Chapter 6 - Hollywood Studios - Great Movie Ride - Part 2
posted Oct 2020
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In the previous Chapter. We ventured through the Queue, Intro Show, Footlight Parade, Mary Poppin’s, Gangster and Western Scenes of the Great Movie Ride. (If you missed it, click here: Chapter 5 – Hollywood Studios – Great Movie Ride – Part 1)
In this Chapter we’re going to tour and look at the rest of this well love and missed ride. This attraction as most of the Disney attraction was filled with details. This was one of those rides that even if guests went through it several times, it was very likely that guests didn’t capture a faction of the backstories and movie connections the Disney Imagineers put into it.
So let’s continue on.
In this Chapter we’re going to tour and look at the rest of this well love and missed ride. This attraction as most of the Disney attraction was filled with details. This was one of those rides that even if guests went through it several times, it was very likely that guests didn’t capture a faction of the backstories and movie connections the Disney Imagineers put into it.
So let’s continue on.
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As we leave the Western scene, the Tour Guide drives the vehicle aboard the Nostromo and into the…..
Alien Scene
Alien Scene
If one listens carefully, Ripley's cat can be heard meowing in the distance.
Sourced from Emily Schonaerts Facebook 
The Tour Guide then points out the creature's second attack, the Alien emerging from the wall and attacking the riders in the back.
Note: Samuel Brett was the engineering technician aboard the commercial towing vehicle USCSS Nostromo. He was portrayed by Harry Dean Stanton.
Source: 
In the opening montage from Alien, there's a shot from the Nostromo that does show a drinking bird on a table.
The drinking bird toy is a mainstay in the Alien universe. You see a pair of them in Alien, there's one in Aliens, there's one in the work print version of Alien3 and another in the game Alien: Isolation. And now he's back for Alien: Covenant. 
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As the guests enter the ship, Robert Osborne tells them:
"Science-Fiction has been a staple of classic movies, from Georges Méliès ‘A Trip to the Moon’ to George Lucas ‘Star Wars’. In 1979 Director Ripley Scott and Sigourney Weaver made audiences believe that ‘in space no one can here you scream’. This is ‘Alien’." A narrator then speaks to the guests, “You are with Sigourney Weaver aboard the spaceship Nostromo. Something has gone wrong. One by one, the crew has vanished, and somewhere in the ship, a terrifying creature waits to claim its next victim.” The narrator's last words are “Warning! Remain in your vehicle. The area you are entering is extremely dangerous. Proceed with caution.” Riders will then pass a terrified Ellen Ripley as an alarm sounds and a computerized female voice states “Danger. The emergency destruct system is now activated. The ship will detonate in 10 minutes. The option to override the system will expire in T-Minus 5 minutes.”
Just then Tour Guide and the riders in the front of the vehicle are attacked from the ceiling by the Alien.
The ride vehicle then exits the Alien segment, with Mugsy stating that "that was enough creepy-crawlies for one day."
As the vehicle entered the Nostromo, guests may see a Hawaiian shirt laying on equipment crates. It resembled the one worn by Assistant Engineer Samuel Brett in Alien. The milk jug and mug is a subtle nod to the android, Ash, whose “blood” looked like milk. They also use milk (in a different pitcher) in the mess hall.
Source from Richard Miller Facebook 
On the right side of the as you enter the Alien scene just after the windows that look to the starfield, there are three space suits, next to the third suit is a little drinking bird with a glass.
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Throughout the Alien Scene there where many screens, several related to the Imagineers involved in the design.
One of the screens has the names of the Imagineers who worked on the ride and what they are doing.
One of the screens has the names of the Imagineers who worked on the ride and what they are doing.
On another monitor down low and on the left, when you enter the area, had a special message on it that read:
“The Nostromo Welcomes All Aliens Today Visiting From The Glendale Galaxy. We hope you have a pleasant stay with us. “Goo Viscosity: Very Gooey / Remarks: EEEEOOOOO / Engineer: G. Koch Time To Next Special Effect Failure:……….45.8 Years” G. Koch was an Imagineer and Glendale, CA is where Imagineering headquarters is. References: |
Here are a few of the “jobs” listed:
Sourced from Facebook Emily Schonaerts 
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Raiders of the Lost Ark
In the next set guests see Harrison Ford and John Rhys-Davies in the Well of the Souls scene from Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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As the movie’s theme song plays, Indiana and his assistant, Sallah are shown carrying the Ark of the Covenant.
