Not much is left of an attraction that once dominated the park. Patterned after the enduring Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood (and let's quit denying that, everyone), Disney's Backlot Tour once included a drive through extensive residential and streets and a tour of production facilities, in addition to the Catastrophe Canyon set piece that remains to this day. But Disney never had enough filming happening at the park to justify devoting so much space to those production facilities. I've told this story before, but during the park's first summer, my future wife and the rest of the Disney All-American College Orchestra practiced in one of the Backlot Tour soundstages, simply so Disney would have some activity in it to show tour-goers.
Those soundstages long ago were converted into the Toy Story Midway Mania building. The residential streets were torn down to make room for the Lights, Motors, Action show. Disney opened the New York Streets to foot traffic and built the Muppets theater and Mama Melrose's there. That left the water tank special effects demonstration, a drive through the boneyard and the costume department, and Catastrophe Canyon as the remaining elements on the tour. (The animation production facilities at the park closed long ago, standing in what's now the The Magic of Disney Animation pavilion.)
The tour's fate was sealed a couple of years ago, when Disney first slated the area for the east coast version of Cars Land. When Disney management changed its mind and killed the Cars Land plan, it was simply a matter of deciding what else would move into this space. The consensus is that Pixar Place will expand into the remaining Backlot Tour area, perhaps with a clone of Toy Story Playland, or a Monsters Inc. ride from California Adventure or Tokyo Disneyland, or one of many other Pixar attraction concepts that Walt Disney Imagineering has "blue skied" over the years.
In other news, Disney's announced that the Legends of Frontierland game will close at Disneyland, also on Sept. 27. Disney's latest attempt at creating a massive, multi-player, in-park role-playing game has been running since July.
Busch Gardens Tampa is now offering a photo package deal for its visitors, along the lines of Disney's PhotoPass and Universal's Photo Connect. Busch Gardens' Photokey will allow visitors who purchase packages to download on-ride and in-park photos, buy prints, and share photos with a Photokey app. Packages start at $29.95.
Earlier this week, before Cedar Point announced the Rougarou coaster, the Ohio amusement park revealed what happened with its offer to rename a roller coaster after basketball star LeBron James if he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which he did. James declined the opportunity to have a coaster named after him, but Cedar Point will partner with James' foundation to host children participating in foundation programs at the park for a day. In addition, next spring Cedar Point will have a ride auction with the proceeds going to help pay for foundation programs, which support Akron-area public schoolchildren.
What news and rumors are you hearing, from your latest trips to the parks? Share 'em with us, in the comments.
Tweet
R.I.P. Maelstrom. :(
I'm all for an expansion of Pixar Place, and would love nothing more than for them to resurrect their plans for Cars Land East, which would require the LMA area as well. If not Cars Land, then I'd love to see them clone Ratatouille's ride from Paris, or build a Monsters Inc dark ride or roller coaster.
Alas, as is the case with all of their opportunities, they'll probably go the cheap route that appeals to...well, nobody really. But they think it's for the little kids.
On the one hand, I give Disney props for shutting down Maelstrom, Backlot Tour, and American Idol Experience. But on the other hand, unless they're going to put in adequate money and creativity, it's money that would better be saved for another day and another project that actually gets done to the level that they had been known for in the past.
I don't hold my breath for anything Disney related any longer. But I'm always cautiously optimistic that they can pull something together at WDW that rivals Cars Land or DisneySea. They can do it. They just fail miserably in Orlando time and time again.
That being said, what is up with Disney announcing everything at the last minute these days? They waited until September to say that Maelstrom closes in September, and they still say that Captain EO is returning to Disneyland even though I think it's clear that they just plan to run movie commercials in there. Do they not plan things in advance anymore? Are they just flying by the seat of their pants, making things up as they go along? What happened to long-term planning? Is that not a thing for Disney anymore?
I'm actually on vacation at WDW now, and if I wasn't still following this site while on vacation I'd have very likely put off the Studio Tour until my second day in that park -- which is on September 28th. Fortunately word came down before I hit that park for the first time tomorrow. The Studio Tour (as much a misnomer as the park name, since nothing "studio" happens there at all anymore) may be a wreck, but it would still be nice if they gave their guests a heads-up when attractions are closing instead of springing permanent closures on them as surprises.
