For Warburton and the other writers -- all veterans of the "Simpsons" TV show -- scripting an amusement-park ride proved more cumbersome than a 30-minute episode of the series. It also required a longer script.

Although the ride itself is brief, the loading area includes multiple videos featuring the animated denizens of Springfield; each one airs in a 20-minute loop. There's also the room immediately before the ride, where safety instructions are reviewed by "Simpsons" characters.

"It was a really long process figuring out what the story line was going to be," Warburton said. "It's in a building where you go from room to room, and then there's the ride itself. We had to break it down into chapters and figure out what we were doing in each place.

"The ride itself is short, but it's more packed with information and more dialogue per minute. And because the screen is so large, you can bury sign jokes in the back."

"The Simpsons" has a long history of episodes set at theme parks, and Warburton himself is a fan of attractions like the one he helped create. He wrote a "Simpsons" episode that included a parody of Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center.

"Mrs. Krabappel wins teacher of the year, and that's where the convention is held," he said. "I especially love EPCOT Center, and I ended up talking to some of the (Disney) Imagineers and we really hurt their feelings (with the jokes and sight gags in the episode). I felt terrible. I was like, 'Aww, come on, man, I love that stuff! It's coming from a place of love!' "

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The Simpsons Ride is open during regular park hours at both Universal Studios Florida in Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Both parks have assorted ticket options, but a basic, one-day park pass in Orlando costs $73 online ($75 at the gate) for adults and $63/$65 children ages 3-9.

A daily party with costumed "Simpsons" characters to celebrate the TV show's 20th anniversary will be held through Labor Day at the Hollywood park. The cost of a two-days-for-the-price-of-one ticket in Hollywood runs $67 online for riders more than 48 inches tall and $57 for riders less than 48 inches tall. At the gate, tickets cost $67/$57 for one day.