Telling Them What They Wanna Hear...

[ODF'er]

Isn't it a great time at the MK right now?

~Guest-"Can you tell me where Small World is?"
~Me-"It's Currently under refurbishment, and will not reopen until March"
~Guest-"WHAT?...THAT'S MY FAVORITE RIDE"
~Me~"May I suggest Mickey's Philharmagic?"
~Guest-"NO!...I want Small World. Well where's Dumbo?"
~Me-"Dumbo is also closed right now, and will not reopen until February"
~Guest-"What did I pay 60$ for?! I'm going to complain"
~Me-"Have a MAGICAL Disney day"...

fun fun fun.

[coldfire409]

It could be worse. At least you didn't work at the studios when GMR was under rehab, and coaster was 101 for a week because it had a major problem and they had to fly the designer out from France. Now when it comes to actual rides the studios doesn't have many. Plus the backlot tour closes early. At the end of the night the guest could only do Fantasmic, Tower, Star Tours, or One Man's Dream.

[leftcoaster]

Why continue to call it the Backlot Tour at all? Just make Catastrophe Canyon a regular ride and dump the guests back into a gift shop. It used to be a real nice "tour" 10 + years ago, but now it's a joke.

[coldfire409]

I hate to say it, but when the new stunt show opens up I think that they will scrap the shuttles. But that's only a rumor going around. One thing that really pisses me off is that when there were two empty theatres they decided to build a new one. They need to do something with the ABC TV theatre. Since they now demolished the Humpback theatre.

[TheManator]

Yeah, you're right, the tour was something back in 94 (my first ride). When we got off, we got to look at set pieces for the nightmare before xmas, and I totally remember it being longer. The last time I rode, back in 2000, it seemed so...halfassed. I hope they scrap the tour, and make a brand new attraction soon. Maybe they could bring superstar limo to the east coast?

[Jungle Vanessa]

Oh tonight was so much fun. I was Greeter at Buzz in TL during the Extended Extra Magic Hour, at 7 o'clock the fireworks started and we began to only let guests with wristbands into the ride. The Buzz Coordinator was standing right across the way from me and a guest walked up to me.

~Guest- Excuse me how long is the wait?
~Me- Only about 5 min.
~Guest- 5 min that's great thank you.
~Me- Okay I'll just need to see your wristband before you come in.
~Guest- Wristband, what wristband?
~Me- Are you a resort guest.
~Guest- No we're not, we're locals.
~Me- Oh well I'm sorry but for all non-resort guests the park closed at 7.
~Guest- You've gotta be kidding me, they close ALL these rides and then YOU kick people out.
~Me- Sorry, have a Magical Evening.

Eric (the Coord.) just looked at me and laughed.

Then 5 min later two guys came up and wanted to ride and I asked where their wristbands were and they looked at me and said "Oh we're CMs."
I was like "so this is for resort guests not CMs" and then one said "Oh please let us ride this one ride." I looked at them and said well if you insist on riding go for it but expect someone from mgt. to be there at the exit waiting for you and your IDs....new ppl are so dumb.

[BRWombat]

Yeah, you're right, the tour was something back in 94 (my first ride). When we got off, we got to look at set pieces for the nightmare before xmas, and I totally remember it being longer. The last time I rode, back in 2000, it seemed so... halfassed. I hope they scrap the tour, and make a brand new attraction soon. Maybe they could bring superstar limo to the east coast?
I had the same thoughts in 2003. My first ride, in 1990, was so awesome. I remember them pointing out the house on Residential Street that was the facade for the Golden Girls' house -- and I thought, how cool! (Golden Girls was still on the air at the time.)

Then in '03, what's the Residential Street claim to fame? Yep, same thing: Golden Girls. I still enjoyed the "behind the scenes" look, but I couldn't help but think how pitiful it was that in 13 years they couldn't do something better, or just more recent.

Catastrophe Canyon still rocks, but I can't see it being an attraction by itself. What else could be added to make the Backstage Tour worthwhile again?

