Attractions going away

[Reddog1134]

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.)

They could change the entrance of GMR to be the hat. Not that it's something I would want to see but the 2nd biggest complaint about the hat is that "it's only a pin stand".

 

[livinlife25]

I am 30. I haven't seen a lot of the movies represented by GMR, but I can still appreciate them as being part of movie history.

 

[sharonped]

Could you imagine the horrible traffic jam again in Norway if a Frozen ride opened? Blech! I must be the only person in the world who thought the movie just wasn't that great. I would definitely put it on the bottom of the heap as far as Disney films are concerned.

Yeah me too. I'd put it bottom-middle. Certainly not top 10...

 

[TexasErin]

You guys are making me sad.....I'm 42 and I've seen a lot of the films. I LOVE Casablanca! And I really think most of those movies have stood the test of time and represent CLASSIC Hollywood----and isn't that kind of the theme of the park??? My kids have also seen many classic films.....And like a PP said, there are a lot of good ideas to be gotten about movies that you might want to see for the first time!

I really think the only thing that should be changed is some of the films that are in the montage at the end simply because they were out around the time the attraction was made. Get rid of Three Men and a Baby and Broadcast News!!

Oh, yeah, and get rid of the hat!!

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

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.

It's really difficult.

I forget why, but there was someone from the film industry on the boards a while back that posted a long post detailing the technology and the problems and so forth.

 

[JimmyV]

You guys are making me sad.....I'm 42 and I've seen a lot of the films. I LOVE Casablanca! And I really think most of those movies have stood the test of time and represent CLASSIC Hollywood----and isn't that kind of the theme of the park???

At some point, "classic" and "relevant" no longer intersect. The ride could do without the silly wax figures that look like they belong in a wax museum as part of a cheesy shorline boardwalk. For example, I would ditch the human pyramid from Footlight Parade, as well as the Clint Eastwood and John Wayne figurines. Oh. And Tarzan. Watching him swing on that vine makes me cringe when I think about what Imagineers can really do today. Today's theme park audience demands far more in terms of special effects and technology. And way too much linear space (pardon the pun) is devoted to "Alien". That might have been a hit when MGM Studios first opened, but that movie is far from being relevant today and the sequence needs to be explained to about half of all the people who ride the ride. I think that Disney dug itself in a hole when it created this attraction. In direct contradiction to the Disney mission statement, the Great Movie Ride is a "museum" of sorts that cannot easily be changed on the fly or re-imagined with enough rapidity to suit the public's demand for the latest and greatest. But a "re-imagining" once every 10-15 years is not too much to ask.

 

[Reddog1134]

At some point, "classic" and "relevant" no longer intersect. The ride could do without the silly wax figures that look like they belong in a wax museum as part of a cheesy shorline boardwalk. For example, I would ditch the human pyramid from Footlight Parade, as well as the Clint Eastwood and John Wayne figurines. Oh. And Tarzan. Watching him swing on that vine makes me cringe when I think about what Imagineers can really do today. Today's theme park audience demands far more in terms of special effects and technology. And way too much linear space (pardon the pun) is devoted to "Alien". That might have been a hit when MGM Studios first opened, but that movie is far from being relevant today and the sequence needs to be explained to about half of all the people who ride the ride. I think that Disney dug itself in a hole when it created this attraction. In direct contradiction to the Disney mission statement, the Great Movie Ride is a "museum" of sorts that cannot easily be changed on the fly or re-imagined with enough rapidity to suit the public's demand for the latest and greatest. But a "re-imagining" once every 10-15 years is not too much to ask.

I'm afraid they would pull out the Alien and replace him with Stitch.

 

[NYDisGuy]

I am 30. I haven't seen a lot of the movies represented by GMR, but I can still appreciate them as being part of movie history.

Thank you. I've always taken the GMR as more of a museum than anything else. I think DHS has enough new thrill rides and attractions, would be nice if they left some of the "old nostalgia" in the park.

 

[ethanwa]

OK.... how would Q104 in Cleveland know this and not say... WESH... or the Orlando Sentinel (who have lot of inside connections at Disney).

All rumors. And all rumors that you can surprisingly find on DisBoards. Probably a Dis'er wrote that article.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

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.)

Once upon a time, The Earful Tower was the icon. They could always go back to that. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the hat, but if they want to keep it as the icon, that's fine with me. I'd move it, though. I think it makes more sense in Animation Courtyard. If there isn't enough space there, how about on top of the Animation Academy building?

 

[SuperRob]

I am 30. I haven't seen a lot of the movies represented by GMR, but I can still appreciate them as being part of movie history.

