Who Wants to be a Millionaire is CLOSING?!?!?

[NeverlandClub23]

What?!?! I was hoping to get into the hot seat at least once in my life. Oh well, there goes that dream

 

[perdidobay]

Me too... I'll have to console myself that I made it once to the top of the board!
I hope they do put in a cool ride like Men in Black

 

[Sonno]

Well, for what it's worth, it's still just a "rumor" at the moment. There has been no official word from Disney as of yet, and no posting that the ride will be down on their monthly rehad lists on the calendar.

It's a little glimmer of hope, but I guess we'll see.

 

[ellyn2000]

We really like WWTBAM and I'd be sad to see it go. Maybe we'll get to go one more time on our November trip. In our early years we went twice and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was under rehab and the next time we went it was gone. I guess that's the cost of progress. Maybe it will be replaced by something even better.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

This is what it says under the "updates" section on the home page of this website:

Another one bites the dust. After 5 short years, “Who wants to be a Millionaire, Play It!” at Disney’s MGM studios is closing on August 19, '06.

This attraction is based on the wildly popular TV game show “Who wants to be a Millionaire" which premiered in August of ’99. The MGM version opened on April 6, 2001 with Regis Philbin doing the honors at the ribbon cutting.

You had to hand it to the Disney Imagineers, they found an ingenuous way of keeping guests from making a mass exodus if they didn’t make it into the Hot Seat. Everyone has a keypad and having the “fastest finger” means you could be the next contestant.

Who wants to be a Millionaire – Play It! bears a strong resemblance to the TV show. The dramatic music and stage are virtual duplicates. The hosts are just a “little bit” enthusiastic. Picture Regis 30 year’s younger running onstage after drinking 43 gallons of black coffee and you get the idea. You have to wonder how anyone can be that perky doing the same show over and over, day in and day out.

There’s “Ask the Audience”, “50/50" and a cute twist on the “call a friend.” If you use that lifeline, you’re calling a complete stranger on Mickey Avenue. With the top prize being a Disney Cruise, there’s a lot at stake.

Think it’s easy? Sure, while the person in the Hot Seat is sweating, you’re snickering from the audience because you know the answer. Just get under the glare of the lights with everyone looking at you and see what happens.

Considering that this is a “Fast Pass” attraction, its closure comes as a surprise. I’ve never seen it without a full audience and the annual tapings of the TV show at MGM always drew a large crowd.

It’s always sad to see an attraction close, but such is Disney. Millionaire joins Superstar Television which has yet to be replaced. Maybe these audience participation shows don’t meet expectations? Who knows, but for fans of the attraction, August 19 will be a day tinged with sadness.

 

[TheDoctor]

Well, for what it's worth, it's still just a "rumor" at the moment. There has been no official word from Disney as of yet, and no posting that the ride will be down on their monthly rehad lists on the calendar.

It's a little glimmer of hope, but I guess we'll see.

It is not a rumor. The last day of operation is August 18. I am very disappointed that the attraction is closing.

 

[TheDoctor]

Considering that this is a “Fast Pass” attraction, its closure comes as a surprise. I’ve never seen it without a full audience and the annual tapings of the TV show at MGM always drew a large crowd.

They took the fast pass machines out over a year ago. The fast machines that used to be in front of WWTBAM-PI are now being used by the motor stunt show.

 

[SaraMc]

Im sad, closest I ever got to the hotseat was hearing my DH outside answer a question for someone as the phone a complete stranger. We will miss it when we go in Feb.

Perhaps its because Merideth V isnt working for ABC anymore?

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I guess the Millionare game got played out.

we been quite a few times over the years. i noticed last year there was no wait at all. they were handing out fastpasses to people as they walked by.

I do give Disney credit for adding that attraction when the saw how popular the show was!

