Barney, the lovable purple dinosaur from Barney & Friends, has been a staple in many of our lives growing up. In addition to being on TV, Universal Studios Florida has had a long running show in the park called A Day in the Park with Barney. The show brought Barney, BJ, and Baby Bop to life on stage in front of audiences daily, thanks to a little imagination and help from Mr. or Mrs. Peek A Boo. Unfortunately, the show would close on August 9, 2020, along with several other attractions, due to COVID-19 and lower park attendance. As the parks got busier towards the holidays, a few of those attractions reopened, but A Day in the Park with Barney has remained closed. While the show was temporarily closed, we had the pleasure of seeing the characters out daily for meet and greets in KidZone.
As you approached KidZone, you would often hear music from the show played over the speakers as well as Mr. and Mrs. Peek a Boo interacting with guests. We watched many guests get excited and take the opportunity to get a socially-distanced photo with the characters. Now, this meet and greet has stopped and Barney and friends have disappeared from the park.
At the start of 2021, this meet and greet was stopped and KidZone hasn’t felt the same since. We’ve spoken with several Team Members and can confirm the meet and greets are gone, but no word on if or when they could return. The removal of the meet and greet is bad, but it gets worse.
Rumors have been swirling that with the removal of the characters, Universal Orlando Resort could be retiring the show for good and that it may never reopen. This is sad news after such a long run in the park. You can watch the full video below of A Day in the Park with Barney.
What do you think of Universal Orlando potentially closing the show for good? Let us know in the comments and be sure to keep following Universal Parks News Today for more updates on this story.
I thought because of the new movie coming out it would stay. It will be a shame to see it go
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This show scared the crap out of me as a kid 🤣🤣
Although I’m sad to see Universal lose another live show, hopefully this will bring us one step closer to a new, refurbished, KidZone (hopefully themed to DreamWorks animation)
So, so sad! Last time we were there I remember seeing many disabled children with their caretakers. The characters were so good with them after the show! One mom told me they lived locally and came almost every day with her disabled adult son. I really hope they keep this experience! They do such a fantastic job!
Absolutely agree!
Agree. The Barney show attracts many disabled children. Love the kindness of the characters and the music. My son is one of those children
It would be great if they used this space to create a Trolls themed show!
No! I don’t think so! 🙄🤦🏻♀️👎🏼
I wanted to take my 1 year old daughter to see this! She loves barney and its not to many barney items or anything we can find, so i hope it stays open
Very sad. Was hoping to take my grandson to see this show. He loves Barney!
Oh how this will be missed. If it’s true. I remember waiting in line a hour before the show would start and it was a packed house. That was 22 years ago. Now my 5 year old grandson loved it. He would chant Barney Barney when we would get home from our trip. This is sad!
If the Barney show goes away forever I would be really sad because Barney has been there since I was a kid and that area is my childhood area and every time I went to universal studios when I was a kid I always went to see Barney show. I can’t imagine being at universal studios and not seeing Barney again. I think Barney should be at universal forever because he is a classic
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They can’t take him down! He was my inspiration! Besides, I’ve got to meet and greet him again!
please do not shut it down -Barney is a positive character that spans over generations. Parents and children can enjoy characters, songs and the show together.
Hooray! 😀 I can’t wait for the day that I go to universal studios to see barney NO MORE! 😄😄
Cause I never was a fan of barney! 🙄🤦🏻♀️😄
Aww i hope they dont close it i love barney and it was good to see small kids watching barney and he been in my childhood for so long he will be missed please dont close it
Nooo dont get rid of Barney he was my favorite when I was little I want my children to meet Barney.
No no no … please don’t shut Barney down! We live on the east coast and have made an annual trip to Universal for almost 20 years – to see Barney! My eldest daughter has special needs and Barney’s bright colors and heartwarming songs have provided a lifetime of joy for her. My son loved Barney as a child and now as a young man he escorts his “big sister” to the shows … it is one of the most cherished traditions in our family.
Additionally, Barney’s back yard provides some much needed shade, cool air and music where the kids safely run around and play between shows – and the grownups can sit! We have been all over the Universal Parks and Disney; when it comes to customer courtesy, kindness and an engaging staff and cast members – no one does it better than the “Barney Backyarders”!
There have been many shows and attractions that have come and gown on the whimsy of what is popular at the moment … Barney has literally endured decades … please don’t shut down this beloved icon!
Oh no. We go to universal twice a year only to see Barney. Our son who is handicapped and 36 years old loves Barney.