Great Movie Ride closes for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

[rteetz]

The Three Caballeros were just pulled out of storage and put on Gran Fiesta Tour. They look great and very fluid in motion for being one of the older animatronics

Correct. They looked amazing when I was there.

 

[Dfan79]

This thread seems to be back to normal.

There's no need for people to namecall or correct people if they misspelled a word (that's silly). Whoever tries to pick a fight with someone on a message board needs to growup. There is a way to express different opinions without those shenanigans.

thank you very much

 

[rteetz]

This thread seems to be back to normal.

There's no need for people to namecall. Whoever tries to pick a fight with someone on a message board needs to growup. There is a way to express different opinions without those shenanigans.

Things were taken care of. There is no need for this post. Thank you.

 

[Dfan79]

Things were taken care of. There is no need for this post. Thank you.

All I'm saying is we can get along.

 

[Dfan79]

While this would never happen in a million years, I love that you mentioned it!

Yeah, Mr. Toad would be awesome. He'd have to be driving a different car in the new version though like a Corvette or Ferrari.

 

[rteetz]

All I'm saying is we can get along.

All I'm saying is if you have a problem and it's going against disboards rules report the post or poster. It's as simple as that and it will be taken care of. No need to keep going on about getting along.

 

[Dfan79]

All I'm saying is if you have a problem and it's going against disboards rules report the post or poster. It's as simple as that and it will be taken care of. No need to keep going on about getting along.

Whoa, take it easy rteetz. You sound like you're a little mad. Maybe you need to take a break from the boards.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Whoa, take it easy rteetz. You sound like you're a little mad. Maybe you need to take a break from the boards.

That might be a tad difficult for a mod

 

[Madonna3]

So anyway... yeah, I am on board with the "bye" crowd. This attraction, while holding nostalgia, is dated. There are kids who have never seen The Wizard of Oz (or are like me and don't like it) and therefore, it holds no relevance or appreciation for them. I am not saying we need to Mickey Mouse everything up, but after 20 years, it's time to get something new.

Everyone always freaks out when Disney makes changes, but that's what they do, they progress, just not at the speed I think we all would like.

 

[Madonna3]

Personally I'm glad you're not making decisions for Disney...

I can say the same for you. I think it's incredibly difficult to make attractions and shows for Disney that attempt to appease the largest audience. I don't know if I could do it.

Seeing Mickey as a rocker is like seeing my Grandma in a bikini. It doesn't feel right and I get no enjoyment from it.

Eye bleach, please.

 

[Dfan79]

Thanks Madonna, you're one cool cat.

Hopefully the rumors are true because "the Great Movie Ride" has only been "the O.K. Movie Ride" lately. It just seems like an old relic that Disney did as a middle finger to Universal, which was opening the next year. They rushed M.G.M studios out with rides that wouldn't be out of place at Universal Studios Hollywood. GMR, Indy and the Backlot Tour.

 

[Mel730]

Maybe I'm among the few, but I love the GMR. I'll be incredibly sad to see it go. I get things need to progress and grow but not everything old needs to go. It's nice to have things that bring you back and celebrate the classics. I'm in my twenties and I love the classic movies and rides. It makes me sad that people my age and younger don't know or appreciate older things as well as new. I would love to see it refurbished or slightly updated, instead of replaced.

 

[Dfan79]

Maybe I'm among the few, but I love the GMR. I'll be incredibly sad to see it go. I get things need to progress and grow but not everything old needs to go. It's nice to have things that bring you back and celebrate the classics. I'm in my twenties and I love the classic movies and rides. It makes me sad that people my age and younger don't know or appreciate older things as well as new. I would love to see it refurbished or slightly updated, instead of replaced.

I get what you are saying, I used to love GMR too, but I think many of the movies are just too old. Most of the people riding it have never heard of Public Enemy(1931), Tarzan the Ape Man(1932 version) and Footlight Parade (1933). That's why I think "A Great Disney Movie ride" featuring their animated characters would be a good replacement. This way younger audiences will want to ride this attraction as well.

 

[maltdizzy]

Correct but all of the figures are still in storage as far as I know.

The Three Caballeros were just pulled out of storage and put on Gran Fiesta Tour. They look great and very fluid in motion for being one of the older animatronics

The Alice animatronic was installed out in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in Disneyland.

I'm not sold on the idea a Mickey ride, many of their dark rides have almost skewed too young in audience. Too cutesy with no tension.

I love movies (especially old movies), I liked the GMR...but now it's too long in the tooth. It's just not engaging enough.

 

[firefly_ris]

I'm not sold on the idea a Mickey ride, many of their dark rides have almost skewed too young in audience. Too cutesy with no tension.

If they could get near the caliber of Mystic Manor, as far as telling a story, animatronics, effects, and music go, it could be pretty awesome. That one is a track less ride as well so it just popped into my head as a possible comparable.

 

[Dfan79]

(4 reasons why GMR isn't popular anymore)

1.) If it was a ride with animated movies on it, the idea of demoing it wouldn't even come up. Rides like Peter Pan, Alice, Pinocchio and other similar dark rides are seen as quintessential Disney and are still very popular.

2.) The ride isn't good, it is slow and uninteresting. It seems to be almost as slow as Ellen's ride. Plus the people working the ride for the show portion can also make or break it. Some have looked uninterested and just going through the motions. On the opposite side of the spectrum is the overly emotional ones. Who act like they performing for a silent movie.

