EPCOT Entertainment cuts

[asianway]

And yet I was on Kilimanjaro Safari one day with driver who was a wonderful comedian. It must have been his last day as a CM because WDW would never tolerate his patter. It was the best safari I have ever experienced. His jokes were rapid fire and always relevant to scenes or sounds on the "radio". He tore Warden Wilson Matua into little pieces.

At the start of the safari he would tell guests, "Get your cameras ready because you're going to have many opportunities to take photos of the rear ends of animals". When Warden Matua asked for help in catching the poachers, this driver responded, "Are you crazy? Those guys have high powered rifles and could kill us! We'll let that safari wagon full of fools behind us help you Wilson." He was great!

@71jason any idea who that could be?

 

[MarkTwain]

And yet I was on Kilimanjaro Safari one day with driver who was a wonderful comedian. It must have been his last day as a CM because WDW would never tolerate his patter. It was the best safari I have ever experienced. His jokes were rapid fire and always relevant to scenes or sounds on the "radio". He tore Warden Wilson Matua into little pieces.

At the start of the safari he would tell guests, "Get your cameras ready because you're going to have many opportunities to take photos of the rear ends of animals". When Warden Matua asked for help in catching the poachers, this driver responded, "Are you crazy? Those guys have high powered rifles and could kill us! We'll let that safari wagon full of fools behind us help you Wilson." He was great!

I love CMs like that. In fairness, for the most part you have to be fairly good-natured to work at WDW in the first place, so you get a lot of good CMs just from luck of the draw (and working the same vehicle 15 times a day 5 days a week for months/years on end can encourage you to look for ways to make things more interesting...). CMs certainly take on a risk when they go off-script though, which is why you'll more likely hear more of the improv late at night when the higher-up managers are less likely to be there.

 

[Phil12]

I love CMs like that. In fairness, for the most part you have to be fairly good-natured to work at WDW in the first place, so you get a lot of good CMs just from luck of the draw (and working the same vehicle 15 times a day 5 days a week for months/years on end can encourage you to look for ways to make things more interesting...). CMs certainly take on a risk when they go off-script though, which is why you'll more likely hear more of the improv late at night when the higher-up managers are less likely to be there.

I agree. This took place on a weekday morning which surprised me even more. Also, he was not some amateur trying out new material. All the jokes were timed perfectly. He was effortless in his delivery as if he had done this his entire life and he was fully convincing. As I said, it seemed to me as if this was the CM's last day and he wanted to go out with a bang.

On the other hand I suppose it could have been an authorized experiment. I think we all know that back in the old days the original Jungle Cruise was taken very seriously and the boat pilots played the roles in the fashion of the Disney True Life Adventures. With time the pilot role changed to emphasize corny jokes. Perhaps WDW realizes that KS might benefit from humor and they are trying out some new scripts written by professional comedians?

 

[71jason]

@71jason any idea who that could be?

Oh, I feel fairly certain I know exactly who that is.

If @Master Gracey is still around, perhaps he'll confirm?

 

[71jason]

On the other hand I suppose it could have been an authorized experiment.

Seriously doubt it. Again, fairly good idea who this is.

 

[71jason]

They're attractions these days. No audition required..... And some bad skippers.

Number of bad skippers pales in comparison to number of bad gangsters; haven't had a decent one in years.

 

[doctornick]

Number of bad skippers pales in comparison to number of bad gangsters; haven't had a decent one in years.

Agreed. The skippers on JC are generally fine IMHO (some are better than others though). But the actors in GMR have ranged from terrible to mediocre at best in recent memory IMHO. Those should be an Equity position since there's actual acting involved.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Number of bad skippers pales in comparison to number of bad gangsters; haven't had a decent one in years.

Agreed. The skippers on JC are generally fine IMHO (some are better than others though). But the actors in GMR have ranged from terrible to mediocre at best in recent memory IMHO. Those should be an Equity position since there's actual acting involved.

The Jungle Cruise was become so hokey in its entire experience that it doesn't need as much skill because there is almost no attempt to convince riders that the experience is anything but fake. This is not the case with The Great Movie Ride where we're supposed to believe that the films have come alive. It also doesn't help that the narrative is inconsistent with the coming to life story and that the ride vehicles are not able to match the tone of the moment.

