Sometimes it feels like the only thing we can count on is change itself.
In the heart of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there used to be a very different ride inside the replica of Hollywood’s famous Chinese Theater. We’re talking about The Great Movie Ride. This ride would take you on a journey through the history of movies.
The ride featured scenes from twelve classic films from MGM’s catalog. (Oh, by the way, Hollywood Studios used to be called Disney/MGM Studios!) Because Disney felt they didn’t have enough classic non-animated films of their own at the time, they struck a deal with MGM to include some of their iconic movies, hence the partnership and name of the park. Now back to the ride.
The ride’s experience was truly like no other in the way it combined Audio-Animatronics figures, projections, live actors, and special effects. It became an instant classic, drawing large and enthusiastic crowds for many years.
So the question is, “Why did Disney choose to close such a popular and iconic attraction?” There’s a quote from former Walt Disney Imagineering leader Marty Sklar that sums it up, “We’re not a museum. We have to keep coming up with new and interesting attractions so our guests remain engaged.”
The Great Movie Ride had been around since the park opened in 1989, and although there were a few smaller updates, it didn’t see any big changes over the years. Disney is constantly trying to keep things fresh and exciting for visitors, so they wanted to make room for something new.
Speaking of new, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was shifting its focus. It used to be all about celebrating classic Hollywood, but over time, it started to lean more into experiences that were based on popular franchises like Star Wars and Toy Story, which meant that The Great Movie Ride just didn’t fit into that grand picture anymore.
Another tricky thing was licensing. You see, the ride featured scenes and characters from different movies, and not all of those movies were made by Disney. On the ride you could see Gene Kelly leaning from a lamppost while Singin’ in the Rain, Bert and Mary on a rooftop in London during Mary Poppins, John Wayne talking to us “pilgrims” from atop his horse, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in that poignant “Here’s looking at you, kid” moment from Casablanca, and so many more not to mention the Munchkinland scene from The Wizard of Oz. To keep it all running would mean that Disney could have had to deal with complex licensing agreements, which could be expensive and limiting.
Also, Disney World guests are changing. Nowadays, many people want more interactive and immersive experiences when they visit theme parks.
But as with everything, the drumbeat of progress keeps marching on and Disney decided to bring in a new attraction that would resonate with newer generations. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a popular ride posting high wait times every day and it’s one that appeals to all ages.
While we may miss The Great Movie Ride, Walt Disney’s legacy reminds us that nostalgia is essential, but we’ve got to keep looking forward to new adventures. Let us know below about your memories about this or any other attractions that have come and gone and stay tuned for the latest Disney news and more.
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What are your favorite memories of The Great Movie Ride? Let us know in the comments below.
I still miss this ride. It was my favorite one which is maybe weird but it left the biggest impression on me as a kid and as an adult gave me that same magic feeling like no other attraction at Disney. I’m so glad we had our last visit in 2017 before it closed but if I’d known we would have ridden it more than once.
Not a museum ? Really . “ Carousel of progress “ is all you have to look at . The Great Movie ride was awesome. By it ‘s design , it was set up to make updates . Loved it and truly miss it !!!!!
I think this ride should come back but with movies that weren’t on before as well as more A 100 animatronics.
I don’t want this ride gone forever, I want to be at Disney world again.
Why is Hollywood Studios becoming less Hollywood? The Great Movie Ride could have been update to only Disney owned movies to avoid licensing issues. The Run Away Railway has no purpose there and does not fit. Other than Star Wars and Toy Story there is not much to do at Hollywood Studios anymore. We usually skip it sin e we are done before noon. No more Backlot tour, no more stunt show, the best elements of Hollywood Studios are gone. As mentioned in a previous comment, DW has so much land, there is absolutely no reason to replace a ride. They could expand the parks and accommodate more guests in each park. Seems like they have been going in the wrong direction for a long time and now they are wondering why they are hurting.
The ride was full of memories
It had so much cool movies
This would really be a great time to dust off the original plans for “The Great Muppet Movie Ride.” Update them of course with modern scenes and modern animatronic technology all the while keeping the spirit of the original Great Movie Ride. This would serve as a major e-ticket expansion of “muppets land” and give the park another critical attraction that appeals to everybody. You’d have a great combination of nostalgic Boomer and Gen X fans from back in the day to couple with new Disney fans, all under the umbrella of popular (and way underserved) characters.
I don’t appreciate Marty Sklars comment of “We are not a museum”. Walt Disney purchased all the land he did so that there would be room to grow instead of replace rides with others. There are rides older than TGMR. What about the Carousel of Progress, Peter Pan, It’s a small world? TGMR was better than those and newer. Hollywood Studios was great before they shut down the area to build the Star Wars area. They had room to build that area without taking out a large section that was Hollywood Studios. Epic Universe at Universal is going to give Disney a realty check in a few years.
