Backlot Tour Closing?

[cw1982]

They said the same thing about Gen X. We turned out fine. This generation will too.

Every generation thinks the next generation is going to ruin everything. I don't believe the millenials are any less inquisitive than we were. When I see some of the goofy stuff they do, I sometimes have to remind myself of that.

They're not less inquisitive; they're just inquisitive about different things. Times have changed, and what's interesting to them is often different from what was interesting to older generations. This is nothing new.

I don't necessarily agree with the blanket statements about how they'll "turn out fine," though. If you knew how many of my students this last year will never be able to hold down a full-time job because they can't even control their language in a classroom (seriously... I'm not exaggerating. Many of them don't even realize then they drop "f" bombs anymore) and can't ever own up to their own mistakes/lack of responsibility in a situation. They also can't put their cell phones down for more than five minutes without thinking you're giving them some kind of cruel and unusual punishment... how are they going to keep jobs, even minimum wage jobs, if they can't stop looking at their phones long enough to prove that they deserve their paychecks? Their parents often make excuses for them far beyond the point of nausea; it's really borderline abuse in some cases. I'll never forget the day that I had a high school senior's mother tell me that her son shouldn't be held to the same behavior standards as his peers because "he was a premie, so he's not as mature as his friends." Really?!? For an 18-year-old?

And as far as cynicism, I haven't even been alive 40 years yet I've only been teaching 8 years, and I knew all of this all too well by the end of my second year.

Granted, this is far from true of all students I have seen, but there is definitely an alarming trend building that, IMO, extends far beyond normal generational gaps.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

It died when the houses were removed for a car stunt show.

Residential Street! My favorite part of the Backlot Tour! Loved seeing the Golden Girls house and the house they used for Adventures in Wonderland. Now it's just.... meh. We only ride it to try and be extras in the opening sequence.

 

[lebeau]

They're not less inquisitive; they're just inquisitive about different things. Times have changed, and what's interesting to them is often different from what was interesting to older generations. This is nothing new.

I don't necessarily agree with the blanket statements about how they'll "turn out fine," though. If you knew how many of my students this last year will never be able to hold down a full-time job because they can't even control their language in a classroom (seriously... I'm not exaggerating. Many of them don't even realize then they drop "f" bombs anymore) and can't ever own up to their own mistakes/lack of responsibility in a situation. They also can't put their cell phones down for more than five minutes without thinking you're giving them some kind of cruel and unusual punishment... how are they going to keep jobs, even minimum wage jobs, if they can't stop looking at their phones long enough to prove that they deserve their paychecks? Their parents often make excuses for them far beyond the point of nausea; it's really borderline abuse in some cases. I'll never forget the day that I had a high school senior's mother tell me that her son shouldn't be held to the same behavior standards as his peers because "he was a premie, so he's not as mature as his friends." Really?!? For an 18-year-old?

And as far as cynicism, I haven't even been alive 40 years yet I've only been teaching 8 years, and I knew all of this all too well by the end of my second year.

Granted, this is far from true of all students I have seen, but there is definitely an alarming trend building that, IMO, extends far beyond normal generational gaps.

Being a teacher has always been a rough gig. My mom teaches kindergarten. We have other educators in the family one of which will never stop telling her horror stories no matter how much we beg her. (Seriously, any topic you can think of reminds her of this great story about her school that she just has to share.)

Go back as far as you like and you'll find teachers who thought the next generation was doomed. Watch some old movies (to tie this back into the DHS topic) and you will see the same theme. All that changes is the style and the music that is destroying the youth of the era.

You can go back and read historical documents where people were convinced the next generation was going to be the end of civilization. It's the Golden Age Fallacy.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I remember riding it around Christmas time in 1994 and seeing the section of the costumes and some other stuff where people were actually working there and doing stuff...rode it in 2012 and everything is static and the props left outside look like poop! Soon Walt's airplane will rust to death.

