Family Plays Practical Joke During “E.T.” Ride at Universal Studios Resulting in Viral TikTok Video (Exclusive)
Family Plays Practical Joke During “E.T.” Ride at Universal Studios Resulting in Viral TikTok Video (Exclusive)
Ashley VegaThu, February 26, 2026 at 3:19 PM UTC
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Charlie B on E.T rideCredit: Courtesy Charlie B -
A dad and his family all gave the name “Chuck” to the E.T. ride attendant as a prank
The moment was years in the making after joking about a similar viral video
The TikTok payoff had the entire ride laughing along
It started as a years-long inside joke — and then, suddenly, it happened in real life.
During a family trip to Universal Studios, Charlie B. and his group reached the front of the E.T. ride line and, one by one, told the attendant the exact same name: Chuck.
“My friend Luke and I saw a video a few years ago where someone did the same thing, and we always joked about it at work,” Charlie tells PEOPLE. “I said my name was Chuck first, which actually is my nickname, and then my son, Luke and his son just followed after me.”
The viral TikTok, captioned “We’ve been joking about doing this for YEARS after seeing the original video…,” captures the playful commitment that unfolded in line that day. What began as Charlie’s offhand choice instantly turned into a group bit, with each person confidently repeating the same name as they moved forward.
There hadn’t been much strategy beyond staying physically together in the queue, but anticipation built quickly as they neared the ride vehicles. Charlie recalls that the entire 30- to 45-minute wait was filled with laughter as they tried to keep it together long enough to see if the joke would actually land.
“The whole time we couldn’t stop laughing, and we had to plan carefully to stick together so we’d be seated next to each other,” he says. “We actually got stuck right in front of E.T. for about five minutes just waiting to see if it worked.”
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Once onboard, the family waited for the ride’s famous finale, when E.T. thanks guests by name — the payoff they had been chasing. Charlie hit record just as the ride resumed, capturing the moment they realized the plan had succeeded.
“We all absolutely lost it, and so did all the other people on the ride,” he says. “It was one of those moments where you’re trying not to laugh but you can’t help it.”
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Even the ride attendant seemed to catch on before the group reached the end of introductions, turning the prank into a shared joke rather than a secret one. By the time she reached the youngest rider, the punchline was already clear.
“By the time the ride attendant got to Luke, she started smiling, and when she got to Luke’s son Logan she just said, ‘Let me guess, Chuck?’ ” Charlie recalls. “And we all laughed.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