My wife is 31. She has hardly seen any of them, Wizard of Oz being a notable exception. She pretty much just puts up with the ride because her movie-buff husband loves it so much.

So yeah, she can appreciate the ride for what it is, and what it means for people who have seen the movies. But for herself, not so much.

Honestly, there is an easy fix to the entire problem ... add a new pre-show film that explains each movie and it's place in history. Include some of the actors talking about their roles, etc. Each segment should include some hints to the ride, for example, having Sigourney Weaver talk about what it took to bring the "Alien" to life.

Having the pre-show film be trailers is kind of lazy and does nothing to set the stage for what you're going to see. If you give people who haven't seen the movies a bit of a history lesson, what follows should be more impactful.

That said, while it's a personal favorite of mine, it is incredibly dated and just not relevant to today's guests, and only exists to showcase interactivity with animatronics. That some of those animatronics aren't working is quintessential "bad show". I'd rather them burn the building to the ground than have an experience the kids don't want to be on any more be sub-par.

I'm afraid they would pull out the Alien and replace him with Stitch.

I nearly spit my water out reading that. I'm assuming that you knew that the "ExtraTERRORestial Encounter" was originally supposed to be THAT Alien, right? They changed it because it was too scary. Then changed it again because it was STILL too scary.

But Disney still had the rights to Alien (they got them from Fox), and rather than let it go to waste, they put that scene in GMR. So that alien very literally was replaced by Stitch.

 

[ashleighbass06]

How would they change Maelstrom into a Frozen attraction? The only water in the film was ice and snow. They would have to gut it and start over and if they're going to go that far why not put it in MK or even DHS?

Also, those of you hoping getting rid of GMR would also get rid of the hat, I just don't think that is going to happen. Think about it, if Disney really lost the rights to the Chinese Theater, they would've changed the facade not just put something in front of it. They just wanted more "Disney" icon rather than a "Hollywood" icon.

Once upon a time, The Earful Tower was the icon. They could always go back to that. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the hat, but if they want to keep it as the icon, that's fine with me. I'd move it, though. I think it makes more sense in Animation Courtyard. If there isn't enough space there, how about on top of the Animation Academy building?

The Earful tower doesn't make sense as the icon because it's in the wrong location. It's not a good "weenie". Think about where all the other park icons are...

 

[SuperRob]

How would they change Maelstrom into a Frozen attraction? The only water in the film was ice and snow.

Now that Elsa has control over her powers, who's to say what she could do? Disney Imagineers, that's who!

 

[ashleighbass06]

Now that Elsa has control over her powers, who's to say what she could do? Disney Imagineers, that's who!

Ok sure, but a frozen attraction should not take place in a warm climate, ie a water ride.

 

[MightyGitis]

Ok sure, but a frozen attraction should not take place in a warm climate, ie a water ride.

My sister wondered if they would change blizzard beach and make it frozen themed.

 

[ashleighbass06]

My sister wondered if they would change blizzard beach and make it frozen themed.

While I wonder if they would theme a whole park at single film, I like that idea!

 

[larryz]

I doubt the rumor about Maelstrom. Usually no movie tie in on the country attractions.

Well, except for the Three Caballeros in Mexico...

 

[IslandAdventure4]

They better not close Maelstrom! I love that ride.

Totally agree

 

[Planogirl]

We are movie buffs around here and it surprises me to see comments that the Alien franchise is no longer relevant or that classic actors such as Clint Eastwood should be removed. It never occurs to me that others aren't interested in classic Hollywood like we are.

Maybe there should be a compromise. Keep some of the classic theming if only to match what the supposed theme of DHS is and throw in more Disney and something current. You certainly couldn't change every scene to something current because Disney would never be able to keep up with trends fast enough.

Besides, what is actually current? Star Wars would be nice but that one will likely be represented more elsewhere. Marvel in some way? Thank goodness that Twilight is done.

 

[Reddog1134]

We are movie buffs around here and it surprises me to see comments that the Alien franchise is no longer relevant or that classic actors such as Clint Eastwood should be removed. It never occurs to me that others aren't interested in classic Hollywood like we are.

Maybe there should be a compromise. Keep some of the classic theming if only to match what the supposed theme of DHS is and throw in more Disney and something current. You certainly couldn't change every scene to something current because Disney would never be able to keep up with trends fast enough.

Besides, what is actually current? Star Wars would be nice but that one will likely be represented more elsewhere. Marvel in some way? Thank goodness that Twilight is done.

GMR is supposed to give you a taste of Hollywood from every era and every genre. It wouldn't make sense to make everything current.

Can you imagine?

"Welcome to the Great Movie Ride. Where we showcase the great films of Hollywood. From Twilight to the Hunger Games.