Save the backlot tour!

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Residential street and LMA could of co-existed. There's enough room behind LMA and Castrophe Canyon for a new stunt show arena and still keeping residential street.

 

[imagineer boy]

Exactly. They just need to get a little creative, and add a lot more. Just because the Studios is no more, doesn't mean they can't have a great Backlot Tour. They just need to rethink its purpose a bit.

Starting with:
-Pick a different film to base the ride on (if you even want to keep doing that). Either:
a) A timeless classic (and no, Pearl Harbor isn't timeless, or a classic. No one liked it then, and no one likes it now)
b) Something new (*with the caveat that they are going to have to come to terms that they will have to change it every ~2 years) (lol yeah right).
-Get more recent, more recognizable props for recent films.
-If you can't show guests behind-the-scenes work on current film productions (because of the lack of a studio), then show guests behind-the-scenes work on some of the more interesting aspects of running the parks (costume maintenance, ride props, etc). Some of it might have to be moved (or at least partially, or unofficially, but there are plenty of interesting bits for them to pull from).

Well said! They could use this as an oppertunity to cash in on some of the more recent hits like POTC and Alice in Wonderland.

 

[marni1971]

Dosn`t matter. It isn`t coming back. The bones that are left are on borrowed time.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Well said! They could use this as an oppertunity to cash in on some of the more recent hits like POTC and Alice in Wonderland.

Ding
Ding
Ding

You would think they would use the Studios as more of an advertisement of their recent hits.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Dosn`t matter. It isn`t coming back. The bones that are left are on borrowed time.

All we need is FAITH and TRUST, and a little bit of Pixie Dust .

 

[marni1971]

All we need is FAITH and TRUST, and a little bit of Pixie Dust .

Not this time. Sadly.

 

[unkadug]

Grizzly, I have a question for you. In the current state of the Back Lot Tour what redeeming quality still exists? There is nothing to see in the scenic shop nor wardrobe. The boneyard is a junkyard of rusting metal. CC has seen better days; it wasn't built to be a permanent attraction.

Without park boundaries being redrawn and major expansion of DHS the Back Lot Tour is history.

 

[Krack]

They should give it to Marvel Studios. Let them build and design a "This is how we make Marvel super hero movies" attraction and fill it with the props from the movies they are making right now - Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Avengers. That's what I'd do if they eventually buy out Universal.

 

[Horizons1]

Why expand and save something that doesn't exist anymore?

Really, the only entertaining part of the tour is gazing upon the old relics of the World of Motion. Aside from that, it's got nothing.

 

[wolf359]

The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park is dead, and the current direction Hollywood Studios is going makes "attractions" like the Studio Backlot Tour seem dated, pointless, and very out of place.

I'd rather see the Backlot Tour shuttered completely because it is no longer entertaining, thrilling, or informative. Even it's current size it uses so much land it could be put to better use as an attraction that better suits the modern version of the park.

 

[Bravo 229]

Exactly. They just need to get a little creative, and add a lot more. Just because the Studios is no more, doesn't mean they can't have a great Backlot Tour. They just need to rethink its purpose a bit.

Starting with:
-Pick a different film to base the ride on (if you even want to keep doing that). Either:
a) A timeless classic (and no, Pearl Harbor isn't timeless, or a classic. No one liked it then, and no one likes it now)
b) Something new (*with the caveat that they are going to have to come to terms that they will have to change it every ~2 years) (lol yeah right).
-Get more recent, more recognizable props for recent films.
-If you can't show guests behind-the-scenes work on current film productions (because of the lack of a studio), then show guests behind-the-scenes work on some of the more interesting aspects of running the parks (costume maintenance, ride props, etc). Some of it might have to be moved (or at least partially, or unofficially, but there are plenty of interesting bits for them to pull from).

Excellent Idea! They could extend the current tour to about 60mins and make stops at the parade float housing, down the back roads and around the park to the Tower of Terror/RNRC area that they open up during the Champion 5k (there is an entire loop behind TOT and next to Fantasmic). A few interactive sets along the way, and maybe a preview of the Fantasmic set could make for an interesting tour. So many things they could do with what they already have!

 

[BrerFrog]

I am all for saving it by bringing it down. The attraction lost all of its charm right after Disney stopped production inside the park. Unless they bring it back, something that is not very likely to happen, the best solution is to put it out of its misery and use the big area that it occupies for the expansion of PP.

 

[MarkTwain]

Must agree with everyone who says the attraction is on its last leg, and needs to be put out of its misery while people still remember it fondly. With the production gone from the studios, the raison d'etre of the backlot tour is gone, so it's sort of just a placeholder until they find a more relevant way to use the land.

The one still really good quality about this attraction IMO is Catastrophe Canyon, and that's one part which could be creatively reused. Put an Incredibles E-ticket in Pixar Place, stretch the showbuilding over to the canyon, and have the Incredibles family trying to stop a super-villain from exploding the canyon (which, of course, he does). Or have a Marvel attraction with the same. It could be an awesome effect, and the attraction could be built on part of the backlot.

 

[wdwfanatic4yrs]

The backlot tour died for me when they tore down Residential Street.

Why have a backlot tour of a studio that doesn't even exist?

exactly.......that's about the time i lost interest in it. when it was in use i loved it but empty studios and an old boneyard doesn't do it for me anymore:sohappy:

 

[Thrill Seeker]

I love how no matter how many times Martin tells you "it's dead, let's move on", the discussion continues.

I did enjoy the backlot tour back in it's glory days, but sadly, those days are gone. I say close the attraction and reuse it's pre-show facilities and Catastrophe Canyon as parts of Radiator Springs Racers for the eventual Pixar Place expansion...

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

If they do close it down (here's hoping to they won't) i don't want to see a copy of Radiator Springs. I want something original THAT'S NOT PIXAR!

Backlot Tour is still interesting IMO. Wardrobe is nice, and the scenic shop is cool still. CC could use an update and it'll be back to it's original glory.
Or they could tear down LMA! That would make a lot of things easier.

 

[C&D]

I'll admit, it used to be better; but I still like it.

 

[unkadug]

If they do close it down (here's hoping to they won't) i don't want to see a copy of Radiator Springs. I want something original THAT'S NOT PIXAR!

Backlot Tour is still interesting IMO. Wardrobe is nice, and the scenic shop is cool still. CC could use an update and it'll be back to it's original glory.
Or they could tear down LMA! That would make a lot of things easier.

What difference does it make Disney owns Pixar...why shouldn't they take every advantage of it.

 

[devoy1701]

I agree with Marni and Unkadug. I loved the original backlot tour. Loved It!! But as it exists now, it makes no sense. I mean, catastrophe canyon comes out of nowhere, the facades of Residential Street are gone, the continuity of the special effects leading into the Backlot tour is over. It is really sad. I mean think about it, Disney has a big hit in Depserate Housewives, if residential street were still there, all of wisteria lane could be there, in addition to the facade of the Golden Girls (Still in syndication) as well as other ABC facades, etc. And, where the HISTK special effects were, there could be a POTC special effects section. I would love to see the Backlot tour returned to all its grandeur, but in its current state, why save it? It just sickens me, really. And, I am not a gear head and I HATE Lights, Motors, Action!!

Universal Studios Hollywood already has Wisteria Lane.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Universal Studios Hollywood already has Wisteria Lane.

Unfortunately .

Maybe if Disney invested in a newer one at DHS they would move.