Fear Factor Live
Encyclopedia
Fear Factor Live is an attraction located at Universal Studios Florida
, and previously, Universal Studios Hollywood
. Both attractions opened in Spring of 2005. The Hollywood attraction was closed on August 14, 2008 to make way for Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical
, which opened in Spring 2009. The Florida attraction began operating on a seasonal schedule in February 2009. The attraction is based on the NBC
television series Fear Factor
, and features theme park guests becoming contestants in various stunts inspired by the show.
Synopsis: In the Endurance Hang, 6 contestants are asked to hang from a stationary t-bar 35 feet in the air and will have to hang on as long as they can. Adding to the challenge is that 30 seconds during the stunt, fans (controlled by volunteers) will be activated which blow strongly towards the contestants. The first 2 contestants that drop will be eliminated and asked to make the "walk of shame".
Stunt 2: Eel Tank Relay.
Synopsis: This stunt consists of two parts, and the 4 remaining contestants will be paired up in groups of two (one of them will be tethered while the other one is not). The first part of the stunt has the non-tethered contestants retrieve bean bags from an aquarium full of non-electric eels in. The second part consists of the non-tethered contestants throwing the beanbags to their tethered partners holding buckets, however instead of beanbags, raw squid will be used (and the amount of squid thrown by the non tethered contestants is determined by the amount of beanbags retrieved in the first part). Adding to the challenge to the second part is that volunteers will use water cannons to impede the progress of each team. Both parts of the eel tank relay has a 30 second time limit. The winning team is determined by whoever can get the most squid within the 30 second limit.
Stunt 3: Stuntman's Challenge
Synopsis: In the final stunt the winning team of the eel tank relay is split up again, and will pit both remaining contestants against each other. The first segment involves both contestants retrieving flags which are hung from window sills. adding to the challenge to this segment are 3 things: rain sprinklers, air cannons which blast wind from the windows, and a foam
ball
cannon
(which is similar to the ones in the ball factory in Curious George Goes to Town
at Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone) which shoots balls. Once all flags are retrieved, the players end up getting into a yellow convertible where they must wait until they reach the top (28 feet in the air). Once the car reaches the top, the contestant will retrieve flags from the car. Once again, the volunteers picked before the show will be impeding the contestants by triggering rain sprinklers. Once all flags are retrieved, the contestant will be able to pick up a "rocket launcher" to shoot at a target. When this happens, the winner is declared.
Synopsis: In this mini stunt which happens between the Endurance Hang and Eel Tank Relay stunts, a female volunteer will be strapped to a chair where her head will be encased in a transparent box while wearing protective equipment (swimming goggles for eye protection and a mask which covers the nose and mouth). Then her male partner will be asked to spin a wheel which determines what will be placed in the box (this includes scorpions, spiders, cockroaches).
Mini Stunt 2: Guess What's Crawling to Dinner
Synopsis: In this mini-stunt which happens between the Eel Tank Relay and Stuntman's Challenge stunts. Two teams of two guests each will have 30 seconds to complete a mixture of meat, seafood, "sour milk" and insects. Whichever team completes both mixtures will be the winners of this stunt.
Universal Studios Florida's "Fear Factor Live" attraction was temporarily closed February 5, 2009, a casualty of the current global economic crisis
. The park expects to offer the attraction during peak attendance periods, if demand calls for it. The attraction was open from April 4 until April 18, 2009 for Spring Break
performances.
On August 2009, Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios Florida closed for "Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure," but is still closed with the sign covered. This has led to some speculation that the show will remain closed permanently. However, it has been reported that the attraction will re-open for the Summer 2010 season.
Currently, Universal Studios Florida operates Fear Factor Live only during peak days (spring break, etc.), and the venue remains closed the remainder of the time with the exception of the "Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure" during Halloween Horror Nights. The permanent fate of Fear Factor Live has not been made public by Universal Studios Florida.
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is an American theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies," and it features numerous attractions and...
, and previously, Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
. Both attractions opened in Spring of 2005. The Hollywood attraction was closed on August 14, 2008 to make way for Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical
Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical
Creature From the Black Lagoon: The Musical was a live performance show formerly located at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in Los Angeles, California. It debuted on July 1, 2009, replacing Fear Factor LIVE...
, which opened in Spring 2009. The Florida attraction began operating on a seasonal schedule in February 2009. The attraction is based on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
, and features theme park guests becoming contestants in various stunts inspired by the show.
Main show
There are 3 main stunts in each show (which uses volunteers which are picked before the show for controlling of the stunt elements), along with two mini-stunts (which uses volunteers which are selected at least 30 minutes prior to each show.Main Stunts
Stunt 1: Endurance HangSynopsis: In the Endurance Hang, 6 contestants are asked to hang from a stationary t-bar 35 feet in the air and will have to hang on as long as they can. Adding to the challenge is that 30 seconds during the stunt, fans (controlled by volunteers) will be activated which blow strongly towards the contestants. The first 2 contestants that drop will be eliminated and asked to make the "walk of shame".
Stunt 2: Eel Tank Relay.