 

[DisUniversal]

The Jungle Cruise was become so hokey in its entire experience that it doesn't need as much skill because there is almost no attempt to convince riders that the experience is anything but fake. This is not the case with The Great Movie Ride where we're supposed to believe that the films have come alive. It also doesn't help that the narrative is inconsistent with the coming to life story and that the ride vehicles are not able to match the tone of the moment.

Pretty hard to make movies come alive when nobody can relate to them...with the exception of the lucky few who are fortunate enough to have brought along a grandparent who can explain to them what they just saw.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Pretty hard to make movies come alive when nobody can relate to them...with the exception of the lucky few who are fortunate enough to have brought along a grandparent who can explain to them what they just saw.

By this thinking live theater never works for original stories.

 

[CDavid]

Pretty hard to make movies come alive when nobody can relate to them...with the exception of the lucky few who are fortunate enough to have brought along a grandparent who can explain to them what they just saw.

So, you're saying the majority of guests on The Great Movie Ride aren't familiar with the Indiana Jones films, never saw The Wizard of Oz, have never heard of John Wayne or Tarzan, and have no exposure to the horror or 'gangster' genres? Really?

Obviously, this also means those who haven't seen Song of the South can't appreciate Splash Mountain...

 

[DisUniversal]

So, you're saying the majority of guests on The Great Movie Ride aren't familiar with the Indiana Jones films, never saw The Wizard of Oz, have never heard of John Wayne or Tarzan, and have no exposure to the horror or 'gangster' genres? Really?

Obviously, this also means those who haven't seen Song of the South can't appreciate Splash Mountain...

Wizard of Oz....yes, Indiana Jones and Alien, probably. Everything else...unlikely. How many under 20 (or even 30) know who Johnny Weissmuller is? Gene Kelly? James Cagney? I don't know many who would even know or care who John Wayne is. How many people would agree that the best horror movies were made in the 30's and 40's?

Splash is a thrill ride that stands on it's own and doesn't make corny half-assed attempts to reference or pay tribute to the movie it's based on...a movie that very few have seen.

GMR is based on a trip though the "greatest" movies and spends much if it's time referencing one outdated movie after another.

 

[Dwarful]

Well, my girls are 14 & just turned 18. I promise you they know who John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly, James Stewart and others are. My oldest took a summer course for fun called "The History of Motion Pictures" and just about every movie discussed in that class was in TGMR or in the final scene.

We regularly have family movie night and take turns picking out movies. After watching an rerun of Castle I said "wow! that's a lot like Rear Window"....that Saturday my oldest daughter went to the library and checked out Rear Window and Rebecca. So we had a Hitchcock double feature. Just because a movie is older doesn't mean the younger generation can't or won't appreciate it....they just have to be given the opportunity.

 

[John]

Wizard of Oz....yes, Indiana Jones and Alien, probably. Everything else...unlikely. How many under 20 (or even 30) know who Johnny Weissmuller is? Gene Kelly? James Cagney? I don't know many who would even know or care who John Wayne is. How many people would agree that the best horror movies were made in the 30's and 40's?

Splash is a thrill ride that stands on it's own and doesn't make corny half-assed attempts to reference or pay tribute to the movie it's based on...a movie that very few have seen.

GMR is based on a trip though the "greatest" movies and spends much if it's time referencing one outdated movie after another.

You know what...I don't care if this gets me banned or not.....but you my friend are just ignorant and disrespectful. First you are not the only ones in the park. Second the entire park is themed "Hollywood" and this ride is about movies made in Hollywood. How many guest have not seen Peter Pan? Dumbo? I havnt seen a Winnie the pooh movie in decades. How many people really have watched an episode of the Twilight Zone.
Yes it is the same thing....just doesn't fit your narrative.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Number of bad skippers pales in comparison to number of bad gangsters; haven't had a decent one in years.

Agreed. The performers in GMR have been substantially worse than Jungle Cruise Skippers. It also doesn't help that the script in GMR is very painful.

