News Disney Not Renewing Great Movie Ride Sponsorship Deal with TCM ; Attraction to Close

FigmentForver96

FigmentForver96

Well-Known Member
And like so many before it, The Great Movie Ride braces for closing as another true Disney classic turns into a memory.

It's sad to see something so iconic, so orchestrated, so genuine, be gutted. No doubt, it's replacement will be a true experience but it will never be the kind of experience Great Movie Ride was. To me, the ride was almost as moving and powerful as the original EPCOT Center attractions. A clear message. It showed us how Hollywood has not only been shaped by us, but how it shapes us. From the music, to famous one liners, to dance numbers, Hollywood has an impact on us all. In its early days it represented optimism and, like many American dreams, it grew with only the belief that it could get better. Nothing like the Great Movie Ride has been done before and nothing like it will be done again I imagine. The opening left you excited, the gunfights made you thrilled, the aliens made you scared and the music made you feel. For me Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind always got me! No matter what people say, The Great Movie Ride has it's earned its place in history as a Disney classic, and after almost 30 years of being quiet on the set, it's time to say goodbye.
 
Rodan75

Rodan75

Well-Known Member
FigmentForver96 said:
And like so many before it, The Great Movie Ride braces for closing as another true Disney classic turns into a memory.

It's sad to see something so iconic, so orchestrated, so genuine, be gutted. No doubt, it's replacement will be a true experience but it will never be the kind of experience Great Movie Ride was. To me, the ride was almost as moving and powerful as the original EPCOT Center attractions. A clear message. It showed us how Hollywood has not only been shaped by us, but how it shapes us. From the music, to famous one liners, to dance numbers, Hollywood has an impact on us all. In its early days it represented optimism and, like many American dreams, it grew with only the belief that it could get better. Nothing like the Great Movie Ride has been done before and nothing like it will be done again I imagine. The opening left you excited, the gunfights made you thrilled, the aliens made you scared and the music made you feel. For me Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind always got me! No matter what people say, The Great Movie Ride has it's earned its place in history as a Disney classic, and after almost 30 years of being quiet on the set, it's time to say goodbye.
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If only the attraction was currently as good as your description.

But I will miss GMR tremendously.
 
EricsBiscuit

EricsBiscuit

Well-Known Member
FigmentForver96 said:
And like so many before it, The Great Movie Ride braces for closing as another true Disney classic turns into a memory.

It's sad to see something so iconic, so orchestrated, so genuine, be gutted. No doubt, it's replacement will be a true experience but it will never be the kind of experience Great Movie Ride was. To me, the ride was almost as moving and powerful as the original EPCOT Center attractions. A clear message. It showed us how Hollywood has not only been shaped by us, but how it shapes us. From the music, to famous one liners, to dance numbers, Hollywood has an impact on us all. In its early days it represented optimism and, like many American dreams, it grew with only the belief that it could get better. Nothing like the Great Movie Ride has been done before and nothing like it will be done again I imagine. The opening left you excited, the gunfights made you thrilled, the aliens made you scared and the music made you feel. For me Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind always got me! No matter what people say, The Great Movie Ride has it's earned its place in history as a Disney classic, and after almost 30 years of being quiet on the set, it's time to say goodbye.
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You should write obituaries!
 
Otterhead

Otterhead

Well-Known Member
Giants14 said:
Is it outdated? perhaps
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I've never understood the idea that the GMR is "outdated". Its big glaring problem has always been the broken Footlight Parade section, but besides that, it still uses several of the best AAs in the parks and after its rehab looks and sounds terrific. It's always been a tribute to classic Hollywood films, so if it's "outdated" now, then it was "outdated" when it opened. If anything, it's as good now as it was then.
 
Rodan75

Rodan75

Well-Known Member
Otterhead said:
I've never understood the idea that the GMR is "outdated". Its big glaring problem has always been the broken Footlight Parade section, but besides that, it still uses several of the best AAs in the parks and after its rehab looks and sounds terrific. It's always been a tribute to classic Hollywood films, so if it's "outdated" now, then it was "outdated" when it opened. If anything, it's as good now as it was then.
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I don't think it is outdated, I think the TCM narration negatively impacted the flow of the ride significantly. And the figures need some updating.
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
FigmentForver96 said:
And like so many before it, The Great Movie Ride braces for closing as another true Disney classic turns into a memory.

