaurus waits hungrily below. Thankfully, the seating sections rest precariously on each other, not quite collapsing.
At that moment, the crane mechanism is finally unjammed and more sharks are hastily released into the enclosure. The Mosasaurus swims away and the audience escapes unscathed.
**Disclaimer** While elements and themes of this attraction are gory or frightening, all violence will be kept underwater or out of sight.