Synopsis: This stunt consists of two parts, and the 4 remaining contestants will be paired up in groups of two (one of them will be tethered while the other one is not). The first part of the stunt has the non-tethered contestants retrieve bean bags from an aquarium full of non-electric eels in. The second part consists of the non-tethered contestants throwing the beanbags to their tethered partners holding buckets, however instead of beanbags, raw squid will be used (and the amount of squid thrown by the non tethered contestants is determined by the amount of beanbags retrieved in the first part). Adding to the challenge to the second part is that volunteers will use water cannons to impede the progress of each team. Both parts of the eel tank relay has a 30 second time limit. The winning team is determined by whoever can get the most squid within the 30 second limit.
Stunt 3: Stuntman's Challenge
Synopsis: In the final stunt the winning team of the eel tank relay is split up again, and will pit both remaining contestants against each other. The first segment involves both contestants retrieving flags which are hung from window sills. adding to the challenge to this segment are 3 things: rain sprinklers, air cannons which blast wind from the windows, and a foam
Foam
-Definition:A foam is a substance that is formed by trapping gas in a liquid or solid in a divided form, i.e. by forming gas regions inside liquid regions, leading to different kinds of dispersed media...
ball
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
(which is similar to the ones in the ball factory in Curious George Goes to Town
Curious George Goes to Town
Curious George Goes to Town is a children's aqua play and ball play area at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood . The attraction originally opened in 1998 at Universal Studios Florida, on the former site of The Bates Mansion Set used in Psycho IV: The Beginning...
at Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone) which shoots balls. Once all flags are retrieved, the players end up getting into a yellow convertible where they must wait until they reach the top (28 feet in the air). Once the car reaches the top, the contestant will retrieve flags from the car. Once again, the volunteers picked before the show will be impeding the contestants by triggering rain sprinklers. Once all flags are retrieved, the contestant will be able to pick up a "rocket launcher" to shoot at a target. When this happens, the winner is declared.
Mini-Stunts
Mini Stunt 1: Desert Hat OrdealSynopsis: In this mini stunt which happens between the Endurance Hang and Eel Tank Relay stunts, a female volunteer will be strapped to a chair where her head will be encased in a transparent box while wearing protective equipment (swimming goggles for eye protection and a mask which covers the nose and mouth). Then her male partner will be asked to spin a wheel which determines what will be placed in the box (this includes scorpions, spiders, cockroaches).
Mini Stunt 2: Guess What's Crawling to Dinner
Synopsis: In this mini-stunt which happens between the Eel Tank Relay and Stuntman's Challenge stunts. Two teams of two guests each will have 30 seconds to complete a mixture of meat, seafood, "sour milk" and insects. Whichever team completes both mixtures will be the winners of this stunt.
Gift shop
A gift stall called "Fear Factor Gear" is located across the street from the attraction and sells various items, toys, and candys based on the attraction and related items.Trivia
- The Desert Hat Ordeal mini-stunt is probably adapted from a mini-show which was held in 2003 during Halloween Horror Nights 13 called "Infestation" which was hosted by The Director (who was the icon for that year).
- The ending to Fear Factor Live in Florida uses the same "falling building" facade which was used for the Wild Wild West Stunt Show which used to occupy the stage that Fear Factor Live is located in.
Audience Participation
Universal invites guests to become contestants in the show. Guests who wish to participate must be at least 18 years of age or older and may sign in at a booth located across from the attraction. Guests sitting in the front rows during the show are also invited to participate during the performance.History
The show opened in May, 2005 at both theme parks, replacing The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show at the Florida venue and Spider-Man Rocks at the Hollywood venue. The Hollywood venue closed on August 14, 2008 due to lack of popularity, was replaced by "Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical." The venue at Universal Studios Florida is shut down in the Fall season to allow performances of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure" during Halloween Horror Nights, which takes place late September through early November allowing the attraction to re-open in mid-November.Universal Studios Florida's "Fear Factor Live" attraction was temporarily closed February 5, 2009, a casualty of the current global economic crisis
Global economic crisis
Global economic crisis may refer to:*Economic events of the late 2000s:** Financial crisis ** Late-2000s recession*A global recession*Earlier global economic events, such as:...
. The park expects to offer the attraction during peak attendance periods, if demand calls for it. The attraction was open from April 4 until April 18, 2009 for Spring Break
Spring break
Spring break – also known as March break, Study week or Reading week in the United Kingdom and some parts of Canada – is a recess in early spring at universities and schools in the United States, Canada, mainland China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United...
performances.
On August 2009, Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios Florida closed for "Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure," but is still closed with the sign covered. This has led to some speculation that the show will remain closed permanently. However, it has been reported that the attraction will re-open for the Summer 2010 season.
Currently, Universal Studios Florida operates Fear Factor Live only during peak days (spring break, etc.), and the venue remains closed the remainder of the time with the exception of the "Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure" during Halloween Horror Nights. The permanent fate of Fear Factor Live has not been made public by Universal Studios Florida.
External links
- Fear Factor Live at Universal Orlando ResortUniversal Orlando ResortUniversal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...