Longtime Universal visitors have watched plenty of familiar IPs disappear over the years.
Popular attractions have closed, entire areas have undergone makeovers, and experiences that once defined the resort have given way to newer entertainment.
Now, Universal is retiring another piece of its history, and this time, the changes extend beyond the theme parks themselves.
A major resort location is getting a new look, with several recognizable franchises losing their longtime places in favor of a completely different lineup.
For visitors who remember Universal Orlando's early years, the overhaul marks another goodbye.
Universal Continues Retiring Familiar Names
Universal Orlando has spent decades replacing older experiences with newer attractions.
Universal Studios Florida previously closed Back to the Future: The Ride, Kongfrontation, Jaws, and Twister…Ride It Out, all of which helped establish the park's identity.
Islands of Adventure also lost Poseidon's Fury in 2023.
More recently, Universal Studios Florida retired Animal Actors on Location!, which held its final performance on November 2, 2026.
However, Universal's latest project doesn't involve closing another attraction.
Instead, the resort is changing something visitors have relied on for nearly three decades: the parking garage naming system.
The massive parking complex dates back to around 1999, when Islands of Adventure opened.
Since then, familiar franchises have helped visitors remember where they parked before heading into the parks.
Now, several of those names are disappearing.
Jurassic Park Loses Its Longtime Home
Universal's parking garages have traditionally featured three themed sections each, with franchise names extending across multiple floors.
The north garage previously used Jurassic Park, King Kong, and Jaws to identify different areas.
Meanwhile, the south garage features Spider-Man near security, The Cat in the Hat in the middle, and E.T. farther away.
Although the south garage remains unchanged for now, Universal has started replacing signage throughout the north garage.
The first major change involves Jurassic Park.
Universal is removing the familiar dinosaur-themed signs and installing illuminated pink Trolls signage on the first level.
Crews are also updating row markers, stairwell signs, and escalator signage.
For longtime visitors, the removal ends a recognizable connection to Universal's earlier years.
However, Jurassic Park isn't the only franchise affected.
Universal Introduces Five IP Replacements
Rather than keeping three themed sections across several levels, Universal is introducing individual franchise identities for each floor of the north garage.
The updated lineup includes:
- Level 1: Trolls
- Level 2: E.T.
- Level 3: Shrek
- Level 4: Minions
- Level 5: Transformers
Four of these franchises are new additions to the parking garage naming system.
Each level will feature different colors and imagery, giving visitors another way to recognize their parking locations.
The overhaul also brings Shrek back into a prominent role at Universal Orlando Resort.
Shrek 4-D permanently closed at Universal Studios Florida in 2022, but the franchise gained renewed attention when DreamWorks Land opened.
Now, Shrek signage identifies the north garage's third level, where visitors access Universal CityWalk and the theme parks.
One Classic Universal Character Survives
While Jurassic Park, Jaws, and King Kong are losing their north garage identities, E.T. isn't disappearing from the parking system.
The character has represented part of the south garage for years, but Universal is moving that identity to Level 2 of the north garage.
The updated design replaces the familiar green appearance with light-blue signage featuring Elliott riding his bicycle, with E.T. in the basket.
It's a fitting choice considering E.T. Adventure remains one of the few original opening-day attractions still operating at Universal Studios Florida.
Could More Familiar Names Return?
Universal hasn't confirmed what will happen to the south garage's existing themes.
However, every franchise selected for the north garage also appears at Universal Studios Florida.
That raises the possibility that the south garage could eventually feature franchises associated with Islands of Adventure.
If Universal follows that approach, Jurassic Park and King Kong could return elsewhere in the parking complex.
Jaws might not be as fortunate, although nothing has been confirmed.
For now, crews continue replacing signs while portions of the original system remain visible.
The dinosaurs aren't leaving Islands of Adventure, but their longtime parking garage identity is disappearing after approximately 27 years.
