Backstage Tour

[krisrunsdisney]

Wow i remember when the tour started by the animation dept. and you stood in the long line watching goldie hawn and rick moranis talk about the tour on the tvs then got on the tram, saw the houses, dipmobile, ny street when it used to be closed off to people, the canyon and then you took the walking portion and actually saw some production. wheel of fortune, mm club, i think i remember some show similar to xena, from the earth to the moon was filmed there. Then the lottery ticket movie w/ bette midler and the giant bee bluescreen demo. Those were the days. So sad now

Anyone remember that US had one also that was really lame. They actually drove thru the streets of the park! you saw maybe 5 mins of actual stages and backlot. I think it lasted a year?

I soooo remember the Backlot Tour like that! I used to love it. Now I only bother with it if the kids want to go. Which, unfortunately, they always do. DH still loves it so I try to find something else to do. I remember the Golden Girls house, the Empty Nest (or something like that) house...There used to be an actual studio to look at. Maybe see a production in progress. I think the last I saw was From the Earth to the Moon (maybe?).

I went on the US "tour" forever ago. Over 8 years ago to be sure. It's been at least that long since I've been there. Maybe 11 years ago for that tour. I really had forgotten about it until you mentioned it. We went through the regular park streets. We happened to go by as some "stars" were out. Lucielle Ball, Marilyn Monroe, Chaplin...I think we did get to see the inside of some Nickelodeon show studio. Maybe the last of You Can't Do That on TV. What a lame ride. Though maybe an improvement on today's WDW Backlot Tour. :lookaroun

 

[hrcollectibles]

Wow i remember when the tour started by the animation dept. and you stood in the long line watching goldie hawn and rick moranis talk about the tour on the tvs then got on the tram, saw the houses, dipmobile, ny street when it used to be closed off to people, the canyon and then you took the walking portion and actually saw some production. wheel of fortune, mm club, i think i remember some show similar to xena, from the earth to the moon was filmed there. Then the lottery ticket movie w/ bette midler and the giant bee bluescreen demo. Those were the days. So sad now

Anyone remember that US had one also that was really lame. They actually drove thru the streets of the park! you saw maybe 5 mins of actual stages and backlot. I think it lasted a year?

I remember both tours

 

[DisneyCane]

Then the lottery ticket movie w/ bette midler

I'm pretty sure that part is from Earthquake at Universal.

 

[Captain Chaos]

There was no advisory posted on the Cast Portal.

Also, I have several close friends who still work at the backlot tour and they are all reporting to work tomorrow.

Why wouldn't they report for work tomorrow? The OP said 12/30... Not 12/7... :ROFLOL:

 

[Frank Stallone]

Cars attraction you say? thats horrible. im starting to doubt the disney imagineers and what they actually do. Im pretty sure most on the new rides have all coem from movies or been redome for movies. The pirates ride, Buzz lightyear, Stiches great escape, toy story mania, nemo, and now we can add cars to the list. The only one i actually like out of all those was the pirates ride but that was an e-ticket before the movie came out. All of the other hit rides like test track and spalsh Mt, Thunder Mt were all thought of from people dreaming ( im pretty sure) .

Yeah, Expedition Everest and Soarin were poorly dreamed

 

[Karolena]

I hope it doesn't close, although I wouldn't mind a little refurbishment. This is one of my favorite attractions.

Small story: My family has been on this so many times. And we still lie to my stepmom everytime about what side of the tram to sit on and she still believes us. She gets wet everytime. My dad and I love it.

 

[Missing20K]

Noob reply

well I've been reading posts for a little while now in preparation and anticipation of my girlfriend's and I trip to the "world" next month (hopefully, kind of a long story) and I haven't been there in about 8 years, though my family went every other year or so growing up. I have to say I'm disappointed to hear the backlot tour is no longer what it once was. I, too, remember Rick Moranis on the TV's beforehand and the other "production" attractions. One of the highlights of our trip in, oh it must be something around '92-'94, was that my brother and I got picked to be on the big fake bee!! We were so psyched....although I distinctly remember missing the next section of the tour to do it. But I loved that part of the ride, in fact, I think it was better than the canyon, as it showed actual production techniques as opposed to just another ride. To make a long reply short (too late I know) I am sad that it's not the same as it once was, but I'm sure I'll still ride it for nostalgia sake.

And I love reading everyone's post, it's getting me so pumped for our trip.

 

[dizniz6]

I don't see why everyone thinks Disney should just demolish the backlot tour. Why cant they just redo it, add props, scenes, etc., and make it entertaining again. This would definitely be cheaper and easier than creating and entirely new (probably pixar) attraction.

 

[marni1971]

I don't see why everyone thinks Disney should just demolish the backlot tour. Why cant they just redo it, add props, scenes, etc., and make it entertaining again. This would definitely be cheaper and easier than creating and entirely new (probably pixar) attraction.

Because most of the original tour has been ripped out for new attractions. The Tram Tour has given way to the MSCP of Animation (and it`s expansion), LMA test ground and stadium, and NYS went ages ago. The walking tour didn`t have anything to show in the stages anymore, and lost most of its infrastructure to TWDS and TSM. Sad, I know, especially for those who remember fondly the 2 hour original.

Welcome to the boards! :wave:

 

[tslrocks]

Maybe they could just gut out the preshow... and then make room for Pixar Place. Think about it "Pixar Place" wont have just 1 attraction! im sure it will have about 3 or 4 when its done. What MK land only has one ride? Im just saying.

 

[Fievel]

It's time for the backlot tour to go - it's a joke now...and the vast amount of space it still occupies could be put to much better use.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I'm pretty sure that part is from Earthquake at Universal.

"The Lottery" w/Bette Midler, was definitely part of MGM's backlot. I remember as a 10-year old back in 1990 finding that short movie incredibly hilarious. BTW, I just looked this up on IMDB...didn't know it was directed by Garry Marshall. Interesting.

After the bee from HISTK was gone, it was a bicycle from 101 Dalmatians (my brother was chosen for that one back in 1997). That aspect of the tour I found really cool, because it actually gave some insight into how movies were made.

Oh, and as another post mentioned, The Golden Girls' house - I miss that one especially!

Aah, the "good old days" of the backlot tour. I definitely agree that it would be better to have a new attraction in that space rather than the shell of an attraction it has become.

 

[Fade_to_Blah]

Where did the backlot tour go? Did they just decide to remove it or is it occupied by new attractions? I cant remember as I went In November...but the time before that was probably 8 years ago.