Director Steven Spielberg had the honor of cutting the ribbon to open Universal Orlando, then called Universal Studios Florida, on June 7, 1990.
For the debut of Central Florida’s third major theme park – after Disney World and SeaWorld – he was joined by (from left) actor Robert Wagner, cartoonist and “Woody Woodpecker” creator Walter Lantz and Jay Stein, president of park owner MCA Recreation Services Group.
Celebrities at the grand opening included Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stewart, Janet Lee, Tippi Hedren, Sylvester Stallone, Michael J. Fox and Bill Cosby.
While the 10,000 first-day visitors were excited to chase down stars for autographs, they were disappointed when rides for “Jaws,” “Earthquake: The Big One” and “Kongfrotation” with King King all experienced malfunctions.
Orlando Sentinel front page from June 8, 1990 with coverage of the opening of Universal Studios Florida. (Sentinel file)
From Orlando Sentinel coverage that day:
“The park’s toughest critics may have been 70 teen-agers from Apollo Middle School in Hollywood, Fla., who paid $160 each for a three-day field trip that included a visit to the grand opening.
“Big disappointment,” said Jason Fielder, 14. “There was nothing grand about this grand opening.
Tom Wilson, who plays “Biff” in the Back to the Future movies, clowns around with Michael J. Fox at the Universal Studios Florida Grand Opening on June 7, 1990. (John Raoux, Orlando Sentinel)
“For executives of MCA Inc., however, the park was the realization of a 20-year dream and it was have taken more than a few technical priblesm to blemish the event.
“Jay Stein, president of MCA Recreation Services Group, said the company was on schedule for building additional theme parks in Europe and Japan. He also said that a second attraction might be built on the 187 undeveloped acres within the Orlando park’s borders.”