E.T. Adventure has this atmosphere that feels like a memory to me. It takes me back to being a kid in such a real way, despite not riding it until later in life. It’s a weird, but beautiful gem of a ride.
Very well put. It’s like a memory that you might not have had in the first place. It’s vintage, it’s old-fashioned, it’s classic, it’s nostalgic, it doesn’t need to try to impress like the newest ride. It’s really interesting.
Considering Disney has a number of nostalgic rides that have been around for many decades (Pirates, Peter Pan, etc.) I think it is great Universal has at least one ride they refuse to change. Simplicity done right can exceed a ride with the latest and greatest tech.
I remember riding E.T adventure and seeing someone’s sandal on the floor, now whenever I go on that ride I try to see for any things people have dropped. It’s like a fun game for me and my family.
Major correction: Spielberg wasn’t reportedly angry at Universal closing Jaws. Universal actually closed ET in Hollywood without fanfare, reportedly because they wanted to inform Spielberg themselves about the ride’s closure in Hollywood, and when they did inform him about that, they reportedly promised him that the ride would stay open in Orlando and Japan (which of course, they didn’t honor when they closed the Japan version in 2009). That’s reportedly the reason why he allegedly threatened to cut ties with Universal if they closed ET in Orlando. It had nothing to do with Jaws.
😂someone should just ask Spielberg in an interview "if it's up to you would you like to see E.T ride in Orlando open permanently for generations of families?" Closing this ride would be like if Disney closed all haunted mansion rides.Guests would have a field day.
Although you’re somewhat right, Spielberg did threaten Universal upon hearing one of the items being demolished at the Jaws location. I believe it was a boat. So he said if ET closes he would pull all rights out of the park with his name affiliated to it.
I was on the grand opening crew of the original E.T.'s Adventure at Universal Orlando. The day was exhausting, terrifying and probably one of the most fun days I've ever had in my life - definitely a treasure memory. I have stories that I could share for a lifetime. Thank you for keeping this endearing icon alive. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. Keep up the good work and keep promoting E.T.'s Adventure.
E.T. the ride is genuinely such an astonishing ride. A year ago I went on it and experienced it for the first time without having watched the movie, through the ride I instantly felt connected to E.T. and took advantage of the lovely photo ops in the store. After my day at universal I watched the movie for the first time. Instant classic.
Been going on ET since I was tall enough in the 90s. I will ALWAYS go on ET whenever I'm in Universal Studios, just for the smell alone. So much nostalgia in a single sniff.
Still love the ride. Youth nostalgia. I rode this ride myself in 1993, and in 2023 I took my own kids and my wife on the ride again! It's also the only genuine dark ride at Universal Orlando that is not specifically themed for kids, but still a ride for the whole family.
I rode ET for the first time when I was 5 in 1990. To say my mind was blown when he said my name at the end of the ride was an understatement. I recently rode it and while it needs a little refurb, it was still such a fun nostalgic ride. I hope they never get rid of it
As a film, E.T. was never my favorite when I was a kid, but I have always, ALWAYS adored this ride! I would argue it's one of the best in the parks. It's not flashy or overtly thrilling, but there's a charm to it that cannot be matched. It's like stepping into a time machine to experience childhood once more. The musical score, the dated human animatronics, the miniature city scene, and yes, even the pumped in forest scent, all combine to make an attraction that I NEVER miss when we visit Universal! I truly hope this ride is around for many more years to come! It's a comforting classic! (p.s. I've never come across your channel before, but I just saw this video pop up on my recommended list and it got me so excited! Excellent quality and very informative. You've got a new subscriber 😊)
I have a very specific memory about this ride. We were at Orlando and it was raining pretty hard and we didn't want to go out in the rain, so while we waited for the rain to die down we rode it like 5 times in a row. Never got old. Had no idea it was there when the park first opened!
ET is my favorite childhood memory. I will never forget the magic of seeing the green planet as a child and how special it was to ride with the et basket bike!!