Its a shame to replace a handicapped accessible ride with a non handicapped accessible ride
Some nostalgia is a good thing. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. And, in this case, Disney shouldn’t have done what they did. What will be next? Closing Its a Small World? Look at all the new stuff. The wild rides filled with the latest technology. Does every nook and crazy have to be replaced with a big thrill ride? Once in a while its not such a bad thing to slow things down a bit and reflect on how you got where you are. Otherwise history becomes meaningless.
I have been going to Disney World since 1987 when my Daughter was 2 and she just turned 38 The Great Movie Ride was one of our favorites we didn’t ever skip it because we saw it before we looked forward to seeing it every time we went..we are both big Movie buffs and just like the Epcot Ellen ride show and the Backlot tour we would go on it like it was our first time …they are missed so much…
I’m just glad there’s not a ride photo for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway because while I appreciate that ride and think it’s super cute and loads of fun, I will never be able to hide the sadness on my face that I’m not riding The Great Movie Ride. Haha
The cost of licensing the other studio’s IP.
The savings of “Disney Only” IP saved millions.
And that is the way everything they do in their parks,hotels,merch.
The ability to escape from Disney brainwashing was refreshing. But after all the aqusitions the others wanted their cut. But stockholder needed a payraise. So away with non disney IP and concentrate on profit not what people want.
Nope the ride was allowed to deteriorate and staffed by people who did not want to be there.
Then when the built-in decay was so apparent and irritating, Disney decides to run a poll on the rides people most want replaced.
And whadda ya know ! ?
The neglected mismanaged allowed to self-distruct Great Movie Ride was the clear winner, as planned. Mostly a ploy to escape licensing costs and maintenance. Now we have a moving cartoon in selfpropelled ride vehicles WOW !
You could not update that ride by todays standards. What epic timeless films could they install in a reboot ?
Comicbook heros, social thought provoking tripe, in a time when only reboot or series films make money. What part of the park really has anything to do with Hollywood ? The gift shops exteriors ?
The bulk is Disney owned and operated IP.
They should remove the Hollywood part of the park name. What part of “Movie Making” is the focus there ? Other than the Avatar what is the other non disney thing there ?
Answer none ! They all left for Universal and other self owned parks.
Mabey Disney is Hollywood as a stand alone ?
They SURE Think So !
If todays customer is so putoff by the GMR and it’s content how is it that most films that were in the ride were LONG before my time, but I found quality entertainment.
What films today are “TIMELESS” UH ! NONE !
Let’s not forget that it was practically a walk-on ride, there was no queue. With MMRRR, the often hour long queue makes the entire rest of the park a little less busy.
Each and every time I did this ride that scene from Casablanca made me cry, I just love that film and the ride bringing it to life was something special. The whole ride was magical to me and I still miss it. Would have thought that Disney might have found a way to make a similar but more immersive ride featuring more of their own movies but it wasn’t to be, unfortunately. Sorry but the new Runaway Railway will never compete for me.
If Disney was looking for interactive/immersive experiences, the Great Movie Ride would still exist. It’s far more immersive than the majority of attractions they’ve built since it opened; that argument doesn’t make any sense.
Hollywood Studios has lost its identity not due to “progress” but due to obsession with IPs, which in and of itself has to do with Disney using their rides to market (indirectly) merchandise from their IPs.
I was on the ride in 2017 when it was closing it was one of my best rides at studios it was a great place to cool off and was hot and I enjoyed it very much they could have updated it to bring it up to speed instead of instead of replacing it but like you said times change things move on maybe it’ll show up some other place with hope and luck.
No, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is not a good ride much less a replacement for TGMR. Disney owns enough rights to enough studios and IP to create a new updated Great Movie Ride that would have been an adequate replacement. MMRR is no more interactive than TGMR plus it is much shorter and is not the time and crowd eater of the previous ride. Sorry, your argument just doesn’t hold water.
What makes me more upset about The Great Movie Ride closing is why they decided to do it 2yrs. just after updating it with the TCM partnership. It makes it feel like the Robert Osborne update was needless if they were just going to gut it anyway.
I would have loved to have seen that part with TCM.
I couldn’t agree with you more,this really could have been updated,by adding some more recent Disney movies & animatronics to continue the ride to appeal to younger audiences,why dismantle a classic & add screens is terrible,Disney wastes a ton of money,they definitely could have re-imagined,without dismantling!!
I actually disagree with the article in part in that they left out the biggest reason that unfortunately the reason we lost both The Great Movie Ride and Ellen’s Universe of Energy was due to poor and dwindling attendance of both attractions for years as Generations X and Y and Millennials took over the pop culture, those rides just lacked appeal for them and their kids. I am from that generation but still appreciate more old fashioned entertainment but those attractions definitely designed more with baby boomers or the greatest generation in mind