The Simpsons Ride

The Simpsons Ride is a simulator ride featured at the Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood San Pedro Hollywood Studios theme parks. The ride is based on the animated television series The Simpsons. It was first announced in 2007 and replaced Back to the Future: The Ride at both locations. The ride at San Pedro Hollywood Studios soft opened on April 23, 2008, and the official ceremonies took place on May 15. The ride at Universal Studios Hollywood opened on May 19, 2008. The Simpsons Ride was collaborated on by the producers of The Simpsons, and uses CGI animation, which was provided by Blur Studio and Reel FX. 2D animation was provided by Film Roman, with the exception of AKOM and Rough Draft Studios in South Korea and California. The ride uses state of the art technology, including new projection and hydraulics systems produced for the attraction.

History
Planning for The Simpsons Ride started two years prior to its opening. The Simpsons creators James L. Brooks and Matt Groening, as well as executive producer Al Jean, collaborated with the Universal Studios creative team, Universal Creative, to help develop the ride.[10] Music for the ride was composed by Jim Dooley, who worked with composer Hans Zimmer on the feature film The Simpsons Movie.[8] The ride is located at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood in the former Back to the Future: The Ride buildings at both locations. The Back to the Future opened in Florida in 1991 and closed March 30, 2007, while the Hollywood version opened in 1993 and closed on September 3, 2007.

Queue
Guests walk through a 32-foot (9.8 m) head of Krusty the Clown[4]  as they enter the ride's line queue, which leads them into a pavilion under various circus tents themed to carnival stalls. A variety of posters are on display advertising attractions at Krustyland, while television monitors stationed around the queue play video clips from the Krusty's television show along with animated footage from Krustyland. Guests eventually leave the queue and enter "Krusty's Carnival Midway", the first of two pre-shows.

Voice cast
The ride features more than 24 regular characters from The Simpsons and features the voices of the regular cast members, as well as Pamela Hayden, Russi Taylor and Kelsey Grammer.[8] [27]  Harry Shearer, however, decided not to participate in the ride supposedly due to scheduling and availability conflicts, so none of his characters have vocal parts and many do not appear in the ride at all.[15]  In homage to the Back to the Future ride that it has replaced, The Simpsons Ride's queue video features a brief animated cameo from Doc Brown who is voiced by Christopher Lloyd.
 * Nancy Cartwright - Bart Simpson, Maggie Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, and The Happy Little Elves
 * Dan Castellaneta - Homer Simpson, Krusty the Clown, Grampa Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie, Squeaky Voiced Teen, Hans Moleman, Barney Gumble, Kodos, Repo man, and Mr. Freidman
 * Julie Kavner - Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier and Selma Bouvier
 * Yeardley Smith - Lisa Simpson
 * Hank Azaria - Chief Wiggum, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Moe Szyslak, Professor Frink, Cletus Spuckler, Officer Lou, Comic Book Guy, Snake Jailbird and Pants-Off Johnson
 * Kelsey Grammer - Sideshow Bob
 * Pamela Hayden - Milhouse Van Houten
 * Russi Taylor - Martin Prince
 * Christopher Lloyd - Doc Brown