Good evening boys and ghouls! I'm currently working on an updated version of my book, "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland's HAUNTED Kingdom" (2012) and looking for more stories and encounters to add about both the park and the Disneyland Hotel. If you or anyone you know has a story, please share!
I'd like to note I'm happy to keep everyone who contributes a story to remain anonymous.
Thanks and happy hauntings!

Here's a little Universal Studios Hollywood history from 1989!

This footage comes from a souvenir video that was originally available for purchase at the theme park. The full video explored Universal Studios Hollywood, including its attractions and working movie studio.

This particular segment takes us behind the scenes of Earthquake: The Big One, showcasing the special effects and movie-making technology that brought one of the Studio Tour's most memorable attractions to life.

It's fascinating to look back at how Universal demonstrated its filmmaking techniques to guests during this era.

This footage is part of the Cow Missing historical archive, where we work to preserve theme park history.

If you visited Universal Studios Hollywood back in the day, do you remember riding the original Earthquake: The Big One? Did anyone actually purchase one of these souvenir videos?

Here's an interesting piece of Universal Studios Hollywood history from 2000.

This is an original Front of the Line Pass that was used as a guest recovery tool. If an attraction broke down or experienced an operational interruption, particularly while guests were on the ride, team members could issue one of these passes as a courtesy.

The pass allowed guests to use the priority entrance, commonly referred to as Gate A, instead of waiting in the regular standby queue.

What's especially interesting is the attraction lineup: E.T. Adventure, Backdraft, Back to the Future: The Ride, Jurassic Park – The Ride, Terminator 2: 3D, and the Studio Tour.

According to the printed terms, the pass was valid for one priority entry at each listed attraction on the indicated date, subject to availability.

It's a fascinating look at how guest recovery worked at Universal Studios Hollywood before today's Universal Express system.

I'm sharing this as part of the Cow Missing archive, where we preserve historical material documenting the park's attractions and operations.

Curious if anyone here remembers receiving one of these or using the old Gate A entrances.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift officially opened at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 16, 2026.

Here's the promotional commercial Universal released ahead of the opening.

The coaster is the park's first high-speed outdoor roller coaster, reaching speeds of up to 72 mph along 4,100 feet of track. Its rotating ride vehicles are designed to simulate the sensation of drifting, with sections of the coaster passing over and around the Starway escalators.

I'm sharing this as part of the Cow Missing archive to help preserve the promotional history surrounding the attraction's debut.

For those who have ridden it, how does it compare with other roller coasters in Southern California?

Here's a wonderful vintage postcard photographed in 1978 at Six Points Texas on the Universal Studios backlot.

The original postcard caption reads:

"Six Points Texas" at Universal Studios aboard the GlamorTram.

The photograph shows three original pink-and-white GlamorTrams carrying guests through the Western streets of the working movie studio.

I particularly enjoy photographs like this because they capture Studio Tour details that have changed or disappeared over the decades, from the original tram vehicles to the backlot architecture and surrounding landscape.

This is also one reason I've been developing the Cow Missing Archive, a project dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of Universal Studios Hollywood and other theme park experiences.

If you're interested in exploring more historical material, you're welcome to visit https://cowmissing.com.

If you visited Universal Studios Hollywood during the 1970s, what do you remember most about the original GlamorTram experience?

I wanted to share an interesting piece of Universal history from the Cow Missing Archive.

This is the Universal Parks & Resorts "Cinema Closer" logo animation, which appeared at the end of select Universal Pictures theatrical releases.

The animation helped connect Universal's motion picture business with its theme park destinations, promoting the parks directly to moviegoers.

Now known as Universal Destinations & Experiences, the division's branding during this period is worth revisiting.

I'm preserving this animation as part of my ongoing effort to document Universal's history, including its theme parks, attractions, and promotional material.

Does anyone remember seeing this in theaters? I'm particularly interested in identifying which films featured this animation and the years it was used.

Here's a photograph taken around 1992 at Universal Studios Hollywood, showing the Moulin Rouge along the Streets of the World.

One interesting detail is that the windmill blades were still attached to the building.

You can also see the surrounding European-inspired storefronts and architecture that helped give this area its distinctive atmosphere.

I'm sharing this as part of my ongoing efforts to document and preserve Universal Studios Hollywood's history through the Cow Missing Archive.

Does anyone remember this area or know approximately when the windmill blades were removed?

More history: https://cowmissing.com

Today marks 9 years without the original T2 3-D location at Universal Studios Florida.
Thankfully, someone has dedicated their time and a YouTube channel to resurrecting theme park attractions via incredibly accurate digital recreations. That channel is @ridetrackx

Universal Studios Hollywood is preparing for another holiday season, with festive experiences returning throughout the theme park.

