Florida Guide > Hollywood Studios
The Great Movie Ride - Disney's Hollywood Studios
Before you even enter this attraction you will be amazed at the impressive building that is home to The Great Movie Ride. It is a superb replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. When the park first opened in 1989 it used to be the first thing you saw as you looked along Hollywood Boulevard. Unfortunately, it is now hidden by the Sorcerer Mickey Hat, which has become the new symbol for Hollywood Studios.
The Great Movie Ride is a twenty-two minute journey through timeless classic MGM movies, both new and old. Audio-animatronics and live actors join together to make this attraction an enjoyable show not just for the movie buffs amongst us, but also for everyone.
As you enter the theatre’s lobby, you are able to view an assortment of glass showcases. These showcases contain genuine props and costumes from the movies including a carousel horse from Mary Poppins. As you wait in line for the ride you can watch vintage clips, from well-known movies.
As the double doors open and you enter the next stage of your journey, you will be seated in a huge tramcar. These cars can hold up to seventy guests at one time. Your driver introduces himself or herself and then it’s “Lights, Camera, Action” as you tramcar moves slowly into the world of movies accompanied by the song “Hooray for Hollywood”.
One of first movie sets you will see, as you round the corner, is Gene Kelly in the film “Singing in the Rain” followed by MaryPoppins on the rooftops of London. More than fifty life-like audio-animatronics are featured in this ride including James Cagney, John Wayne, Sigourney Weaver and the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.
Guests become embroiled in one of two storylines, either a cowboy or a gangster scenario, which involve live actors. Depending on the enthusiasm of your driver you will be party to an impressive piece of acting or alternatively a feeling of just going through the motions. After all, the cast members have probably performed these scenes hundreds of times. Still, it’s good fun and worth visiting the ride again to see if you visit a different scenario second time around.
The next part of the ride can be quite frightening for small children. This is a scene from Alien featuring Sigourney Weaver. Watch out for the aliens and close your eyes if it gets too intense!
A scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” starring Indiana Jones is followed by Tarzan swinging through the trees and then the classic romance “Casablanca” featuring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart.
The final scene is from The Wizard of Oz, complete with Dorothy, Toto, her three faithful friends plus the Munchkins and of course not forgetting The Wicked Witch of the West. I swear that witch is a real person but I am reliably informed it is just an audio-animatronic.
The Great Movie Ride is entertainment at its best. It brings the movies to life and puts you right in the middle of the action. An attraction not to be missed!
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