Animal Actors on Location! Closes After 36 Years at Universal Studios

A scarlet macaw cleared trash from a ruined jungle temple set and dropped it neatly into a blue recycling bin as Animal Actors on Location! staged its final performance at Universal Studios Florida on November 2, 2026, ending a 36-year run, wdwnt.com reported. Despite rainy weather, guests filled the venue for the 5 p.m. sign-off, which required wristbands to attend.

Opened on June 7, 1990, as Animal Actors Stage, the show was one of only three opening-day attractions still operating at the park. It underwent two name changes over its lifetime, becoming Animal Planet Live in 2001 and adopting its final title in 2006. Universal Orlando Resort announced the closure in September, noting that the space would make way for an unspecified future experience.

Final Bows and 36 Years of Memories

The closing performance featured a rotating cast of trained animals executing familiar routines. An umbrella cockatoo performed alongside the macaw, followed by dogs that completed obedience tricks for rewards. Hawks and pigeons swooped over the audience, landing on a volunteer’s head, while an otter retrieved a water bottle and dropped it into a bin that a dog subsequently towed away. Pigs, porcupines, and skunks also filled out the roster during the park’s decades-long run.

Adam Kingsley, Vice President of Park Operations for the North Campus, began his 30-year Universal Orlando career as an attendant at the attraction. Animal Actors held a special place in the hearts of team members and guests alike, Kingsley noted in a statement released by the park.

At the conclusion of the final show, past and present employees were invited onto the stage for a group photo and a final farewell. Universal has not yet released additional details about what will replace the venue.

Remaining Opening-Day Attractions

With the permanent closure of Animal Actors on Location!, only two opening-day attractions remain operational at Universal Studios Florida: E.T. Adventure and Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show. The latter has undergone multiple revisions and is currently closed for a revamp that will incorporate Blumhouse franchises.