Studio Backlot Tour Closing

[RachaelA]

Nothing offering FPs or ADRs is on the potential chopping block being discussed here.

I'm not saying it is, but when you plan your entire day around being able to X, Y and Z attractions and then they get cut after you have booked FP for other things in that park, it messes with the plan. DHS is now easily a half day park for us, but we have a late late lunch reservation at H&V and FPs for later in the day at DHS when I would have rather done everything earlier in the day and made FPs for another park (like scheduled our A+E for that afternoon instead of booking DHS ones).

And I could care less about the Backlot Tour, but the playground was a HUGE deal to my kid and we easily spent over an hour of our day there. We'll all survive of course, but its still annoying at hell that Disney does this like 3 1/2 weeks from our trip.

 

[RealBlast3]

Well, I guess I shall be in the minority and say I will really, really miss this! Even if it had been slowly been getting scaled back over the years. I saw it only during my 2009-12 vacations, so it probably had already been scaled back and I didn't notice it.

Anyway, I appreciated that this attraction was something "different" without a tie in to anything Disney cartoon related, not that there's anything wrong with that! LOL after all, it's the Disney cartoons I love and grew up with and why I'm there. But it was nice to see something cool about movie special effects. I thought it was an exciting ride.

And I got to see the spaceship from Flight of the Navigator in the backlot!!! I took a picture of it and was thrilled! It was something most probably ignored but as a child of the '80s, I was totally stoked to see that.

 

[Aurora0427]

I'm confident it won't be Frozen. Sounds more like smaller, kid-friendly attractions based on Toy Story.

Would love this!!! We struggle to find things to do at DHS with our kiddo!

 

[jon18uk]

Thinking about all the Pixar rumours, am I one of the only people NOT to want to see a replication of Cars Land. Why should I travel seperating the CA and FL when there are the same rides in both places? They could easily aside a unique Pixar coaster, unique Pixar dark ride and some of the smaller Cars or Toy Story rides that are already in CA, Paris and Hong Kong.

There is a HUGE amount of land where the old studio stuff was, LMA can stay and they can still do Pixar land and Star Wars land.

 

[YawningDodo]

I'm surprised that they are closing it now since they closed Idol too, there really aren't a lot of rides there to begin with.

Sorry but to me this is a 1/2 day park. I'm glad I only scheduled it for one morning of our trip. I hope they do something to this park to bring it back to life

It was originally designed as a half day park, so it's not too surprising you picked up on that. I've been kind of expecting the Backlot Tours to get the axe for years now; the first time I went (when the park was still a real movie studio) it was pretty lively and they had a lot to show you, but last time I was there the only real glimpse behind the scenes was the windows into the costume shop. Even that was kind of disingenuous since they implied it was a costume shop for film making when it was really part of the parks' regular costuming department.

The flood portion was pretty cool, but the ride as a whole takes up a lot of space in a park that's always seemed to me to have serious layout problems. That they're choosing to take it out now actually makes me hopeful that they're making room to put in a substantial new attraction.

EDIT after actually reading more of the thread: I do mean hopeful and not sure. Disney does have a bad habit of closing things and then leaving the space empty...the old building for the human body pavilion in EPCOT's FW was a really depressing sight when I went inside it for a special event in 2009. Just empty, gutted space, and it had been sitting like that for years.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I get the feeling that it will be an expansion of Pixar Place. I heard rumors they plan on adding a second area to TSMM that will make the line go faster.

I would love to see a Pixar Place - maybe an "UP" ride that is similar to Soarin'.. Maybe something with Monsters University?

Has it been confirmed that the construction/renovations will not impact the Osborne Lights??

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm not sad to see it go, it wasn't nearly as good as it used to be, and hopefully they can now use all that space for something better.

 

[Jam23]

I'm hoping the Pixar expansion rumors are true- DHS badly needs new rides especially for little ones.

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

I think that I'll actually miss the American Film Institute memorabilia display at the end of the tour more than I'll miss the tour itself...

 

[PEC]

I enjoyed Backlot tours but if they plan on making the area a Pixar Place (likely) or Starwars land (doubtful but possible), I am fine and actually happy about that decision. I have seen the rumors of a 3rd TSMM track but I actually believe another attraction for the entire family is a better bet. To me the reason TSMM is so busy is it is the only ride at DHS that the entire family can enjoy. I know there is the GMR but it can be a little intense for 5 yo. My grandchild will miss the HISTK playground more than Backlot tours (if the rumor is true that it is closing).
Now one thing I agree with many on here is the project will be slloooww to be built. As I told my children we will have to plan a trip for 2018 or 19 to actually enjoy what is being built. I base that on New Fantasyland (roughly 4 years from beginning to end) and same with Avatarland.
I think I can still get a full day out of HS but it will include a couple of things I would have been OK passing on.

