Created as a sequel to the film Jaws, which helped make director Steven Spielberg a household name, the ride attraction Jaws.
Although it is not a high-thrill ride—something unusual among Universal Studios attractions—Jaws has remained popular for years. Here is a detailed look at what makes it so appealing (*⁰▿⁰*)/
Jaws: Basic Information
Location: Less than a 1-minute walk from the entrance to Amity Village (about a 7-minute walk from the park entrance)
Duration: About 7 minutes
Capacity: 48 guests (6 guests × 8 rows)
Single Rider: Available
Express Pass: Available
How Long Is the Wait?
The average wait time is around 30–45 minutes per day.
Lines seem to start building around 10:00 a.m., roughly an hour and a half after the park opens.
The busiest period is generally from just after noon until around 5:00 p.m., when waits can reach about 70 minutes.
However, because several boats operate at once, the line moves fairly quickly. Even during peak hours, the wait may drop below 50 minutes, so be sure to check the current wait time on the official website (official USJ website) before heading over!
Compared with other USJ attractions, this ride tends to have a relatively short wait ( ✌︎’ω’)✌︎
Right after opening and shortly before the park closes, attendance is lower, so you may sometimes board with a wait of less than 20 minutes!
What Should You Know Before Riding?
• Height restrictions apply. Guests 122 cm or taller may ride alone.
(Guests under 122 cm may ride when accompanied by a supervising adult.)
• Even small children must be able to sit in their own seat.
• This attraction is not recommended for guests with a fear of dark places.
• Flames are used during the ride.
Jaws: Story Overview
The tour company building
This attraction was created as a sequel to Jaws, one of the most iconic films in the disaster-thriller genre.
Plot Summary of Jaws (1975)
The story is set in Amity, a small seaside town on the East Coast of the United States. It begins when a woman’s body washes ashore.
Although her death is attributed to a shark attack, the incident is covered up out of concern that it will drive away tourists. As a result, a boy swimming in the ocean becomes the next victim.
After the boy’s parents offer a reward to anyone who kills the shark, shark hunters flock to Amity.
The creature that finally appears before them is an extraordinarily large great white shark. At more than 8 meters long, it is so huge that experts even suggest it might be a megalodon.
The film depicts a desperate battle between the hunters and the giant shark.
The sequels are:
Jaws 2 (1978)
Jaws 3 (1983)
Jaws: The Revenge (1987).
The Story Guests Experience
Guests take a boat tour around Amity after the events of the film.
Even the queue is designed to immerse you in the world of Jaws, with harbor-town decorations, Jaws posters, and an introductory video about Amity hosted by “Miss Amity.”
From here, the story is introduced through the boat captain’s dialogue. Spoiler warning: anyone who has not ridden yet and does not want to know what happens should skip ahead for a while σ(^_^;)
Watch the video here for the full spoiler-filled experience. It is edited so you can also enjoy the differences in personality among three captains.
“Hello, everyone! Welcome to the Amity Harbor Tour. I’ll be your tour guide today. My name is ××, and I hope you enjoy the trip all the way to the end!”
The captain appears to use their real name rather than a foreign stage name. Their high-energy delivery immediately creates a fun, exciting atmosphere (≧∀≦)
“Now, does everyone know what happened back in 1975? A huge shark appeared here in Amity and attacked one person after another.
Director Spielberg used that story to make the famous movie Jaws, and Amity became famous overnight.
We do carry a rifle on board just in case a shark appears, but we haven’t seen one in years, so there is no need to worry.”
At this point, a distress call comes in from Amity 3. (The boat carrying the guests is Amity 6.)
The caller tries to say that something is under the boat and asks for help, but a scream cuts in and the transmission goes dead.
Headquarters then contacts Amity 6. Apparently, Amity 3 made its call from somewhere nearby.
“For now, let’s continue the tour. Everyone, please stay calm. I’m sure Amity 3 is…”
Before the captain can finish, the smoking wreck of Amity 3 is spotted sinking. The captain reports to headquarters that Amity 3 has gone down near the lighthouse.
A gigantic shark is then seen swimming close to Amity 6, and the captain tries to attack it with the rifle.
“That’s it—we’ll take shelter in the boathouse. We should be safe in there. Hello? Is anyone here? For now, let’s wait here for rescue.”
Then a strange noise is heard.
“It’s coming in—we have to get out!
Wait, what’s wrong? The engine won’t start!
Come on, move, you piece of junk!”
The engine finally starts, and the shark breaks the surface, but the boat narrowly escapes and gets out of the boathouse.
Headquarters calls again and says rescue will arrive in 10 minutes.
“Ten minutes? By then we’ll all be shark food. All right, then—let’s find it ourselves and take it down. It must still be somewhere around here.”
The shark appears on the side opposite the captain’s gaze. The captain notices it from the guests’ reactions and fires the rifle, but accidentally hits a fuel-oil tank instead. A huge burst of flame erupts.
“We’re going to take our chances and race right past those flames, so everyone, be careful!”
The dock then comes into view.
“Can everyone see that dock over there? Let’s get ashore there. Once we’re on land, the shark won’t be able to reach us.
But there are high-voltage posts on the left, so watch your step. A tremendous amount of electricity is running through them.”
The shark appears beside the high-voltage posts. This is when Jaws comes closest to the boat. Guests in rows 3, 4, and 5 on the left side will have it right beside them.
“In that case, let’s use this cable to finish it off. Hold on tight!”
After the captain fires several shots, the charred shark floats to the surface.
“Great news, everyone—the shark is completely charred!”
Headquarters then calls to confirm that everyone is safe.
“Chief, we did it! Everyone aboard Amity 6 is safe, and we somehow took down the shark! (Thunderous applause)
Thanks to all of you, we’ve made it safely back to the dock!
But please don’t tell anyone about that big fish you just saw. If word gets out, nobody will ever visit Amity again.”
After a brief farewell and an introduction to the sponsor, the attraction ends.
How Wet Do You Actually Get on Jaws?
The biggest splash comes when Jaws is defeated beside the high-voltage posts.
Even then, it is not enough to soak the entire boat.
I rode it myself to find out.
The light-green seats receive almost no spray.
Depending on whether you consider it lucky or unlucky, the yellow seats occasionally get fairly wet.
The orange seats are not guaranteed to get wet, but they often do.
The blood-orange seats will definitely get wet. Be prepared.
That said, spray sometimes reaches the light-green area too. The most likely place for that to happen is inside the boathouse, where the creature surfaces at close range on the right side.
Even with this diagram, USJ rides do not allow guests to choose their seats, so bringing a towel is essential no matter where you end up (-.-;)
The boat seats themselves are sometimes wet, so be careful not to soak the back of your clothes!
What Is the Best Time to Ride?
For thrill-ride fans, Jaws may feel like the kind of attraction that is “a little too mild to ride again and again, but still worth experiencing once.”
For anyone in the “ride Jaws once” camp, the best time is definitely the evening!
Because the attraction travels across the water by boat, the sunset reflected on the surface and Amity’s old buildings glowing orange create an unforgettable atmosphere. In today’s terms, it is wonderfully cinematic—or perhaps “emotional,” as people say.
I found the view genuinely refreshing. Anyone who has never ridden in the evening should absolutely give it a try.
The captain’s dialogue and the feel of the ride vary greatly from one captain to another, so riding several times in a day can also be fun.
Some captains cannot hide how frightened they are of Jaws, while others are fearless. The detailed scenery makes this an attraction almost anyone can enjoy. Be sure to ride it when you visit USJ!
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