I think many Disney fans are mourning the loss of this ride especially hard for a few reasons:

• The Great Movie Ride is the last of the 5 opening day attractions that was still in operation.
• The Great Movie Ride is one of the last nods to the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood represented when the park was called Disney-MGM Studios.
• The recent passing of Disney Legend and Imagineer Marty Sklar, the creative leader for what is now Disney’s Hollywood Studios makes this closing even harder.

In 2014, Turner Classic Movies became the sponsor of the ride and by mid-2015 some changes were made. We were not fans of the changes. The queue line movie changed and was now hosted by Robert Osborne from TCM. The changes didn’t end there. The role of the Disney Cast Members was diminished so that instead of their usual spiel, Robert Osborne would do more of the narrating. This change didn’t kill the ride but it really wasn’t a welcome change. The closing movie changed at this time as well.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts on The Great Movie Ride

Personally, The Great Movie Ride had to grow on me, I wasn’t a fan at first. The Alien scene always felt out of place to me, especially in a family ride. My kids were always told to close their eyes or bury their heads in my shoulders for that scene. One time the cast member leading the tour picked on us for closing our eyes, but we didn’t care. Over the years The Great Movie Ride became a family favorite and a must-ride on every trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Honestly, I just started keeping my eyes open during the Alien scene in the past year.

I think what made this ride a favorite wasn’t the recreated classic movie scenes or the animatronics, it was the cast members. In The Great Movie Ride the cast members got to be a part of the story, not only did they put their own twist into the scripted spiel, they acted, some well, some not-so-well. They were the big twist whether they were in the role of host, bank robber, or gangster. Having live actors helped to humanize all of the animatronics as well.

On Friday, August 11, 2017, two days before The Great Movie Ride closed forever, Ron, Jordan, our friend Verlin, and myself took our last ride on this classic attraction. Unfortunately our host was overacting and just wasn’t that good. My friend David would tell you that the best host ever was Tess, who was part of the Disney College Program a few years ago. We had the pleasure of riding with her a few times, and she was wonderful.

Change happens and we keep moving forward. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be replacing The Great Movie Ride in the near future. It is time for the first ever Mickey Mouse themed ride at a Disney Park and I am sure it will be amazing. So, in the spirit of the Mickey Mouse Club Theme Song, “Now it’s time to say goodbye”…to The Great Movie Ride.

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The queue is in two separate sections. The first part winds its way around some displays of actual movie props and costumes. The displays change periodically-my favorite was when they had one of the carousel horses from Mary Poppins on display! The larger part of the queue is in the next room where there is a continuous reel of classic film clips playing. Wait time for this ride usually isn’t terribly long but check with the cast member at the entrance when you approach. Next you enter the ride loading area. The Great Movie Ride is a “traveling theater” style ride vehicle which seats 68 guests at a time.

The first genre of movie that we visit are the classic musicals. Footlight Parade,  Singing in the Rain, and Mary Poppins are the movies featured in this section of the ride.

Footlight Parade-The Great Movie Ride

Next we travel to the underworld of the classic gangster films. Here we highlight Public Enemy starring James Cagney. Remain seated…you never know if your ride vehicle will be hijacked by a gangster needing a getaway vehicle! Continuing on we head to the old west and two classic American actors, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Keep your eyes peeled for bank robbers!

Clint Eastwood-The Great Movie Ride

Now we approach the spaceship Nostromo from the movie Alien. This scene freaks me out…and many small children so in all honesty, I have always closed my eyes through it and I have never seen it. If you have, feel free to leave a comment and tell my readers about it!

“Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” Yes, next we are in Egypt with Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Raiders of the Lost Ark-Great Movie Ride

After a brief nod to horror movies we visit the jungle with Tarzan, Jane and Cheeta before heading to Casablanca. This tour wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Yensid and Disney’s Fantasia.

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” You’re not Dorothy, you have gone over the rainbow and are now in Munkinland. Be on the lookout for the Wicked Witch of the West!

Wicked With of the West-Great Movie Ride

The last stop on our tour is the movie theater where we are treated to a montage of movie clips from classic and more recent films. The ride vehicles then pull into the loading/unloading area and your trip through movie history is complete.

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