GMR was my first management job outside of ent though i still considered it ent bc that spiel isn’t everyone fortay… its also the only spiel you couldn’t play with.
I worked many places! I had the great benefit pre 9/11 that i was able to help out in some shows during vacation! But gmr was my first true job at wdw then i made the rounds at dhs including management and then went to mk and ended there when i had my sp needs son whom is future WDI!
I’ve only been to WDW once, after 29 years of begging my family to take me I took myself and my brother, and GMR was one of our favourite rides out of all the parks, and was saddened when it was announced to be closing. As has been mentioned, a complete refurb and updating of the animatronics would have been fine, and maybe replace one or two scenes, the ‘flying’ scene from Titanic would have been special for example, but the Casablanca moment, Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz and even the cheesy scenelets were still fun, and I was lucky to experience both the cowboy and gangster scenes (I preferred the gangster but both were fun), and I actually got teary in the movie montage at the end. Im sure the new Mickey ride is fun too, and looks good in the POV videos I’ve seen, it doesn’t have the same feeling that GMR had, I may feel different if i rode it, but as a huge lover of movies I just feel sad it won’t be there should i be lucky enough to come again in the future.
I came back to say i will always miss gmr its like a second home as a cm and beyond ty ryan for the post brought back memories… i was walking through railroad the other day and (it can not do 6 ft either i am afraid) and it doesnt even look the same ride is great you get over the crude mice but not the fact gmr is gone!
I was also sad to hear that gmr was going, I loved everything about it ,the not knowing what version u would b getting And the wonderful cms who worked hard to make it fun each and every time
Yes, doing away with the movie ride and the Osborne lights are two of Disney’s greatest mistakes. Both were special milestones in any holiday trip to Disney. And considering Disney still has 2/3 of the land it bought undeveloped, it’s a real slap in the face to Disney fans.
1) I agree with Ryan that the park’s name doesn’t make sense anymore. Given how ALL the attractions are now Disney properties, they should simply re-title it: Disney Studios.
2) I agree with Stan. The Osbourne Lights were awesome and it’s too bad they didn’t come out with something just as festive to replace it. The Tower of Terror projection show is neat, but FEELS uncoordinated and random. Bring back the Christmas in the Sky drone show!
3) Honestly, I’m glad they shuttered the GMR. It was looking very creaky. Some parts were still great (Aliens, Oz) others were OLD. Oh, hey, it’s Casablanca and they’re standing there! And, Fantasia is a projection on the wall. Wowzers, there goes mannequin Tarzan.
Frankly, it felt like as the years went on, some of the robots weren’t doing as much as I remembered. And the live action stuff (though fun) FELT shorter and rushed and harder to hear, like they never upgraded the speakers.
I spent 6 years at GMR as a CM. No where on property will you ever find a more dedicated family of TM. Sure some things started to look a little worn.. but don’t we all? Thousands of people were introduced to fantastic movies and experiences.
I’ll take GMR and the old Studios over zombie Mickey any day of the week! (And you are right about the ghost)
Omg the ghosts of the theme parks could make up a book lol! And yes melissa i still know so many from gmr even after i left i still kept in touch w so many and when i said my son was intrested one of the gangsters i knew let him spiel w him bc he was running it anyway. Lol! Best memory of gmr on top of working there ever!
The Great Movie Ride was favorite of mine and I really do miss it. I would like sometime in the future to see them put it somewhere else. I’m not a roller coaster fan so I’m not going see the new Mickey and Minnie attraction.
When I first started going to the studios as the Disney MGM studios that ride was like the heart of the park all about movies. They could’ve done so much more with the great movie ride they could’ve added newer movies. You could’ve expanded the building and put more scenes into it. That’s what should’ve been done. It should not have been dismantled and become a roller coaster. I’ve always felt that this roller coaster ride Mickey and Minnie should’ve been put in to Storybook Circus in the Magic Kingdom. That’s really where it belongs not in the Hollywood studios it just does not fit.
The Great Movie Ride was always a disappointment to me. I always enjoyed it, but it just never caught my imagination like Pirates or Haunted Mansion had. I was always thinking that there could be more. The Wizard of Oz scene near the end made me think that. The problem so many amazing movies but only a few that can be paid tribute to with a hard ride. Was nice when they updated the ending films, but even the ending was a disappointment compared to Munchin Land. Haven’t had a chance to ride the new attraction yet, but hopefully it will catch my imagination a bit better.