[TheManator]

Well, USF made "rides" out of all of the stuff from the tour ride at USH. Jaws is like 2 minutes, Earthquake is like 2 mins, King Kong, Flash Floods, and other stuff. Why couldn't WDS make Catasphore Canyon into some sort of long version ride.

(being an avid fan of USH, I kind of hate USF, except for HHN.)

[Scott45]

It's been over 10 years since I went but are the cars from "Blade Runner" still there or have they rusted to pieces? I seem to remember them parked next to the "Dick Tracy" leftovers.


Scott45

[leftcoaster]

The whole original concept of the "Studios" is really shot to hell now. There isn't ANY real TV/movie production going on there now anyway. And if they do take a chance at doing any filming, all post-production is done in Hollywood anyway. Hell, there aren't even any aminators in Florida anymore. Didn't they close the animators building and fire them? I know they only offered a few jobs in California.

I do like the theming of the park, but they really need to drop the "see what's it's like on a real movie set" BS.

If another company partners with Disney (Sony?) and/or they decide to do some real production work in Florida, nothing is going to change.

Maybe they can have the tram do a loop around the other side of the park and go through the Indiana Jones sets. Something. Anything other than the "Backlot Tour." Maybe they can make it: Catastrophe Canyon: The Ride.

[IndyandMarion]

Ok. Time for the Dr. to jump in.

Listen, here's the deal. When Auto finally opens on or around May 5th, when the show is not being performed the Backlot tour is set to drive across the stage to give you an even better look at everything.

True to what has been said, the concept of the Studios being a "behind the scenes look" type park has gone to the way side. Disney is on the move to fix these problems (Hence bringing Auto to the Studios as part of their "going back to old school Studios concept").

Indiana Jones, unfortunately will eventually close within the next 5-7 years (You can read my report on the matter over at my website), which will bring up a problem for them in trying to throw the Studios back to the "Behind the scenes look" idea.

All they need is to wait for Auto to open, test the Backlot Tour in those waters then begin working on bringing the Backstage Pass Tour back and they will almost have this thing figured out.

Unfortunately, Disney basically grabbed their balls and crush them when they decided to close the Animation department down here, leaving them with, well, not a damn thing. So they are back to square one again.

Another problem is that when Eisner left Universal, he came with the knowledge of them planning Universal Studios, and in order to compete with that, he decided on the Studios, but the problem is the idiot (in his infinate wisdom) but the Studios in a LAND LOCK (Buena Vista Drive on one side, World Drive behind the studios, the main entrance to the parking lot. Dont even think about the marsh back there behind the parking lot because just on the opposite side of that marsh is the road that leads to Pop Century).

The ONLY thing they can do is close rides down and replace them (Like what they did with residential street for L! M! A!).

Now people will be getting pissed soon, why? Because Tower of Terror will be going down for rehab (One side at a time) for about a month all together and if I remember right, Fantasmic! will be closing for rehab (To make more footpaths for the exit after the show, PM me for more info). Shortly afterwards, Star Tours is set to go down for about a month or two for rehab (Removing the FP machines apparently and a few other minor things...LIKE CLEANING THE DAMN VIDEO!!!!)

So yeah, the Studios is screwed, but there's not a damn thing we can do about it. I had the chance to blow Eisner out of the sky the other day when he was flying over the resort checking out Auto, Everest and Soarin but no...they wouldn't let me near the rockets that guests dont know about and they you didnt hear about from me. If they would have let me have just ONE! We could have been free to work on the Studios without him around to screw us again!!

[IndyandMarion]

Maybe they can have the tram do a loop around the other side of the park and go through the Indiana Jones sets. Something. Anything other than the "Backlot Tour." Maybe they can make it: Catastrophe Canyon: The Ride.
Wouldn't happen even if it could. One reason is due to how much the traffic would get jammed back there in the area. Not to mention, during the parade, all traffic is killed until the floats have cleared the area.