ET is timelessly charming. I'm not a Universal fan, but the one time I rode this as a teenager it was one of the highlights of my day... along with Back to the Future. 😩 (Edited to add I'm turning 40 next month so it's been a minute. lol)
I miss E.T. Adventure at Universal Hollywood, I enjoyed it so much as a kid. Few years after the ride was replaced with the Mummy, I got my first job at Universal Studios, and one of the things I did there was sell E.T. plushes and t-shirts at a cart that was always stationed by the Blues Brothers stage.
This ride exudes nostalgia and I never even rode it as a kid. It's magical. Just the queue alone is perfection. To remove it would be a damn shame. I ride it every time I go to Universal. Usually the last ride of the day. Walking off this ride and into the dark of night is the best.
I was a little skeptical when I saw your video title. But I decided to watch it anyway. I am glad I did. I feel you did this video in good taste to such a beloved ride as E.T. I rode this ride back in 1990 when Universal first opened, and I am glad to still be able to ride it today. I rode it again two years ago for the first time in 15 years or more and it was so fresh and felt brand new. I am glad that Steven Spielberg put his foot down about Universal taking out E.T. I really hope they never take it out. I do wish they would have gotten Jaws to operating better and kept it and another Spielberg ride of Back To The Future. It would have been great to see three Spielberg movie rides still in operation. But at least we have one. I am glad to see you were somewhat neutral with your opinions about ET, but yet, I felt you were in support of the ride still in operation. Thank you for that. Because us older folks that rode the ride brand new in 1990 still have fond memories of that ride and others from our younger years.
It's still there because it's always been one of the most atmospheric and charming ride shows in the park. With the sights and smells, they've done an amazing job transporting you into a flight through a forest. I enjoy it way more than any thrill ride there.
I was on this ride for the first time back in like 1993 as a young teen, think I was 13 and even as a teen the ride was enjoyable to me. almost 15 years later I took my fist son there and we went on the ride again. I have not been back to Universal in almost 20 years, it is time to go back soon. thanks for sharing this.
Rode this in the 90s when I was a kid&came back to universal for the 1st time last week&was surprised it was still there&went on it again...was crazy the memories that came back riding it again when it's been so long. It's old,it's outdated but I was so happy it was still there. Pure nostalgia
We were just there a few months back and it was our favorite ride hands down. All of the other rides just jerk and spin you around. The E.T. ride is immersive and nostalgic. Hope it never gets taken down.
e.t. was my childhood movie as a kid and since being from Florida myself i would ride it when i visit universal all the time. i had the plush, the book and the e.t. furby toy. i don't think e.t. would never leave universal cause its timeless and means so much to people. thank you George for your video and nice to see Brits being interested in theme parks here in the US. 😊 (and you would enjoy the mint forest scented queue, iykyk.)
I never have ridden the ride but I’ll always remember the billboard you show @3:48. Driving with my parents from south Florida where we lived to Tallahassee where my Granny lived it was always special to see it as a kid
I love this attaction and dare I say it’s the heart of Universal Studios Florida. I will say Attactions is in dire need of swim tlc. Lots of Megan lighting and special effects.
This ride is a classic, and I hope it stays for many more years to come. But it does need a little bit of love, tightening up the sound give a good refresh to the animatronics. it’s gotta stay. Thanks for the video.