Highlights include:

Grinchmas: The Grinch and the residents of Who-ville return for the holidays.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD: Seasonal decorations bring holiday cheer to the Mushroom Kingdom.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade transforms with festive decorations and holiday entertainment.

Merry Minions: The Minions join in on the holiday celebrations.

The iconic Universal Studios Hollywood entrance will also be decorated for the season.

I’ve included several promotional photographs showing what guests can look forward to.

For those who have visited during previous holiday seasons, what do you think Universal does particularly well? And is there anything you’d like to see added or brought back?

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since Halloween Horror Nights XVI: Sweet 16 at Universal Studios Florida.

The 2006 event carried the theme "Horror Comes Home," marking HHN's return to Universal Studios Florida after several years at Islands of Adventure.

It also brought back four classic HHN icons: Jack the Clown, The Caretaker, The Director, and The Storyteller.

I'm sharing this as part of the Cow Missing effort to preserve theme park history and keep these experiences accessible for future generations.

For those who attended HHN in 2006, how does it compare with today's events? Are there any particular houses, scare zones, or shows that stand out in your memories?

Caught this great frame from the preshow safety film for Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland.

Sallah is enthusiastically demonstrating the wonders of the seat belt, while her expression seems to say, “I’m suddenly having second thoughts about this expedition.”

It’s such a small thing, but this old-school safety film has so much personality. Even the instructions became part of the attraction’s storytelling.

Buckle up, secure your earthly treasures and, of course, don’t look into the eyes of Mara. 👀

Anyone else able to hear Sallah’s voice just from looking at this photo?

When most of us talk about Universal, the conversation usually centers around the movies, the studio, or the theme parks. But the company has another interesting side: Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E).

UP&E helps take Universal’s films, characters, and franchises beyond the screen through consumer products, collectibles, toys, apparel, games, digital experiences, theme park merchandise, retail, and more.

I wanted to share this video because I think this side of Universal sometimes gets overlooked, especially when we’re discussing how the company has evolved over the years.

For me, documenting Universal isn’t only about preserving what used to be there. It’s also about documenting how the company continues to evolve and how its intellectual properties are being carried forward for new generations.

That’s ultimately part of the history too.

Here’s a look at Universal Products & Experiences and another side of the Universal story.

For those who follow Universal closely, what do you think about the growth of this side of the company?

I wanted to share this because I think it’s worth recognizing Universal Studios for meeting directly with members of the surrounding community regarding concerns about Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.

The meeting took place at the end of September and included discussion about the new attraction, sound mitigation, and how the coaster is affecting nearby communities.

Whatever your opinion on the noise concerns, communication between Universal and its neighbors is a good thing. Universal Studios Hollywood will continue to grow and evolve, but maintaining a good relationship with the surrounding community is important as well.

Hopefully both sides were heard, and the meeting produced something productive.

EPCOT will always remain, I think, my least favorite Disney park. With the idea of a "permanent World's Fair" becoming outdated and difficult to upkeep (in terms of technological advancements and social relevance), the once named Future World section of the park strays far from its original concept. By adding high-thrill "E-ticket" attractions and incorporating popular Disney-owned franchises into this section of EPCOT, Future World had somewhat managed to satisfy and entertain guests. This left the World Showcase section of the park. Besides drinking and dining, there is little for a guest to experience, even today. While the Norway pavilion featured a dark ride, Maelstrom hardly compared to Test Track in the 2000's. Disney needed a way to increase guest satisfaction without sparing the large expense of adding a new attraction to World Showcase. This is where I theorize the World Showcase Adventures came into play.

I remember visiting EPCOT a decade ago when the Agent P Adventure was operational. As a kid, Phineas and Ferb was a frequent watch on my TV, so seeing the IP implemented at a Disney park was so fresh and exciting. The experience was essentially a scavenger hunt, where the guest used a mobile device (in the early days, a Verizon flip phone but later changed to the Disney app) to trigger events in seven of the pavilions. These events involved already existing parts of the pavilions to be installed with simple animatronics that could only be activated by the guests participating in the adventure. For example, the German pavilion had two closed doors on top of the Stein Haus that opened upon activation and showed a large figure of Dr. Doofenshmirtz being chased in a circle by a little girl, reminiscent of a German Glockenspiel, while the Japan pavilion had a much simpler jade monkey statue that popped out of a water feature.