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Here, Robert Osborne says:
"Steven Spielberg and George Lucas cemented there status as blockbuster boys with their first partnership. Here from that legendary collaboration is Harrison Ford as archeologist Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark".
"Steven Spielberg and George Lucas cemented there status as blockbuster boys with their first partnership. Here from that legendary collaboration is Harrison Ford as archeologist Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark".
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The dramatic scene is from Raiders of the Lost Ark in which Indiana Jones and Sallah lift the Ark of the Covenant from its resting place in the Well of Souls.
On the left side walls were these hieroglyphs of Mickey and Donald and one of R2D2 and CP30 .
On the left side walls were these hieroglyphs of Mickey and Donald and one of R2D2 and CP30 .
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Interestingly, R2-D2 and C3PO hieroglyphs actually appeared in the movie as well...
- From Richard Miller and Vonnie D Mercer Facebook
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I have to agree with Indies statement in the film, “why did there have to be snakes?”
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The Jewel Scene
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As the vehicle continues to the next scene, on the right, were a set of stairs leads to a glowing red jewel.
The ride announcer then informs guests that they are in an ancient burial chamber, where the priceless jewel is held. 
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The Gangster cannot believe what she sees, and she goes to get the stone, telling guests to stay put.
After she exits the vehicle, Robert Osborne warns her: "I've seen enough movies to know that you really shouldn't even think about trying to steal that jewel." Just as the Gangster is about to reach the jewel, the Temple Guardian puts his hand up, and tells her that if she disturbs the treasure of the gods she will die. 
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The Gangster is not discouraged however, and she attempts to grab the jewel anyway.
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The Gangster goes up in smoke, and guests learn that the temple guardian was actually their tour guide.
Leaving the Gangster's skeleton behind, the tour guide returns to the ride vehicle. After the return of the tour guide Robert Osborne exclaims: "A twist ending! That just goes to show you that anything can happen in the movies. Now let’s get on with the show." 
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Reference:
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Horror Genre
When tour guide returns, the vehicle enters a dark area filled with skeletons. Here, guests are informed by their guide that horror has always been a part of movies.
When tour guide returns, the vehicle enters a dark area filled with skeletons. Here, guests are informed by their guide that horror has always been a part of movies.
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In fact, one of the first films created was a film which featured a dancing skeleton. The film was made in 1897 by the Lumière brothers. Note: Lumière brothers were French inventors and pioneer manufacturers of photographic equipment. They devised an early motion-picture camera and projector called the Cinématographe. Source: |
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Tarzan the Ape Man
After leaving the horror scene, the vehicle then moves into a jungle. On the left, guests can see Tarzan (played by Johnny Weissmuller) swing by on a vine, while Jane (played by Maureen O’Sullivan) and Cheeta the Chimp (played by Cheeta) look on from the left. 
In this scene Robert Osborne educates guests, saying:
"This is the jungle home of one of the most famous movie characters of them all- Tarzan. The movie's most popular Tarzan is undoubtedly Johnny Weissmuller who swung through 12 films as the King of the Jungle." Actress Maureen O'Sullivan who played Jane in the movie "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1932) did come to Orlando and got a picture taken with her audio animatronics double on the elephant. In the real film, they added larger ears to the elephant so it would appear to be an African elephant. |
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Casablanca
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As guests leave the Tarzan scene, they enter the famous closing scene from Casablanca. On their right guests can see Humphrey Bogart standing in front of the plane in the fog, telling Ingrid Bergman that she has to get on the plane.
As guests pass the scene, Osborne says: "Here is Humphry Bogart in his most famous film role. In 1942 Bogey finally got to spread his wings and romance the beautiful Ingrid Bergman in ‘Casablanca’." |
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“I’m saying this because it’s true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You’re part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.”
“We’ll always have Paris. We didn’t have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.” “And you never will. But I’ve got a job to do, too. Where I’m going, you can’t follow. What I’ve got to do, you can’t be any part of. Ilsa, I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you’ll understand that.” (Ilsa lowers her head and begins to cry.) 
As the vehicle leaves the scene the Tour Guide adds: “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. The best last line of a movie ever. “
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Notes:
- The scene from Casablanca where Rick says his famous farewell to Ilsa, her character is supposed to have dialogue too; however, Bergman’s family didn’t grant Disney permission to use her voice.
