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When the Disney-MGM Studios opened in 1989, its main thoroughfare was consciously themed to the heyday of the Golden Age of Hollywood. In an attempt to capture the "Hollywood that never was and always will be," Hollywood Blvd. included designs based on actual buildings in and around Los Angeles. At the end of Hollywood Blvd. sat the stately Chinese Theatre, a symbol of the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood. This lovely recreation of the California landmark is exact in its details, down to the handprints and footprints of famous celebrities of stage and screen. Sadly, the Chinese Theatre is now obscured by a horrendous hat. Fortunately, if you walk around that gaudy oversized pin shop, the theater is still there, complete with one of the Studios' signature attractions: The Great Movie Ride.
While we've passed by this attraction for many years, now that the kids are older we decided to revisit it this summer. We were impressed, again, with the lovely lobby area of the theatre and the stunning details; the artifacts from famous films added a nice touch, although we were disappointed that some of the better-known artifacts (such as Julie Andrews' carrousel horse from Mary Poppins and the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz) are no longer featured.
The clever use of the "theater" itself as a pre-show holding area is effective, and we enjoyed the "coming attractions" film to some degree. It seems that an updated, digitally cleaned-up version is in order. It would also be nice to see the original trailers for films such as Fantasia and Mary Poppins rather than the reissue versions shown here.
The actual attraction—a "ride through the movies"—as the poster promises, features an extensive cast of Audio-Animatronic characters as well as actors/guides who interact with the animatronics as guests ride along on large moving theater cars. It's interesting to note that this attraction began life as a proposed entertainment pavilion for EPCOT Center's Future World. In many ways, the design and execution of this attraction are similar to several classic EPCOT attractions, namely Horizons and World of Motion. Designed to entertain guests of all ages, this attraction fulfills the long forgotten Imagineering dictum that Disney attractions should be suitable for guests ages "8 to 80" to enjoy together.
The first act of The Great Movie Ride is dedicated to the Hollywood musical. It begins inauspiciously with a static and strangely uncomfortable salute to the Bugsby Berkeley musicals of the 1930's with a black and white "tower" of bathing beauties. It's tacky and dull, and despite the addition of some spinning photographs, inexplicably still remains as the first scene of the attraction.
Things get much better, quickly, as guests are asked to turn their attention to Gene Kelly perched above a lamppost in a rainstorm singing the immortal "Singin' in the Rain." This scene strikes just the right note—the film is a salute, of sorts, to the early days of motion pictures and the Audio-Animatronic here is beautifully rendered.
Next is a lovely scene from the Walt Disney classic Mary Poppins, featuring that fair lady, Julie Andrews, as Mary Poppins and the affable Dick van Dyke as Bert, the chimney sweep. The two cavort across the rooftops of London as they sing the immortal "Chim-Chim-Cheree." It's a shame that this all-too-brief scene from one of Walt Disney's most memorable films composes the only extended reference to Mary Poppins found in any Disney attraction. Here's hoping that someday, in the near future, retired Imagineer Tony Baxter's proposal for a Mary Poppins attraction will see the light of day—maybe in the old Millennium Village area behind the United Kingdom in EPCOT's World Showcase.
While a longer stay in Edwardian England might be lovely, the next scene switches abruptly to the much darker shades of film noir. Motion pictures like The Public Enemy with James Cagney receive an extended tribute here, complete with a shoot-out, a moving car full of thugs, and a live actor who takes over the tour. It's okay, but not especially engaging. This film genre has seen its day, and while classics are by nature timeless, the gangster film is one that in unfamiliar for much of the general public.
The classic western is up next, and while westerns, too, have seen their day, this section is very engaging and a lot of fun. In fact, we request this section when loading the attraction vehicles. We get a glimpse of John Wayne from The Searchers as well as Clint Eastwood in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. In this scene, a live actor robs a bank, blows it up with dynamite, and takes over the attraction vehicle.
Science-fiction is next, and what better film to represent this genre than the classic Alien. The sets are incredibly realistic, giving guests that feeling of "being there" with incredible detail. The actual appearance of the alien, however, is anti-climatic and not very scary at all. Maybe this is intentional so that younger guests aren't frightened. Nonetheless, it could be more exciting.
Thankfully, the next scene is exciting. The next film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, comes complete with soaring ancient sculptures, scores of snakes, mummies, skeletons with glowing eyes, and a huge pyramid complete with a forbidden treasure. This scene comes complete with an extended storyline involving the gunslinger or the gangster (depending on which previous scene guests experience) interacting with the pyramid and the forbidden treasure. Detailed, fun, exciting, and clever, this scene represents Imagineering at its best.
