So Long, Farewell 

Saying goodbye to The Great Movie Ride

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past month, you'll know that sadly The Great Movie Ride is rolling its final credits. Last month at the D23 Expo, Disney announced that on top of the 2 new lands being added to Disney's Hollywood Studios they will also be adding a new attraction to the park. Only one small catch, the new attraction will be taking over the spot that currently houses The Great Movie Ride. With all of the changes going on at Disney World and within the Walt Disney company, I am not surprised that Disney is trying to cut all loose end that are licensed through other companies. That said, it doesn't hurt my soul any less to be losing one of my favorite rides in the parks. Between the movie set artifacts in the queue to the way you become immersed in the show (ride) this is one ride we have always made a point to experience when we visit the parks.

When the park opened as MGM Studios in 1989, it not only housed a working studio but The Great Movie Ride as well along with other film and animation themed attractions. Taking home in a replica of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, this was the last attraction to reside in Disney's Hollywood Studio that was original with the parks opening. Being such a phenomenal and interactive attraction, it is no wonder they decided to base an entire park after it.

That's exactly what Disney did when they were re-configuring thepark to create Disney's Hollywood Studios. Even though the park is currently in transition once again, you can still feel the Big Band Era theme throughout much of the park. With movies such as Casa Blanca, Singing In The Rain and many others that are incorporated in the attraction; they have definitely left their mark on the theme and obeisance of the park.

As Disney cuts ties with sources that are outside of the Disney realm it only makes since that they would turn the attraction into a ride featuring Mickey Mouse called Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Though I'm terribly sad to see this particular attraction go, Disney imagineering as been doing exceptional work lately and I can't wait to see what they are able to do with that amount of space.