- Bergman was almost two inches taller than Bogart In the film, he wore lifts for close-up scenes
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Fantasia
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Tour Guide adds: “The sorcerer’s name in this sequence is Yensid, which is Disney spelled backward.”
Fantasia was not Imagineering’s first choice for the room. Instead, they had planned on featuring the tornado that carried little Dorothy to the Land of Oz. The screen that features Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, would have shown swirling objects, included the Wicked Witch on her bicycle and broom. Cast members refer to the huge fan used to create the breeze as "Mickey's biggest fan." |
Leaving Casablanca, guests enter the world of Disney's Fantasia. As Sorcerer Mickey causes waves of water to splash, guests can feel a windy breeze as they travel through.
In this scene Robert Osborne announces: "And now, one of the most famous movie stars in one of his most popular roles - Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice in Fantasia." 
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The Wizard of Oz
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As the Tour Vehicle proceeds to the next scene, The Wizard of Oz, guests may not have realized that Imagineers had bigger plans. Imagineer’s originally planned for three scenes featuring The Wizard of Oz.
Because the Fantasia scene was designed to house the Tornado scene from the Wizard of Oz. Which would have led well into the opening set showing the Wicked Witch of the East crushed under Dorothy’s house. 
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Likewise, the final scene of the attraction was also going to be an extension of the Wizard of Oz scene. The concept for this scene, guests would have come face to face with the Wizard, who would say his famous line “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”.
Following this, the curtain would have opened showing that the bandit (or gangster) who had hijacked the ride earlier was still alive. Then finally, the guests would have approached a large platform where models of all of the Audio Animatronic characters seen earlier in the ride would reappear and take a bow. Unfortunately, the Imagineers learned that they did not have the rights. MGM had originally agreed to let Disney use audio from the film's munchkin scene, the Wicked Witch of the West's dialog, and a small amount of Dorothea's dialog when she finds the Emerald City. The ideas were eventually scrapped. Instead, a windy Fantasia scene replaced the Wizard of Oz's tornado, and the montage of films replaced the Wizard finale. Source: |
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As the vehicle enters the room, Munchkins pop up and appear in windows to sing "Ding dong, the witch is dead".
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Robert Osborne notes:
"We've come over the rainbow and into one of the most beloved and most watched films in history- The Wizard of Oz."
"We've come over the rainbow and into one of the most beloved and most watched films in history- The Wizard of Oz."
Click to enlarge
Following the introduction, the Wicked Witch of the West appears in a cloud of smoke (this was one of the most advanced audio-animatronics in the park at the time)
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The Witch then asked the tour guide if she killed her (the Witch’s) sister. When the guide replies no, the Witch warns that she is going "to get you, and your little dog too". Following the witch's departure, the tour guide wonders aloud how they will ever get home. On cue a munchkin appears exclaiming "Follow the yellow brick road". As the ride begins to move again, the tour guide tells guests to sing along.
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Note: Disney is known for its attention to detail and this was certainly true of the Wicked Witch’s costume for The Great Movie Ride. In the movie, Margaret Hamilton’s character carried a purse because, even though she was a witch, she was also a lady. And so did the Witch in the attraction.
From Richard Miller Facebook
From Richard Miller Facebook
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Yellow Brick Road
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As the vehicle follows the Yellow Brick Road, guests pass Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion as they walk towards the Emerald City.
If guests looked closely at the Yellow Brick road in the Wizard of Oz scene they will notice that the road spells out the word "OZ" with part of the Emerald City Liza Minnelli recorded the voice of the character of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz scene. Note: Liza Minnelli is Judy Garland’s daughter. 
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Closing Montage
Following the Wizard of Oz scene in both versions of the attraction, the trams stop moving in front of a large movie screen. Here guests see film clips from various movies:
Below is the original Closing Montage from 1989 - 2015:
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In 2015, TCM's Robert Osborne the hosted of The Great Movie Ride until the attraction closed in 2017.
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Below is the list of updated films with the 2015 TCM sponsorship.
