We all know and love that great attraction at Universal Studios that offers a potpourri of just about everything a theme park/studio has to offer known as the Studio Tour. But did you know that the Studio Tour has been bringing thrills to Studio visitors since 1964. Although some the tried and true events that occur on the tour have been around for years, many have not made the cut and been defunct for more modern attractions. The following is a list of said attractions, what they featured, and what they were replaced by.
Rock Slide (1974-1979): The tram would stop by a mountain which would begin to rumble. Suddenly, boulders would begin to fall from the cliff, and the tram would have to dodge the boulders. The finale of this attraction was the tram colliding with the final boulder, which would later be explained to be paper machet as most heavy looking objects in film are. The attraction closed in 1979 to make space for the new state of the art Battle-star Gallactica attraction.
Runaway Train (1974-1985): The tram would cross a train track that riders were told was defunct, however, just as the tram went to cross the tracks, a train would come rushing up and have to brake causing screeching and sparking on the track, just barely stopping before hitting the tram. Tour guides would explain how sparks were artificially created beneath the train and then shot out to create the effect that the train was actually emergently braking. The attraction closed due to technical difficulties, however, the train can still be spotted on the studio tour today.
Avalanche Tunnel (1974-2001): The avalanche tunnel was a rotating tunnel that would simulate an avalanche, complete with destroyed avalanche warning signs and fake snow, as well as sound and temperature affects. This part of the studio tour was re designed to be the Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb in 2001.
Battle-star Gallactica (1979-1992): This attraction was a crown jewel for the park. It featured both audio animatronics and actors head to head in a high tech laser blast off. It was the first ride to utilize audio animatronics outside of a Disney park and was the first dark ride to incorporate live actors. The attraction was shut down in 1992 and replaced with Back to the Future: the Ride.
King Kong Encounter (1986-2008): The tram entered 1976 New York City where King Kong is on the loose and grabs and shakes the tram, which eventually escapes his grasp and gets out of the city safely. The 7-ton, 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) Kong figure was the largest and most complex animatronic figure in existence for many years. The sophistication of the attraction broke new ground and paved the way for today’s themed attractions, including a Universal Studios Florida version. This attraction was completely destroyed by a fire in the early morning of June 1, 2008. As of June 3, 2008, Universal Studios officials stated that the experience would not be rebuilt, and instead was replaced by the new King Kong: 360 3-D attraction, based on the 2005 film.
The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb (2001-2013): Riders are supposed to be taken to see props from the film The Mummy but instead enter the cursed tomb of Imhotep, and are sucked into a viscous sandstorm, before just barely escaping the dead kings wrath. The wash demolished in 2013 and will now be the location for Fast and Furious Supercharged.
Fast and Furious: Extreme Close-Up (2006-2013): Extreme close up showed the magic behing the movement of the cars in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, however, Universal was not happy on how this attraction portrayed the series and was closed in 2013. Planning for Supercharged began shortly after.
Additionally, limited edition “pink” t-shirts and specially designed canteens will be available for purchase. A portion of the “pink” merchandise proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen Orange County.
Though I really like these banners, they’re clearly Merry Farm!
Even more exciting, the train has received a new chassis! Meaning that the base of the train has been replaced, with new wheels, etc. It’s smoother, though not very significantly. It’s still a great ride!
The neon-signs are awaiting new neon-lights. 
Here’s the poster on the door, and the inside still wrapped up. 
The drop and lift-hill are being worked on most. For example, the entire conveyor belt from the last lift will be replaced. 
The new conveyor belt is ready to be installed and stored under the ride. 
In addition the fences/gates were taken out, and repainted black. (Used to be purple).
My guess is, that next week when they’re closed, they’ll start converting the park back to what it was, but they sure have a lot of work to do.
Funny enough I saw many people still taking pictures with the tree of heroes over at DC Universe.
The Holiday in the Park wreaths that the park hung up on almost every single lamppost, are pretty much all still there. I expected them to take them down earlier, like during the crowd-less operating days this week. 
The tree of water is turned off and the photo-op scenery is gone. The lights that moved are protected in their plastic boxes to be taken out soon.
Yesterday they were taking apart the stage. 
Today only the frame of the light-installations was left standing. 
Sorry for the blurry picture, but it’s time for the pistachio park walls to be fixed, the wallpaper is tearing off. 
Jet Stream, though still leaking significantly less than a couple of months ago, is starting to leak pretty badly again. 
The park did though manage to finally fix up the Xtreme Zone sign after the T was missing and the sign was faded for a very long time. 
Still hard to see, but there are a couple of significant gray spots on the first corkscrew for example. 
Moving on to Apocalypse. Which first off NEEDS RETRACKING! I gave it a couple of shots the last two days to redeem itself, but sadly enough Apocalypse has become very rough. Remember how rough Roar was at a point? Well Apocalypse is currently rougher than Roar ever was… Moving on to the cool news, row 9 (seats 17 and 18) on train 1 have new restraints, not just any new restraints, it’s the new GCI restraints for their Millennium Flyer trains. You may recognize them from Gold Striker, where all restraints look like this!
One day has passed since our Twisted Colossus Update, and a whole lot of track has been placed! The approach to the High Five element (both sides) is under construction. 
There are also a lot more track pieces on site, and they were starting to place track for the High Five element already!
The Top Gun structure is under construction, I have a feeling a lot of wood will be added in order for the element to become reality. 
They’re working on preparing the High Five element for track placement, though currently there aren’t many noticeable changes from last week. 
Twisted Colossus is stilll looking very pretty, in case anyone doubted that. 
Moving on to the part of the ride that has been drastically altered over the last two weeks, the old second turn-around!
1/3rd of the original height has been taken off, and currently the shaping continues for the Double Up, and the Outward Bank Floater that will be on this side of the structure. 
You can now see the station, and where the track will be placed that will mark the transition from blue to green. 
They trimmed down the huge structure quite a bit!
In the station not much has changed, they’re clearing it out more. If you look precisely, you may notice that the control panels have all been taken out and the floors are being leveled. 
And then there’s the ride that ‘screams’ for a repaint. It will either close tomorrow for its overhaul, or a week later, since the park extended their daily operations ’til January 11th. I’ll step by sometime during the week to figure out whether it’s closed yet, or not. 
A quick last, faded-paint-Scream shot!
Might not see this building again, ’til it’s repainted and the Looking Glass Theater. 
One quick look at the future Screampunk District made me realize how insanely badly the area needs a face-lift. I’m stocked for the future of Screampunk District!