Universal Studios Hollywood’s new dark ride, Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, seeks to answer the question, “what are your pets really doing when you’re not at home?” The ride envisions the guest as a “stray puppy” (keep that in mind while watching).
Secret Life of Pets Ride Video
Enjoy this ride video, which includes some scenes from a great queue. This video was created by the YouTube channel SoCal Attractions 360:
The Secret Life of Pets Ride Experience:
Guests enter Katie’s apartment building where they are met with various animated and talking queue scenes.
For the ride, guests board a “cardboard box” that resembles the one where Katie finds her puppy, Max. Considered “stray puppies,” guests travel through various scenes on their way to a Pet Adoption event where they will find their “forever home.”
Behind the Scenes of The Secret Life of Pets Dark Ride
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash was originally set to open in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the ride didn’t open until April 16, 2021, when the park reopened after being closed for more than a year. The Secret Life of Pets ride replaces the Globe Theater, which closed on July 1, 2018.
The ride has 64 animated and animatronic figures. It also uses technology to identify each guest as one of 15 different stray puppies. The identity is revealed early in the ride and the ride remembers that identity throughout.
One of the things theme park enthusiasts love most about the ride is that it doesn’t rely heavily on screens like many of today’s attractions. The balance between animatronics, projection mapping, and visual effects is right on target.
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash was designed by Universal Creative.
