I guess we could all see this coming. It’s been rumored for years. Shrek 4-D is closing forever on January 10, 2022. Which also happens to be my birthday, so that’s going to be etched in my memory forever.

Here’s the thing. It’s a cool show. Granted, it’s probably not something you want to see every time you’re in the park, but it’s a cool show. I do know that my friend Javier is probably heartbroken over this news. Love you, man.

With the show going, so goes Shrek’s Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe. This store has been the home to Dreamworks merchandise in recent years. You could find How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda on the shelves. Will they integrate this merchandise into other locations? I think that while the Barney Shop is sitting there doing nothing, they should have a Dreamworks migration over to that area. They’ve got the temporary entertainment offering DreamWorks Destination over in his theater anyway. But seriously, they should have put that merchandise in there anyway because why not sell to people who are excited about just seeing the characters? Hire me to make these decisions, UOR.

Universal has missed the boat on other attraction closings when it comes to good-bye merchandise. When they put stuff out for Terminator 2 3-D’s closing, it sold like hot cakes. I do believe that if they put out some really neat stuff, they could make a killing. Everyone likes to be a part of opening day and closing day merchandise. The memories of “I was there.” And the pride of wearing those shirts to the park to show off. Because we all know that’s a fact.

While they are showing the Shrek attraction and store the door, I hope they don’t put the character meet and greets in mothballs. They are still popular and I think that would be the saddest thing. They have other characters they should dust off and bring back out. Character meet and greets are memory makers and social media free advertising, after all.

One of the rumors that was going around a few years ago was that Shrek would become some sort of Star Trek attraction. Or some other DreamWorks IP attraction. I’m not sure what it will become, but depending on how they change it, it may not be a Halloween Horror Nights house location anymore. Whatever it is, I just hope it isn’t screens and 3-D glasses.