Attractions going away

[TexasErin]

1. If they get rid of my precious Great Movie Ride, I will be absolutely heartbroken.

2. The waterfalls going away was announced a while ago. And I am not happy about that. I really think that they are crucial to the atmosphere. I'm hoping that they can come up with something great to take its place if they insist on getting rid of it. Honestly, though, I'm hoping that they change their mind.

3. I like the idea of changing it to more of a Soarin' Over the USA, personally. You can fly over the orange groves of Florida, the cattle ranches and oil fields of Texas, Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, Martha's Vineyard, and other places in America. I think that would be great.

4. It needs to go. Let's hope this one is true.

5. That rumor about Maelstrom changing to a Frozen themed ride was floating around when I was there in January and February of this year. Some cast member thought that it was a done deal, others encouraged us to talk to Guest Relations and let them know that we didn't care for the idea, and others thought that there was no substance to it. I worry, though. I love Maelstrom exactly how it is. I loved it as a child and my four-year-old loves it now. I like that it has something to do with Norway and don't like the idea of it taking place in fictional Arendale.

Yes to everything you said! I would really miss the music of Soarin' though. The music and film makes me so happy and excited!

BTW....love your avatar. I'm a huge Golden Girls fan

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

OMG..DHS and EPCOT are hanging by a thread as it is!

What a brilliant move to take away even more rides from two parks that are barely limping along.

If they were to do *this* it would be yet *another* reason for people to just visit the MK while they stay offsite and spend even more dollars at Universal.

 

[prudence64]

OMG..DHS and EPCOT are hanging by a thread as it is!

What a brilliant move to take away even more rides from two parks that are barely limping along.

If they were to do *this* it would be yet *another* reason for people to just visit the MK while they stay offsite and spend even more dollars at Universal.

They are replacing them with other things other than maybe the poly thing.

 

[Planogirl]

Changing Maelstrom to Frozen would defeat the whole purpose of World Showcase in my opinion. The focus would change from being on other places and cultures to fantasy and who is say that the whole of WS wouldn't become a kiddie attraction over time? At best the rest would stay the same but then the Frozen attraction would be out of place and only make Epcot overall appear even more disjointed than it already is.

I think that a Frozen attraction will be built but hopefully in an area more suitable.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Changing Maelstrom to Frozen would defeat the whole purpose of World Showcase in my opinion. The focus would change from being on other places and cultures to fantasy and who is say that the whole of WS wouldn't become a kiddie attraction over time? At best the rest would stay the same but then the Frozen attraction would be out of place and only make Epcot overall appear even more disjointed than it already is.

I think that a Frozen attraction will be built but hopefully in an area more suitable.

I asbsolutely agree. DHS seems like the best place as it DESPERATELY needs something. The MK is already overloaded.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

They are replacing them with other things other than maybe the poly thing.

Well...neither should be "replaced". Updated? Absolutely(should have been done years and years ago for The Great Movie Ride). Both are great rides. EPCOT and DHS need *additional* attractions...period. There is no need for subtracting an already paltry slate.

 

[prudence64]

Well...neither should be "replaced". Updated? Absolutely(should have been done years and years ago for The Great Movie Ride). Both are great rides. EPCOT and DHS need *additional* attractions...period. There is no need for subtracting an already paltry slate.

True, just think the title of the blog is misleading because they aren't necessarily going away. Soarin, in particular, is a refurb.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

True, just think the title of the blog is misleading because they aren't necessarily going away. Soarin, in particular, is a refurb.

Y'know...how complicated is it for them to remove the dust spots on the Soarin film? If they would just do *that* it would be a huge improvement to the experience.

 

[AliceandAriel]

http://q104.cbslocal.com/2014/05/08...ns-that-are-going-away/#.U2zo0DVQsjt.facebook

I wonder if there is any truth to this?

1. Great Hollywood ride
2. Fountains at Poly
3. Soarin over Cali (being replaced by local flight)
4. Captain So
5. Malestrom

If they get rid of Hollywood, I might kiss the ground in WDW. That ride is so outdated and awful.

 

[prudence64]

A good replacement to Captain EO would be on the top of my list from these possibilities.

 

[JoWiJo]

Changing Maelstrom to Frozen would defeat the whole purpose of World Showcase in my opinion. The focus would change from being on other places and cultures to fantasy and who is say that the whole of WS wouldn't become a kiddie attraction over time? At best the rest would stay the same but then the Frozen attraction would be out of place and only make Epcot overall appear even more disjointed than it already is.

I think that a Frozen attraction will be built but hopefully in an area more suitable.

I asbsolutely agree. DHS seems like the best place as it DESPERATELY needs something. The MK is already overloaded.

Exactly my thoughts and sentiments. I can see a minor representation of Frozen in Norway, but a full-blown ride doesn't fit the theme of WS. Plus, Maelstrom is a great ride that actually does fit the theme. And the WS isn't what's a big mess at EPCOT.

I was going through this thread just to see if anyone would suggest that a ride based on Frozen would fit much better at DHS. I'm glad that I'm not the only one to think Frozen would go better there. The only question I'd have is "where in the park would it go?"

