While E.T.’s Toy Closet at Universal Studios Florida is closed for construction, E.T. merchandise has moved to stands outside Animal Actors On Location!
E.T. Merchandise
The two stands are outside the theater and construction walls that surround the remnants of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone.
E.T. Adventure remains open, but the main entrance is blocked by construction walls and E.T.’s Toy Closet is currently closed.
The merchandise available at the two stands includes plush, apparel, and the E.T. Loungefly mini backpack.
Animal Actors On Location! also remains open, though most of the KidZone attractions have closed.
E.T. Pressed Penny Machine
The E.T. pressed penny machine is now next to the water fountains at the KidZone restrooms.
The machine was previously next to the store.
It includes two E.T. penny designs, as well as a SpongeBob SquarePants penny and a penny featuring Woody Woodpecker and Winnie. Each penny is $1.
E.T. Adventure
E.T. Adventure is the last remaining opening day ride at Universal Studios Florida. The other remaining opening day attractions are the shows Animal Actors on Location! and Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show, which have both gone through different names and variations.
Steven Spielberg appears in the pre-show of E.T. Adventure to let guests know that they will be helping E.T. save his home, the Green Planet. Guests receive an interplanetary passport, an essential part of the ride’s finale feature. When guests get their cards, they give a Team Member their name. The Team Member assigns the name to the card, and then guests carry it through the queue. Just before the load station, a Team Member will take the cards and scan them.
Most of the queue has guests winding through a forest with a distinctive smell. A section of “forest” outside the ride was recently replaced with stroller parking.
Guests hop on a ride vehicle inspired by the film’s famous flying bikes. They dodge human police before taking off into space and arriving on the Green Planet.
At the end of the ride, after (spoiler alert) the Green Planet has been saved, E.T. says thank you to each guest by name. This is accomplished by the programming and subsequent scanning of the passport card.
The attraction also opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2001, but closed in 2009 to make way for the cult-classic Space Fantasy: The Ride.
Watch our full E.T. Adventure POV video below.
Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone
Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone closed at Universal Studios Florida in January 2023. Animal Actors On Location! and E.T. Adventure, both opening day attractions, are here to stay (for now, at least). SpongeBob StorePants and KidZone Pizza Company will remain as well, but the rest of the area is permanently closed.
The land became KidZone in 1998-1999 with the additions of Curious George Goes to Town and Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster. The land also included Fievel’s Playland.
Shrek’s Swamp Meet and DreamWorks Destination exited for only a few years, having replaced The Barney Shop and A Day in the Park With Barney.
DreamWorks characters adorn the KidZone construction walls, suggesting it could become a mostly DreamWorks-themed land.
For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.