Backlot tour is closing?!?

[minnie mum]

With all of the speculation about a complete HS overhaul, I'm surprised they would spend the money and effort to refurb a ride that people don't really go on anymore.

I wouldn't worry about this not being opened unless it has some special meaning to you.

You actually believed that whole 'blue sky' thing?? Pure dreaming IMO, especially the time line they gave. But I agree that missing Backlot Tour is not a big deal. One big yawn.

Actually I think it is still a popular ride. When we went on last month, there was a decent crowd. And when we were there last year, we actually wanted to go on but the wait was too long so we opted not to.

You have to keep in mind that even though most of us are veterans of multiple trips, there are always new people going to Disney for the first time and everything is new to them.

I'll argue with you about it being a popular ride- as in a ride that people like well enough to ride repeatedly. Not the same thing as a ride that newbies will go on because they don't know any better. To me popular is something like TSM. Whereas Backlot is something like Stitch- you don't often see a lot of veterans in the lines.

 

[AWaltFan]

I agree with you! I'm really disappointed that Test Track will be down when we are there. We are going to EMH at EPCOT for Soarin only (maybe Spaceship Earth, but that's never crowded anyway!) Why can't The Living Seas be open with the Nemo ride?

 

[disneysteve]

I'll argue with you about it being a popular ride- as in a ride that people like well enough to ride repeatedly. Not the same thing as a ride that newbies will go on because they don't know any better. To me popular is something like TSM. Whereas Backlot is something like Stitch- you don't often see a lot of veterans in the lines.

True. I don't think it is "popular" in terms of veterans riding it repeatedly. We did it last month and that was probably the first time we did it in maybe 7-8 years. I was saying "popular" in terms of the number of people riding it when we've passed by. I've seen it with a 30+ minute wait and that was at the end of August, a relatively slower time of year. I don't know what it looks like in peak season.

 

[JimS4210]

I'll be there Oct. 7-13 and won't miss it at all. It's just a shadow of what it once was. As someone said, Catastrophe Canyon is the only thing worth seeing and that's getting old and tired.

Although about 15 years ago, my wife and I were picked for the naval battle scene. That was pretty cool... . Now you can edit a scene like that on your iPhone!

Jim

 

[disneysteve]

As someone said, Catastrophe Canyon is the only thing worth seeing and that's getting old and tired.

Really? To me, I'd happily skip that. The only thing I like is seeing what they're working on in the scene shop, what's stored in the prop warehouse (saw a lot of old Toontown stuff last month) and what is on display in the film institute building at the end of the tour.

Now you can edit a scene like that on your iPhone!

This is a really good point. When an attraction is so heavily based on technology and special effects, it is very tough to keep it current and up to date. That naval scene hasn't changed since 1989 when the park opened. In the meantime, guests have gone from probably not owning a computer to carrying more computing power in their pockets than the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon had access to.

 

[DVCMikey]

It has become a skip ride for me & mom, but my dad is going with this time & he hasn't been in 10+ years so a bummer for him. I am hoping they add more things to drive by.

Has anybody heard when the Pirate attraction at HS will open?

Same with us. We have been skipping it ever since really they took out the golden girls house and the empty nest house. we used to love seeing those.

what new pirate attraction?

 

[Amboo]

Honestly, The Backlot Tour being closed just allows more time to do other attractions that are actually worth it.

 

[Reddog1134]

Honestly, The Backlot Tour being closed just allows more time to do other attractions that are actually worth it.

Whenever a ride closes, it means more people waiting in other lines which means you are able to visit LESS attractions.

 

[wdwfan22]

Hmm, the Disney site shows:

Studio Backlot Tour - Closed For Refurbishment [ Thursday, November 01 - Friday, November 16 ]

Not Oct 8 as OP posted. Where did you find those dates?

 

[musicmantrs]

I wonder if they are doing something in that area Nov 1st - Nov 16th (some sort of setup for Osbourne)? They have that and Honey I Shrunk the Kids walk through closed the exact same dates.

 

[chanty]

On the calendar YESTERDAY, it said it was going to be closed as of Nov 1st...sad that it has changed!

 

[wdwfan22]

On the calendar YESTERDAY, it said it was going to be closed as of Nov 1st...sad that it has changed!

I don't see where it has changed. Still says Nov 1.