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Looking for the original 1989 – 2015 Great Movie Ride Script:
Great Movie Ride References:
Let's take a last look at the Great Movie Ride:
Great Movie Ride References:
- https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/hollywood-studios-great-movie-ride-review-and-closing/
- https://thelovepirate.net/2014/02/28/friday-favorites-favorite-montage-the-great-movie-ride/
- https://letterboxd.com/escapay/list/the-great-movie-rides-finale-montage-2015/
- https://www.listchallenges.com/disneys-the-great-movie-ride-complete-movie-list
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Movie_Ride#References
- https://thelovepirate.net/2014/02/28/friday-favorites-favorite-montage-the-great-movie-ride/
- https://letterboxd.com/escapay/list/the-great-movie-rides-finale-montage-2015/
- http://www.prettygoodmovieride.com/
- https://d23.com/halt-unbeliever-anything-can-happen-in-the-movies/
- https://touringplans.com/blog/2015/06/02/complete-video-updated-great-movie-ride-presented-turner-classic-movies-dhs/
- https://allears.net/2009/08/28/great-movie-ride/
- https://www.mouseplanet.com/11871/Remembering_the_Great_Movie_Ride
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Movie_Ride#Queue
- http://guide2wdw.com/hollywood-studios/attractions/the-great-movie-ride/
- https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/The_Great_Movie_Ride
- https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Ride/TheGreatMovieRide
- https://www.listchallenges.com/movies-featured-in-disney-worlds-great-movie-ride
- https://www.disboards.com/threads/great-movie-ride-vintage-movie-clips-question.2978714/
- https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/02/17/tables-in-wonderland-march-events-the-great-movie-ride-dinner/
- https://allears.net/wdw-chronicles-stories-of-the-great-movie-ride/
- http://themickeywiki.com/index.php?title=The_Great_Movie_Ride
Let's take a last look at the Great Movie Ride:
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Since the end of the Disney/MGM Studios in 2008, the image and theming direction of the park also began to change from the Eisner's concept of having a working film studio that showed guests how films were made to a theme park dedicated to Disney film concepts, for example, Toy Storyland and Star Wars.
With the change in theming at Disney's Hollywood Studios, in July 2017 Disney announced that the Great Movie Ride attraction would close.The Great Movie Ride closed in August 2017, it became the last of the original opening day attractions. The attraction was replaced by Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. More on the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad in a section below 
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Architecture of the Great Movie Ride
The Chinese theater was the attraction meant to draw guest further into the park when the Studios first opened in 1989.
The Great Movie Ride occupied the building when it opened, and it remained until August of 2017.
The theater has a lot of history behind it; so let’s the beginnings of this beautiful building!
The Chinese theater was the attraction meant to draw guest further into the park when the Studios first opened in 1989.
The Great Movie Ride occupied the building when it opened, and it remained until August of 2017.
The theater has a lot of history behind it; so let’s the beginnings of this beautiful building!
on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
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on Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
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The theater at Hollywood Studios is an exact replica of the original Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California. If you look at photos of both side by side, it’s amazing how similar they appear.The Imagineers who created the building used the actual blueprints that were used to build the original California Theater back in 1927.
on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
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on Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
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The original Chinese Theatre was (and still is) a real movie theater. It opened May 18, 1927, with the premiere of The King of Kings, a movie directed by Cecil B. DeMille.
The theater in California has since been home to many premieres, including the 1977 launch of Star Wars and three Oscar ceremonies.
The theater in California has since been home to many premieres, including the 1977 launch of Star Wars and three Oscar ceremonies.
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Tourists and guests come from all over the world to both Theaters to see the signatures, footprints, and handprints of Film celebrities. At the original Theater they date from the 1920s to the present, while in Hollywood Studios they date from 1989 to 1995 (they were part of the - Star Conversation” program at the Theater of the Stars. See ( Chapter 2 – Hollywood Studios – Theater of the Stars).
The original theater was built by businessman Charles Grauman and was known at first as Grauman’s Chinese Theater. The theatre was declared a historical and cultural landmark in 1968 and has undergone various restoration projects over the years. At one point, it changed hands and became Mann’s Chinese Theater for a number of years, but in 2002 it once again was sold, and the original name of Grauman’s was restored. 
Just as you can see at Hollywood Studios, the original Chinese theater was built to look like a huge red Chinese Pagoda. Dragons adorn the theater exterior, and the main entranceway is “guarded” by Chinese Ming Dynasty lions, also referred to as “Heaven Dogs.” The dog lions are a boy and girl. The boy lion has his hand on a ball, the girl has her paw on her baby lion.
(Info from Rachel Nacion-Ograyensek Facebook) |
Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
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The roof was constructed of copper. The total cost of construction was over 2 million dollars; a formidable amount considering it was the 1920’s. The theater was designed with the intention of giving Americans a feel of what China was like, since at the time most people living in the USA knew very little about China.
