10 Comments

The Great Movie ride pretty much single-handedly ignited my interest in classic film. I miss it, too.

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Same. As a kid, it prompted me to see Casablanca, True Grit, and the classic Tarzan films(which in turn led to loving the Disney animated version). It reinforced how much I love Wizard of Oz, Indiana Jones, and Mary Poppins. And it made me beg my mom to let me see Alien. Lol.

Of all the parks, I have the most love/hate relationship with DHS/MGM. I will never forgive the loss of the backlot tour, Sounds Dangerous, the lights motors action stunt spectacular, and the Great Movie Ride. The spirit of filmmaking was ignited in me thru that park.

Though I will say that now I can go to DHS in the afternoon, spend all day in the perfection which is Batuu, and the only other must ride in the park is Tower of Terror. As long as they’re okay gutting the past and replacing it, I say more Star Wars Lands.

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As charmed as I am by Peter Pan, I went with the grubby, drippy, claustrophobic environment of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It was those very characteristics that made it stand out to me as a child. Disney was all bright colors and happy faces (the original Snow White ride aside), and those were a lot of fun. But the seven year-old me believed that I was in a submarine, traveling through the ocean and having adventures. Back then the attraction was fairly new and well-maintained. The fishing lines keeping parts of the attraction in place weren't loaded with algae. When the tentacles encircled the craft, I believed the hull was about to be breached, and my heart raced as we tried to make it back to the surface. So sorry, the cartoonish floating pirate ship didn't stand a chance.

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I would absolutely love to see what today's Imagineers could do with a Great Movie Ride concept incorporating all of the IP Disney has to work with and today's immersive/trackless ride technology and projections. Give us a high capacity slow ride that sets a new bar for storytelling.

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And rather than try to tell the stories of the films, pluck one scene from the film and show us how it was filmed. Imagine seeing an animatronic George Lucas directing the Obi Wan vs Vader fight or the Trash Compactor scene, then riding into another room to see Spielberg riding atop a crane with his cinematographer filming the heart scene from Temple of Doom, the then riding into another room where the Alien stalks the tram before taking off the head of the costume and chatting with Stan Winston about the effect. Include some stuff from Disney Live Action films too like Will Smith in a Motion Capture room with the final render shown at Video Village, show the miniatures team at work on Nightmare Before Christmas, and go way back to showing the octopus effects being filmed in 20,000 Leagues.

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Fabulous. Finish it in a version of the Volume to show how films are being made today and you have an easy way to swap out/update the end of the attraction.

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Haunted Mansion vs. Electrical Water Pageant is a brutal matchup. One of the best ever attractions vs. one of the most charming. In the end I had to vote HM but not without strong consideration for the pageant first.

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Being stuck in a room while Peter Pan breaks down four ding-dang times made me feel far more claustrophobic than any submarine including real ones.

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Aw, 20k leagues. :(

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I voted for THE HAUNTED MANSION, but I'm not looking forward to its latest cinematic incarnation. And SPACE MOUNTAIN is my favorite ride in all of Disney, so no question there.

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