It's no secret that the WDI graveyard contains some of its finest works: Horizons, the Wonders of Life Pavilion, the original Journey Into Imagination, Mickey's Starland, the Discovery River Boats (okay, maybe not that last one). And when I sat down to write this post I was going to write about one of those classics, but there's another WDW attraction that's currently a shell of its former self, and its original version had a profound impact on my life.
The Backlot Tour at Disney-MGM (now Hollywood) Studios.
It's hard to imagine, considering how lame the attraction is now, that it was ever one of the crown jewels of Disney-MGM. But it was. Originally, the attraction began with the water tank demonstration (then showcasing Crimson Tide), then brought guests on the tram ride that still exists today ... but guests also got an up-close look at the Home Improvement sets, a peek at the animatronics and set pieces for 101 Dalmatians, a backstage look at the Disney-MGM TV studios, and a final visit to the AFI exhibit space. It was an informative, interesting, 2-hour experience and a wonderful introduction to the world of filmmaking.
The length of the tour would prove to be its downfall - guests were spending too much time in the tour and not enough time spending money on snacks and souvenirs. So the attraction was shortened dramatically to the version that exists today, by cutting out all the interesting bits. When you're an impressionable teenager, getting to see the same Home Improvement sets that you watched on TV every Tuesday night was a BIG DEAL (I may or may not have had a major crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas at the time). And getting to see the creations of Jim Henson's Creature Shop up-close-and-personal was mind-blowingly cool. I was already an above-average-intensity moviegoer, but the Backlot Tour took my interest in film to the next level.
And while it would be hyperbolic to say that this attraction made me want to work in "the biz," I do think that those early trips on the Backlot Tour certainly made me think about movies in a different way, and opened my mind up to the possibility of a film-related career path. I did end up majoring in cinema studies (with a concentration in animation, naturally), and went on to work for two major film studios (neither of them Disney) before deciding that the industry is far too hectic and demanding to support any kind of healthy lifestyle.
Today, the Backlot Tour is all-but-forgotten, that thing you have to walk by to get to Toy Story Mania and that has the Coca-Cola misters outside. Currently, the Backlot Tour takes guests inside the making of Pearl Harbor, a movie that came out more than 10 years ago and that no one really liked then or now. Then it's the same ol' Catastrophe Canyon shtick, the same half-hearted tram tour, and then the obligatory gift shop. It's almost depressing, and there's really no reason to just let the attraction wither away into oblivion, because there's so much potential to revamp the tour and use it as a marketing vehicle for new Disney features. Turn the water tank into a Pirates of the Caribbean battle sequence. Add a walk-through stop to show off sets or props from recent releases. With all the roller coasters, terrifying towers, and ridiculous Lightning McQueen appearances, there's less and less Hollywood in Disney's Hollywood Studios these days. At this rate, Disney might as well rename the park Disney's Miscellaneous Collection of Attractions. I'd love to see Disney make the (small) investment to inject some life into the Backlot Tour and help bring Hollywood Studios back to its roots of taking guests inside the movies. And along the way, maybe they'll inspire a few more kids to become filmmakers.
Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is My Dreams of Disney.
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ The Disney Chick
2nd Stop ~ My Dreams of Disney
3rd Stop ~ Ramblings, Reviews & Reflections
4th Stop ~ Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World
Final Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
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More Magic:
* The War on Duffy
* Overheard in WDW: Sunset Blvd Edition
* Segway Tours in WDW: This is How I Roll
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7 comments:
Amen! We first visited Hollywood Studios in 1990 and we LOVED the Backlot Tour. I remember going down a street of houses and seeing the house that was on The Golden Girls. I was so excited to take my family on the tour and when we went back next time it was "closed for refurbishment" and became what it is today - which, like you said, is a huge disappointment compared to its former self!
I never got to ride the original Bakc Lot Tour. You are right about the current one, it's definitely not on my to do list when I go to the park. Thanks for giving me a glimpse into what it was.
I loved the Backlot Tour. I remember seeing the set of the Mickey Mouse Club (which I LOVED) and being so excited I couldn't stand myself. Then we saw one of the cast members in the sound station recording something and I just about lost my mind. Nevermind, the Golden Girls' house! When my husband and I went back in March I was very disappointed in the Back Lot Tour.
It used to be one of my favorite rides at Hollywood Studios.
I have never been on the Backlot Tour, original or current. The original one sounds amazing, though. I think it would be wonderful if they updated it.
Oh Wow, this was really great! I remember going on the Back lot tour when i was ten, this was in 2000, does this make me young? Hahaha, i remember all the cool sets and seeing the Golden Girls houses and asking my mom what a Golden Girl was. Great post!!
I don't remember the backlot tour from it's hay day, but don't bother with it now.. I've heard it's just so bad... yeah DHS is nothing that MGM was. shame. And I may or may not have loved JTT as well..
I remember how neat it was to be in an "actual" neighborhood of famous houses...And I remember walking those streets during Christmas when the Osbourne lights decorated the homes...Now I am sad to say that we almost always skip the backlot tour unless we have some extra time....I don't even think my youngest son has ever been on it!
I think the Pirate idea is great!!!
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