The nest vignette, Tarzan and the Ape Man, is a let down. Static characters and dull scenery leave guests disappointed. Casablanca is next, complete with airplane and Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. It is the sole representation of serious drama in the Great Movie Ride. Authentic and moving, it's as memorable as the film it honors.
Next up is a brief—very brief—salute to Walt Disney's Fantasia. It's basically a wind tunnel with a projection of Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice playing on a themed wall. Mickey is always a welcome addition to any attraction, but seriously? Doesn't the Mouse deserve better than this in a "great" movie ride?
The final scene is a shiny, Technicolor wonder saluting The Wizard of Oz. There's a black-and-white farmhouse atop the remains of a wicked witch, and marvelously realized Munchkinland, Munchkins galore, and music. Lots and lots of music. The Wicked Witch of the West is one of Disney's most detailed Audio-Animatronic figures, and with her menacing green face, realistic gestures, and puffs of sulfurous smoke, she continues to terrorize delighted generations of movie-goers. At the end, there's a charming scene of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion gazing wistfully at the Emerald City. Wonderful indeed.
The attraction ends with a montage honoring some of Hollywood's best remembered films, everything from The Birth of a Nation to Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl. There are many memorable scenes represented, but some of the clips are shamelessly self-promoting on Disney's part. Pearl Harbor? Down and Out in Beverly Hills? Three Men and a Baby? The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Anyway, many of the films deserve their inclusion here and conjure great memories of film favorites from years gone by. Surely, this montage could use some updating and the inclusion of some of the films that have been dropped from the original montage—films like It Happened One Night, High Society, The Lion King, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Singin' in the Rain—all of which were cut in favor of some of the films mentioned above. With just a little attention, this portion of the attraction could be vastly improved.
Overall, my family enjoyed The Great Movie Ride and would recommend this classic to visitors to Walt Disney World. Nonetheless, here's hoping that when—or if—the oft rumored changes come to Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Great Movie Ride will receive some much needed attention to make this very good attraction truly great as its name promises.
 
Comments
This ride is a must do for me and my family each time we visit Hollywood Studios, but I agree an update is in order. I just don't want an update that would result in removing animitronics and immersive scenery in favor of screen projections and 3-D glasses. Today's generation can't relate to James Cagney or the Tarzan room. I love the gangster shootout room, but I have always been a fan of those type of movies. So I would understand the change here for a more universal appealing genre. Also, the montage at the end needs to updated with a digital copy that could easily be changed and updated as more movies become modern day classics.
"the long forgotten Imagineering dictum that Disney attractions should be suitable for guests ages "8 to 80" to enjoy together". I could give many examples as to why this statement is false, but I think Radiator Springs Racers sums it up neatly.
A bientot
I think the problem with the ride is that the movie scenes we've seen are 20 years old and not always recognizable to current audiences. As you point out, the gangster movie is rarely seen anymore, likewise the western and Aliens, while classic, is almost 30 years old but doesn't have the same recognition as Star Wars. Plus the scenes themselves haven't had a significant change since MGM opened in 1989 (comparatively Spaceship Earth has had two major renovations in the same timeframe, Space Mountain had it's major renovation at 24 years old), which means that they are starting to get stale- esspecially the "swerve" of the gangster replacing the host.
I'd suggest keeping Singing in the Rain and Mary Poppins, then changing the next several scenes (the gangster, the western and Alien). Maybe do Science fiction with the Halleluljah mountains from Avatar while X-wings fly over followed by a comedy room perhaps with live actors doing Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges. Replace Aliens with Superheroes, especially now that Disney owns Marvel which includes the X-Men and the Marvel Comic Universe. Have a scene where you see various superheros fighting (bonus points if Disney could strike a deal with DC to get likeness rights to Batman and Superman). If you really want to have the ride takeover gag, have a super villain take over the ride for a scene or two and then get disappeared in a new version of the Indiana Jones room. Replace Tarzan with either the Godfather, Gone with the Wind, or It's a Wonderful life (# 3, 4, and 11 on AFI's 100 Greatest Movies list respecitively) then Casablanca and the Wizard of Oz. Finish it up with the movie montage (or even better multiple movie montages so each ride has a different clip).
I love the idea, but it's just stale as it is now.