 

[yulilin3]

Hmm, the Disney site shows:

Studio Backlot Tour - Closed For Refurbishment [ Thursday, November 01 - Friday, November 16 ]

Not Oct 8 as OP posted. Where did you find those dates?

It's closed from Oct 8th thru Nov 16th.
My husband works at the Backlot Tour in the second half of it (shuttles) and it stays busy all day long, maybe not TSM busy but there are always people loading. I agree that repeat visitors might think it boring but first timers enjoy it very much, Catastrophe Canyon beign a favorite with all the effects.
I doubt that it would permanently close since it can hold so many people at a time, it's a great way for managing crowds around the park.
I also agree that maybe putting in some new props would be great.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/refurbishments.htm

 

[Raenstoirm]

I hope they will add something new. I like this attraction but it needs some work done.

If rumors hold true, that whole area (including LMA) will become Cars land in the next 5-10 years.

what new pirate attraction?

Narnia is being replaced by some sort of walk through of the life of Captain Jack.

 

[vkandrew]

My wife and I are going to be there in 11 dayas and I'm really bummed about Test Track being closed as its one of my favorites so I feel your pain. The one thing that makes it better for me is this is going to be my wifes first time ever in Disneyworld so hopefully all her excitement will take my mind off of it.

 

[MJ6987]

What other refurbishments are they going to be announcing? I'm already going to miss Test Track, now Backlot tour...what's next? Will they cancel the food and wine concert I want to see? Close HDDR? Pirates of the Caribbean? Anything else they would like to cancel from my must do list and tell me 5 minutes before I leave?
.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_P...y_s_The_Magic_The_Memories_and_You_to_end.htm

 

[JimmyV]

I am actually disappointed to hear it is only going down to six weeks.

Ditto. More time is probably needed to rid the ride of dated references to "classic" Touchstone pictures such as ConAir (1997) and Pearl Harbor (2001), not to mention prominent props from old and/or forgotten films such as Casanova (the Venetian Gondola); Flight of The Navigator (Space Ship); and, of course, the props from "The Lottery" which was a made-for-MGM Studios short that no one under the age of 16 can possibly remember since they stopped showing it years ago. So how is anyone supposed to be wowed by a prop from a short that they never even knew existed? This entire area of the park needs to be re-purposed or re-done from the ground up. Six weeks sounds like lipstick on a pig.

 

[phillymummer]

I am not upset about the Backlot Tour. I was planning on skipping it anyway after reading about how bad it has gotten over the years (the last time I saw it was 1990, I think). But the HISTK Playground has me sad. I think my daughter is going to cry. That was one her favorite attractions in all of Disney! Oh well. It will be a good lesson in how to handle disappointment.

I just checked to see what else is going to be closed when we are there in Oct. The Magic Carpets will be down too, but I'm not too upset about that bc it really is just a knockoff of Dumbo.

 

[atp]

My wife and I are going to be there in 11 dayas and I'm really bummed about Test Track being closed as its one of my favorites so I feel your pain. The one thing that makes it better for me is this is going to be my wifes first time ever in Disneyworld so hopefully all her excitement will take my mind off of it.

I'm going with my DBF and it will be his frist time too, even though most people dislike this ride, I like it and I'm sure he would love it, specially the pre show and the Catastrophe Canyon.

But you are right, maybe that will help

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_P...y_s_The_Magic_The_Memories_and_You_to_end.htm

I knew I was forgetting something! That is something else I'm upset over missing, even more upset actually.

And now someone mentioned the Magic Carpets closing too. I know, I know, most of you don't care since you have been to disney tons of times and can go back whenver.

But some people can't afford to go multiple times a year or every year or even less often. I don't know when we'll be able to go back, I would like to do as much as possible.

We'll be staying there for 14 days so it's a bummer to find out a lot of things will be closed for that entire time and it's all being announced at the last minute, with the exception of Test Track since it was already closed, but that was also announced at the last minute.

I guess what upsets me more is that all of this means that they can just decide to close whatever they want, whenever they want, for long periods of time, no warning, no nothing.

I have to say, I'll be extremely upset if they close Soarin, Big Thunder, PoTC, TSM, Carousel of Progress, Living with the Land, TTA. And again, I know people think those rides are dumb (the last three), but they are my favorite!