The entrance/forecourt of the original theater contains close to 200 signatures, handprints, and footprints of well-known actors and actresses.  |
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Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
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Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
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The two theaters are in very different locations. Notice the difference in signage.
Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
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Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
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The views from within the theater courtyards are also very different.
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One of the spires would descend during the nightly fireworks show, in preparation for a large inflatable Sorcerer Mickey that appeared in the finale. The spires were removed sometime after 2001 when the Sorcerer Mickey hat icon was added, but returned when the Hat was removed in 2015.
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Dragons on top of the entrance banners at Hollywood Studios. 
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The original is on the left, notice how the replica has a curtain behind the medallion. Notice the difference in the ceiling details, and the corner details. The theater in Hollywood Studios is probably very close to how the original theater looked when it was built.
Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Studios
same for all below
same for all below
The corner dragons on the original have some additional ornamentation.
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The corner masks have differently painted details.
The Lamps on the courtyard wall are similar.
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The two courtyards are almost mirror image of each other. This is the view looking east. Note the kiosk in the original, is on the left.
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And these are the courtyard west views. Notice that the kiosk in Hollywood Studios is here, instead of on the east side.
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The stairs in the Hollywood, Los Angeles Theater which lead into a mall that was built several years ago.
Note: The original theater is as old as Mickey Mouse.
Just steps away from the original Hollywood Chinese Theater are three other well-known Disney-related theaters.
The Kodak Theater, where the Academy Awards are broadcast on ABC each year. Cirque du Soleil has a new, very good show in the theater called Iris.
The El Capitan is where Disney hosts the newest Disney films in grand fashion, often with a play area themed for the new movie.
Note: The original theater is as old as Mickey Mouse.
Just steps away from the original Hollywood Chinese Theater are three other well-known Disney-related theaters.
The Kodak Theater, where the Academy Awards are broadcast on ABC each year. Cirque du Soleil has a new, very good show in the theater called Iris.
The El Capitan is where Disney hosts the newest Disney films in grand fashion, often with a play area themed for the new movie.
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Click to enlarge
Resources:
- https://attractionsmagazine.com/comparing-details-in-the-original-and-disneys-hollywood-chinese-theater/
- http://studioscentral.com/column/matt/history-of-the-great-movie-ride/
- https://blog.dvcrequest.com/history-of-the-chinese-theater-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
- https://allears.net/2009/08/28/great-movie-ride/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grauman%27s_Chinese_Theatre
- https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_LA_Buildings%20(1925%20+)_1_of_8.html
Tables in Wonderland Dinner in the Great Movie Ride
We had the opportunity of attending a Tables in Wonderland Dinner in the Great Movie Ride on March 7, 2013. We were greeted by the Producer at the entrance to the attraction.
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This was not a ride, but a walk through the scenes with special entertainment, appetizers, dinner, desserts and drinks at the different sets.
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In the Gangster set we were greeted by a violin carrying Mobster and his Moll.
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Here we were served specialty drinks and appetizers.
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The entertainment was a piano player called Fingers, who played a selection of 30’s & 40’s themed music, as well as, Disney classics with themed style.
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The Director appeared with his megaphone and led us into the Western Scene.
"No more Red Lights"
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Our meal was introduced by Ma with her half blacked out teeth, messy hair, and carrying a huge turkey leg over her shoulder.
In the western scene, tables were set up for our dinner. It included a salad and plated dinner of roasted pork, scallops, and vegetables. A three piece band entertainment during dinner. 
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,After dinner, we took a walk through the next scene of the Great Movie Ride “Alien”.
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A quick double check look back to the Western set to see if the escape path is still open.
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“In Space they can’t hear you Scream” (I bet they could have heard me) |
The next room was the Indiana Jones and the Jewel scenes.
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Indie and Sallah lifting the radio receiver to god.
If you looked carefully at the Hieroglyphs you might have seen Mickey, Donald, C3-P0 and R2-D2.
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"Snakes, why did there have to be
snakes?" |
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Then we walked through the Tarzan, Casablanca and Mickey in Fantasia scenes.
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Finally we came to the Wizard of Oz set, where we had desserts and cordials.
Click to enlarge
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Glinda, the Good Witch from the North asked,
“Are you a Good Witch or a Bad Witch?” |
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As the munchkins began to sing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road", it was the signal that our walking tour and dinner party was over.