3.) I think there is more and vastly different options, when it comes to children's programming nowadays. Even if some of it is bad, really bad. Modern cartoons and kids shows are totally different then even when I was a kid. So when todays children see OZ or even Thundercats and Gi Joe it looks foreign to them.

4.) Accessibility, with online, netflix and much more cable channels has sadly made OZ less of a Gold Standard. When OZ was on tv back in the 80's it was an event. People used to set their VCR's to record it whenever it was on Television.

I have to admit I still love the Wizard of OZ section of GMR. I just don't think the younger audiences have the same appreciation for it that their adult counterparts do. So the demoing is necessary.

 

[Madonna3]

Thanks Madonna, you're one cool cat.

You too. You make me laugh at least once a day.

(4 reasons why GMR isn't popular anymore)

1.) If it was a ride with animated movies on it, the idea of demoing it wouldn't even come up. Rides like Peter Pan, Alice, Pinocchio and other similar dark rides are seen as quintessential Disney and are still very popular.
...
...
4.) Accessibility, with online, netflix and much more cable channels, has sadly made OZ less of a Gold Standard. When OZ was on tv back in the 80's it was an event. People used to set their VCR's to record it whenever it was on Television. I have to admit I still love the Wizard of OZ section of GMR. I just don't think the younger audiences have the same appreciation for it that their adult counterparts do. So the demoing is necessary.

I agree with these two points, for the most part. My son has NO idea what the Wizard of Oz is, other than a movie, and he's 14. He's never seen it. Now, judge me if you will, but I didn't see it as being an important part of culture. I don't see movies in general as an important part of culture. My husband disagrees with me and they watch all kinds of movies, but since my husband and I weren't even born when Wizard of Oz was released, it just wasn't anything special for us. My son still hasn't seen Wizard of Oz because when I was a kid, my mother took me to see "Return to Oz" at Radio City Music Hall and when that woman removed her head and switched it out for another one, I lost my mind. I was only 6, mind you, and that was a pretty scary thing for me and therefore, anything "Oz" has been banned in our house. However, to my mother, who was born shortly after the release of Wizard of Oz, it was an important part of her childhood. Guess how many times my mother has ridden GMR? ZERO. I however have ridden it a few times and the first half of the ride holds no significance for me and the entire thing holds no significance for my son.

While I agree that animated attraction based rides hold popularity, I do not agree that this needs to be based on animated attractions. I kind of think Disney's Philharmagic does a good job of that. I think the concept of the GMR is fantastic, but I think it needs to at least be updated to be significant to today's visitors. If the ride encompassed movies my 14 year old were familiar with I think he'd like to ride it. Right now, the only fan of the ride is my husband because he's a movie buff.

 

[rteetz]

While I agree that animated attraction based rides hold popularity, I do not agree that this needs to be based on animated attractions. I kind of think Disney's Philharmagic does a good job of that. I think the concept of the GMR is fantastic, but I think it needs to at least be updated to be significant to today's visitors. If the ride encompassed movies my 14 year old were familiar with I think he'd like to ride it. Right now, the only fan of the ride is my husband because he's a movie buff

Completely agree with this part. The concept of GMR is great but it needs to be updated. I saw keep some of the big time classics but switch out some of the older less known films like the live action Tarzan.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Now, judge me if you will, but I didn't see it as being an important part of culture. I don't see movies in general as an important part of culture. My husband disagrees with me and they watch all kinds of movies, but since my husband and I weren't even born when Wizard of Oz was released, it just wasn't anything special for us. However, to my mother, who was born shortly after the release of Wizard of Oz, it was an important part of her childhood. If the ride encompassed movies my 14 year old were familiar with I think he'd like to ride it. Right now, the only fan of the ride is my husband because he's a movie buff.

Well I wasn't alive when Wizard of Oz was made either but it's one of my favs. Perhaps being from KS has impacted that IDK. Anyhow seeing as how you don't think movies are important to culture (nothing wrong with that it's your opinion) but that may skew your viewpoint on a ride designed to showcase movies.

I wasn't born when the original Star Wars movies came out but I love those too. I guess point is just because you weren't born when a movie was made doesn't mean it isn't special to a person. Otherwise why should I like any Disney movie made before the year I was born. One of my favs is Sleeping Beauty which was made decades before I was even born yet I grew up with it.

I do think they can update it to incorporate newerish movies but it would be good to ensure people of all ages (those who like to remember the classics or their favs) can also enjoy it.

 

[Madonna3]

Well I wasn't alive when Wizard of Oz was made either but it's one of my favs. Perhaps being from KS has impacted that IDK. Anyhow seeing as how you don't think movies are important to culture (nothing wrong with that it's your opinion) but that may skew your viewpoint on a ride designed to showcase movies.

I wasn't born when the original Star Wars movies came out but I love those too. I guess point is just because you weren't born when a movie was made doesn't mean it isn't special to a person. Otherwise why should I like any Disney movie made before the year I was born. One of my favs is Sleeping Beauty which was made decades before I was even born yet I grew up with it.

I do think they can update it to incorporate newerish movies but it would be good to ensure people of all ages (those who like to remember the classics or their favs) can also enjoy it.

You peg me as some movie hater, which I am not. I love Disney movies, old and new. I said that I thought the concept of the GMR was fantastic, but I strongly feel that if this attraction is going to remain, it needs an update to include movies more popular with today's and tomorrow's audiences.