The Lost Theming of Disney MGM Studios

Today, Disney's Hollywood Studios is used as a dumping ground for Disney IP. Should it be? Well, no as the old studio theming worked as glue to tie all the attractions together thematically. Here, I'm interested in exploring the old studio and Golden Age of Hollywood theming that once defined Disney MGM Studios. I'm also inclined to think that the new "immersing you into the movies" aspect of the current Hollywood Studios is a thinly veiled excuse to not bother with thematic cohesion. Today, I want to break down the many issues of abandoning the theming of the initial park.
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[@wellidontreallyknow990]

it doesn't make sense that they changed the theme to bringing you inside the movies but got rid of the Great MOVIE Ride, the ride with the slogan "A Magical Journey INTO the Movies".

[@Atmblack03]

Add in they expanded their movie rights into so many options that updating the Great Movie Ride could have literally been near endless for them..

[@CoralCoasters]

They should have renovated great movie ride and made a standalone land for runaway railway, or put in magic kingdom which makes much more sense

[@beneciotheperson]

What sucks even more is that they could've put Runaway Railway in...oh IDK THE GIANT LAUNCH BAY BUILDING?!

[@patsysolatzzo2962]

I really miss the great movie ride.

[@Drag0n_Bolt]

I only got to ride that once and I'm sad

[@nonsensology]

The funny thing is, the year after the Great Movie Ride closed, Disney would release a Mickey Mouse cartoon online that would have been the PERFECT source material for a replacement, "Roll 'Em". Mickey and Minnie crash through various movie sets while chasing after a runaway film reel. The wacky hijinks would have been a great spiritual successor to the never built Muppet Movie Ride, while giving classic movies a fun toon makeover. What a missed opportunity! Anyway, this was a really great analysis video. Kudos!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

That's a really good idea. I've seen the shorts but I don't recall that particular one. It certainly would make a lot more thematic sense.

[@igelkott255]

wow, I just watched that short on youtube and yeah, that would've been perfect! They would be able to put MM centerstage in the park where he belongs AND do a mini tour through hollywood history thereby fitting with the park's theme. They could even have an animated style mickey interacting with "life-like" animatronics (and cast like in the old great movie ride). What a missed opportunity!

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@igelkott255 The thing is, it's all thanks to getting rid of Toontown Fair that the so-called Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios, which no longer applies, since Warner Bros. owns the MGM library & won't team with Disney ever again due to being competing rival companies & the only reason they ever even did so for _Who Framed Roger Rabbit_ at all was, in part, due to the clout of producer Steven Spielberg, since his Amblin Entertainment animation company co-owns the core characters of the film, which accounts for the lack of Roger Rabbit in the Disney parks ever since ideas for a sequel were scrapped, largely due to neither Disney executives nor the Amblin Entertainment team lead by Steven Spielberg actively willing to work together anymore, which provides a reasonably credible explanation as to why _Bonkers_ was created by Disney as a failed attempt to recapture that rare feeling Roger Rabbit gave audiences by turning the entire thing into a buddy cop cartoon featuring sparce cameos from Disney characters -- yet, Disney bigwigs directly refused to actually have Mickey Mouse appear publicly when the supposed head cheese of the Disney company overall/Walt Disney's alter-ego ended up stuck in a to-scale animated mouse cage for the entirety of an episode -- meanwhile, over at the other company, the then-forthcoming _Tiny Toon Adventures_ deliberately poked open fun of Charles Fleisher's speech impediment as Roger's original voice actor [see the moment when a Roger caricature showed up pleading to be hired by Buster & Babs before being promptly given the trap door drop out response as a one-off inside joke added in to make executive producer Spielberg laugh], whose budding partnership with Warner Brothers convinced the two big-name companies to collaborate) has that Mickey Mouse-themed ride (around the same time too, comic books also had DC's New Teen Titans teaming with Marvel's Uncanny X-Men against the combination of Darkseid & Galactus, because comics also were not doing as well at the time, either). If we're honest, when _Who Framed Roger Rabbit_ came out, both companies -- Disney & Warner Brothers, that is -- were in the shitter near the end of the 1980's/early 90's (Remember, this was before the Disney Renaissance [which is comprised of the Disney Animated Canon films from 1989 to 1997 as well as both _The Disney Afternoon_ & _One Saturday Morning_ TV blocks] for Disney & for Warner Brothers, Tom Ruegger's cartoons executively produced by Mr. Spielberg [i.e. the aforementioned _Tiny Toon Adventures_ revolving around the _Looney Tunes_ veterans teaching teenage pupils clearly modeled upon contemporary depictions of what the characters would be in the 20th Century the ins & outs of the physically violent signature slapstick comedy classic Warner Bros. cartoons are best known for, _Taz-Mania_ centered around the inaudible gibberish of the Tasmanian Devil in comparison to his stock sitcom family as well as the show's far more interesting group of side characters/villains who have to work around Taz not being able to speak properly outside of Cookie Monster-style grammatically broken English, _Animaniacs_ about an animated variety show ensemble of memorable characters anchored by 3 zany siblings too insane to be let loose among normal people due to their wacky shenanigans that involve risqué humor/sexual innuendo aplenty, cultural references galore & 4th wall jokes, _Pinky & the Brain_ about 2 genetically engineered lab mice bent on global domination before their plans were thwarted by the network forcing them to be adopted by dimwit animal abuser Elmyra until the 2020 reboot saved them from this fate by bringing them back to what they did best before WB upper management fucked up, actually funny superhero spoof _Freakazoid_ about early internet geek Dexter Douglas literally getting swallowed up by his computer simply to be spit back out as an utterly nutty wannabe superhero with blue skin, spikey black hair & a red spandex one piece suit with a lightning bolt across his chest, _Road Rovers_ about a group of differing dog breeds forming a cohesive team of anthropomorphic superheroes when their humans weren't around, _Waynehead_ centered around what basically is what people stereotypically think about African-American street urchin life was back when rapper Lil' Wayne was actually relevant, _Histeria_ about a group of school kids -- each one equipped with a designated gimmick based on their individual personality traits or character name -- taking the proverbial piss out of conventional history in traditional G-rated cartoony slapstick form & _Detention_ about a group of preteen misfits causing trouble at school at the expense of a Miss Trunchbull-like authority figure who would give them...well...detention, clearly intended to poke fun at Disney's own _Recess_ cartoon that was popular at the time]).

