Fear Factor Live

Fear Factor Live
Universal Studios Florida Area San Francisco Status Operating Opening date June 3, 2005 Replaced The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show
Universal Studios Hollywood Area Upper Lot Status Closed Opening date Spring, 2005 Closing date August 14, 2008 (2008-08-14) Replaced Spider-Man Rocks Replaced by Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical
General Statistics
Theme	Fear Factor
Duration	20 minutes
Amusement Parks Portal

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.

Summary

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 Hang
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.

Mini-Stunts

Mini Stunt 1: Desert Hat Ordeal
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.

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. 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.

In 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, the show was re-opened for the Summer 2010 season. Since then. the show has operated during peak times of the year (Spring Break, 4th of July, Holidays, 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. However, with the revival of the series, some have speculated Fear Factor Live will become a permanent (not Seasonal) attraction.

See also

• Fear Factor

External links

• Fear Factor Live at Universal Orlando Resort