E.T. Conversion

[Scipiomask]

Hey, this is my first post.

As you all know, E.T. Adventure rides have been becoming an endangered species, with the Hollywood and Japan rides removed and USS opening without one.

I love this ride, but it really isn't up to the standards of all the other Universal Studios rides. I would love it if they rehabbed the ride and added all new scenes and better animatronics, or this -

What if they replaced the ride with a Despicable Me-themed ride? Universal's goal is to stay correct, not preserve old rides. E.T. would naturally last longer than any of the other movie-themed rides since it is such a classic, but less and less kids are watching E.T. nowadays, and a Despicable Me-themed ride would be more current. What do you think?

 

[LittleBoyBrew]

We rode ET for the first time ever last week. I knew it was a dated ride from earlier comments, but man oh man is it lame. Two things occurred to me though. One, is it really a good thing to have a ride where you are continually ignoring law enforcement instructions to halt? Is this the right message for out kids?

The second thought I had was I wonder how many years it will take until the Forbidden Journey is considered to be lame and outdated like ET is today?

 

[Clemson Bama Fan]

I am sure it will be replaced with something in time. Just look at the other rides, etc. that have been replaced/updated with newer attractions. King Kong, Back to the Future, Earthquake, etc. What others might be ready for replacement? I vote for Twister.

 

[bokolo]

I know that ET seems old and out of date, but it was my 5 year old's favorite ride on our last trip in April. I think we rode it at least 4 times. If it is replaced I hope the new ride is a about the same mild type of ride. It was perfect for those not ready, or interested, in the thrill rides.

 

[Kellydelly]

I hope they don't replace it, my family loves it .

 

[Moon Child]

I hope they don't replace it, my family loves it .

We do too, we love giving the fake names, we are goof balls

 

[firsttimer2007]

Hey, this is my first post.

As you all know, E.T. Adventure rides have been becoming an endangered species, with the Hollywood and Japan rides removed and USS opening without one.

I love this ride, but it really isn't up to the standards of all the other Universal Studios rides. I would love it if they rehabbed the ride and added all new scenes and better animatronics, or this -

What if they replaced the ride with a Despicable Me-themed ride? Universal's goal is to stay correct, not preserve old rides. E.T. would naturally last longer than any of the other movie-themed rides since it is such a classic, but less and less kids are watching E.T. nowadays, and a Despicable Me-themed ride would be more current. What do you think?

Hey Scipiomask! Welcome to Dis!!! Glad you are here!

 

[damo]

I'd much rather they replaced Twister. At least ET is a family ride. We make sure we ride it every day but we rarely do Twister -- maybe every third vacation or so.

 

[DonaldDuck1117]

I think it is time for a new attraction. That, or they need to do a massive rehab to the ride. I mean Speilburg still has blackish hair in the intro video! As much as I love E.T. I think it has lost its one time staying power. How about a Jason Bourne attraction? Think of the possibilities of that one! Apollo 13? I wouldn't do Despicable Me. It is SO new and is it really going to be a classic?

And for the record, I like the Twister attraction!

 

[Metro West]

I know that ET seems old and out of date, but it was my 5 year old's favorite ride on our last trip in April. I think we rode it at least 4 times. If it is replaced I hope the new ride is a about the same mild type of ride. It was perfect for those not ready, or interested, in the thrill rides.

Yeah...it's time for a major refurb of the attraction. It's a great family ride and I don't see Universal replacing it anytime soon.

 

[Scipiomask]

I love Twister! It's really cool. I love the movie E. T. and I wish they had made the ride pertain more to the movie than make up the whole Green Planet thing - following Elliot to school, showing them making the phone, the red finger, and at the END flying away from the police.

It's a really touching movie but once again less and less kids are watching it, especially because of its age and the fact that there's actually some cursing in it.

Despicable Me would definitely be current (although it might not stay current as long as E.T. has), and think about how well stuffed minions would sell!

 

[JulieSharp]

Our son loves the ET ride so much he happily rides it 4 times in a row, though he is not too keen on Spielberg intro. So if they dropped that bit it would be great. to Twister being replaced with a Bourne production. I love those films.