As everyone gathered in the final room of the ride, the Director made an announcement that his movie production received a few very generous multimillion dollar donations during the course of the evening. Everyone cheered, then we watched the closing movie montage that are shown at the end of the Great Movie Ride. We exited the attraction and were delighted for the unique experience, but sad to leave.
The Great Movie Ride attraction will be dearly missed!
As everyone gathered in the final room of the ride, the Director made an announcement that his movie production received a few very generous multimillion dollar donations during the course of the evening. Everyone cheered, then we watched the closing movie montage that are shown at the end of the Great Movie Ride. We exited the attraction and were delighted for the unique experience, but sad to leave.
The Great Movie Ride attraction will be dearly missed!
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which replaced The Great Movie Ride, opened in March 2020.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is a dark ride featuring an original story, themed after the Disney Channel animated series Mickey Mouse, making it the first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction to open in the Disney parks' history.
The attraction is a fun and innovative adventure, where guests go through the movie screen inside the park’s re-creation of the Chinese Theatre and into the whimsical world of “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is a dark ride featuring an original story, themed after the Disney Channel animated series Mickey Mouse, making it the first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction to open in the Disney parks' history.
The attraction is a fun and innovative adventure, where guests go through the movie screen inside the park’s re-creation of the Chinese Theatre and into the whimsical world of “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts.
History
There had been many proposals for a ride based around Mickey Mouse. In 1976, as part of the proposed Dumbo's Circus Land expansion of Disneyland's Fantasyland, an attraction called Mickey's Madhouse was developed by Ward Kimball. This would be a wild mouse style rollercoaster dark ride through the world of early black and white Mickey shorts. Later versions of this concept would be called Mickey's Movieland and Mickey's Studio Tour and would have feature a madcap Disney studio tour featuring numerous characters and set pieces.
During the 2017 D23 Expo the Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway concept was presented and described as featuring "2 1/2 D" technology. Disney Imagineer Kevin Rafferty stated: "This is one of the boldest...most impossible things I’ve ever worked on in almost 40 years of being an Imagineer. And you know what? That’s what I love about it. Well, that, and Mickey," [...] “This is not going to be a small attraction, it’s going to be game-changing.”
The Disney Television Animation team responsible for the Mickey Mouse shorts collaborated with the Disney theme park division and its Imagineers to bring the attraction together.
Sound design for the attraction utilizes the original sound effects machines used during the early years of Disney animation. The whistles used for the steam whistle in Steamboat Willie were used to create the whistling sounds of the train.
There had been many proposals for a ride based around Mickey Mouse. In 1976, as part of the proposed Dumbo's Circus Land expansion of Disneyland's Fantasyland, an attraction called Mickey's Madhouse was developed by Ward Kimball. This would be a wild mouse style rollercoaster dark ride through the world of early black and white Mickey shorts. Later versions of this concept would be called Mickey's Movieland and Mickey's Studio Tour and would have feature a madcap Disney studio tour featuring numerous characters and set pieces.
During the 2017 D23 Expo the Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway concept was presented and described as featuring "2 1/2 D" technology. Disney Imagineer Kevin Rafferty stated: "This is one of the boldest...most impossible things I’ve ever worked on in almost 40 years of being an Imagineer. And you know what? That’s what I love about it. Well, that, and Mickey," [...] “This is not going to be a small attraction, it’s going to be game-changing.”
The Disney Television Animation team responsible for the Mickey Mouse shorts collaborated with the Disney theme park division and its Imagineers to bring the attraction together.
Sound design for the attraction utilizes the original sound effects machines used during the early years of Disney animation. The whistles used for the steam whistle in Steamboat Willie were used to create the whistling sounds of the train.
Note: Ward Walrath Kimball was an animator for Walt Disney Productions from 1934 to 1972, and was also one of Walt Disney's Nine Old Men. In 1989, he was named a Disney Legend.