 

[profdsny]

Great Movie Ride is one of our most does every trip, but we are 'movie people.' I would suspect that not one in a hundred people under 30 have seen any thing in that ride other than the Wizard of OZ. I did a grad-level class a year ago with about 20 students and only two had ever seen Casablanca. And thes were 20-30 yos, born and raised in the US. That ride is mostly ancient history now.
However, one thing missing on the list which is supposed to go, is the 'hat' right in front of the theater. It ruins the sighline, and destroys the whole Hollywood theme. (And, I'd bet not one person in a hundred has seen Fantasia either)

 

[JennyMP03]

If they get rid of Hollywood, I might kiss the ground in WDW. That ride is so outdated and awful.

It is very outdated, and I'm 29. I'm guessing much of it is completely unrecognizable to kids who ride it. It takes up a lot of time too, even when there isn't much of a standby line.

 

[Chuckers]

The Great Movie ride could easily be updated with Disney Films, live action as well as animated.

Turning Maelstrom into a Frozen ride would be a huge mistake. I haven't ridden Maelstrom in a while, but from what I remember, it's a pretty short ride. Unless they lengthen the ride, it's not long enough to do good job representing Frozen.

Soarin' should be updated, it's showing its age. DCA can keep the original.

Capt Eo was awful when it first opened and was only brought back to make money by capitalizing on MJ's death.

 

[thevolcanogod]

Removal of the hat and GMR to make way for Elsa's ice castle with frozen themed dark ride?

 

[Reddog1134]

I don't think it's a visual/architectural issue, I understand that part. I do think there's a naming/ownership issue, in part because they never refer to it as the Chinese Theatre anymore (as they did early on), and mostly ignore it. I don't think it's a huge issue for them to avoid those things, but I do think it's just another reason (on top of many) that it will make things easier on them to just get rid of it. I don't disagree with your theory on the main why they wanted the hat up there, though.

I have no proof of course.

Check the Disney website. They still refer to it as "Graumanns Chinese Theatre". The whole thing is just Disney wanting you to see their icon when you enter the park.

 

[Alice Royal]

Despite the fact that GMR is outdated, I've actually gone and seen several of the movies featured BECAUSE of their presence in it...I would, however, fully support a re-worked and more up-to-date version (take out the damned Alien crap, this is Disney!).

With all of the new advances in Audio-Animatronics WDI seems to be making it would be very nice to see SOME films trashed and replaced along with some figures simply being updated (again, that Alien scene...poor Sigourney Weaver's AA looks like it's possessed...).

Here's a list of the current films in the ride along with what I think would be a decent replacement or update.

(Insert short look at 'A Trip to the Moon' and other early films, give history of filmmaking itself.)
(Insert The Phantom of the Opera [1925] for a Horror film)
Footlight Parade--Replace with or simply add 'The Jazz Singer' to give background on black+white and sound in film)
Singin' in the Rain--keep, explain color film tech
Mary Poppins--Keep, update animatronics, add one more classic Disney musical after
The Public Enemy--If we must stick to gangsters, use a more recent film for reference. If not, try some spy films a la James Bond.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and The Searchers--Even though The Lone Ranger flopped, a more recent Western would be more accessible
Alien--Get this thing the HELL out of that building! See earlier 'Horror'!
Raiders of the Lost Ark--Keep, enough people still know this
Tarzan the Ape Man--Avatar? Another nature or jungle film?
Casablanca--Either keep for posterity or replace with a better-known 'classic' such as It's a Wonderful Life or Gone with the Wind
Fantasia--Expand this into a miniature look at Disney animation and its history/developments
The Wizard of Oz--I've heard that the Witch's AA is/was the most advanced of its time...that alone makes me lean towards keeping it, but those Munchkins sorely need an update.

I'd fully support SOME sort of update for GMR that leans more toward the history of filmmaking through classic pictures rather than just random films that the average person my age has never seen.

 

[luisov]

If only Disney had more successful live-action movies to make a Disney version of GMR. I mean, they could use Maleficent, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Chronicles of Narnia, Mary Poppins, The Lone Ranger, Oz, Prince of Persia, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, National Treasure, Tron Legacy and a couple more, but if you think about it, lots of their live-action films have flopped commercially.

Marvel films would be a good option if only Universal wasn't involved. Star Wars and Indiana Jones, I guess those would work.

 

[MichaelaF]

Check the Disney website. They still refer to it as "Graumanns Chinese Theatre". The whole thing is just Disney wanting you to see their icon when you enter the park.

You're right, it does say "replica of Graumann's Chinese Theatre". But it's also no longer legally named "Graumann's Chinese Theatre", it's TCL Chinese Theatre. The original "debunking" post on Yesterland that dealt with the hat admitted there could be some trademark issues with using the name.

That said, the name change to TCL does basically make my original point on that moot, so I'll concede, sir.

In related news, I keep thinking....what on earth kind of new icon would they put up there? (Assuming they got rid of both the hat and theatre.)

 

[Planogirl]

If Disney wants to keep the old Hollywood theme then The Great Movie Ride should include some classics. They need to redo many of the sets (Ripley's face just gets worse and worse) and add a few new features towards the end and in the film. It could still be a great ride.