 

[WWEDUDE]

While I do almost fall asleep during Spielberg's Spiel, I think the ride itself is great. Now let me start of by saying I've never watched ET, so I really don't think it matters if this generation of kids watches the movie, they will understand the ride.

Now the ride is outdated, but that's one of the things I enjoy most about it. I don't think Universal should be all about rides like Forbidden Journey, don't get me wrong I like that ride but there is something more meaningful to me with rides like Jaws and ET. Despite both being old movies, both being the oldest attractions at the park, and both being slightly cheesy, I ride them every time I go. While they are the most expensive or most high tech, they are what make Universal, Universal.

 

[sarhenty]

The wonderful thing about those rides still being around is that it makes you want to go home and watch the movie, obviously for those kids who haven't seen it. They are great movies and I'm sure the kids who haven't seen it would get a kick out of just having done the ride. We personally love it and would hate to see it go. I would totally agree though that it could use a good refurb and more updated audioanimatronics!

 

[Planogirl]

If they change it I hope that they do something else that kids can enjoy and that they keep the queue. I love the forest area.

 

[brenda1966]

I haven't been back to US California because they removed the E.T. ride!

When I found out US Florida still had it, I was so pleased. If it needs a rehab, I hope they work on that. I don't think removing it is a good idea. Disney keeps around old rides, think Snow White, Small World -- and refurbs them periodically.

I'm still peeved the Back to the Future ride is gone!

 

[Scipiomask]

I haven't been back to US California because they removed the E.T. ride!

When I found out US Florida still had it, I was so pleased. If it needs a rehab, I hope they work on that. I don't think removing it is a good idea. Disney keeps around old rides, think Snow White, Small World -- and refurbs them periodically.

I'm still peeved the Back to the Future ride is gone!

Well, Universal's ideology is different than Disney's. Disney's is to preserve opening day attractions, while Universal's goal is to stay current when it comes to movies. That's why popular attractions like Kong and Ghostbusters were removed, because they (mainly the movies they pertained to) weren't current (even though a new King Kong movie came out the year after....?). Jaws is different. It's considered one of the best films ever made, and it will always be current. Not to mention it'll be hard to figure out something to do with that whole lagoon.

I love E. T., and I really wouldn't want it to leave - my first choice would be for them to modernize it a little bit (and by that, I mean more modern animatronics, and more theming outside). The outside queue and pre-show aren't really "themed" to the ride, they're just sort of there since the original premise was that you were actors, not REALLY helping E.T.

It's a cool ride, though. Definitely better than Peter Pan's Flight.


And, I really didn't like Back to the Future. Now that's REALLY outdated - an outdated movie and a pretty outdated ride system. While I was disappointed that Simpsons was just a re-theme rather than a completely new ride, the queue line and pre-show and actual ride are definitely more funny and entertaining than BTTF was.

 

[AussiePJ]

It's a cool ride, though. Definitely better than Peter Pan's Flight

Disagree completely. Peter Pan is a ride all the family love and ride a couple of times every visit.

IMO way better than ET.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I am on the Universal Survey panel and they sent out a survey a few months ago about which attractions they could/should replace with new ones. ET was one of the choices on the list, as was Twister, Beetlejuice and a few others I can't seem to remember. I really enjoy ET and said so, but I think Twister is a waste of time and space and so is Beetlejuice. This survey asked about what kind of new rides or attractions they should put in. They kept asking about adding more 3D ones. I like 3D attractions, but they have quite a few already (Jimmy Neutron, Shrek, etc). I enjoy the peacefulness of ET. Even though my family really likes the thrill rides, I feel like at US/IOA almost every ride jerks you around a lot.

 

[WWEDUDE]

Jaws is different. It's considered one of the best films ever made, and it will always be current. Not to mention it'll be hard to figure out something to do with that whole lagoon.

25. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
48. Jaws

I wouldn't say Jaws is different from ET, as ET is actually considered a better movie than Jaws. For you to say Jaws is safe, that is to say ET is safe. (While it is true it may be easier to get rid of ET, Disney filled the 1000 Leagues Lagoon)

Peter Pan is a ride all the family love and ride a couple of times every visit.

I don't see how ET is any different in those two criteria.