The Canadian Simulator Ride That Changed Theme Parks Forever (Ep. 105)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey break down the first major Halloween Horror Nights announcement for 2026, dig into Universal’s quiet decision to remove Hagrid’s from Express Pass, and discuss what’s going on with Universal Kids Resort in Texas after a series of accidental leaks. Then Jim looks back at the creation of Back to the Future: The Ride and the forgotten Canadian simulator attraction that helped inspire it, all while tracing the career of visual effects legend Doug Trumbull. NEWS • Universal officially announces a Sinners haunted house for Halloween Horror Nights in both Orlando and Hollywood, inspired by the Oscar-winning vampire film set in 1930s Mississippi • Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood tickets go on sale with RIP Tours, Frequent Fear passes, and premium add-ons already available • Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is quietly removed from Universal Orlando’s Express Pass lineup beginning July 1 • Universal’s Mega Movie Parade return is delayed until June 5 as operational adjustments continue behind the scenes • Universal Orlando prepares a Steven Spielberg Summer Tribute Store featuring Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, and the upcoming Disclosure Day film • Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas accidentally leaks July opening details and early ticket pricing online FEATURE • Jim revisits the origins of Back to the Future: The Ride on its 35th anniversary • The forgotten Tour of the Universe attraction inside Toronto’s CN Tower helped inspire Star Tours and Universal’s simulator rides • Visual effects pioneer Doug Trumbull’s work on 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters, and Blade Runner shaped the future of theme park attractions • Behind-the-scenes stories from Trumbull’s Massachusetts rope mill studio where the Back to the Future ride film was created • Why Universal originally planned an entirely different Back to the Future ride experience before switching to the Biff Tannen storyline HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia - Instagram: @JimHillMedia - Website: jimhillmedia.com • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey - Instagram: @erichersey - Website: strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR UnlockedMagic.com - Save up to 12% on Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World tickets, now including Express Pass options: https://unlockedmagic.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=epicjhm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:21.8	combe.uk slash podcast to learn more. Attention all passengers. The Uber ride for Jeff's rugby
0:29.8	team will depart in five minutes from Platform 15. Your ride comes with six toilets and a refreshment's
0:37.1	carriage that you'll empty within five minutes.
0:40.6	Thank you for booking your tickets on Uber.
0:44.4	Trains on Uber.
0:46.0	Welcome back to the Epic Universal Podcast.
0:49.2	I'm entertainment writer Jim Hill and this is the podcast where we cover the latest universal news, rumors, and history.
0:56.7	And as always, I'm joined by Eric Hersey.
0:59.8	How are you today, Eric?
1:01.7	We're doing good last week of school.
1:03.4	So we just finished up with one of the kids' field days, and the other kid is hammering out her finals this week.
1:10.0	So I'm going to get some free time back. I'm no longer the bus driver. I'll get to actually get a couple hours back in my day. So I'm excited about that. Well, that said, though, that aren't you and Lauren in June, you have two trips going at least? Oh, there's lots of trips coming up. The next three months, we're going to be doing something Disney something Disney or Universal related. So we'll have lots to report on. So it's all good news for
1:30.9	everybody that's listening. Don't worry about us being all busy and having to figure that stuff out.
1:35.3	But we'll make it happen. Okay. We won't skip a beat. Well, there we go. All right. Well, why don't we
	...

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