Ward was the animator of many of the famous Disney Characters:
Ward was the animator of many of the famous Disney Characters:
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (The Dwarves; the Vultures)
- Pinocchio (Jiminy Cricket)
- Fun and Fancy Free (Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in "Mickey and the Beanstalk")
- Melody Time (Pecos Bill; Donald, José, and Aracuan Bird in Blame It On The Samba)
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (Mr. Toad, Cyril Proudbottom, train chase)
- Alice in Wonderland (The White Rabbit; Tweedledee and Tweedledum; The Cheshire Cat; The Mad Hatter; The March Hare; The Walrus and the Carpenter; The Oysters; The Dormouse)
- Peter Pan (The Lost Boys; the Indian Chief; Wendy Darling; John Darling; Michael Darling; a few scenes of Captain Hook)
- Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (Ludwig Von Drake)
- Mary Poppins (The Pearly Band)
- And more
Note: Kevin Rafferty is a Creative Director and Show Writer at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Some of the Other Projects Kevin worked on or developed include:
Some of the Other Projects Kevin worked on or developed include:
- Typhoon Lagoon
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- The 1994 version of Carousel of Progress
- It's Tough to Be a Bug!
- The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)
- Sonny Eclipse's show at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
- Blizzard Beach
- Test Track
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Mickey's PhilharMagic
- Toy Story Midway Mania!
Reference:
It’s time to take a ride!
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is full of iconic Disney characters:
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is full of iconic Disney characters:
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
- Pluto
- Engineer Goofy
- Daisy Duck
- Donald Duck
- Jackhammer Pete
- Chuuby – an adorable little bird
Queue
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Guests enter through the lobby area of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
The queue line winds through the lobby before entering the auditorium, and the walls are decorated with a variety of film posters that depict Mickey Mouse short films. The Lobby hasn’t changed much from when the Theater are the home for the Great Movie Ride. But this is where similarities change. 
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There are poster artworks depicting actual Mickey Mouse shorts: "Croissant de Triomphe", "Mumbai Madness", "Potatoland", "Split Decision", "Three-Legged Race", "Tokyo Go", "Wish Upon a Coin", "Wonders of the Deep", and "Yodelberg".
Pre-Show
The guests then enter the auditorium where the short, Perfect Picnic will be premiering. The short stars Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto set out for a picnic at the Runamuck Park, singing "Nothing Can Stop Us Now" while packing Mickey's car for a picnic. Minnie accidentally packs Pluto and the picnic basket in the trunk. The duo make their way to the park. Along the way, Mickey and Minnie drive by Goofy, who is conducting the Runamuck Railroad train that surrounds the park. Mickey and Minnie pull forward and hit a bump on the railroad crossing. The trunk pops open, releasing Pluto and the picnic basket into the air, which Pluto quickly manages to save the picnic basket. However, a pie from the picnic basket, fall out and landed on top of the train’s smokestack.
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With the pie clogging the smokestack, the train picks up speed. Goofy panics as the train pulls into a railroad barn. An explosion occurs, ripping a large hole in the movie screen, literally breaking the fourth wall. When the smoke clears, Goofy lands on a loose board on the outside of the barn. Seeing the guests, Goofy offers them to take a ride on the train. He then asks a nearby cast member help the guests step inside the cartoon while he goes back to the barn to fix the train.
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Upon walking through the movie screen, the guests find themselves inside the cartoon railroad station, and they make their way to the loading station where the train arrives.
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click to enlarge
The Ride
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- Mickey and Minnie are driving around in the distance. The train makes a left turn entering the tunnel.
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- The tornado carries the train, Mickey, Minnie and Pluto to a tropical island where a volcanic eruption occurs.
click to enlarge
- The eruption sends the train down a river and over a waterfall.
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- The guests find themselves sucked into a sewer pipe and emerge into the Big City.
- The guests see Pete working on road construction with a jackhammer powerful enough to shake the neighboring buildings (and smiling evilly when he sees what happens).
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- While Donald, honking his horn impatiently, in a truck stuck in the traffic jam the train has caused.
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- The guests then enter a dance studio owned by Daisy Duck, who instructs the train cars in dancing a waltz before establishing a conga line out.
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- The dancing train cars exit out through an alley.
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- Goofy reverses the engine and rejoins the train.