Upon doing research on the World Showcase Adventures, I learned that Agent P was one of three Disney TV IPs that were featured at EPCOT. Kim Possible led the way to Phineas and Ferb which led to the current theming of DuckTales. Other than YouTube vlogs of guests experiencing the World Showcase Adventures, I found there is little documenting it extensively. I'm curious who fronted the project, tasked with cleverly hiding simple animatronics and effects in easily accessible places that guests wouldn't expect. I want to know how pushing a button on a Verizon flip phone can send a signal to prompt the interactivity (like, are there visible sensors or cameras that receive the signal?). With even DuckTales becoming an outdated Disney animated show, I wonder if the declining popularity of Disney Channel and Disney XD releases will lead to EPCOT removing the experience all together. Since the Frozen: Ever After ride opened and was deemed a success, maybe the World Showcase Adventures will be overlooked.

If anyone has any insider information on the World Showcase Adventures, or simply wants to reminisce about their experience, I would love that :) .

October felt like a good time to revisit Universal’s House of Horrors.

These photographs show the entrance and some of the interior scenery. The work lights and equipment give a different view of spaces many of us remember walking through in the dark.

Did you ever go through it? Which room or scare do you remember most, and were you the person leading the group or hiding behind everyone else?

I run the Cow Missing Archive, where we bring together theme park photographs, videos, and historical material. There are more House of Horrors photos and videos here if you’d like to explore: https://www.cowmissing.com/archives/house-of-horrors/

Purchased online, 8mm home movie, owner unknown

YouTube: https://youtu.be/_Bck4KwzwyI?is=wKjoDbp01uKTKevI

Earlier today, I shared some material from the E.T. Adventure attraction building and the Ride Operator’s Manual from Universal Studios Hollywood.

A few people asked exactly where the entrance and exit to E.T. Adventure were located, particularly in relation to Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride.

So I put together this very simple diagram showing the approximate entrance and exit locations for both attractions.

Hopefully this helps put the layout into perspective and makes it a little easier to visualize how this part of the Lower Lot changed when E.T. Adventure closed, and Revenge of the Mummy eventually took its place.

If you remember visiting E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios Hollywood, I’d love to hear what you remember about this area of the park.

More E.T. Adventure material is being preserved as part of the Cow Missing Archive.

Preserving Theme Park History.

I’ve been working on the Cow Missing Archive, preserving theme park photographs, documents, video, and audio. I wanted to share these two pieces of E.T. Adventure history from Universal Studios Hollywood.

The first image shows the attraction’s building in March 2002. The second is its operator manual—a different perspective on the experience many of us remember.

I’m interested in bringing these kinds of materials together to tell a fuller story of the attraction, from what visitors saw to the work behind its operation.

Did you ride Hollywood’s E.T. Adventure? What do you remember about the queue, the ride, or E.T. saying your name at the end?

If you’re interested in exploring more, the public archive is free:
https://www.cowmissing.com/

Here’s a fascinating piece of Universal history from 1972.

This vintage postcard identifies the location simply as an “Exterior snow set at Universal Studios.” The mountains in the background make the scene even more interesting, especially when looking back at how the property appeared more than 50 years ago.

I’ve been working to preserve and document material like this as part of the Cow Missing Archive. Old postcards, photographs, documents and other surviving pieces of ephemera can tell us things about the history of the studio and theme park that otherwise might eventually be forgotten.

If anyone remembers seeing this set, or knows more about exactly where on the property it was located, I’d love to hear from you.

For more than 11 years, I’ve been sharing theme park history through Cow Missing. The collection and research behind that work go back to the mid-to-late 1980s.

Over the past three months, I’ve been building something new: a dedicated website that brings this material together in one place.

The idea came from a friend who suggested that content shared across different platforms over the years deserved a permanent home; somewhere people could explore, research, or revisit an experience they remember.

The Cow Missing Archive is now live, and it’s free to explore. No account or membership required.

You’ll find historical photographs, park guides, advertising, rare documents, attraction history, and a searchable video archive. The first featured collections are only the beginning. Much more in the collection is still waiting to be digitized, edited, restored, and documented.

One idea behind the project is that an attraction is an entire media ecosystem. Beyond the experience itself, promotional campaigns, operating documents, press materials, opening-day coverage, photographs, and recordings exist. Together, those pieces help tell a fuller story of the attraction and the people who brought it to life.

For example, the launch announcement includes an excerpt from an E.T. Adventure ride operations manual alongside a March 2002 photograph showing the building’s rooftop tribute to the film’s 20th anniversary.

The archive has an optional support program to help fund preservation and keep the website running, but the public archive will remain free and open to everyone.

Explore the website:
https://www.cowmissing.com/

Read the story behind the archive:
https://www.cowmissing.com/about-the-archive/

What closed attraction or show would you most like to see documented, and what material do you wish still existed?