It's also a must-do for us every visit although it could use lots of love. We are fans of classic cinema/TCM so we'd hate to have a lot of (relatively) new film scenes added to the existing presentation. Would have always loved a Gone with the Wind scene though and more musicals. Also I didn't know you could request the cowboy scene. We almost always get the gangster. In fact we haven't scene the cowboy scene in years.
You had to say "horrendous hat", didn't you. Granted, I never saw the studios without the Hat. But I can say I don't feel I've been to WDW yet until I've seen it and taken a picture in front of it. I love it! It represents the version of Mickey that everyone loves the most. And Disney is all about Mickey.... at least for us.
Sounds like we all agree...the Great Movie Ride is still a must do every trip, but it's definitely showing it's age and lack of refurbishments. My personal feeling is that this would be a very tough ride for Disney to change dramatically - while everyone agrees it needs to change, they also have their favorite scenes that they'd hate to see cut out. I think they could improve the ride greatly by updating the Bugsby Berkley scene to a homage to some other very old movie type (classic comedy with Abbott and Costello or Laurel and Hardy as an example). Tech updates to Fantasia and the Gangster/Western scenes would also go a long way to making the attraction feel a lot fresher. Finally, as suggested in the article, the movie montage at the end needs to be drastically changed to reflect true classic scenes in filmmaking history, and scenes from semi-recent mediocre movies that happen to have been made by a Disney partner should be removed. I have nothing against modern movies, and they should be well represented, but having movies like "Three Men and a Baby" and "Pearl Harbor" represent movie making in the last 20 years is just ridiculous.
We've finally found the one person out there who likes the hat!
All kidding aside, I don't think it looks that bad either, and would be OK with seeing it anywhere else in the park. The hate comes from the fact that it covers up the beautiful work that went into replicating the Chinese theater. The loss of that icon, to many people including myself, is a symbol of Disney losing it's way with MGM/Hollywood studios over the last 20 years. The park has gone from a vibrant studio environment where it felt like anything could happen to a park without a "heart" or cohesive theme. Fortunately, it just happens to have some of the best rides at WDW.
I'm surprised they haven't added a clip from The Lone Ranger or John Carter!
Can anyone verify the rumor that the Fantasia scene was originally supposed to be the twister scene from Oz carrying you to Munchkinland but was substituted by the film clip from Fantasia for budgetary reasons? That's what I've always heard and it does make sense.
The attraction must be updated. I cringe at the gangster scenes and The Wizard of Oz. The actor interactions are so contrived that I really hate them. They borrowed too much from Universal Studios Hollywoods' original stunt shows that even Universal doesn't do anymore.
The gangster scenes should be retired. The Wizard of Oz should be updated to Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful. The Indiana Jones section should be expanded.
Overall, I won't be sad if they remove it in favor of Star Wars or a trackless ride based on Mystic Manor, which could be a good thing. There are too many ghosts in the Great Movie Ride.
I don't hate the hat, either. Actually, I think it's great that it has a place at the park. I just think the proper place would be just outside the ticket booths. Let it invite guests into the park, rather than blocking the view of a beloved icon.
Now, as to adding new movie scenes, how about Harry Potter? Just kidding. (C'mon, you knew someone was going to say it.)
Forget H.P.. How about a loop?
While I like the idea of "the long forgotten Imagineering dictum that Disney attractions should be suitable for guests ages "8 to 80", you have to admit things change. If you could represent with a circle on a page whom that dictum might encompass back in the 1960's, 70's, and even 80's, it might take up a large portion of the page. If you draw the circle today it would be the size of a dime. What was "thrilling" to folks 20 years ago is "tame" today. This is probably my most recurring gripe with Disney is that they haven't really embraced that fact, that "tastes" and "thrills" change. Universal seems to have embraced it and in my opinion have been producing better attractions for a while that are accessible to very large demographics.
I always enjoy The Great Movie Ride when we visit The Studios. I like to think of it as a trip through history, not just movie history. This is what people thought of as "cool" 30 years ago. But yes, it is time to bring it into the 21st century. A few years ago I took the Keys to the Kingdom Tour and learned The American Adventure is run on technology that no longer is used in the world. The technicians have kept the system running and trained new people to keep it going. I imagine the same holds true for TGMR. So it seems to me a simple update would not really be possible. If they are going to do something with it, theywill probably need to build something from the ground up. Since the focus is now on Avatar Land, it doesn't look likely. My hope is that once Avatar is opened the Imagineers will able to show some love to my favorite park.
It's outdated, it's boring, they need to update or upgrade. It was fun at first but now you know whats going to happen around every corner.