I remember seeing that the one day it was all dark in there and the place was a ghost town. I remember seeing them working on one or the house fronts on that little neighborhood and I'm pretty sure they were doing something with the George of the jungle set when they had that. They weren't shooting footage or anything, just working on it.

 

[cw1982]

Being a teacher has always been a rough gig. My mom teaches kindergarten. We have other educators in the family one of which will never stop telling her horror stories no matter how much we beg her. (Seriously, any topic you can think of reminds her of this great story about her school that she just has to share.)

Go back as far as you like and you'll find teachers who thought the next generation was doomed. Watch some old movies (to tie this back into the DHS topic) and you will see the same theme. All that changes is the style and the music that is destroying the youth of the era.

You can go back and read historical documents where people were convinced the next generation was going to be the end of civilization. It's the Golden Age Fallacy.

I know all of that. But I challenge you to spend one week in a high school classroom full of average students (ie, not all gifted and honors classes, and not all special education classes, just statistically normally-functioning teens) and see if you don't come out with a different view of this. It's different when you work with teens all day every day... it's even different from teaching kindergarten, where the majority of the students care what their teachers think of them and genuinely want to perform well to please those who are encouraging them. By the time they get to 9th grade, they take on a whole new persona.

Just take a look at how few graduation rates are improving, yet how many more entry level positions require some level of college, compared with previous generations, when getting a GED was perfectly acceptable in many fields. Graduation rates aren't improving fast enough for these kids to make it in the same way that those who came before them made it, but because of their own apathy and sense of self entitlement, they don't understand how crucial it is that they push themselves to succeed in school.

 

[flynnibus]

There is a problem here. Catastrophe Canyon opened in 1989, Earthquake opened in 1990.

You forget USF wasn't the first place for the tour... Earthquake opened in Hollywood in Fall of 88...

 

[lebeau]

I know all of that. But I challenge you to spend one week in a high school classroom full of average students (ie, not all gifted and honors classes, and not all special education classes, just statistically normally-functioning teens) and see if you don't come out with a different view of this. It's different when you work with teens all day every day... it's even different from teaching kindergarten, where the majority of the students care what their teachers think of them and genuinely want to perform well to please those who are encouraging them. By the time they get to 9th grade, they take on a whole new persona.

Just take a look at how few graduation rates are improving, yet how many more entry level positions require some level of college, compared with previous generations, when getting a GED was perfectly acceptable in many fields. Graduation rates aren't improving fast enough for these kids to make it in the same way that those who came before them made it, but because of their own apathy and sense of self entitlement, they don't understand how crucial it is that they push themselves to succeed in school.

I do not accept your challenge. No way am I subjecting myself to that.

I have now doubt it changes your POV. There's a reason I didn't go into education. Several actually.

Mad respect for those that do it.

Having said that, I remember teachers being equally convinced Gen X would take the country to hell in a handbasket. And you know teachers thought the same thing about the Boomers. One day a generation may actually fail. But every generation will be absolutely convinced that the next generation is screwing up. You can count on that. I'll believe it when it happens.

 

[cw1982]

Having said that, I remember teachers being equally convinced Gen X would take the country to hell in a handbasket. And you know teachers thought the same thing about the Boomers. One day a generation may actually fail. But every generation will be absolutely convinced that the next generation is screwing up. You can count on that. I'll believe it when it happens.

That's all very true... and there's nothing wrong with adding into that mix the fact that there are still a lot of bright youngsters who do go on to bigger and better things after high school and do very well. I keep in touch with students who choose to hunt me down after graduation, and many of my first round of students are now in nursing school, finishing up their first degrees, or are gainfully employed and happy. Heck, several of them are probably better off financially than I am for one reason or another.

