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On an almost daily basis, my video on the now-gone Back to the Future simulator ride at Universal Studios Orlando receives comments. Almost every single comment has been positive.

The one thing in the comments that has the most impact on me personally is that more than just a handful of people that were literally brought to tears by my little video.

I'll be totally honest: When I finished the video originally, I cried. No, I did not bawl. It's the kind of tears you shed when you realize something from your childhood is gone forever. The kind where you're both happy and sad at the same time. You're happy to remember, but sad to see it go.

Universal Studios has to pick and choose very carefully what goes and what stays concerning their attractions. I would guess that it's a very long arduous process that takes months (possibly years) of planning.

For example, when King Kong went by the wayside, no one cried about it. Other attractions have also gone that did not spark any emotional outcry at all.

Back to the Future however, did. More on that in a moment.

Technologically speaking, if you compare the BTTF simulator ride to the other newer ones, such as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Spider-Man trounces BTTF in its tech.

Concerning overall crowd draw, the newer fancier simulator rides also trounced BTTF.

Basically speaking, BTTF had been collecting dust for a while. It wasn't dead, but it was obvious that it was dated.

Even so, BTTF was the first ride I wanted to go on when I got to Universal. Knowing it was going away really soon, I'm surprised I didn't run to it as soon as I entered the park.

I was thrilled that I got to ride it (so much so that I went a second time on March 30th).

Going on this ride was, pun intended, like going back in time. My mind swooped back to 1985. I was only ten years old. Back to the Future ranks right up there with Star Wars and Indiana Jones as far as I'm concerned. It is an absolute pinnacle as far as cool movies are concerned.

The emotion that swept thru me was incredible.

The reason why people had (and still have) such a heartfelt reaction to the BTTF ride closure is because they remember the movie - like I did.


The movie is old. I remember it, but I'm 32 years old. Today's kids don't know it.

The title has "future" in it, yet there is nothing futuristic (by today's standards) about it.

BTTF, as cool as it once was, is not a "forever" thing like Spider-Man or Dr. Suess.

I can totally understand why Universal chose to close that ride.

I wasn't angry by the fact they closed it. Instead, I was happy I got to experience it before it went away.

And for that I'm grateful.

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