Animal Actors On Location! plays its last shows Monday, Nov. 2, at Universal Studios Florida. It’s one of the park’s last links to 1990, and Universal hasn’t said what comes next.
The dogs are taking their final bow.
Universal Studios Florida runs the last shows of Animal Actors On Location! on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. After that, the stage goes dark for good. Universal’s own attraction page puts it plainly: the show “will be permanently closed on November 3rd, 2026 to make way for a new experience.“
If you’ve ever watched a dog hit its mark on cue while a few hundred people cheered, this is the one. It’s been part of the park since day one.
When is the last Animal Actors show at Universal Orlando?
Monday is it. Universal first announced the closure on Sept. 2, posting on X that the show “will run its last shows on Monday, November 2.“ Starting Tuesday, Nov. 3, it’s off the schedule.
Theme park reporter Alicia Stella of Orlando ParkStop was at the park Monday for a last look. She posted that the final show ever is Monday night and that wristbands are required to get into the 5 p.m. show. After an earlier performance, she wrote, “This was an extremely emotional show. Thanks for the memories!“
So if you’re in the park and want in, check the Universal app and ask a team member about wristbands early. The crowd for a final show is never small.
Here’s a full recording of the show from Attractions Magazine, filmed in late October:
How long has Animal Actors been at Universal Studios Florida?
Since the park opened on June 7, 1990. It started life as Animal Actors Stage, according to FOX 35 Orlando. From 2001 to 2006 it ran as Animal Planet Live, then took the Animal Actors On Location! name it carries today.
That’s 36 years of tricks, treats and the occasional bird that had its own ideas about the script.
In a statement to FOX 35, Universal said, “The show has been a part of Universal Studios Florida since the park’s opening,” and added, “we are grateful for the countless memorable moments it has provided our guests over the years.“
What happens to the animals?
This was the first question a lot of fans asked, and Universal answered it up front. In its statement to Attractions Magazine, the company said it “will work closely with our show vendor as animals are relocated, ensuring they receive the continued care they deserve.“
Over the years, the show’s animal cast has included performers tied to some famous film roles. Orlando ParkStop lists Babe, Beethoven, Max from The Grinch and Frank the Pug from Men in Black among them.
What was Animal Actors On Location about?
The show was about 20 minutes long, by Universal’s listing. Trainers worked with dogs, cats, birds and more, mixing movie clips, comedy bits and audience volunteers. Universal’s page sums it up as “some of the most talented animal actors from movies and television.“
The stage itself sat in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone for years. When DreamWorks Land replaced that area in 2024, the show stayed put, and the park map now lists it under Hollywood.
What is replacing Animal Actors at Universal?
Nobody knows yet. Universal has only said the space will “make way for a new experience.” The company told Orlando ParkStop and FOX 35, “More details about the future development of the space will be shared at a later time.“
Some fan sites say there’s “no replacement in sight.” Really, nothing has been named yet.
Is E.T. Adventure the last opening-day ride at Universal Studios Florida?
Once Animal Actors closes, yes. WESH reported that E.T. Adventure will be the last attraction left from the park’s 1990 opening lineup. The bike ride to E.T.’s home planet has outlasted Jaws, Kongfrontation and Earthquake.
What else is changing at Universal Studios Florida?
Two other big changes are in the works:
The Horror Make-Up Show closed May 12, 2026, for a reworked version. It’s coming back as Universal Horror Make-Up Show featuring Blumhouse “later this winter,” per Orlando ParkStop.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a new coaster, is set for 2027.
Some of the park’s changes are exciting. This one means saying goodbye to a stage full of very good dogs. Monday is the last chance to see them.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Universal Orlando (Sept. 2 and Nov. 2, 2026), closure announcement, attraction page and show details
FOX 35 Orlando (Sept. 3, 2026), Universal statement and show history
Attractions Magazine (Sept. 2, 2026), Universal statement on the animals; full show video
Orlando ParkStop (Sept. 2 and Oct. 20, 2026), animal roles, future space quote, Horror Make-Up Show update
Alicia Stella on X (Nov. 2, 2026), final show and wristband details
WESH (Sept. 2026), E.T. Adventure as the last opening-day attraction
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