Second, and the biggest killer to your comment is that Epic is private property. Disney esentially only owns the rights to have the Indiana Jones theme. Disney has nothing to do with the show (Other than them being part of the team that helped build the stage and sets as well as provide the engineers). The show is run completely by a company based out of California.

And yes, even if you are a CM and you are backstage, you can get terminated for going onto the set even setting one foot on there backstage since it is considered trespassing to an extent.

Sounds harsh but its the truth.

Now a long time ago (Im talkin late 80s-very early 90s), the backlot tour ENTRANCE was where the Animation area is today. The tour used to be a hell of a lot longer since it would work its way from there, over to costume design, down Residential, over to the canyon, and then back to the station).

One thing that hits me as interesting is that when the explosion hits at the canyon, you can hear the damn thing ALL THE WAY OVER AT COASTER... Thats a lot of buildings those sounds are getting passed... Be interesting to see what comes from the stadium for Auto being a jump away from the Canyon and how the explosion will effect those on the third level. Hell, you can hear the cars and bikes over on the OPPOSITE SIDE of the Coaster building, without even trying, these puppies are loud, loud, loud when they want to be.

[leftcoaster]

Thanks for the info I&M. :D I don't claim to be an expert, so your behind the scenes into is really helpful.

I didn't think they had any missles at MGM. I thought they were inside the casle? :wink:

[IndyandMarion]

I have contacts that allowed us to aquire a few of their missles...

[TheManator]

Eisner came from Paramount, not Universal.

[Scott45]

But are the Blade Runner cars still there or did they bury them with Nemo's submarines? :shock:

Scott45

[IndyandMarion]

No. Blade Runner cars were sent to Lucas Ranch for their "museum"

Still have a few items from the Indiana Jones Trilogy. Sad to see that the plane from Epic isn't there anymore (But that was removed with the latest rehab anyways)

[Polar33]

Eisner came from Paramount, not Universal.
I always thought he came from the innermost depths of Hell...

[RebuildtheKingdom]

Eisner came from Paramount, not Universal.
I always thought he came from the innermost depths of Hell...
LOL, over the years he's gotten quite good at brushing his hair to hide the horns...

[Zazu]

Eisner came from Paramount, not Universal.
I always thought he came from the innermost depths of Hell...
No, I seriously doubt he *ever* rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

[TheManator]

I stand corrected.
Well, wherever he is from, hopefully he has some better ideas for MGM in the time coming.

[coldfire409]

We are in the middle of his ideas. Have multiple theaters sit empty and build secenery insted of attractions.

[aliceindisguse]

Eisner came from Paramount, not Universal.
I always thought he came from the innermost depths of Hell...
No, I seriously doubt he *ever* rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
Actually he has at the company Holiday Party... I sooo wanted to e-stop the ride with him insid the inferno :twisted:, but I behaved :cry:

[gurgi]

Actually he has at the company Holiday Party... I sooo wanted to e-stop the ride with him insid the inferno , but I behaved
actually i dont think it would have bothered him, he would have probably been confused, curious as to how he got home so quickly from mr toads.

[TheManator]

Don't you think you guys are being a little harsh on Eisner?

[Zazu]

Don't you think you guys are being a little harsh on Eisner?
Well, we did try subtlety first, but that 45% negative vote last year didn't phase him. Even the 81% negative vote from the 401k group didn't slow him down.

Next time he visits a park, perhaps we should try hooting at him like trained monkeys. Think he'd notice that?

http://figzu.com/smilies/monkey.gifhttp://figzu.com/smilies/monkey.gifhttp://figzu.com/smilies/monkey.gifhttp://figzu.com/smilies/monkey.gifhttp://figzu.com/smilies/monkey.gifhttp://figzu.com/smilies/monkey.gifhttp://figzu.com/smilies/monkey.gif

[Scott45]

:lol:


Thanks, I really needed a laugh!



Scott45