Is the Great Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios closing?

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wdwizbest's picture
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Is the Great Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios closing?

I know this rumor has been around for awhile, however some are suggesting it may close in August. What's your opinion on it? Would you rather see an update/renovation or something completely different? This is one of the few original rides from when the park opened, I would like to see an update rather than a complete replacement. Even if it is showing some age, it still has some really good moments.

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I guess movies like Casablanca, The Pulic Enemy, Alien and Wizard of Oz are no longer considered classics by the younger generation. Probably should have updated them with modern classics such as The Hangover, Dude Where's My Car and Sausage Party. sarcastic

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KenJ wrote:
I guess movies like Casablanca, The Pulic Enemy, Alien and Wizard of Oz are no longer considered classics by the younger generation. Probably should have updated them with modern classics such as The Hangover, Dude Where's My Car and Sausage Party. sarcastic

laugh

I'm all for an update on this ride, but I would love if they postponed it to more like December. We're taking my family down in November and my parents haven't been in close to 10 years and I know they'd like to ride it one last time.

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I can't see them closing GMR until SW & TS expansions are complete. There just isn't enough attractions in HS right now IMO. However, once the new construction is finished my gut feeling is they will do "something" with the GMR. I just hope it isn't gutted & replaced with a GOTG ride.

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Well, the rumours I read were stating that Turner Movie Classics was letting a contract expire in 2018, hence the closure sometime before then. I have no idea if it's true though.

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I would like to see the ride updated not even with the movies updated to more recent ones because I am a younger generation but those movies whether I like them or not are still classics in my eyes, I'd like to see it go back to the tour guide doing more talking and maybe update the animatronics but I don't want to see it changed into something totally different because movies and hollywood just go with the whole park..... and if they are going to close it I hope they wait til the end of the year so people can get one last ride on it!

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I would love to see an update to this ride that is more of a Disneyfication of it. There are so many great Disney movies that could replace what is in there now both animated and not. I think that it would be easy to create a new script and change some of the scenes. It made sense to have all movies when MGM was there, but now that its just Disney - keep it Disney.

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That's a great idea. Disney does like promoting their movies.

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I love the Great Movie Ride.

If they made it into a Disney movie ride. What movies could they use in the existing rooms?

Tarzan - George of the Jungle

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Maybe it's because I've just started visiting Disney more in the last few years but this is a ride I can do without. Yeah, I love the classics, but it does nothing for me. I agree it would be great if it became Disney movies

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I like the Great Movie Ride, I ride it every visit, so if they keep it exactly as is I'm good with it. If they change it into a Disney movie themed ride, I'm good with it. If they update it to SOME more recent movies, but keep a bit of the old classics, I'm good with it. Get rid of all the golden age of Hollywood stuff, not so good with it. Get rid of it altogether, not good with that either, especially if the replacement is some stupid thrill ride that I can't even do.

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I also like the "Disney Movie" idea. Heard that it might be a "Mickey Review" type ride as well. I love the movies, but the animatronics are getting pretty tired and worn.

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Just don't get rid of the Wizard of Oz room! That witch animatronic is still one of the best, IMO.

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And don't get rid of that Alien set! One of my favourite movies of all time and going through there is the closest thing to being in the movie. I love that part of the ride. If they do get rid of it, I will happily take it off their hands and set it up in my garage! biggrin

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Honestly I don't imagine anyone under 40 (maybe older) relating to Busby Berkeley, Tarzan (I met Johnny Weissmuller when I was 4) or even Singing in the Rain so I can see those being replaced. I'm not saying I would like it, but I could see it happening. I imagine that concepts & designs for the GMR were developed in '87 or '88 since it debuted in '89, that's 30 yrs ago. There have been a lot of movies that have been made since then, some movies that weren't considered classics in '89 are today. I like the basic idea of the GMR, I hope they don't update it to feature what's popular now the "flavor of the day".

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Just hoping it last thru the end of the year. We are taking friends in December and I know they will love it!

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wdwizbest wrote:
Honestly I don't imagine anyone under 40 (maybe older) relating to Busby Berkeley, Tarzan (I met Johnny Weissmuller when I was 4) or even Singing in the Rain so I can see those being replaced. I'm not saying I would like it, but I could see it happening. I imagine that concepts & designs for the GMR were developed in '87 or '88 since it debuted in '89, that's 30 yrs ago. There have been a lot of movies that have been made since then, some movies that weren't considered classics in '89 are today. I like the basic idea of the GMR, I hope they don't update it to feature what's popular now the "flavor of the day".

I'm 29 and LOVE Singing in the Rain!

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I love this ride its a must every time we go.
But... I loved it when the CM used to narrate it. The new way with the guy doing it is very hard to hear and takes away from the fun. I hope it stays open especially with so many other closures at HS right now. I am trying to talk my mom out of even going to that park on our trip because it seems a waste to me.

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FutureMrsHurst wrote:
I loved it when the CM used to narrate it. The new way with the guy doing it...

Can you clarify? I've only ever been on it where there is a CM pretending to drive it and narrates throughout and then jumps out and another jumps in etc. What other way did/do they do it?

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KenJ wrote:
FutureMrsHurst wrote:
I loved it when the CM used to narrate it. The new way with the guy doing it...

Can you clarify? I've only ever been on it where there is a CM pretending to drive it and narrates throughout and then jumps out and another jumps in etc. What other way did/do they do it?

