How has the ET ride lasted?

[Sephiroth]

Following up on the sane question about the Batman roller coaster in Six Flags. The Universal park on Florida has changed drastically since I was last there; the Jaws, King Kong, and Earthquake rides are long gone to make way for the Harry Potter section. The Back to the Future ride is now The Simpsons ride. Nickelodeon Studios is now a theater for the Blue Man Group. But somehow the ET ride persists. Especially baffling because from the videos I’ve seen, the ani animatronics show their age. I’m assuming the power of Spielberg is the explanation, but that couldn’t save Jaws. Is Universal just hanging on to the final launch attraction?

[schma]

Well it's 2024 and nearly everyone has a cell, so they can phone home. They're just honouring the prophet E.T.

[Saiyanic Panic]

Because Steven Spielberg will send Orbidon, Tickli and Magdol to take their lives. 

Jenny Nicholson will then make a numbered list and send it to the victims' families about how the decision was bad.

[Fade]

I envy them.

Was recently at Knott’s with friends and a friend informed me of this. Had no idea Florida still had it. I love it. It’s reminiscent to me of the Peter Pan ride at Dinnyland; Obviously showing its age but maintaining a magical spark to it. We also spoke of how the line in itself was great at keeping up the theme and immersing one from the get-go.

[4real]

I’d love to go again. First went to Universal as a kid in 91. And ET was always a favourite of mine so the fact that ride is still going warms my heart a little. The only problem is I don’t really have a massive desire to go to Florida again.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

ET is still there? Groovy. I went to universal in 1995, dad worked for Snap On Tools at the time and they rented the f***ing park for the 75th Anniversary Convention. Went on Back to the Future 3 times in a row, no lines, it was amazing. I think dad shit his drawers on the Jaws ride

[A Platypus Rave]

Spielberg, the fact it's a launch attraction, and it still being reasonably popular from my understanding are the reasons it still exists. (It also being an inside ride away from the Florida heat probably helps)

[Vice honcho room temperature]

I hope it never goes away. You just need that one legacy ride from long ago.

[Vice honcho room temperature]

Jun 1, 2024 15:09:27 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Spielberg, the fact it's a launch attraction, and it still being reasonably popular from my understanding are the reasons it still exists. (It also being an inside ride away from the Florida heat probably helps)

Also being an all ages ride helps.

[Talent Name]

I was there last January for my honeymoon and wondered the same thing, like the entrance/welcoming video is still young Steven talking about the ride and the ride looks aged but it was fun

[DZ: WF Legacy]

I went last year for the first time in a long while. I love so many things about it - the dark faux forest, the aroma and cool temperature, the 'old' feeling of it all, the music cues, and not to mention the ride itself. It's not trying to shove a bunch of screens in your face, it is quiet at times, and it feels like a little adventure as you fly your bike over a lit up city. The planet you arrive on gives me original Metroid vibes in how colorful and vibrant and bizarre it is. I hope they continue to keep it, because as a little kid, I remember leaving that ride full of imagination.

[HMARK Center]

Jun 1, 2024 15:09:27 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Spielberg, the fact it's a launch attraction, and it still being reasonably popular from my understanding are the reasons it still exists. (It also being an inside ride away from the Florida heat probably helps

The indoor part is a key, for sure, given how the nature of the Jaws ride and how often it'd need repairing was part of what killed that ride.

And yeah, the beautiful thing about dark rides with real sets and animatronics and whatnot is that they can often have a timeless quality to them, especially with something like E.T., where you're not spending much time in the movie itself and instead spending it on a fantastical world that could be from any time.

[Sephiroth]

I’d also be curious to know how long the marvel islands of ad entire section has to last. Marvel is a Disney property now, gotta believe the arrangement with universal has an expiration date.

[A Platypus Rave]

Jun 3, 2024 19:50:41 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

I’d also be curious to know how long the marvel islands of ad entire section has to last. Marvel is a Disney property now, gotta believe the arrangement with universal has an expiration date.

Nope. In perpetuity, it's why the only Marvel thing in Disney World is GotG which is based off the MCU And not the comics.

Universal has exclusive rights to the comics east of the Mississippi. Also Disney can't use "Marvel"

It's why Avengers Campus is in Disneyland and nothing about it has come out about coming to World.

[Bang Bang Bart]

Jun 3, 2024 20:36:13 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Jun 3, 2024 19:50:41 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

I’d also be curious to know how long the marvel islands of ad entire section has to last. Marvel is a Disney property now, gotta believe the arrangement with universal has an expiration date.

Nope. In perpetuity, it's why the only Marvel thing in Disney World is GotG which is based off the MCU And not the comics.

Universal has exclusive rights to the comics east of the Mississippi. Also Disney can't use "Marvel"

It's why Avengers Campus is in Disneyland and nothing about it has come out about coming to World.

Also why the Universal Marvel section is just perpetually based on late-90s aesthetic, particularly with the walk-on characters they have.

[A Platypus Rave]

Jun 3, 2024 22:37:11 GMT -5 Bang Bang Bart said:

Jun 3, 2024 20:36:13 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Nope. In perpetuity, it's why the only Marvel thing in Disney World is GotG which is based off the MCU And not the comics.

Universal has exclusive rights to the comics east of the Mississippi. Also Disney can't use "Marvel"

It's why Avengers Campus is in Disneyland and nothing about it has come out about coming to World.

Also why the Universal Marvel section is just perpetually based on late-90s aesthetic, particularly with the walk-on characters they have.

eh in theory they could update them as they own the rights to the Avengers, Spider-man, the x-men and the Fantastic Four and any related characters in perpetuity.

The only way out is if Universal cuts it for some reason or Marvel cuts it claiming they aren't using them properly... or you know Disney says f*** it and buys the rights outright.