TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D — The BEST Ride at Universal Studios Orlando??
Packed with battling bots, a high-stakes mission, and crazy special effects, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D is the essence of what Universal Studios Orlando strives for — to make you a part of your favorite movie.
You’ll find yourself right alongside Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, battling to keep precious cargo out of enemy hands. Delightfully immersive, you’ll feel like you’re really rocketing through the city as Autobots and Decepticons duke it out all around you. It’s hard to believe it’s not a roller coaster track — just amazing motion simulation!
Located in Production Central of Universal Studios Orlando, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D has remained a favorite amongst fans since its opening in 2013. Even folks who aren’t part of the rock ’em sock ’em robot fandom have found the larger-than-life ride to be incredibly fun!
Are you ready to help these iron giants save the world? Let’s roll out!
N.E.S.T. Needs YOU!
Like The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman and Skull Island: Reign of Kong, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D is a three-dimensional dark ride that tells a story — a story that includes you!
Rides like this are my absolute favorites. I love the sensation of really being a part of another world — an effect best achieved with an intriguing plotline. Not to mention super cool, high-tech 3D screens and simulations. Those help, too.
The story behind TRANSFORMERS begins the moment you enter the queue because you’ve actually just stepped into N.E.S.T. headquarters. (N.E.S.T. is the Non-biological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty.) Obviously, this is top secret stuff we’re dealing with, here.
Ancient Transformer artifacts and weapons are on display, letting you know you’ve entered a world where humans aren’t the only sentient lifeforms. You’re in a world where mechanical things, even an innocent-looking Volkswagen Beetle, might not be what they seem. (Herbie the Lovebug Transformer conspiracy theory??) Of course, the most prominent piece on display at N.E.S.T. headquarters is the key to your entire mission: the AllSpark.
A mysterious, glowing, crystalline shard kept on lockdown in a special pod, the AllSpark is an immensely powerful object capable of creating new life. It seems cool, but you know what they say: with great power comes great responsibility. (Sorry, wrong ride!)
Optimus Prime, the head Autobot, will debrief you on your mission. In short, there are two warring factions of alien bot species: the Autobots and the Decepticons. Unfortunately, the evil Decepticons have their eyes on the all-powerful AllSpark. In order to help the Autobots and defend mankind, you have to protect the AllSpark and keep it away from the Decepticons at all costs!
Who knows what havoc they might wreak with something like that in their cold, metal grasp!
With the debriefing complete, it’s time to meet Evac and begin your mission.
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D — Roll Out!
If you’ve seen the Transformer movies, you might be asking, “Who’s Evac? Have I forgotten a bot?”
Fear not, your memory drives are still working at full capacity! Evac is an exclusive Transformer character created just for TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D!1 He’ll act as your sentient ride-vehicle, talking with you throughout your mission and battling Decepticons. If it comes to that.
Hopefully, the fear of a N.E.S.T. security breach has simply been blown out of proportion—
Oh, great. That’s the invasion alarm, isn’t it? Just once I’d like to get through a ride review in peace…
Well, no matter. Let’s hop aboard Evac and roll out!
Now, I know the blaring alarms and Evac’s evasive maneuvering probably has your blood pumping, but it’s okay. Everything is under control. All we need to do is get back to the AllSpark and hold back any Decepticons. And look! There’s the AllSpark in its glass container, completely safe and sound, and being mercilessly shattered by an alien robot dog.
Wait, what??
I mean, this is fine. Everything is fine! We just have a new mission objective. Take back the AllSpark!
Thankfully, we aren’t alone. Although there are Decepticons crawling all around the city, Bumblebee and Optimus Prime are here to help us take on the biggest baddie of them all: Megatron! Be ready to change gears at any moment, because this fight’s going to be down to the last flywheel!
Will you and the Autobots save the day? Well, I’ll let you find out for yourself…
Behind the Screens
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D miraculously uses limited space to great advantage, making you feel as though you really did explore an entire city to salvage it from Decepticons. In fact, Universal Studios turned this 30,000 square foot ride into a 60,000 square foot ride by adding a second level that’s seamlessly accessed by an unnoticeable elevator ride during your adventure!2
Additionally, the screens used to immerse you in the action tower up to 60 feet high, meaning Optimus Prime will stand before you in all of his true 30-foot tall glory!3 No illusions there!
However, with cool glasses, three-dimensional tricks are implemented in innovative ways, and with Evac’s specially programmed movements, you’ll experience the sensation of a lengthy, high-speed chase without truly going anywhere. Special effects like strong winds, heat, and fog help make the ride all the more real. For an astounding four minutes, you’re really a N.E.S.T. operative in the heat of battle!
Even with the intense simulation, most kiddos can handle the ride, as you only need to be 40 inches tall to work for N.E.S.T.
There are some loud and rather violent scenes, with spats of machine-gun fire and an exploding helicopter, but no gore (if you don’t count mechanical beings getting injured in a shower of sparks and grinding gears, that is!). If you can handle the Transformer movies, then you’re well prepared for anything you might see on the ride.
The main consideration you’ll want to make before taking on Megatron is motion sickness or a tendency to get headaches, as Evac’s evasive maneuvers can be quick and jerky at times. Other than that, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D is honestly one of Universal‘s best attractions, and it shouldn’t be missed by Transformer fans or folks who simply enjoy a thrilling ride.
Oh, and after the ride, be sure to keep an eye out for Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron, as they hang out daily for some jaw-dropping photo-ops!
How do you think TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D stacks up against Universal‘s other 3D rides? And who’s your favorite Transformer?? Let us know in the comments below!
(For the record, I like Bumblebee, whose original car was a Volkswagen Beetle. Like I said, Herbie crossover.)
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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