I personally have been disappointed about the loss of The Great Movie Ride for quite some time now. I really don’t understand why it was necessary to replace this classic attraction located in the Chinese Theatre! It just made sense! I know I am nostaglic, but everything about this ride was fascinating and magic to me. It completely went with the theme of Hollywood Studios, classic hollywood and Disney. I am not a fan of Mickey and Minnie’s at all. The attraction seemed empty to me and the building and interior did not seem to fit to theme or story of the attraction. I am just so deeply saddened by this loss. There really was nothing like it in the world as the author said. I feel like Disney is continually changing and progressing, which of course was Walt’s vision-but the parks are also missing out on a driving factor for humanity which is nostaglia.
I still remember the first time I went on GMR back in the Disney/MGM days when my sister worked in the park. Walking inside on a hot day, seeing the Hollywood Hills lit up like a cool evening when I lived in LA, the scenes and the way the CM played with the script, and the WW. It was magic. Saw it the last time about two years before it closed, the TCM montage at the end seemed better than before but some of the elements did seem dated. Biggest disappointment was that hat out front which they were taking down at the time.
Comments for Why Disney Fans Still Mourn the Loss of The Great Movie Ride
Mark
GMR was my first management job outside of ent though i still considered it ent bc that spiel isn’t everyone fortay… its also the only spiel you couldn’t play with.
Ryan Ogilvie
Incredible! The CMs really made the experience.
Harley
GMR was my first job at wdw! I miss it as much as Horizons… my son wanted to work there we even practice the speil.
Ryan Ogilvie
Wow, I didn’t know you worked on the GMR!
Harley
I worked many places! I had the great benefit pre 9/11 that i was able to help out in some shows during vacation! But gmr was my first true job at wdw then i made the rounds at dhs including management and then went to mk and ended there when i had my sp needs son whom is future WDI!
Thomas
I’ve only been to WDW once, after 29 years of begging my family to take me I took myself and my brother, and GMR was one of our favourite rides out of all the parks, and was saddened when it was announced to be closing. As has been mentioned, a complete refurb and updating of the animatronics would have been fine, and maybe replace one or two scenes, the ‘flying’ scene from Titanic would have been special for example, but the Casablanca moment, Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz and even the cheesy scenelets were still fun, and I was lucky to experience both the cowboy and gangster scenes (I preferred the gangster but both were fun), and I actually got teary in the movie montage at the end. Im sure the new Mickey ride is fun too, and looks good in the POV videos I’ve seen, it doesn’t have the same feeling that GMR had, I may feel different if i rode it, but as a huge lover of movies I just feel sad it won’t be there should i be lucky enough to come again in the future.
Ryan Ogilvie
Thanks for your comment Thomas, the GMR really was one of Disney’s greats and I was incredibly sad to see it go also.
Davis
I came back to say i will always miss gmr its like a second home as a cm and beyond ty ryan for the post brought back memories… i was walking through railroad the other day and (it can not do 6 ft either i am afraid) and it doesnt even look the same ride is great you get over the crude mice but not the fact gmr is gone!
Ryan Ogilvie
I am so glad my post brought you the same memories I got from writing it.
Appreciate the comment as always, I enjoy reading them!
Debbie
I was also sad to hear that gmr was going, I loved everything about it ,the not knowing what version u would b getting And the wonderful cms who worked hard to make it fun each and every time
Stan P
Yes, doing away with the movie ride and the Osborne lights are two of Disney’s greatest mistakes. Both were special milestones in any holiday trip to Disney. And considering Disney still has 2/3 of the land it bought undeveloped, it’s a real slap in the face to Disney fans.
Harley
I use to work dhs my favorite would be able to after close see the lights wo people there.
Ryan Ogilvie
The Osborne Lights were incredible and I agree, it is such a shame to not have them at DHS anymore.
Darth Wistful
1) I agree with Ryan that the park’s name doesn’t make sense anymore. Given how ALL the attractions are now Disney properties, they should simply re-title it: Disney Studios.