Click to enlarge
Voice Cast
Below is a list of who did the voices of the Characters in the ride:
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If photos weren’t enough here’s a Video of the full Ride:
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References:
- https://ziggyknowsdisney.com/mickey-and-minnies-runaway-railway/
- https://www.mydisneyfix.com/videos/new-mickey-amp-minnie-ride-trackless-dark-ride-runaway-railway-disney-world-socal-attractions-360-2020-03-05
- https://sportsworthynews.com/disneymagicmoments-all-aboard-mickey-minnies-runaway-railway-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
- https://blogmickey.com/2020/02/scene-by-scene-breakdown-of-mickey-and-minnies-runaway-railway/
- https://blogmickey.com/mickey-minnie-runaway-railway-easter-eggs/
- http://www.leparcorama.com/2020/03/25/review-mickey-minnies-runaway-railway/
- https://dsnynewscast.com/2019/09/mickey-shorts-theatre-coming-to-disneys-hollywood-studios-but-where/
- https://wdwnt.com/2020/03/review-reliance-on-screens-and-odd-audio-animatronics-makes-mickey-minnies-runaway-railway-just-ok-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
- https://wdwnt.com/2020/03/photos-full-attraction-tour-queue-pre-show-every-ride-scene-of-the-new-mickey-minnies-runaway-railway-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
- https://www.greenvacationdeals.com/disney/mickey-and-minnies-runaway-railway-review/
- https://www.disneylists.com/2020/03/mickey-minnies-runaway-railway-9-fun-facts-secrets/?utm_source=DisneyList.com+Update&utm_campaign=42e16fb0f6-DisneyLists_com_Update_3_16_20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e09735652c-42e16fb0f6-283624153
- https://allears.net/2020/03/05/easter-eggs-mickey-and-minnie-runaway-railway-disney-world/
- https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Mickey_and_Minnie%27s_Runaway_Railway
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_%26_Minnie%27s_Runaway_Railway
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse_(TV_series)
Finale
These last two Chapter's Chapter 5 - Great Movie Ride - Part 1 and Chapter 6 - Great Movie Ride - Part 2 were very lengthy.
The Great Movie Ride attraction is no longer with us. It was the last of the original attractions from the Disney/MGM Studios opening day.
It represented the concept that the Studios were built on 'Great Moments in Movies'. The Imagineer's, without a doubt, made the Great Movie Ride the centerpiece. The attraction was filled with details from the Golden Age of Movies.
Our intention was to try and capture these details before their forgotten. In writing these Chapters we were about to get the backstories and details from Imagineers and Cast Members who were there through the conception, design, building and operation of the attraction. (We want to thank them for the support and help)
In Chapter 6, we also included the Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. For those of you who have toured Walt Disney World over the years, understand that the parks have gone through many evolution's and will go through many more as Disney and Guests interests change.
This finishes our tour of Hollywood Boulevard and we will be moving on in Chapter 7 to venture down Sunset Boulevard, which has it's own unique character.
These last two Chapter's Chapter 5 - Great Movie Ride - Part 1 and Chapter 6 - Great Movie Ride - Part 2 were very lengthy.
The Great Movie Ride attraction is no longer with us. It was the last of the original attractions from the Disney/MGM Studios opening day.
It represented the concept that the Studios were built on 'Great Moments in Movies'. The Imagineer's, without a doubt, made the Great Movie Ride the centerpiece. The attraction was filled with details from the Golden Age of Movies.
Our intention was to try and capture these details before their forgotten. In writing these Chapters we were about to get the backstories and details from Imagineers and Cast Members who were there through the conception, design, building and operation of the attraction. (We want to thank them for the support and help)
In Chapter 6, we also included the Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. For those of you who have toured Walt Disney World over the years, understand that the parks have gone through many evolution's and will go through many more as Disney and Guests interests change.
This finishes our tour of Hollywood Boulevard and we will be moving on in Chapter 7 to venture down Sunset Boulevard, which has it's own unique character.
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Afterword:
WDWMousing.com is designed to be a tour of Walt Disney World through photos. We have been to Walt Disney World countless times over the past 25 years and accumulated a magnitude of photos in that time. This website is an intention to combine two of our favorite pastimes, Walt Disney World and photography, and provide an insightful pictorial tour. While doing so, we've done an extensive research of the internet and literary sources for background information on each area and atrraction. The information is available, but most bits and pieces are scattered all over. WDWMousing doesn't intend to rewrite the stories, legends or data, but to try and collect it into one location with reference and links to the original articles and authors. And giving rightful credit. We've stumbled through quite a bit of mis-information, most of which came to life by fans because the origins were lost, forgotten or no one seems to remember. Over the past 25 years we've also lost most of the great Imagineers that helped develop, design and build the original concepts of Walt Disney World. So we believe it's extremely important to make sure that their efforts, intentions, details and creativity in making this Happiest Place on Earth isn't lost. So we ask for feedback, insights, and suggestions. Thank you WDWMousing 
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