Given Universal's recent track record, it doesn't seem smart to put
too much hope in them adding a classic dark ride to make up for E.T.'s loss. I know "Secret Life of Pets" was rumored to be on the slate, and in that style, but then again, a lot of things have been rumored over the last few years that haven't come to pass, like the Lorax dark ride and the Jurassic Park amber mine coaster.
I hope this recent talk about E.T. getting the axe is just that: talk. I always really look forward to riding it. Yes, for nostalgic reasons, because it transports me back to my experiences at USF in the 1990s, but I don't think that makes it an invalid reason.
The park has slowly transformed from one that was once filled with some of my favorite IPs (Hitchcock, King Kong, Jaws, BTTF, E.T., Ghostbusters) to one that has tons of fun rides, but only a few IPs I have any strong affection for at this point (Potter and E.T.). I'd wouldn't like seeing a ride that has a big emotional connection to me just discarded for the sexy, flashy new thing, however fun that new thing might end up being.