But the thing of it is, the research is showing that there are fewer and fewer jobs out there that will accept applicants with a high school diploma as their highest education, much less a GED, and yet very few states are improving their graduation rates. The school I just left had an alarming 60% graduation rate. Unfortunately, though, that school isn't but a few points off from being "normal" for urban, inner-city schools in the south. Maybe the outlook is better in other regions of the country, but down here, things are rough, and I don't see them getting better anytime soon, despite changes in standards and in the ways teachers are evaluated (which IMO are doing more harm than good in many cases, but that's another debate entirely).

I wish I could look at the comments being made about today's youngsters and simply dismiss them as the same type of judgment that every generation has used against the one that follows... but the math in this case is much more alarming than the simple "kids these days" with an eyeroll. People really need to be doing everything they can to teach their children to love to learn while they're younger, so that more kids don't continue to have the same problems that I'm seeing in the ones who are leaving high school classrooms.

 

[AndyS2992]

You forget USF wasn't the first place for the tour... Earthquake opened in Hollywood in Fall of 88...

Yeah I looked it up and posted a follow up a page or two back. Two sites say that Earthquake opened in Spring 1989 at USH whereas CC opened in May 1989. @Bairstow also gave a good reason as to the similarities with the parks.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

I do not accept your challenge. No way am I subjecting myself to that.

I have now doubt it changes your POV. There's a reason I didn't go into education. Several actually.

Mad respect for those that do it.

Having said that, I remember teachers being equally convinced Gen X would take the country to hell in a handbasket. And you know teachers thought the same thing about the Boomers. One day a generation may actually fail. But every generation will be absolutely convinced that the next generation is screwing up. You can count on that. I'll believe it when it happens.

Sadly, I'm a member of this generation... I can completely agree with @cw1982.
I'm only 23, but I look at kids younger than me and they're completely different than me as a child. They are much more "adult" than I was. They are too involved in what my parents always called "grown folks business." They drop curse words like they get paid for it. I see kids cursing in general convo with their parents. Pssh, I may be 23 and live on my own but my parents would still drop kick me in the throat if I cursed in front of them.
On my most recent trip to Disney, a girl no older than 2 kept yelling on the bus "god damn it" and her young parents thought it was hilarious.
They spend more time on social media than in books. We live in a "just google it society."
Some of my peers can't do basic math.
I wish I had your outlook on the future. I know all members of my generation aren't that way but I see it all too often.

 

[The Crafty Veteran]

When will we see the ToT is closing thread? It seems everything at DHS is rumored to be closing.

 

[cw1982]

When will we see the ToT is closing thread? It seems everything at DHS is rumored to be closing.

It better not be closing! ToT, RnRC, TSMM, and Star Tours are really the biggest draws that HS has.

ETA: I do think (hope) that RnRC and ToT would be safe, since they're at least on the other side of the park from where all of the SWL stuff is eventually supposed to go if the rumors are accurate. I know that's a big "if," but it's all we've got right now.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

When will we see the ToT is closing thread? It seems everything at DHS is rumored to be closing.

I think we should start a DHS is closing thread.. It will become Discovery Island #2

 

[5thGenTexan]

Sadly, I'm a member of this generation... I can completely agree with @cw1982.
I'm only 23, but I look at kids younger than me and they're completely different than me as a child. They are much more "adult" than I was. They are too involved in what my parents always called "grown folks business." They drop curse words like they get paid for it. I see kids cursing in general convo with their parents. Pssh, I may be 23 and live on my own but my parents would still drop kick me in the throat if I cursed in front of them.
On my most recent trip to Disney, a girl no older than 2 kept yelling on the bus "god damn it" and her young parents thought it was hilarious.
They spend more time on social media than in books. We live in a "just google it society."
Some of my peers can't do basic math.
I wish I had your outlook on the future. I know all members of my generation aren't that way but I see it all too often.

I will be 40 this year and I don't use certain words in front of my parents. They might still pop me upside the head.

 

[Mr Anderson]

Well given the thread turned into a general DHS moan thread from the first response I think your GMR comment is valid. The whole park really needs a kick up the backside to become great again.

