I think one problem with all of these differing views on the ride is that people experience rides differently, as I think one message earlier mentioned. I genuinely get a feeling from some people on here that they find dark, or slow moving rides boring, and see little to no value in them. I mentioned earlier Hollywood Studios does not have many options for the elderly or others with medical concerns. If they gutted GMR, what would make everyone on here happy? Would it be another thrill ride, and another one, and another one. I think it's odd how on all of these rumors, the only rumored projects that fanboys are dreaming of are fast moving thrill rides, when that already occupies a large space in the park. Lets make a pixar ride, but it's gonna be a roller coaster like Radiator Springs Racers or Monsters Inc. Maybe those aren't adult enough, so lets try Star Wars or Guardians, two properties that if you only made dark rides for them, the vast majority of posters on here dreaming for those thrill rides would be disappointed. Does Hollywood Studios really need more thrill rides right now?
As for the effect of the ride on those viewing it, I unquestionably agree with those that say it does have an impact. Whereas some might see the James Cagney AA as just a mannequin on a street corner, it's rather simplistic in how much you can get from that. There are only so many AAs in the "Great Movie Ride." If I was a kid, and saw he was one of the ones chosen, I rationally would think, "Oh, that's a great actor." Maybe I had never heard of him, or maybe I did, but his inclusion means something. He's in gangster alley, so though he did more then just gangster movies (Yankee Doodle Dandy) and was quite the vaudevillian, he is most closely aligned with the legendary gangster movies like Public Enemy (which they name), White Heat, and others. Some might see that as "worthless information", and others may view that as so elementary it's a joke, but it allows someone to be exposed to it, and maybe it makes a difference. "One little spark, of inspiration, is at the heart of all creation..." And maybe that spark, causes the creation of a hobby, or interest in exploring part of our culture that before they had never given a shot. Maybe they thought the history of Hollywood was something to not care about, but through the ride they found themselves interested, and wanting more. When that movie montage runs in the end, I often sit there, seeing how many I can identify, and if I've seen the movies or not. If nothing else it allows the guest to know, James Cagney was an actor of great significance.
The rooms, in terms of additions or subtractions could be debated and bickered about, though I think some upgrades would be in order no matter what in terms of the AAs and the HD screen. I think a problem for some at Hollywood studios is guests become so overwhelmed with ride lines they often overlook various trinkets of detail in the tributes to Hollywood throughout the park. What the heck is up with the dinosaur in the lake? That actually is a tribute to the architectural style called California Crazy, where buildings were designed to look like actual objects. As for the character, it predated Walt, as it was the first animated character to ever have a personality and reappear in shorts. Its name is Gertie and Walt himself cited the character as an inspiration to him. Across the lake from Gertie is a Boat that is also a restaurant. In the seating area are various crates with the addresses of various people stenciled across it including Charles Foster Kane, Rick Blaine, and Scarlett O'Hara. Most never even know they are there, and even worse some have no idea who those characters are, even though they should. People often assume the age they are growing up in, is the Golden Age of something, when in practically every field, it usually isn't. A big movie today is not necessarily the same thing as a big movie back then. On these boards we have discussed Avatar endlessly, and it is the biggest money making movie of all-time, though not the most popular. That honor actually goes to Gone with the Wind, when you figure inflation. The odd part though, most people TODAY, cannot name a character from Avatar. Scarlett O'Hara, Dorothy, James Bond, Darth Vader, Holly Golightly, The Duke, or Mary Poppins are institutions. There was a day in which Vanilla Ice was more popular then Johnny Cash, James Brown, and even Elvis Presley. But now, after everything has settled, the historic figures are still legends, and Vanilla Ice is an after thought.
As for this quote...
If they redid it, I wish it would be a celebration and ride-though of Disney's Animated Classics. What a great way to incorporate some lesser seen classics in the parks- 101 Dalmatians, Robin Hood, Fox and the Hound, Jungle Book, etc. It could also be a way to give Oswald some love, too. They could discuss Toy Story and computer animation and how it changed the art form. They could show Princess and the Frog and the "return to hand-drawn". Then even "Tangled" and how they used computer animation but made it look like water color. It could be very educational, show some history, have some current hits, etc. I think older fans would love to see some long forgotten classics and younger fans would love to see a Rapunzel AA. This way, for the many movies that deserve rides, they get some presence in the parks. I think it would be a great fit for the park and celebrate movies too. =)
I would 100% want this attraction, but not in place of GMR, but rather in addition to it. I would gladly take an attraction like this over either the Backlot or Lights Motor Action. Or, based on the content, I would even think of the areas near One Man's Dream or the Animation Courtyard. All of those would be wonderful spots to explore a ride with this content. You would once again run into the update problems of any type of ride like this, but as a way to represent some peoples favorites that may not be present elsewhere. I think that might have potential. The bigger or easier themed movies could be elsewhere, but the ones often forgotten about do deserve some respect. Many don't realize the American Adventure and the Hall of Presidents in many ways are meant to be seen together (even though they aren't in the smae parks), as in the American Adventure, there is no AA for Lincoln (which without explanation, is a gross oversight), but he gets center stage in the Hall of Presidents. It wouldn't have to be declared as such, but it could be a family friendly ride that did pay tribute to some of Disney's less represented classics. I think it should avoid those seen elsewhere though, as I wouldn't have Alice, Dumbo, Pooh, Snow White, Cinderella, or others, unless it was massively different then the rides. It always bugs me how American Adventure pavilion in Epcot and Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom's architecture are so similar when America has had many different environments to explore.
As for the dark rides though, they are very important, as though Great Movie Ride rarely has a super long line, it is capable of housing a ton of people, and those people are not in line for Toy Story, Tower of Terror or Rockn'Roller Coaster. Something to take into account is we all love Disney World, and visit it routinely, if not multiple times. Some people literally only visit once. Their opinions on GMR usually are not that negative. When experiencing it, or anything else 10-35 times is going to change some things. That doesn't necessarily make it bad. In all truth, I enjoy GMR far more then Carousel of Progress, though I respect it, and am glad they have chosen to keep it. It should be noted, those AAs are some of the most advanced, and I still enjoy GMR more. Not every ride has to be 3 minutes of 60mph speed, or dropping 13 stories. Obviously we should have thrill rides, but Hollywood Studios greatest negatives are not their thrill rides. They have at least 2 of the top 5 thrill rides in WDW, with one arguably still the top thrill ride in the country. There needs to be a balance, and right now,I'm not seeing the balance in Hollywood Studios, but getting rid of GMR would just make the matter worse then better.
The sad fact is, it wouldn't be that far fetched just based on the new low that is Frozen in Norway.