I think she's referring to Tom Osborne (RIP) from TCM narrating the GMR now, in the old version the CM narrated the ride.

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wdwizbest wrote:
KenJ wrote:
FutureMrsHurst wrote:
I loved it when the CM used to narrate it. The new way with the guy doing it...

Can you clarify? I've only ever been on it where there is a CM pretending to drive it and narrates throughout and then jumps out and another jumps in etc. What other way did/do they do it?

I think she's referring to Tom Osborne (RIP) from TCM narrating the GMR now, in the old version the CM narrated the ride.

Yeah exactly.
I feel like when the CM's narrated it they really got into it and made it more exciting.

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FutureMrsHurst wrote:
wdwizbest wrote:
KenJ wrote:
FutureMrsHurst wrote:
I loved it when the CM used to narrate it. The new way with the guy doing it...

Can you clarify? I've only ever been on it where there is a CM pretending to drive it and narrates throughout and then jumps out and another jumps in etc. What other way did/do they do it?

I think she's referring to Tom Osborne (RIP) from TCM narrating the GMR now, in the old version the CM narrated the ride.

Yeah exactly.
I feel like when the CM's narrated it they really got into it and made it more exciting.

I don't recall any narration other than the cast member with a headset microphone. When did it change to a recording?

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It was Robert Osborne not Tom (Nebraska head football coach). Duh, you can tell where my heads at. I believe they made the change a couple of years ago summer of 2015, after TCM sponsored the ride.

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the great movie ride has been a favourite for 23 years. but is it time for it to go? probably. Sadly it suffers the same way a lot of the 80's/ 90's tony baxter era of attractions do. The animatronics look so shinny and plastic, the same can be said for phantom manor and even indy at disneyland.

The problem with it is what to do with it, sadly the guys across the street at universal hollywood have the answer, their tram tour uses screens to produce modern, up to date changes, thrill everyone can do as well as classic movies like back to the future and jaws. The slow ride through films of hollywoods past where Indy and Alien are the most current movies featured, is sadly an attraction of the past. I love it, but I have friends my age that loath it.... there reason? It takes too long.

I like the idea of putting the fabled mary poppins attraction there, maybe you could load on as if you are getting on a carousel but when your horse moves around the back it goes off around a dark ride, maybe trackless? With the plans universal have for nintendo disney need to up their game with excited family rides.

If they do go with mickey I hope it looks like Sinbads storybook voyage from Disney Tokyo Sea, you should you tube that and take a look. its stunning.

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My kids ages 9 and 13 love this ride. They've been riding this ride since ages 2 and 6, respectively. They don't find it old and dated, and really do appreciate the "Classic" films they show.. Hopefully we can get in one last ride in December before they revamp the ride, or shut it down for good.

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I just read an article from "Orlando Weekly" that suggests the GMR will close & be replaced by a Mickey Mouse movie ride. This article is about possible D23 announcements. The most disturbing part of the story suggests that Sci fi Dine in & ABC commissary will also close. The Commissary I can live without, but Sci Fi dine in? It seems like an awful popular restaurant to close just for space. I really hope this doesn't happen, Sci Fi is one of my favorite spots in WDW. mad gaah Angry

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An update would be good. The Great Movie Ride is a hang over from the MGM agreement but does need some updating now that agreement has finished.

Doesn't just have to be Disney films...Disney now encompasses a lot of IPs - Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, Marvel, Touchstone...there is a great deal of stuff that could be mined for a revamped 'Great Movie Ride'. It's unusual for a ride in a Disney park to barely touch on its own property. The Mary Poppins sequence is nice but not the best use of animatronics (and unfortunately, the ones they use here don't look like Mary or Bert!)

Where's the announcement of Steamboat Willie, the world's first sync-sound cartoon or Snow White, the world's first feature-length cartoon? There's a lot of stuff that could be integrated/revamped without losing the entire ride...Not just in a sizzle reel, but actually part of the ride...There's a chance to actually recreate Steamboat Willie in animatronic form - that'd be great!

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Sid Man wrote:
An update would be good. The Great Movie Ride is a hang over from the MGM agreement but does need some updating now that agreement has finished.

I was reading a list of possible breaking stories that will be coming out of D23 this week and this is one of the stories that we will be watching for! It will be a huge news weekend, maybe we'll get some update on this!

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A Great Movie Ride based on the history of Disney cinematic output would be pretty good! Just imagine seeing the classics realised in animatronic form...!

Starting with Oswald and Alice, we could move onto the Steamboat Willie and Silly Symphony era. Following this, a Snow White section seqgues into some of the live action stuff - 20000 Leagues Under The Sea, Mary Poppins, Davy Crockett, before moving back into animation and into the future with the new stuff from Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars/Lucasfilm...

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Sid Man wrote:
A Great Movie Ride based on the history of Disney cinematic output would be pretty good! Just imagine seeing the classics realised in animatronic form...!

Tom Bricker had an article about this today that said some permits were filed for "Project M" construction in that space. I wasn't putting a huge amount of stock in this rumor yet, but once it seems like it may have more traction than I thought!

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Kristen K. wrote:
Sid Man wrote:
A Great Movie Ride based on the history of Disney cinematic output would be pretty good! Just imagine seeing the classics realised in animatronic form...!

Tom Bricker had an article about this today that said some permits were filed for "Project M" construction in that space. I wasn't putting a huge amount of stock in this rumor yet, but once it seems like it may have more traction than I thought!

Looks like I wasn't far off...!!

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