My dream is the new Universal studios Texas 2026 to have Back to the future and an E.t ride. I went as a kid and cried with happiness going over the city twenty yrs later in '22. When I rode it in '23 two guys (they couldn't have been over 14) sitting in front of me were saying out loud how this was the best and their fav ride at universal.This ride is for all ages and generations and those who know its history from videos like this makes it even more interesting. You didn't mention the pine tree smell in the forest. That was freakin brilliant when I first experienced that.I love hearing my name totally puts me in the ride. If this ride is ever removed I am never stepping foot in Universal again. 😅
ET Adventure is hands down one of USF's best rides, I think personally another reason it has stuck around for so long as well is I believe Universal owes a debt of gratitude towards it for being one of the very few opening day attractions that actually worked, and as you have mentioned it did break down a bit, but it was nowhere near as disastrous as the other flagship attractions Universal opened on June 7th, 1990. As Universal has been trying to appeal to more families lately, many of the rides at UO are more thrilling and geared towards older audiences, especially with stuff like HHN, ET Adventure is a major standout for families, and just has a charm and magic that even newer Universal attractions don't seem to have. Not saying that everything new Universal has added recently is bad, except for Fast & Furious: Supercharged, everyone was right about that one even when I rode it for the first time last year, but ET Adventure just has some special heart that makes it so worthwhile compared to even newer attractions that I personally loved riding. To top it off, Universal has even added new signage for the attraction when Dreamworks Land opened, so with this addition, it is safe to say ET Adventure is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Steven loves E.T. and has probably made it clear that he wants it to stay open, but I really don't think he'd need to make threats because Universal owes him so much, possibly their very existence, and has always wanted to keep him happy.
I grew up as a theme park kid but never went to Universal until I worked in the area in 2015. Immediately fell in love with ET. The ride is special. I have a kid now, little spunky 2 year old thats WAY too tall for her age. She could ride this EARLY and sat still for it. She loves it and sleeps with an ET plush now. There is something to be said about a ride connecting with a 30 year old AND a 2 year old. Those rides over the green planet with my kid when she's young I will remember till I die man. (Side note she absolutely hates Orbidon and acts disgusted when the mushroom man is happy shes arrived)
I first rode the ride in Orlando in like 1995. We probably rode it like 2 or 3 different times over the course of the day, and my dad would always pick some goofy name for E.T. to say, like Herman. Definitely a great childhood memory.
You know what would have been a fun pop culture alien cameo in this ride? How about if near the end of the ride standing next to ET was ALF? With him comically asking "Betcha you never to see me here? Aha!!". Or how about a jump scare moment from a Zenomorph after ET bids us farewell, with a loud clash and flash of lightning we see and hear the Zenomorph huh?? 😂🤣
Don’t you dare jinx its longevity!! That was the first ride I ever went on the first time I went to Universal Studios when I was nine years old. It is still one of my all-time favorites.
I grew up in the 2000s and for some reason ET was my favorite movie ever, I was him for halloween and had an ET birthday party etc. The first time I went to universal, I was probably like 8 or 9 and the only ride I wanted to do was this. I went back to universal last year and was so happy to see it was still there.
This is pretty much the last remaining bit of universal from my childhood. When you walk in and smell that smell… it’s like I’m 8 years old again. Please never shut it down.
ET is a classic and amazing that it is the sole survivor of the original attractions. My family and I always go out of our way to ride this every time we go. I have my own nostalgia for it and one of my favorite moments was my first time. My family and I went during December and when you fly over the city you see the kids fly across the moon there was also a silhouette of Santa in his sleigh with two reindeer. Does anyone else remember this? I tried to find a picture but cant find anything on it.
Visually, the 3D x, y, z axis ET ride is still fascinating with things going on all around you. Compared to the growing number of boring large-screen projection rides that are relatively cheap to produce, ET still offers a fascinating ride and even the queue that meanders through the forest is fun.
I was one of the first people to go on this ride. The park was open for visitors before the official opening on the understanding that not everything was quite ready yet, but ET was. There weren't that many people at the park so there wasn't much queueing. ET got my name wrong.
Another fantastic video. Never fail to entertain me. Personally I hope E.T. Adventure does stay for at least another 10 years, keeping that classic Universal feel is something I really hope we don’t lose!
Im heading to Universal Orlando on a few days and I’m so excited this original attraction is still there! I rode the Hollywood version as a kid and loved it, so getting to ride it again several decades later is awesome!
Looking at the nighttime shows they have had there, I think they just genuinely love that movie. Cinematic Celebration had a segment dedicated to ET and it was the last thing shown on the screens. In the new show, Cinesational, they feature ET in both the opening and the finale with drones forming the shape of the bike with ET in the basket in front of the moon. I think that the leadership at studios Orlando doesn’t want ET to leave just as much as most guests.