It's sad to see something so iconic, so orchestrated, so genuine, be gutted. No doubt, it's replacement will be a true experience but it will never be the kind of experience Great Movie Ride was. To me, the ride was almost as moving and powerful as the original EPCOT Center attractions. A clear message. It showed us how Hollywood has not only been shaped by us, but how it shapes us. From the music, to famous one liners, to dance numbers, Hollywood has an impact on us all. In its early days it represented optimism and, like many American dreams, it grew with only the belief that it could get better. Nothing like the Great Movie Ride has been done before and nothing like it will be done again I imagine. The opening left you excited, the gunfights made you thrilled, the aliens made you scared and the music made you feel. For me Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind always got me! No matter what people say, The Great Movie Ride has it's earned its place in history as a Disney classic, and after almost 30 years of being quiet on the set, it's time to say goodbye.
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What makes this all so strange is the man who oversaw the design and development of the Disney-MGM Studios now runs Walt Disney Imagineering.
 
flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
Otterhead said:
I've never understood the idea that the GMR is "outdated". Its big glaring problem has always been the broken Footlight Parade section, but besides that, it still uses several of the best AAs in the parks and after its rehab looks and sounds terrific. It's always been a tribute to classic Hollywood films, so if it's "outdated" now, then it was "outdated" when it opened. If anything, it's as good now as it was then.
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Because like many topics... the audience that appreciated it aged out and died. Or in the case of Disney... aged out of being their prime visitor demographic.

IMO the advanced CGI that we have today really makes people lack the appreciation for what was done before.

Let's face it.. how many people <30 today have any affinity for 'The Golden Age of Hollywood'? Besides recognizing the names, how many even have an idea what the big names were famous for anymore?

The continuous output that is hollywood, combined with the incredible speed of technology makes modern audience less interested/aware of the product from generations before IMO.
 
Haymarket2008

Haymarket2008

Well-Known Member
FigmentForver96 said:
And like so many before it, The Great Movie Ride braces for closing as another true Disney classic turns into a memory.

It's sad to see something so iconic, so orchestrated, so genuine, be gutted. No doubt, it's replacement will be a true experience but it will never be the kind of experience Great Movie Ride was. To me, the ride was almost as moving and powerful as the original EPCOT Center attractions. A clear message. It showed us how Hollywood has not only been shaped by us, but how it shapes us. From the music, to famous one liners, to dance numbers, Hollywood has an impact on us all. In its early days it represented optimism and, like many American dreams, it grew with only the belief that it could get better. Nothing like the Great Movie Ride has been done before and nothing like it will be done again I imagine. The opening left you excited, the gunfights made you thrilled, the aliens made you scared and the music made you feel. For me Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind always got me! No matter what people say, The Great Movie Ride has it's earned its place in history as a Disney classic, and after almost 30 years of being quiet on the set, it's time to say goodbye.
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I am also enormously sad about its' closing. Riding it for the final time two weeks ago was bitter sweet. Although, despite me being an ultra purist (the thought of Guardians in Energy makes me want to curl up in a ball and cease to exist) the Mickey replacement strangely makes me cautiously optimistic. Something I have never felt regarding the closure of a classic attraction. That being said, my exposure to some of the films in GMR as a young one was so fantastic. And to echo what you said, Tara's Theme will never not give me a rush of chills in and out of the context of that final montage. The GMR, despite its' current flaws, was/is magical. Quintessential old school MGM. I hope they keep the Chinese Theatre lobby relatively intact. A small area that gives me great nostalgia.
 
Castle Cake Apologist

Castle Cake Apologist

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Because like many topics... the audience that appreciated it aged out and died. Or in the case of Disney... aged out of being their prime visitor demographic.

IMO the advanced CGI that we have today really makes people lack the appreciation for what was done before.

Let's face it.. how many people <30 today have any affinity for 'The Golden Age of Hollywood'? Besides recognizing the names, how many even have an idea what the big names were famous for anymore?

The continuous output that is hollywood, combined with the incredible speed of technology makes modern audience less interested/aware of the product from generations before IMO.
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This is the unfortunate truth in a lot of ways. I'm 30 and my boyfriend is 22 (I know, I know) and he's never seen probably 65% of the movies in the ride. He's never even heard of many of the classic Hollywood stars like Humphrey Bogart or Fred Astaire. He didn't know who Debbie Reynolds was when she died. Suffice to say, I have work to do.

Using him as an example of a target demographic, I can understand the decision. I absolutely hate that they're doing it and I personally think that it's an absolute shame, but a part of me understands.

Seeing that permit made my heart sink, though. It didn't feel real yet.
 
MaximumEd

MaximumEd

Well-Known Member
The GMR could without a doubt be brought up to speed, incorporating some of today's cgi soon to be classics, while keeping much of the golden age through 90's stuff. Update the AA, also. It's a lot like Horizons and Energy. Could be a classic like Pirates and HM. Mickey should be built, but stick it in Animation, like other folks mentioned. I still don't get the replace vs expand mentality, especially in HS, which will be mobbed come 2019.
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
flynnibus said:
Let's face it.. how many people <30 today have any affinity for 'The Golden Age of Hollywood'? Besides recognizing the names, how many even have an idea what the big names were famous for anymore?
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You'd save the Great Movie Ride for Randolph Scott!


brb1006 said:
If D23 confirms the Mickey ride happening later this weekend. This thread will explode!
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It already exploded like TNT in a lake. What'd be left is fish flapping on the shore.
 

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