Fear Factor Live

Fear Factor Live
Universal Studios Florida
Area	World Expo
Coordinates	28°28′50.14″N 81°28′7.84″W / 28.4805944°N 81.4688444°WCoordinates: 28°28′50.14″N 81°28′7.84″W / 28.4805944°N 81.4688444°W
Status	Operating
Opening date	June 3, 2005[1]
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
Replaced	Spider-Man Rocks
Replaced by	Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical
General statistics
Theme	Fear Factor
Duration	20 minutes
Universal Express available

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 began running again on a full-time basis (except for Halloween Horror Nights considerations) in the Summer of 2010. 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.

Universal Studios Orlando

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

In the Endurance Hang, 6 contestants are asked to hang from a stationary "y-bar" 35 feet in the air and will have to hang on as long as they can. Adding to the challenge is that 0:15 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

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 "carnivorous eels". The second part consists of the non-tethered contestants throwing the beanbags to their tethered partners holding buckets, however instead of beanbags, "rancid" octopus will be used (and the amount of octopus 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. In the event of a tie, the team that had a member hold on the longest during the first stunt (Endurance Hang) will bring their partner to the finale.

Stunt 3

Stuntman's Challenge

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 four (4) 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 – 15 degree angle). 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, three pyrotechnic cues are hit, and the building facade falls on the Host and the winner is declared.

Mini-stunts

Mini Stunt 1

Desert Hat Ordeal

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, snakes, spiders, cockroaches), however, the wheel always lands on scorpions so the spinning of the wheel is actually redundant.

Mini Stunt 2

Guess What's Crawling to Dinner

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. The gift store has been removed as of March 2013.

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.
• In the finale of the show the host wears a yellow rain coat. This is not to protect him from the rain, in fact he does not come into contact with any water, it's to protect him from the explosion at the end!

Universal Studios Hollywood

Stunt 1

Endurance Hang

The Endurance Hang for the Hollywood version of the show was almost identical to the Orlando version, however it didn't have the industrial fans which blew the contestants.

Stunt 2

Eel Tank Relay

Although sharing the same name with the Orlando version, the stunts are completely different. The four remaining contestants from Stunt 1 have to collect flags from a tank full of eels, and then put them onto a hanging pole which has their contestant number on it. While doing this, there is a rotating 'roundabout' section of the stage which has a few obstructions to make it more difficult for the contestant to put the flag onto their pole. Once repeating this to get 3 flags, one at a time, they then can go to a table which has smoothies made from fish guts, pig hearts and dead insects. They must drink the entire smoothie to win. The first 2 contestants to do this move on to the final round.

Stunt 3

Shock and Roll

In the final stunt, the two contestants must hold onto a wheel with 2 electrodes on it, and spin the wheel to add to an illuminated meter. While doing this, they would be electrocuted with a "high voltage" current, and the higher the meter got, the more frequent the shocks would be. The contestants are also attached to bungee cords, which resulted in the loser to be catapulted away from the wheel. The presenter also claimed that the audience must "be seated at all times, on their metal seats", which appears to be a joke, although claimed to not be.^[2]

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.^[3] The attraction was open from April 4 until April 18, 2009 for Spring Break performances.^[4]

Since Summer 2010, the show has remained open in a full-time, non-seasonal capacity (outside of the three-month closure for "Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure).

References

1. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2005-04-22/news/0504220037_1_smoothies-crowd-pleaser-fear-factor
2. http://www.themeparkcritic.com/ride/2362/fear-factor-live.aspx
3. Mike Schneider (2009-02-05). "Universal Orlando "Fear Factor Live" shuts for now". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
4. Universal Orlando Resort. "Fear Factor Live at Universal Orlando Resort and theme park". Universal Parks & Resorts. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-02.

External links

• Fear Factor Live at Universal Orlando Resort