I have such a fond memory of riding this as a kid and my mid-60s grandad making the poor universal worker put his name down as ‘daisy’ - not the funniest use but when you’re 6 it was hysterical
Why is it still open? Because it’s freaking awesome. “Welcome home, you’ve arrived.” And Tikili and Magdoll and Botanicus and the smell and the little ETs playing percussion on the green planet. Please. It’s a ma zing.
I also think its just because its managed to become their oldest og working ride and that draws attention to it. Like an ancient site preserved and we must visit lol. I love the rides nostalgia even though the alien planet scares the sht outa me. Idky. Its trippy. Last time I was on it it broke down at the end of an OIM. We were stuck in that section at midnight for a while before the team got us off.😅
Have to say that the ride queue is pretty stunning. And the top-rail ride system is unique, giving the rider an amazing downward view. The first half of the ride is pretty cool. A great chase scene, taking place at about .5MPH! The "Home Planet" expansion, at the end, not so much! That part has always seemed a bit hokey to me, but it's brightly colored, and cheerful, so, OK. I'd go into it just to see the fake forest. I'll have to go to it on Tony Day. That has to be hilarious!
It's still my favorite ride at the park honestly haha. Part nostalgia. I acknowledge Gringotts is insanely good. But E.T. is my favorite. It's the smell, the amazing queue, the ride vehicles, the physical props, the awesome city model, the story etc. It's all great, even today. I think it holds up, for the most part. I'd love to see a renovation of it, like a "remaster." Just improve everything, add a few new things. But, it'll never happen. The recent refurbishment is the best we'll get and it'll be shuttered in 5-10 years. I heard it's only still open because of Spielberg. It's the ONLY thing left of the original park. Of what the park was when I was a kid with Kongfrontation, Jaws, Twister. Even the motion simulators like Back to the Future and Hannah Barbera I still miss.
Having been to Universal many times between the opening and the intro of Harry Potter, I rode this twice. Other than ET saying our names, nothing was memorable about it for me. Jaws, King Kong, Earthquake, and Alfred Hitchcock were the attractions I loved and remembered. I do remember going to Universal Hollywood in 1983 and ET was everywhere at that park.
I've only been on the ride once when I was 6, sadly for me I was absolutely terrified of ET but it was my mom's favorite movie. So she took my entire family on it and I spent the whole ride crying and hiding my face in my mom's sweater. That was 20 years ago though, I'll have to revisit it for my next universal trip
I was very worried because they advertised “you will hop on bikes and travel …”. It had been so long since I had ridden a bike I was afraid I would be the only one who couldn’t do it. Now I know I wasn’t the only one as Spielberg clarified it 😊
I really hope that they eventually bring back some of the older rides like Back To The Future in some way. Especially with how many properties currently at Universal have aged far worse than stuff like Ghostbusters, Twister, or Beetlejuice
my favorite thing is the smell of the ride. it’s so nostalgic for me that i even bought a candle marketing that it was a similar smell. only lit it up a few times cause it does not capture the the queue line smell at all. not a bad forrest smell but definitely not E.T. worthy lol. will never miss the opportunity to get on this ride while visiting and will be so heartbroken the day it gets torn down and i hope it won’t be during my timeline. i’m also biased cause it my favorite movie of all time lol
it was really cool to go on this last year for my first time at the park and it was really cool that they said my name on the ride it made it special minus the Asian tourist holding his phone up in evryones view recording with there brightness all the way up also the mummy ride was amazing
E.T. really is USF's Peter Pan, except you can actually ride it. I'd bet a huge contributor to it's longevity is the location, basically surrounded by other attractions and the Hard Rock.
Hey bud! Cast member here. Good video but noticed you got some info incorrect. You should ask for a forest tour! ^_^ it’s not guaranteed but you learn a lot and it’s free.
I love that ride and always ride it every time I visit the park. So, I would say E.T. needs to stay forever even after Steven Spielberg's time on earth ends.