 

[spoonfulofdole]

I am going to miss the Backlot Tour, and I'm sad to see it go. Of course, I have noticed the deterioration of the ride over time. But it was such a big part of my experience as a child that it has a special place in my heart. At least I can be thankful that I got to see it in its prime. Just wish I could have gotten one last ride during my trip next month.

That being said, I am really excited for the change we all hope is coming for Hollywood Studios. I am hoping for more Pixar and more Star Wars myself. I'm a bit wary about all the closings that seem to be happening all at once, but I'm trying to have faith that they have big plans and surprises for us.

 

[grimley1968]

Maybe, just maybe this will result in a net addition of attractions for WDW.

Too often in the past several years, WDW has either removed attractions with no replacement at all or replaced beloved attractions with attractions tied to the money maker du jour.

I miss the original Backlot Tour, but it has become such a shell of its former self that I think it should now be put out of its misery. Such a huge amount of space should easily yield multiple attractions, and I hope they're good ones.

 

[dixiegirl]

I think that I'll actually miss the American Film Institute memorabilia display at the end of the tour more than I'll miss the tour itself...

This exactly! I loved that part but honestly that's about it.

 

[Glenn]

Condsidering Disney lately I wont put much truth into rumors of new this or that for all this area. Just look at how many rides have been closed and the buildings have been standing empty for years. Its all a way of saving a buck. And if they do anounce something just how long will it take them to build anything thats not off the shelf? Look how long it took them to work on fantasy land versus what Universal did with Harry potter in the same or less time. Wonder if this was a really long term plan. Let the studios die a little at a time then close it completely from "lack of interest".

 

[carmiedog]

Well, I guess I shall be in the minority and say I will really, really miss this! Even if it had been slowly been getting scaled back over the years. I saw it only during my 2009-12 vacations, so it probably had already been scaled back and I didn't notice it.

Anyway, I appreciated that this attraction was something "different" without a tie in to anything Disney cartoon related, not that there's anything wrong with that! LOL after all, it's the Disney cartoons I love and grew up with and why I'm there. But it was nice to see something cool about movie special effects. I thought it was an exciting ride.

And I got to see the spaceship from Flight of the Navigator in the backlot!!! I took a picture of it and was thrilled! It was something most probably ignored but as a child of the '80s, I was totally stoked to see that.

I'll stand with you. They can do away with the tram ride and canyon, but I love seeing the big set props. I hope they're able to relocate them. I'm also fascinated by the pre-tram props warehouse and the post-tram costumes/props

edit: now that I think about it, I'll miss the canyon and harbor attack, too. I love movie making, and Backlot Tour is the closest I've been. I should really plan a trip to universal hollywood sometime.

 

[epcotty]

This really is a shame but I guess it was a long time coming. Went there twice recently, once with the wife and kids, once w/ my brother. So that was cool. Went on the backlot tour both times, always liked doing that. I know it wasn't what it once was (saw it in its original form as a kid) but always thought it was still pretty good

 

[texasroni75]

So glad we made time for this on our trip last week. I hadn't been on it since our first visit 15 years ago - and it really was a lot shorter, less things to see, etc. But, my DD(13) really liked it. I especially liked that the exit led us right in time to the conveniently short line for meet and greet with Monsters Inc characters LOL. Hopefully something good will replace it.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Oaken's is not replacing the backlot tour. It's going into where the former AFI exhibit was (the one you walked through to look at the props after you finished the backlot tour.)

 

[dan-tot]

I just read that Studio Backlot Tour is closing end of September. Drats....this was on my list at HS as it seemed pretty cool. It says this is where the Oaken attraction will move. I suppose though there will be some downtime? We're coming in October so am guessing we'll miss this one during the change over.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...our-to-permanently-close-later-this-month.htm

I thought I read that the only thing closing was the display area. It really went down hill when they took out the houses and the movie props for the stunt show. The attraction that they found out to late that it was costing to much to put on. One of Disney's great debacles.

 

[casperthegm]

My family and are are pretty nostalgic when it comes to rides at the Disney parks but this one has gotten a little stale over the years. I think we're ok with it honestly. Two things concern me though; First, as others have mentioned, there's even less to do in this park now and it was a stretch to make it a full day to begin with. Second, Disney hasn't exactly been moving at the same speed(and maybe quality) that Universal has with its newest attractions. I'm hoping whatever the plan is that they have it set to put into motion and get going on it. There's a lot of space not being used in that park now.