Huh? What about Star Wars? There will be no room left unless they demolish the streets and the shows.
"the final remnant of the movie-and-television-production theme for the original Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park will be whisked away."
Will people start complaining about the loss of original mission of the park like they did with Epcot and Animal Kingdom? I suppose maybe not as much, but still interesting that nothing stays the same. People still use DHS as the excuse to put any movie tie-in as appropriate no matter how unrelated because... studio has movies.
With DHS running out of physical space even though it feels like a half day park, I wonder how this will play out.
"Once again, I have the unmistakeable feeling that Disney is going to muck up this opportunity."
And,
"Alas, as is the case with all of their opportunities, they'll probably go the cheap route that appeals to...well, nobody really."
And,
"I don't hold my breath for anything Disney related any longer."
And,
"They just fail miserably in Orlando time and time again."
So here's the confusing part ... From the same post:
"But I'm always cautiously optimistic that they can pull something together at WDW that rivals Cars Land or DisneySea. They can do it."
Um ... "always?"
It seems like Disney World is ready for a major overhaul, between Disney Springs, Avatar,the Frozen ride, and everything is closing at Hollywood Studios quicker than expected.
Be ready folks, it seems that the Giant just might be awakening...
I have to wonder what they will decide on, though. Are they allowed to do anything with the Marvel properties? Or will Universal retain exclusive ride-rights for the new movies, too? And I would loooove to have them expand the Star Wars presence in the park. There's a property that has proven to appeal across generations, and throwing money at that would be a sound investment, I think.
I do think DHS is short on thrill rides, too. Well, short on rides period, I guess. But whoever said dark coaster is definitely speaking my language!
Now that they are announcing all these changes I kinda wish Disney owned a piece of Doctor Who. Not all of it mind you, but just enough to justify a park presence outside of the United Kingdom pavilion in the World Showcase. Apparently they tried around 25 years ago.
This is an exciting time for WDW with the rumours of Star Wars Land going in towards the front of the park (next to Star Tours), the nighttime show coming to AK as well as Avatar, Disney Springs and the start of changes at Epcot. Let's hope they don't do it on the cheap and WDW gets its biggest expansion in 10 years.
As for what is coming, they haven't told us either, but personally I am hoping for a coaster of some sort. Some big fast steel coaster appealing to teens/adults possibly themed to Pixar/Frozen.
Also, rumors abound of an expansion out into the parking lot area and an expansion of the parking lot toward Victory Way (where Art of Animation/Pop Century resorts reside). This park is not as bound as people think it is. If you look on the map, you can see lots of room between the parking lot and Victory Way. And, an expansion in that direction would be perfect for StarWars Attractions, as all the StarWars attaractions are on that side now. Of course rumors are just rumors until an announcement.
Disney will focus on the rides/attractions that you want to do over and over again....Also Disney is focused on "automated"...not so much human reliability and intervention....Disney is the best at what they do and what ever they do, it will be an improvement.....(except in the case of captain eo @ epcot) God help us all on that decision...what a waste of real-estate...the jumping water fountains out front are more exciting.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
Good riddance.
I decided to go on this attraction while I was there just to check it out. I knew what state the current version was in before going on, but it was horrible.
Working in the film and television industry, this park was an important factor pushing me towards my career when visiting this park for the first time back in 1993.
The backlot tour specifically is out of date and lazy. The audio on the tram was out of sync, the Canyon effects and tram audio were out of sync, and the visual & special effects in the water tank portion can be better created with an iPhone and a bath tub.
As Robert mentioned, there's really nothing left of the behind the scenes concept of the park. The two stunt shows (Indy and Action) give the illusion of being behind the scenes, but sadly they are far from it. The "crew" in these show act in one position, but perform the duties of several.
What was once a park that could inspire a younger generation to become Imagineers with several how-it's-done attractions is now attempting to catch up to Universal's "Ride The Movies" slogan.