Can you go into the gift shop without going through the attraction?

Yes

Yes. Gift shop is open

Yup

Yes, and both attractions end at the gift shop as well

Yes You can

Yes you can. The attractions are both very fun.

I would think you can because there are (2) separate entrances to the (2) exhibits and the gift shop is in-between those entrances,behind the main cash registers.

That I do not know