2) I agree with Stan. The Osbourne Lights were awesome and it’s too bad they didn’t come out with something just as festive to replace it. The Tower of Terror projection show is neat, but FEELS uncoordinated and random. Bring back the Christmas in the Sky drone show!
3) Honestly, I’m glad they shuttered the GMR. It was looking very creaky. Some parts were still great (Aliens, Oz) others were OLD. Oh, hey, it’s Casablanca and they’re standing there! And, Fantasia is a projection on the wall. Wowzers, there goes mannequin Tarzan.
Frankly, it felt like as the years went on, some of the robots weren’t doing as much as I remembered. And the live action stuff (though fun) FELT shorter and rushed and harder to hear, like they never upgraded the speakers.
I’m happy for the change.
Ghost nation forver
The ghosts that haunted the place are not happy and is the reason before the park shudder railway had issues beyond crude characters!
Ryan Ogilvie
Thanks for your detailed comment! Change is almost always good at WDW, I just wish they had given it a complete refurb rather than replace it.
Melissa
I spent 6 years at GMR as a CM. No where on property will you ever find a more dedicated family of TM. Sure some things started to look a little worn.. but don’t we all? Thousands of people were introduced to fantastic movies and experiences.
I’ll take GMR and the old Studios over zombie Mickey any day of the week! (And you are right about the ghost)
Ryan Ogilvie
I would love to hear more about this ghost… Do you have any stories Melissa?
I’d be happy to talk about it more in an article, there’s been so much interest in this over the years.
Also, thank you from all Disney fans. GMR was and always will be one of my favorite Disney attractions.
Harley
Omg the ghosts of the theme parks could make up a book lol! And yes melissa i still know so many from gmr even after i left i still kept in touch w so many and when i said my son was intrested one of the gangsters i knew let him spiel w him bc he was running it anyway. Lol! Best memory of gmr on top of working there ever!
Sue
The Great Movie Ride was favorite of mine and I really do miss it. I would like sometime in the future to see them put it somewhere else. I’m not a roller coaster fan so I’m not going see the new Mickey and Minnie attraction.
When I first started going to the studios as the Disney MGM studios that ride was like the heart of the park all about movies. They could’ve done so much more with the great movie ride they could’ve added newer movies. You could’ve expanded the building and put more scenes into it. That’s what should’ve been done. It should not have been dismantled and become a roller coaster. I’ve always felt that this roller coaster ride Mickey and Minnie should’ve been put in to Storybook Circus in the Magic Kingdom. That’s really where it belongs not in the Hollywood studios it just does not fit.
Loui B
The Great Movie Ride was always a disappointment to me. I always enjoyed it, but it just never caught my imagination like Pirates or Haunted Mansion had. I was always thinking that there could be more. The Wizard of Oz scene near the end made me think that. The problem so many amazing movies but only a few that can be paid tribute to with a hard ride. Was nice when they updated the ending films, but even the ending was a disappointment compared to Munchin Land. Haven’t had a chance to ride the new attraction yet, but hopefully it will catch my imagination a bit better.
Alana Tartaglia
I personally have been disappointed about the loss of The Great Movie Ride for quite some time now. I really don’t understand why it was necessary to replace this classic attraction located in the Chinese Theatre! It just made sense! I know I am nostaglic, but everything about this ride was fascinating and magic to me. It completely went with the theme of Hollywood Studios, classic hollywood and Disney. I am not a fan of Mickey and Minnie’s at all. The attraction seemed empty to me and the building and interior did not seem to fit to theme or story of the attraction. I am just so deeply saddened by this loss. There really was nothing like it in the world as the author said. I feel like Disney is continually changing and progressing, which of course was Walt’s vision-but the parks are also missing out on a driving factor for humanity which is nostaglia.
Jose
I still remember the first time I went on GMR back in the Disney/MGM days when my sister worked in the park. Walking inside on a hot day, seeing the Hollywood Hills lit up like a cool evening when I lived in LA, the scenes and the way the CM played with the script, and the WW. It was magic. Saw it the last time about two years before it closed, the TCM montage at the end seemed better than before but some of the elements did seem dated. Biggest disappointment was that hat out front which they were taking down at the time.
Comments are closed.