 

[CDavid]

Wizard of Oz....yes, Indiana Jones and Alien, probably. Everything else...unlikely. How many under 20 (or even 30) know who Johnny Weissmuller is? Gene Kelly? James Cagney?

Before or after they've ridden The Great Movie Ride (GMR)? There is enough of the familiar in the attraction to which people can relate, while introducing guests to a rich world of classic films and actors that they've not previously experienced. Personally, I'd never seen The Searchers until witnessing the clip in the GMR pre-show, but it was certainly worthy my time.

Truly classic movies are never outdated. They may look badly out of style and be dated chronologically, but they remain more than worthwhile. We probably should keep in mind that before it can possibly open (or maybe even break ground!), Star Wars Land will be based on a 40 year old movie (and Snow White approaches 80 years. Still relevant).

 

[DelGriffith]

Wizard of Oz....yes, Indiana Jones and Alien, probably. Everything else...unlikely. How many under 20 (or even 30) know who Johnny Weissmuller is? Gene Kelly? James Cagney? I don't know many who would even know or care who John Wayne is.

You claim to know some young people who don't know who John Wayne is therefore TGM is a bad ride?

How many people would agree that the best horror movies were made in the 30's and 40's?

Plenty of people...how many people with taste would argue that garbage like "Friday the 13th" or "Saw" are better than the classic Universal horror films?

GMR is based on a trip though the "greatest" movies and spends much if it's time referencing one outdated movie after another.

You say "outdated" like it's a bad thing. Disney-MGM studios was originally themed after the Golden Age of Hollywood, the 1930s and 40s. That era is called the golden age for a reason...Do you think it a good idea that Disney should pander to the tastes of the attention deficient teenagers and children Hollywood markets its endless superhero rehashes and live-action versions of 80s cartoons to today?

 

[DisUniversal]

Well, my girls are 14 & just turned 18. I promise you they know who John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly, James Stewart and others are. My oldest took a summer course for fun called "The History of Motion Pictures" and just about every movie discussed in that class was in TGMR or in the final scene.

We regularly have family movie night and take turns picking out movies. After watching an rerun of Castle I said "wow! that's a lot like Rear Window"....that Saturday my oldest daughter went to the library and checked out Rear Window and Rebecca. So we had a Hitchcock double feature. Just because a movie is older doesn't mean the younger generation can't or won't appreciate it....they just have to be given the opportunity.

The average person going to DHS probably hasn't taken a course in "The History of Motion Pictures". Given the limited number of attractions in the park, it should have wider appeal than to just those studying old motion pictures. Wouldn't have hurt them to update/refresh the attraction once or twice over the past 25 years.

 

[DisUniversal]

You know what...I don't care if this gets me banned or not.....but you my friend are just ignorant and disrespectful. First you are not the only ones in the park. Second the entire park is themed "Hollywood" and this ride is about movies made in Hollywood. How many guest have not seen Peter Pan? Dumbo? I havnt seen a Winnie the pooh movie in decades. How many people really have watched an episode of the Twilight Zone.
Yes it is the same thing....just doesn't fit your narrative.

Ironic that you call me ignorant and disrespectful and then follow it up with the remainder of your "intelligent" and "well thought out" post.

 

[DisUniversal]

You claim to know some young people who don't know who John Wayne is therefore TGM is a bad ride?

No....TGM is a bad ride because it's a bad ride. Period.

Plenty of people...how many people with taste would argue that garbage like "Friday the 13th" or "Saw" are better than the classic Universal horror films?

Nobody mentioned those films.

You say "outdated" like it's a bad thing. Disney-MGM studios was originally themed after the Golden Age of Hollywood, the 1930s and 40s. That era is called the golden age for a reason...Do you think it a good idea that Disney should pander to the tastes of the attention deficient teenagers and children Hollywood markets its endless superhero rehashes and live-action versions of 80s cartoons to today?

GMR was never about the films of the "golden age", in fact when it opened, it did a somewhat decent job of touching on all eras up until that time. What Disney-MGM was originally "themed" after, has nothing to do with an antiquated, outdated attraction that hasn't been updated in the 25 years since the park originally opened. It's a theme park, not a museum. Some of those "outdated" films may be among the greatest, but that's no excuse for neglecting an attraction and letting it become stale.