I'm sure something good will take its place

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I actually got into the hotseat on our second visit to that attraction. I did not try nor want to be in the hotseat. I won all kinds of pins, lanyard, hat, shirt. It scared me so bad that it would happen again that we never went back to WWTBAM!

 

[wwtbamrob]

It is not a rumor. The last day of operation is August 18. I am very disappointed that the attraction is closing.

You are correct that it is not just a rumor. However, I've been told by two different Cast Members at the attraction that the last day of shows is August 19th.

Rob

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I was hoping to get in the hot seat too. I had to tell my wife that there goes her dream of someday going on a Disney cruise.

 

[TheDoctor]

You are correct that it is not just a rumor. However, I've been told by two different Cast Members at the attraction that the last day of shows is August 19th.

Rob

there is an article about it referenced on a thread on the Rumors board

 

[kinggoofy]

I read this yesterday on WDWID.COM.

Im very sad. This was my FAVORITE MGM attraction. Not only did it test your knowledge and skill. It was a "cooling" off place that you could sit for a while.

I was fortunate to be in the hot seat 3 times and made it to the 32,000 ONLY once.

We just got back June 25. I think we went to Millionaire 10 times. The best i did was #7, #2 three times, and #1 twice after the first 5 questions.

I did mentioned to DW that I thought this attraction needed to be "tweaked" during our last visit.

Think about it....6 years running, 365 days a year and at least 8 shows a day. Thats over !7,000 shows ( if not more ) and they ONLY gave away 110+ cruises????

Trust me, I know, you wont get anything for free or even for it to be easy...BUT, they gear the show towards younger people....they always say in the introduction to press the buttons FAST. Well, us adults try to get the right answers...the kids just press away, and most of the time, the fastest finger in the beginning is a youngster.

THEN....i have noticed the questions are harder for the kids. This trip, a 14 year old girl was in the HS....her question for 8,000 was ....."what was the girls name in the song.."867-5309."?

I looked at DW and said..no way she gets this..she too young to even know the song...sure enough she didnt get it correct. The answer was Jenny.

Then when an adult is in the HS....it seems so funny how the adults get the Disney and / or so called "easier" questions more suited for the youngsters and it makes the adults go through their lifelines.

So, Yes i am saddened by the closing of WWTBAM....but it will give me more time to spend at other attractions.

Also, a poster mentioned the fast pass system for WWTBAM is now at Lights, Motors, Action....this trip that we jsut returned...the fast pass for "Lights" was not available.

 

[tldrn93]

WWTBAM was one of our favorite attractions at MGM. Will really hate to see it leave. A few weeks ago when we were there, my 12 year old made it into the hot seat. As the previous poster mentioned, it did seem like the questions were much harder this time. He did make it to $16,000, and it definitely was the highlight of his trip. The best part was when we found out that the host was from our town and even went to the same small private school that our 18 yo just graduated from. Small world!!

 

[kinggoofy]

The other thing I noticed, and maybe you WWTBAM "vets" did too, was that a few of the Host and Hotesses were transferred over to the "Lights" atttraction. So maybe this so called "rumor" is true, they are transferring some of the WWTBAM people to other attractions so they will still have a job.

Does anyone know what was in the space before WWTBAM ??...I thought it was the 101 Dalmations attraction..but we are not sure. ??

 

[NeverlandClub23]

This is from the front page of www.wdwinfo.com as well:

Rumor has it that Millionaire will be replaced by "Midway Mania" a dark ride featuring Pixar characters. The same attraction is being built at Disneyland's Paradise Pier. Projected opening date is 2008

Sounds good to me!!

 

[hkf]

Personally I went into a deep depression when I heard Millionaire was closing. We would schedule our visit to MGM around the Millionaire schedule. At least I made the hot seat once. My DH and I decided we would boycott whatever replaced it, unless of course the new atraction is really really good!

 

[CHIPSTER]

I was disappointed to hear this - we loved it, but then we also liked Superstar Television which closed several years ago and still sits empty.