Studio Backlot Tour to close for a near two month refurbishment in early 2014

[Kman101]

LOL at EpcotRobot thinking no one refers to it as a disaster. It is. You can like it all you want but it's mostly panned. There's a difference in tolerating and 'not minding' the attraction, and I assume the average visiting guest 'doesn't mind' the ride, but it is definitely not popular (personally, I ride out of nostalgia for Figment himself, as I'm sure many do).

There's a reason the ride has nearly always been empty. A busy day causing people to ride doesn't mean it's popular. I remember a few years ago in August being nearly the only one riding. The park wasn't at all slow.

 

[dreamfinder]

Guess you missed the TDO announcement that the Osborne Lights have been discontinued as of 2014

Can you provide the link to this announcement? I only recall seeing speculation with nothing official.

 

[phi2134]

He surfaces when summoned. Last did a month and a half or so ago.

Dont ask me why, but this made me think of...

"Bring out the gimp"

 

[dmleblanc1971]

take it out and put a new coaster lol just kidding... just kidding...

 

[Bairstow]

take it out and put a new coaster lol just kidding... just kidding...

Hey, I'd be all for it.

 

[lavalamp]

A major portion of the refurb will include replacing the roof over the queue/Pearl Harbor area.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Guess you missed the TDO announcement that the Osborne Lights have been discontinued as of 2014, And I missed the announcement that Jennings Osborne had passed.

That has not been announced.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

They might be inspecting the actual vehicles. Also, the beginning part with the Pearl Harbor recreation might be getting a tweak.

I wish there was some way to bypass that part. It's my least favorite.

 

[Kman101]

I'm sure there's a load of stuff that can be done. Vehicles, walkways/concrete, paint, roof, just general maintenance ....

I'm also sure it's to save a little bit of cost in terms of actually running it too. If they can even save that much by shutting it down for two months. I'm sure the budget for the refurb was long set. Doesn't it generally go down every year though?

 

[Goofyernmost]

Anybody want to put money on the possibility that the Backlot Tour will never reopen? It has absolutely no relevance anymore no matter how much paint they put on things. It's toast. It's done. If you get the chance to ride it before closure, do it. Just like 20K that went down for refab, never to return again. Sorry to be negative like this, but I've seen it before and this has all the markings of a wake.

 

[JenniferS]

Hmm.... If the refurb were longer it would be more convincing. 2 months doesn't really give much time to change much, just spruce everything up again. I wish it were longer so they could change the whole experience, kinda like they did with test track.

I think the TT upgrade/refurb was a great big meh!
Oooh look at all the pretty neon trees.

Not sure how long the BLT is going to be around, but as I stated before, I really hope they keep it going right up until the day before they start on its successor. There are enough empty unused buildings in DHS. Epcot & MK too, for that matter.

 

[Jwhee]

I wish there was some way to bypass that part. It's my least favorite.

There is, I've done it before. Go to the back row of the theater (Or what ever that thing is called in front of the FX demo) and just keep on walking once the show starts.

 

[Bairstow]

Anybody want to put money on the possibility that the Backlot Tour will never reopen? It has absolutely no relevance anymore no matter how much paint they put on things. It's toast. It's done. If you get the chance to ride it before closure, do it. Just like 20K that went down for refab, never to return again. Sorry to be negative like this, but I've seen it before and this has all the markings of a wake.

We can only hope so.

There are many interesting things Disney should build on that land.
Scratch that, there are many interesting things that Disney should have already built on that land.

 

[AswaySuller]

There are times when things are totalled.... When there is so much work to do to bring it back to how it was it is more economical to scrap it....

IMO the back lot tour is totalled. The real estate it sits in is more valuable than its content.

 

[doctornick]

IMO the back lot tour is totalled. The real estate it sits in is more valuable than its content.

Except there is a real lack of attractions at DHS, something that will certainly worsen if IJ and AIE close in the near future for the rumored Star Wars expansion.

 

[Bairstow]

IJ and AIE

Huh?

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Huh?

IJ stands for Indiana Jones.

AIE stands for American Idol Experience.

 

[Goofnut1980]

It is funny how long they have had a back-lot tour when there really isn't a back-lot... hahahaha

 

[Bairstow]

Well, they've got a couple trams and two outdoor special effects areas and nothing is going to be built for at least 4-5 years, so they've got to do something with it all.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

It is funny how long they have had a back-lot tour when there really isn't a back-lot... hahahaha

Yeah... it used to be a tour of a real backlot... now it's essentially an attraction showing you what backlot tours are like... sort of. But oh how wonderful it was when it WAS a backlot. Man I loved it.

Well, they've got a couple trams and two outdoor special effects areas and nothing is going to be built for at least 4-5 years, so they've got to do something with it all.

Agreed... curious to see what exactly. Not like they have much space to do more than what they do today with LMA taking up so much real estate (not just the theater but the lots where the cars are parked/worked on etc.).