Coming to Universal Studios as part of the new Ancient Rome land in Universal Studios Orlando is The Gladiator. Loosely based on the films Gladiator and Spartacus, this one-of-a-kind attraction takes guests on a state-of-the-art water dark ride exploring a few highlights of Roman ingenuity, before finding themselves in the middle of an all-out Gladiator revolt. If that was not enough, the ride transitions into a thrilling coaster experience to cap it all off.

Partnering with Intamin Amusement Rides, who were originally slated to partner on construction for a proposed Harry Potter expansion, Universal Creative has designed an attraction entirely unique to their Orlando parks. Utilizing Intamin’s new vertical chain left technology that debuted in their 2012 attraction Divertical, The Gladiator takes the basic premise of this water coaster and ups the ante with large-scale show buildings, sets, and added water and coaster elements to further enhance the ride experience. It all makes for a large-scale adventure worthy of the spectacle of the two films.

Positioned at the back corner of the land, most of the attraction is hidden beneath a massive show building that on the outside is decorated with all manner of ancient Roman structures. Guests walking into the land from the Craftsman’s Market will see the small body of water that defines the layout of everything as The Gladiator slowly comes into view, its heigh and scale serving as a defining weenie for the land. Passersby will catch a few glimpses of coaster track dropping in and out of the structures, along with an aqueduct in the distance and boats finishing up their adventure in the waters ahead.

Queue

Sitting along the edge of the land’s lake is the queue and entry for attraction. Modeled after the exterior of the boathouses of Herculaneum, the structure blends in with the other architectural elements in the land while also providing a covered area for the queue and load/unload portions of the ride. The queue itself has similar stonework as seen on the exterior with numerous ancient technical blueprints and drawings lining the walls. Many of these are from Vitruvius’ De architectura, a wide-ranging book on architectural elements from before 15 B.C., with designs for columns, structures and several involving the movement and use of water. Nearing the end of the queue, boat parts and pieces, are found scattered about.

Ride Vehicle & System

The attraction vehicles themselves are meant to resemble ancient Roman oar boats, more specifically Navis actuaria first introduced around 200 BC. Each boat carries a similar wooden frame and red accents, minus the oars and mast of course. The iconic beakhead from boats of the day completes the look.

The attraction design is an enhanced version of Intamin’s newest water coaster design. Features include both standard boat ride sections mixed with coaster elements and a vertical chain lift that helps maximize the space design, as well as play into the story unfolding. The lift offers dual lifts into a singular drop zone for the coaster section helping with ride timing. The boarding area is large enough to accommodate 2 boats loading at any one time to ensure there is always a boat loaded and ready to enter the attraction.

10 seats
Individual lap bars
11 boats in use at any one given time
5 min 10 seconds in length
1300 riders per hour
165 ft vertical chain lift

Ridethrough

Scene 1: Rome Underground – Sewer/Aqueduct Connection

Once fully loaded, the boats approach the end of the boarding station before being released into the attraction path itself pending the timing of the boat ahead. Leaving the boarding station behind, guests find themselves exiting the boathouse and back into the outdoors, if however briefly. Views of the rising show structure rise above with an entry into Rome’s underground ancient sewer and aqueduct lying ahead.

The sights and sounds of the outside world are gone instantly once the boat enters the tunnel. Ancient stonework envelops the channel on all sides with only the dim light from a few torches providing enough visibility for riders. Smaller streams of water appear and drop into the channel out of various openings in the tunnel as the sound of rushing water can be overheard ahead.

Scene 2: Roman Catacombs

All that rushing water was not a good omen for riders as the current picks up and begins its descent deeper into the tunnel via a 15ft drop section. Providing an early mild splash, the boats now float further along with the lighting strong enough for those to realize they have entered the ancient Roman catacombs. Numerous passageways appear to branch off from the main tunnel with niche’s carved into the stone walls in all manner of places. Faded with age, yet colorful, paintings adorn the walls, and the grim view of a few skeletons leaves no doubt where the guests have entered.

Scene 3: The Colosseum Hypogeum – Battle Prep

Leaving the still and quiet of the catacombs behind, the tunnel begins to open into a large chamber as the sound of metal and men fills the air. The boats have entered the underbelly of The Colosseum itself, its hypogeum. For all the spectacle that goes on above the surface, what is taking place beneath is a marvel of a different kind.

Weapons are being sharpened in every spare corner. Gladiators in animatronic form are everywhere training or lining up for whatever awaits them above. Roman guards are there keeping some semblance of order. A few even motion to the boats passing by to get back in line and gear up.

Scene 4: The Colosseum Hypogeum – A Spectacle

Venturing further along, many of the elevators used to enhance the battles come into view. The enormous chamber and scene show off many “enhancements” organizers could make to please the crowds. Items range from small scenery pieces to various wild animals. A few lifelike animatronic lions, elephants, and bears certainly convey how serious things could get for the gladiators. While no longer in use, large-scale ships show off just how grand a spectacle the Colosseum could be when the Colosseum floor could be flooded for naval battles.

Scene 5 & 6: The Colosseum Hypogeum - Gladiator Revolt

Encompassing the largest show scene in the attraction, guests find themselves in the middle of a Gladiator revolt. While there is no bloodshed in the attraction, swordplay, and small explosions ring the air. Well placed screens mix with animatronic figures to put guests right in the thick of the choreographed action as the boats wind their way through the scenes and hopefully out of this mess. In the distance, a Roman guard can be heard yelling “Incoming! Do not let them escape! We are opening the gates!”

Scene 7: Water “Rising”

The opening of the gates is in fact the guard’s way of letting you know the entire area is about to have a little water added to douse this little skirmish. Water from one of the nearby aqueducts is about to make guests' boat ride a bit more interesting. The sound of crashing water (only an effect) can be heard as the early hints of water pouring in can be seen from various openings in the walls around.

At this point, the boats have reached the end of the dark ride portion of the attraction and are settled into a vertical chain lift. Rising seamlessly 165 ft straight up, the boats leave the sounds of water below. Lasting only about 20 seconds, the ride up is smooth, and décor elements are built in to make it appear as if they have accessed one of the Colosseum’s many elevator shafts.

Scene 8: Coaster

Having reached the peak of the chain lift, the boats are suddenly awash in daylight from the open air of Ancient Rome. Looking out into the land itself from underneath one of the many structures of the show building, guests get a nice, if brief, glance at their surroundings before dropping into the coaster portion of the track.

The first drop is the steepest as the boat barrels down the track toward the waters below, with all the set pieces of the exterior of the show building all around. Before reaching the waters though, a large, banked turn just over the water's edge turns it back towards the show building and back inside. With the speed built up, the boat takes numerous turns and dips throughout the upper levels with enhanced set designs all around.

Scene 9: Aqueduct

Having neared the end of the coaster section, boats drop back into the water after a short break section. Back outside, the boats are now riding atop the large aqueduct rising on one end of the show building. Making a slow, but steady pass down the aqueduct, the track turns and faces directly into the waters of Ancient Rome below. The final drop sends boats crashing smoothly into the waters as guests from around the large plaza can catch the action. A slow float through the waters provides riders a chance to enjoy the scale of the scenery around them and see which part of them managed to stay dry. They survived The Gladiator.

Queue

Ride Vehicle & System

10 seats

Individual lap bars

11 boats in use at any one given time

5 min 10 seconds in length

1300 riders per hour

165 ft vertical chain lift