The Simpsons Ride Review
The Simpsons take you on a journey back to the future in this motion simulator set in Krustyland
Is there anything more classic than The Simpsons? Seriously, even my grandpa watched this show. Homer, Bart, and the rest of the Simpsons family have been around since 1989, eating donuts, complaining about Ned Flanders, and saying “d’oh.” The TV show has repeatedly been voted the best in American television. Of course, it makes sense to create a ride based on them. In fact, how about a whole land called Springfield?
The Simpsons ride is the main attraction in Springfield, a motion simulator from 2008 that’s perfect for the entire family. Is it a bit dated? Sure. It uses many of the same techniques from the original, now-defunct Back to the Future ride, but it still manages to be fun. While the gimmicks might not be as impressive in 2024, the pre-show and a few of the jokes remain charming and effective nearly two decades later.
The Good
Simpsons fans will likely have a blast from the moment they step into the queue. The Simpsons ride is vibrant, featuring television screens airing classic episodes where Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa explore theme parks. But it's not just reruns; this ride offers not one, but two pre-shows with brand new animations created specifically for this attraction. These animations showcase Sideshow Bob and his nefarious plan about… world domination? Getting revenge on the Simpsons family? Being just an evil guy to ruin everyone’s fun? Something like that.
The Simpsons ride is set in Krustyland and kicks off with you and your favorite yellow characters embarking on a roller coaster adventure. The ride experience is straightforward: you board a large vehicle reminiscent of the one used in Back to the Future and primarily experience movements that sway back and forth. It's similar to the sensations you feel on Hollywood Studios' Star Tours, but slightly more advanced.
Fans of the TV show will enjoy spotting all the Easter eggs throughout the ride. Professor Frink, Kang and Kodos and that guy in the Bee costume are just some of the characters that you can find in this chaotic version of Krustyland. Some of the set pieces are fun, and you'll even encounter parodies of rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and parks like SeaWorld.
The Bad
The worst thing about The Simpsons ride is that it doesn’t try to do anything new. Motion simulators have been getting more and more love recently, bringing us amazing visuals like Avatar Flight of Passage or just going the full dark ride route like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The Simpsons ride does feel like Back to the Future The Ride 2.0. It seems to use the same vehicles and same technology from a ride that is almost thirty years old.
This wouldn’t be a problem if it tried something new. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is from 1999 and it still manages to impress, but it’s also because you are in a moving vehicle and the practical effects are timeless. The Simpsons ride doesn’t have any practical effects or animatronics to help it out. It only has what’s on the screen in front of you and the movements of your vehicle, and those get dated fast in the world of theme parks.
Let’s also not forget that this ride makes a lot of people sick. While I've never had a problem with it personally, many guests online complain that the screen and sudden movements give them headaches and make them nauseous. I’d attribute this to a combination of the screen's low resolution and textures, along with all the twitching movements that await you in Krustyland.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Most kids will have a fun time here. Teenagers who are fans of the show will enjoy it, while young children will probably appreciate the colorful visuals and crazy set pieces. This isn’t a scary ride, and the movements aren’t very aggressive. You'll only be twitching to the sides and never actually move forward like in Transformers 3D. This makes it a great entry point for kids when it comes to motion simulators. No sharp turns, nothing too scary, and decent animation should bring a laugh out of them.
