USH E.T. Closing

[wannacorona]

That's right, E.T. is finally going home! E.T. will be closing for good on March 12. It's closing to make way for the new attraction coming in 2004. This was finally made offcial about over a month ago. Many thought that it would close after summer but the decision was made that it should close before summer so that the new attraction could open just before summer of 04. The new attraction is going to be pretty good and I think that everyone will mostly agree here when it opens up in 04. Just don't get mad at me if Universal decides to keep it open a little bit longer at the last minute as it tends to do that a lot.

The funny part is that it closes the day before Jurassic Park opens back up from an extensive rehab which is March 13.

Wanna

 

[MrsMud]

Oh, no! And that was one of the rides that I knew my girls would really like. I'm very upset!

 

[damo]

That's ET in Hollywood, not Florida

 

[MrsMud]

Oh, Phew!!!! Didn't notice the "H" there, thanks for the clarification!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

The ET here (FL) still has lots of life in it. It went down for rehab a few years ago but has been in action in its "improved" state for quite some time.

 

[Cindy B]

Man... thats sad!


I went to USH in 1985, and that was the cool attraction.. they did a blue screen and one lucky soul got to be on a bike and see how "blue screen" worked.

There was models around the attraction, and I remember the huge crowds to watch the blue screen technique...


How long was it like this? Was it ever set up like USF's ET?

 

[DocBosch]

darn. I've been to USH two times in the last two years, and never went on the ET ride either times. Didn't really seem to bother me then, but it does now. How different is it from the Florida one?

-Kevin

 

[USO2003]

3.23.02 E.T. in USF was officially reopened as E.T. 20th Anniversary Adventure.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by DocBosch
darn. I've been to USH two times in the last two years, and never went on the ET ride either times. Didn't really seem to bother me then, but it does now. How different is it from the Florida one?

-Kevin

Kevin, if you read my post above yours.. that is what it was like at USH back in 1985. Nothing at all like USF Florida... but it may have changed since I went there then... lets hope so.

 

[Tony M]

Isn't Steven Spielberg an "Executive Consultant" for Universal Theme Parks?
Don't you think that he had to sign off on ET Hollywood's closing?
Regardless of the similarities of the USF vs. USH Attractions, ET was one of the HIGHEST grossing movies EVER made and it was a "UNIVERSAL STUDIOS" movie!!!
Why or how could they do this???
The 20th(?)Anniversary of ET the movie was celebrated with ALL Universal Movies released during the year of it's celebrated anniversary (20th?) with the Universal Globe altered with Elliot peddling ET across the globe as if it were the moon from the ET/Amblin Logo.
It had to be a touchy issue when they approached Uncle Stevie to give his blessing to close HIS attraction.

P.S.
Universal Studios' "Best of" Box Office Grosses
1999 The Mummy $155.4 Million
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas $260.0 Million
2001 The Mummy Returns $202.0 Million
2002 The Bourne Identity $121.7 Million
2003 The Guru $1.7 Million
Total $740.8 Million vs...
1982 ET $425.1 Million ($829.9 Million adjusted for inflation)

 

[cdpa4d]

I hate to say it, but if they closed the E.T. ride at USH then E.T. at USO will soon follow within the next couple of years. I hope they replace it with something cool.
ADP

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by Tony M


P.S.
Universal Studios' "Best of" Box Office Grosses
1999 The Mummy $155.4 Million
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas $260.0 Million
2001 The Mummy Returns $202.0 Million
2002 The Bourne Identity $121.7 Million
2003 The Guru $1.7 Million
Total $740.8 Million vs...
1982 ET $425.1 Million ($829.9 Million adjusted for inflation)

You left out one of my favorites.

1993 Jurassic Park $357 Million #6 Highest Grossing Film of all time.

Others:

19. 1975 Jaws $260 Million
24. 1997 Men In Black $250 Million
27. 1996 Twister $242 Million
32. 1997 The Lost World: Jurassic Park $229 Million
41. 1985 Back To The Future $211 Million
43. 1991 Terminator 2: Judgement Day $204 Million

100+ Million Dollar films

51. $190 Men in Black II 2002
63. $181 Jurassic Park III 2001
61. $181 Liar Liar 1997
72. $173 Apollo 13 1995

 

[wannacorona]

Well E.T. was suppose to close about two years ago as it's a very old attraction. It was costing to much money to maintain, but Mr. Spielberg oppose to it as the 20th Anniversary of ET the movie was approaching. So USH and Speilberg agreed that they would close it after a year when the movie came out. Many at USH are happy that it's closing to bring something new but the new attraction will be resembling something very close or identical to another Universal attraction which is progress also at another park.

 

[UOEntertainmentGuy]

Originally posted by cdpa4d
I hate to say it, but if they closed the E.T. ride at USH then E.T. at USO will soon follow within the next couple of years. I hope they replace it with something cool.
ADP

First of all, UO doesn't follow the lead of any of the other Universal parks. The UO resort is the flagship in Universal's theme park fleet, and being that, the other parks are more likely to follow a move we here in Florida make.


And no, Florida's is NOT closing. It just got rehbbed, gets good guest ratings, and there's absolutely no reason for it to.

 

[YenSid1222]

To answer the differences question..the two rides are virtually identical. The blue screen effect you are remembering was done in the area you went through learning about how movie magic was created.

 

[Cindy B]

Well thanks Yen sid, like I said it was 1985 when I went, so I don't remember "riding" on bikes like USF.. I don't recall that part.

 

[wannacorona]

Well Universal has changed the E.T. closing to March 13 as Jurassic Park will not be ready to open until March 13 now. Universal will have the employees do the last ride through that evening also.

 

[scooby-the-doo]

Originally posted by Tony M


P.S.
Universal Studios' "Best of" Box Office Grosses
1999 The Mummy $155.4 Million
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas $260.0 Million
2001 The Mummy Returns $202.0 Million
2002 The Bourne Identity $121.7 Million
2003 The Guru $1.7 Million

What's this 'best of' list? They certainly are not good films....and why group The Guru with these big grossers?

 

[DocBosch]

Originally posted by scooby-the-doo
What's this 'best of' list? They certainly are not good films....and why group The Guru with these big grossers?

I think he meant "Best Box Office Grosses", instead of "Best Of...". It's a list of the highst grossing Universal films for that particular year. "The Guru", so far, is the highest Universal grosser this year.

-Kevin

 

[scooby-the-doo]

Originally posted by DocBosch
I think he meant "Best Box Office Grosses", instead of "Best Of...". It's a list of the highst grossing Universal films for that particular year. "The Guru", so far, is the highest Universal grosser this year.

-Kevin

Ah, I see. Of couse, 'The Life of David Gale' is their top grosser of 2003 at the moment.