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The Great Movie Ride - Full Ride
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High Resolution Widescreen, WMV, 21mins duration, 195MB
Thanks to Neil Harrison
Experiencing The Great Movie Ride is like holding a visitor's pass to some of the most famous film shoots in silver screen history.
The ride-through attraction at Disney-MGM Studios takes Walt
Disney World Resort guests on a "soundstage tour" of such famous film settings
as the "Casablanca" airport farewell, the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City
from "Wizard of Oz," the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" Well of Souls and many more.
As visitors enter Disney-MGM Studios onto a re-created Hollywood Boulevard of
the 1930s and '40s, their attention at once is drawn to The Great Movie Ride
building at the far end of the street. Its exterior, a full-scale reproduction
of Hollywood's world-famous Chinese Theater, captures the eye and the
imagination, bringing to mind images of the many legendary stars who left their
handprints or footprints in the theater's concrete courtyard.
Guests queue through the theater's precisely reproduced lobby that leads them to
the heart and soul of filmmaking.
As they board ride vehicles, the glamour of Hollywood emerges in a giant
cyclorama of the Hollywood hills. Several tiers of show sets including the
vintage "Hollywoodland" sign blend with a California sunset. Show lights dim and
make-believe seems real as the cars pass under an old-fashioned theater marquee
and into the Hollywood musical.
More than 60 "dancers" atop a large tiered, revolving "cake" greet them, a
replay of the "By a Waterfall" scene from the Busby Berkeley musical, "Footlight
Parade." One of Gene Kelly's most memorable screen performances, the scene in
which he sings the title song from "Singin' in the Rain," happens next for the
guests. Rain appears to drench the soundstage but, as before, doesn't dampen the
spirits of an Audio-AnimatronicsÆ Kelly as he holds on to the lamppost and sings
the memorable song.
The third musical moment is from Disney's "Mary Poppins." With Bert on a rooftop
and Mary descending via her magical umbrella, the duet sings "Chim Chim Cher-ee."
Guests feel part of the scene with Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews.
Edge-of-the-seat adventure takes over next. The sight of James Cagney in his
role from the film "Public Enemy" greets guests as they enter Gangster Alley --
a street as dark and sinister as the previous one was bright and musical. Film
fans who recognize such a setting as the perfect spot for an ambush are right on
the money. The visitors quickly find themselves in the middle of a
Prohibition-style mob shoot-out.
Escape from the armed thugs doesn't guarantee safe passage. A trip to Western
Town proves just as perilous -- though first impressions may cause some guests
to think otherwise.
John Wayne waits nearby on horseback -- what kind of varmint would start trouble
with this film hero in the vicinity?
But in the movies, anything can happen. That's why the bank robbers at the end
of the street no doubt think they can get away with a broad-daylight stickup.
When they blow the safe and flames pour out of the building, guests once again
find themselves in the midst of movie mayhem.
Escape only puts them in jeopardy again. Finally off the streets, they find
themselves in the depths of the spaceship Nostromo from the film "Alien" where
an apprehensive Officer Ripley guards the corridor against intruders. Will she
think the visitors a threat? Or are there other dangers, even worse ones,
lurking nearby? Visitors leave the Nostromo perhaps shaken, but with answers,
nonetheless.
What good are space-age answers in the ancient Well of Souls? With dozens of
wriggling snakes covering the floor of the subterranean vault from "Raiders of
the Lost Ark," guests come upon famous adventurers -- Harrison Ford as Indiana
Jones and John Rhys-Davies as his sidekick, Sallah, struggling to remove the
ancient ark from its sepulcher.
As the ride vehicles roll into the next scene, visitors get to see the type of
movie action -- the stuff of serials -- that inspired "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
A high priest worships at an enormous altar before a statue of Anubis, god of
passage through the underworld. The glow of a brilliant scarab mounted on the
idol beckons the evil-doer. The villains of Saturday serials couldn't resist
such riches. It's no different here, and when the gods are angered by such
thievery, they strike back with fury. In a land of the mummies and curses, such
fury can be terrifying.
Guests just make it to safety from the ancient temple and finally move off the
edges of their seats and into less harrowing fantasy.
They are in the jungle and the familiar cry of Tarzan fills the air as he swings
through the air on a vine. Jane is seated atop an elephant, and Cheetah, a
prisoner of typecasting, screeches and jumps up and down.
Then it's nighttime, and the subjects are legendary. As an airplane engine
sputters and finally catches, Rick and Ilsa say their good-byes in the timeless
scene from "Casablanca."
Next stop, Munchkinland. Swirling winds between scenes suggest a tornado. As
they pass into the scene, guests see the winds' results: two legs stick out from
below a house. The city's residents are celebrating their good fortune. A
surprise visit by the Wicked Witch of the West as portrayed by Margaret Hamilton
restores the tension.
Film fans know how hard she tried to avenge her sister's death. They also know
the route the film takes to reach its happy ending. The final scene is one of
Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and Toto on the Yellow
Brick Road to the Emerald City of Oz.
A grand finale film montage reminds guests that the number of memorable scenes
from great films is limitless.
(Click each image for a larger 1024x768 version)
Below: The firework launch tubes and Mickey inflation system for Sorcery in the Sky.
