The Backlot Tour re-opens today!

[dizneeboy]

I'm sure its because Disney didn't want to lose an attraction from the current MGM attractions list without anything new being added. With a working catastrophy canyon and some cool props from past movies, I don't see anything wrong with running it for those who have never visited the studios before. However, it would have been nice if they added to the walking part of the tour at least to give us regulars something new to look at. Something that could be updated or swapped out from time to time. Even though the Muppets purchase did not include the Jim Henson creature shop, it would be cool if they could bring that back. Its a shame the tour is really just a shell of what it used to be.

And as far as the DLP tour...I was pretty disappointed. I thought that a new park, with very few things to do, would have beefed it up a little, but it was pretty sad. In fact, they had pretaped spiels by Actors (Jeremy Iron and someone else) that weren't even synched up to what we were looking at. I was really looking forward to the Reign of Fire portion, but it was a big disappointment too : (

On a side note, DLP was so empty when we went that we did both parks in one day and rode several rides multiple times...Although I'm sad that its not doing all that great, it was like having the parks to ourselves...what a blast :sohappy:

 

[Snapper Bean]

Pretty soon I think they might just start calling the parking lot tram the Backlot Tram Tour. I think they had a backlot tram tour at Universal and then just bagged it because it doesn't work well at a ride based park. I would be happy to see the Tram Tour since right now it takes up alot of usable park real estate. Somebody with a creative mind needs to think of a way to work Catastrophe Canyon into a free standing themed ride or part of something else.

Snapper Bean

 

[luvJC4saken]

I think it's whatever floats your boat. I, personally, am a huge movie buff, so I get a real kick out of seeing all those cool props.

The problem is Disney's live action department hasn't always been up to par w/ Universal's (just like Universal's animation department will NEVER come close to Disney's--just because Universal doesn't invest in animation as far as I know), so the movies featured at MGM just aren't as memorable as the one's featured at Universal Hollywood. Fun things I remember from UH are the courthouse from Back to the Future, and the inn from Psycho. Way cool stuff!

I'll probably take my friends on the Backlot Tour when we visit WDW this May. They may like it, they may not, but it'll be good times no matter what.

 

[imagineersrock]

To whoever said that the BLT is probably on it's way out... I doubt that.

Though the ride is nothing compared to what it used to be, I think it's still a pretty decent attraction for first-timers, and I personally still enjoy it. It's always been a popular attraction to the disney exec's running the park, they like it, and have always fought to keep it in the park, mostly because it has a great ride capacity I assume.

anyway, the ride is currently improving as we speak: it just got that new turn put in infront of the new stuntshow entrance which I find a neat addition [and I think the fact that they built this new entrance area with the tram tour obviously in mind, that it won't be going anywhere anytime soon.]

also, once the new stunt show is done, we're apparently going to be able to ride around and even through the new stunt show arena. this will be another neat new addition. Give it some time. -will the BLT ever be like it was before? No. -but will it one day in the near future be an enjoyable and worth-while ride again? I think it will. just give it some time.:animwink:

 

[Jusjuice]

I don't understand why they just don't update it. How hard could it be to add a few movie sets, even if they were just built for the tram tour and not actually used in a movie?? Wouldn't it be cool to pass the black pearl and see a pile of treasure from Pirates of the Carribbean? Or to pass the outside of the Haunted Mansion?(minus eddie murphy) This year's upcoming Disney movies the Alamo, Princess Diaries 2, Around the world in 80 days, and the Village could all be advertised by putting props and sets next to the tour!! Why haven't they done ANYTHING like this to make the tram tour more interesting??

 

[Ra.G.e]

I haven't really enjoyed the backlot tour since they ripped down the Bulldog Cafe from the 'Rocketeer' movie.

 

[imagineersrock]

Originally posted by Jusjuice
I don't understand why they just don't update it. How hard could it be to add a few movie sets, even if they were just built for the tram tour and not actually used in a movie?? Wouldn't it be cool to pass the black pearl and see a pile of treasure from Pirates of the Carribbean? Or to pass the outside of the Haunted Mansion?(minus eddie murphy) This year's upcoming Disney movies the Alamo, Princess Diaries 2, Around the world in 80 days, and the Village could all be advertised by putting props and sets next to the tour!! Why haven't they done ANYTHING like this to make the tram tour more interesting??

so many unanswered questions.... I've always wondered these exact same things.. but never found a clear answer. it would cost so little, yet be so effective. not only would it make for a better park attraction, but it would also be a great form of advertisement for upcoming productions. Sometimes I simply don't understand disney's logic.

:veryconfu

 

[Ra.G.e]

Originally posted by Jusjuice
I don't understand why they just don't update it. How hard could it be to add a few movie sets, even if they were just built for the tram tour and not actually used in a movie?? Wouldn't it be cool to pass the black pearl and see a pile of treasure from Pirates of the Carribbean? Or to pass the outside of the Haunted Mansion?(minus eddie murphy) This year's upcoming Disney movies the Alamo, Princess Diaries 2, Around the world in 80 days, and the Village could all be advertised by putting props and sets next to the tour!! Why haven't they done ANYTHING like this to make the tram tour more interesting??

Alas, my belief is that the average person hasn't the foggiest clue (let alone the interest) about what it takes to make a movie. Sets are just uninteresting junk to them. Going to MGM is about rides rides rides.

To quote a guy from the last time I took the tour (years ago) after the tram passed the backstage facades: "They're just houses -- I can see those at home!" I think Joe-Popcorn-Eater wants the 'sploding and splashing rather than mock ups of TV and movie sets.

It that a sad statment?
Yup.

 

[Lilogirl]

Originally posted by trendymagic
It was destroyed in about a day. It is gone for good.


My husband is going to kill me. He has loved Golden Girls ever since he watched it with his grandma as a child, and that's all he wanted to see on our last trip there. The first day of our trip was the last day Residential Street was ever open before being closed down for refurb. He wanted to go so bad, but I had planned for us to go to Epcot that day. I told him we'd see it on our next trip, not knowing it was being torn down.

Had he known it was going to be destroyed, he probably would have offered to buy it, have it moved to Wisconsin, finish it off and live in it! :lol:

 

[trendymagic]

Here are some photos of the newly opened areas:

Stunt Show

New York St

 

[BeachClubVillas]

Originally posted by trendymagic
It was destroyed in about a day. It is gone for good.

NOOOOOOO!!!!
That was the only interesting thing left on that ride! They didn't really destroy the houses, did they? I mean they're kinda valuable I would imagine. Eisner could always auction them on ebay, the cheapskate.

I remember riding the backlot tour at Universal. It was even more lame than this one sounds like it is now!

 

[trendymagic]

Originally posted by BeachClubVillas
I mean they're kinda valuable I would imagine. Eisner could always auction them on ebay, the cheapskate.

Harsh, but so true!