Across the globe, Universal’s theme parks have long treated the Jurassic franchise as a cornerstone experience. From Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort to Jurassic World Isla Nublar at Universal Beijing Resort, the brand has evolved into a fully immersive presence.
Signature attractions such as Jurassic World – The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and Jurassic Park – The Ride at Universal Studios Japan anchor these lands, while coasters like VelociCoaster continue to push the scale of the experience.
Jurassic Park‘s Legacy, On and Off the Screen
That global footprint has largely aligned with the franchise’s cinematic direction. Following the original trilogy—Jurassic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), and Jurassic Park III (2001)—Universal pivoted toward a rebranded era with Jurassic World (2015), which extended through Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Jurassic World Dominion (2022), and most recently Jurassic World Rebirth (2025).
Universal’s attractions have reflected the sleeker World identity.
Related: Universal Orlando Quietly Reopens Major ‘Jurassic Park’ Area : Disney Fanatic
A New Jurassic Experience Brings Back the Park
At Universal Studios Hollywood, however, that branding shift has taken an unexpected turn. With the soft opening of “Jurassic World: A Journey Through the Eras,” the resort has quietly reinstated the Jurassic Park banner—visually and thematically—despite the experience carrying the World name.
According to Laughing Place, which recently visited the resort, “Universal Studios Hollywood has soft opened their new Jurassic World: A Journey Through the Eras exhibit, inviting fans into over 30 years of dinosaur adventures.”
The exhibit, located behind Revenge of the Mummy along an expanded pathway, blends props, live entertainment, and character encounters spanning the franchise’s history.
Yet the emphasis is unmistakably rooted in Jurassic Park (1993). Guests enter the iconic gates from the original film, immediately greeted by John Hammond—originally portrayed by Richard Attenborough—now played by a live performer.
Dennis Nedry, first brought to screen by Wayne Knight, also roams the area, while “complaining about Hammond and how he doesn’t get enough recognition,” and Ian Malcolm, immortalized by Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park (1993), also appears.
Laughing Place has shared a number of videos of these characters to TikTok:
@laughing_place JurassicWorld: A Journey Through the Eras has soft opened at UniversalStudiosHollywood! Explore moments, meet and greets, and perfromances inspired by #JurassicPark and beyond! #ThemeParks
Vehicles from the original trilogy can also be found throughout the exhibit, alongside dinosaurs like the Spinosaurus from Jurassic Park III.
Live entertainment reinforces that balance. The exhibit includes familiar encounters such as a Triceratops meet-and-greet and a baby raptor experience, in addition to a staged “Raptor Escape” featuring Blue and another raptor breaking containment. Trainers and handlers guide guests through the sequence, blending spectacle with participation.
Signage for Universal Fan Fest Nights—running select dates from April 23 through May 16—was also visible during the preview, though the exhibit itself is not formally listed as part of the event.
For a franchise that has spent the last decade operating under the World banner, the return of Jurassic Park iconography at Universal Studios Hollywood signals a notable recalibration—one that leans into legacy at a time when the films themselves are moving forward.
What do you think of Universal leaning back into Jurassic Park (1993) over the Jurassic World era? Let us know in the comments!
