Studio Backlot Tour Closing on September 27, 2014

[wdwfan4ver]

UGH is all I have to say. I wish I did Backlot on my last trip. I really did enjoy it and so did my kiddies. Hollywood Studios intention was all about the movies...if they keep taking all of the movies attractions/shows out, it won't be about the movies anymore which is so disappointing. We all know Great Movie Ride is next.

The Great Movie Ride isn't next on Disney's list to close at DHS and there isn't any information from insiders on this forum that points the Great Movie Ride being the next attraction closing. Right now, the remaining stuff from close to the Backlot Tour and LMA has a better chance of being closed next than the Great Movie Ride.

There is rumors about the Monsters Inc. meet and greet, the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, the Coke Bottle food stand, Studio Catering Company, and High Octane Refreshments closing for good from another Disney site that could happen later this year.

Drew81 on this site mentioned LMA doesn't have time in this world, and didn't mention the Great Movie Ride at all.

 

[DancerJonathan]

They need, to put a Villains land in the spot of the BLT.

 

[YodaMan]

Anyone have video from today? Still trying to find a pic of Anna and Elsa sculptures. Were they maybe for Maelstrom?

 

[Jakester]

Snagged this at 6:55pm, just a few minutes from the final tour group entering at 7:00pm.

 

[BrerJon]

Anyone have video from today? Still trying to find a pic of Anna and Elsa sculptures. Were they maybe for Maelstrom?

I didn't see any Anna and Elsa sculptures today but there were definitely some big chunks of ice in the shop, but pretty sure it was all for the Frozen store going into the old AFI exhibition.

 

[BrerJon]

^ This. Echo Lake is a drainage pond. It isn't going anywhere unless MAJOR infrastructure work (and many new ponds are created in the same approximate area).

Betcha there's a water planet in the new Star Wars movie. You could have one side of the lake being Tatooine market, but with high walls so you don't see the water, then the other the thing from the new movie, so the lake stays as a drainage feature, but is still Star Warsd.

 

[BrerJon]

As for my guess on announcements, I'm thinking they'll announce one major attraction this year for Pixar Place. But, they'll wait for D23 to announce the larger project (or really whenever it's strategically advantageous, but, I doubt it happens this year)

Disney doesn't like announcing major things at D23 though does it? They only announced Fantasyland because the plans leaked online. I'm pretty sure any news will be to major media outlets first from a press conference instead of to the loyal subjects, er I mean fans.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

Possible stupid question that may have already been answered-why close something that had a large crowd capacity unless you plan on starting demo the next day or without even giving any indication as to what is replacing it?

 

[BrerJon]

Possible stupid question that may have already been answered-why close something that had a large crowd capacity unless you plan on starting demo the next day or without even giving any indication as to what is replacing it?

Backlot Tour goes through the backlot, and it's probably there, rather than anything onstage, where construction or demolition will begin. They built whole DVC resorts without announcing anything first in the past, so it's not unheard of.

Also, although this weekend it has been capacity, normally Backlot Tour has very low numbers, so closing it isn't going to make a big difference to crowd dispersion.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Betcha there's a water planet in the new Star Wars movie. You could have one side of the lake being Tatooine market, but with high walls so you don't see the water, then the other the thing from the new movie, so the lake stays as a drainage feature, but is still Star Warsd.

Hell, could easily be turned into a Dagobah swamp.

 

[YodaMan]

I didn't see any Anna and Elsa sculptures today but there were definitely some big chunks of ice in the shop, but pretty sure it was all for the Frozen store going into the old AFI exhibition.

I saw the ice chunks last week, but what time did you ride today? I was on close to 5:30 or so and I saw two sculptures/busts of both Anna and Elsa. They were roughly the size of human heads and a solid white/tan color. They were in the second room right after costuming.

 

[BrerJon]

I saw the ice chunks last week, but what time did you ride today? I was on close to 5:30 or so and I saw two sculptures/busts of both Anna and Elsa. They were roughly the size of human heads and a solid white/tan color. They were in the second room right after costuming.

Ah I rode around 4.30 and was the opposite side of the tram so may have missed them. Either way, there is Frozen stuff in the works, we just don't know what it is for. I suspect it could also be for World of Disney.

I'm pretty sure anything connected with attractions or major projects would be done in Central Shops in MK rather than MGM.

 

[YodaMan]

Ah I rode around 4.30 and was the opposite side of the tram so may have missed them. Either way, there is Frozen stuff in the works, we just don't know what it is for. I suspect it could also be for World of Disney.

I'm pretty sure anything connected with attractions or major projects would be done in Central Shops in MK rather than MGM.

Finally found what I'm talking about in one of the videos from today (13:40 mark) . I agree that anything probably wouldn't be for an attraction/animatronic, but still curious what they're for.

Unrelated, but anyone else notice that the Oz and Muppets costumes got switched out for Saving Mr Banks costumes? I found it at least slightly odd that they'd change out those displays with less than one week left.

 

[BrerJon]

Hell, could easily be turned into a Dagobah swamp.

Ah, think you're on to something there.

 

[dgp602]

Possible stupid question that may have already been answered-why close something that had a large crowd capacity unless you plan on starting demo the next day or without even giving any indication as to what is replacing it?

I asked that same question several pages back on this thread and was told that the Disney fiscal year closes out Sept 30th, so budget wise they had to do it now. I don't agree. I think it was a dumb decision in light of the heavy holiday crowds coming up in a few weeks. You could easily have a budget that accounts for the finances needed to operate a ride for four months, then close it mid-January when the crowds slow down. Instead, we now have a large chunk of an already dying park closed and left to rot with no announced planned replacement.....

 

[dgp602]

Backlot Tour goes through the backlot, and it's probably there, rather than anything onstage, where construction or demolition will begin. They built whole DVC resorts without announcing anything first in the past, so it's not unheard of.

Also, although this weekend it has been capacity, normally Backlot Tour has very low numbers, so closing it isn't going to make a big difference to crowd dispersion.

Wait, you are saying that a whole DVC was constructed and built without any presale or announcement? Which one?

 

[BrerJon]

Closing too much at once is why I think this DHS redo will stretch over 7+ years.

Yup. If we've learned anything from Avatar and Dwarfs, it's that Disney likes to spread its costs over many, many, many years.

 

[BrerJon]

Wait, you are saying that a whole DVC was constructed and built without any presale or announcement? Which one?

Grand Floridian Villas and Bay Lake Tower were both well on the way to being fully constructed before they were announced, if my memory is correct.

 

[BrerJon]

Also… I really want to know what's going to happen to walt's airplane.

I don't know if you've been on it recently, but there's now (or was until today) a sickening spiel from the director of Disney's Planes saying that Walt's plane is getting into the spirit of his movie because there's a big Planes poster next to him.

At least they haven't painted eyes on it, like they have for every other plane on the backlot.

 

[BrerJon]

Yep! Add a few Googly Eyes and LMA's problems are solved.

They already did that, Lightning McQueen has a big role in the show.