-Backlot Tour needs a major overhaul or removed and turned into the full Carsland/Pixar Expansion
-GMR needs a complete update
-Little Mermaid needs replacing with a new show since the MK ride makes it redundant.
-Beauty and the Beast Live needs replacing with a Frozen or Tangled show since the MK experience also makes it redundant.
-Indiana Jones needs removing and replaced with the Disneyland dark ride or removed for Star Wars land
-Muppets is old and needs a new Muppets film.
-Sounds Dangerous need something new in there
-Rock N Rollercoaster is fine
-Tower of Terror needs some refurbing but is fine
-Star Tours is fine
-Toy Story Mania is fine, just needs more props inside
-One Man's Dream is fine
-Fantasmic could do with an update but is fine.

I think that is all lol

Hey, I mostly agree with you here. A couple of things:
-BLT: While I am one of the apparent few who like this ride... it takes up WAY too much space. Get it out of here and make way for CarsLand/StarWars Land/whatever
-GMR: Yup. I think a lot of it could stay (the major classics for example) but add in some newer classics.
-Little Mermaid: Couldn't agree more. This takes up quite a bit of space, too, if I am not mistaken.
-BATB Live: My wife would be sad, as she loves BATB, but it is the same show that's been here for ages... kinda worn out. I personally think the music of Tangled would be better suited for a stage show, but we all know Disney is in it for the $$$, so of course they'd choose Frozen.
-Indy: As I've said on another post, I would love to see the DL ride come here.
-Muppets: As much as I like the Muppets show... do we really need it? If it's in the way of StarWars land... I say give it the axe.
-Sounds Dangerous: So much unused space...
-Idol: ...and with this snore of an "attraction" gone, even more space to use just opened up.
-RNRC: YUP!
-ToT: My personal favorite in all of DHS... certainly needs some refurb and touch-ups.
-Star Tours: YUP!
-Toy Story Mania: As long as it doesn't get in the way of precious line space...
-One Man's Dream: I still need to see this...
-Fantasmic: Yeah, I hope they can bring some more shine to this.
-Lights, Motors, Action: Don't forget this one... I feel this one is ready to get retired and make way for the StarWars or CarsLand expansion, whatever they're bringing. Agree/disagree?

 

[lebeau]

Sadly, I'm a member of this generation... I can completely agree with @cw1982.
I'm only 23, but I look at kids younger than me and they're completely different than me as a child. They are much more "adult" than I was. They are too involved in what my parents always called "grown folks business." They drop curse words like they get paid for it. I see kids cursing in general convo with their parents. Pssh, I may be 23 and live on my own but my parents would still drop kick me in the throat if I cursed in front of them.
On my most recent trip to Disney, a girl no older than 2 kept yelling on the bus "god damn it" and her young parents thought it was hilarious.
They spend more time on social media than in books. We live in a "just google it society."
Some of my peers can't do basic math.
I wish I had your outlook on the future. I know all members of my generation aren't that way but I see it all too often.

 

[Disnee4Me]

The original Backlot Tour was cool, but once it was downsized, it wasn't that cool anymore!!

 

[flynnibus]

The funny part of that video is... the dumbasses with their punchline don't realize that's exactly what's wrong with their generation. They look to what they were handed... vs what they DID with the given situation.

So 'ha ha.. passive agressive lets blame the last two decades leaders' - and still fail to understand it's what you do and add.. not what you started with. Maybe they should have taken a few more history classes instead of digital media classes.

 

[lebeau]

The funny part of that video is... the dumbasses with their punchline don't realize that's exactly what's wrong with their generation. They look to what they were handed... vs what they DID with the given situation.

So 'ha ha.. passive agressive lets blame the last two decades leaders' - and still fail to understand it's what you do and add.. not what you started with. Maybe they should have taken a few more history classes instead of digital media classes.

Ye-ouch!

 

[alissafalco]

We did in April too! I was wondering if the auto spiel was malfunctioning.

Thank you!! I know I wasn't imagining things!! Lol