[@JorgeSanchez-cy4jh]

Can anyone explain me what does IP means. He said all the time in the videos

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@JorgeSanchez-cy4jh Intellectual Property. This refers to franchises/brands that the company owns.

[@grantroodbeen1316]

It’s crazy how this is the park with the potential to include literally any IP they wanted if they put enough care into it yet thanks to current leadership they still squandered it.

[@grantroodbeen1316]

@@PoseidonEntertainment the incredible’s and cars mini areas looked like shit additions from the minute they were put there lol

[@cecfigment]

Now they say that the park once took you behind the scenes and now it can transport you into your favorite worlds *DIES OF CRINGE*

[@psyche5893]

@@grantroodbeen1316 so does galaxy’s edge, and any expansion that has been added since 2010.

[@yousaysilver]

I really wish that Disney would start thinking of the parks' theming as a whole again but they always seem hyperfocused on individual attractions that are easy cashgrabs that they think they could easily just put into any part of the park. They seem to underestimate the standards of people who go to the theme parks and think that most people won't notice the inconsistencies. It sucks too because while I don't like all of the replacements for rides they've done, I think that some would've been really nice if they put it in a different section of the park. I'm not sure where it'd go, but Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is kind of a fun stand alone if you ignore that it's a downgrade from The Great Movie Ride, so if that were in a different part of the park and TGMR just got a refurb/update I think it would've been really nice.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I completely agree with you here. Had it been placed off of Sunset Blvd., I think I wouldn't actively dislike Runaway Railway. I still don't think it's a great attraction, but at least it wouldn't be compromising the thematic integrity of the park icon. You're right, in that I think people do notice the issues with theming. As someone who is highly interested in theme park design, I think it's easy to nitpick little things and be overly critical, but I also believe that the damage to thematic consistency within the parks will hurt DIsney long term. It's not enough to stick in a shiny new ride, if it detracts from the overall quality of the park. Even when I was little, I recognized that each Disney park had a cohesive theme and that's one aspect I always appreciated. While people aren't vocal about their distaste for this new era of Disney parks, I suspect that Disney will start to see their popularity eroding away because it's things like this that have always mattered. It's why Disney was always seen as being the industry leader, a reputation that they no longer deserve but are still riding off of.

[@smileycindy]

@@PoseidonEntertainment Agreed. It's like playing Jenga with your company. Oh, it won't matter if we just take that little thing off. Oh, and let's cut that here, no one will notice. Let's cut corners here so we can get it done faster and for a better price. Disney's reputation is based on the fact that they used to be amazing at planning everything down to the last little detail (aren't they always talking about how Walt was a perfectionist that way in every history of Disney video?), so that new approach is hurting the company in the long run. The tower will crumble and when it does, it will seem to be based on a silly little detail, while it'll be the cumulation of years of bad choices. To me, the Genie+ change showed very clearly just how many holes are left in that Jenga tower now...

[@raegangarlitz5313]

Hollywood Studios is so frustrating to me because it has great rides, Star Tours, Tower of Terror, Rockin Rollercoaster, even with all the ones they removed. But I agree that the theming is so weird! it's just a big mush! Reminds me of California Adventure, the parts are greater than the whole.

[@amuroray88]

I mean, it kinda makes sense that the worst park gets the best rides to mask the issues. Gotta get asses in the seats so to speak

[@fellerinky8194]

Bring back Eisner or someone with his way of thinking. He expanded the resorts and brought a true Disney experience. Its all just corporate ran business wanting $$$$ at the lowest cost to the company.

[@roycem4945]

Michael Eisner is back with Disney. After being pressured to step down as Disney CEO in 2005, in a clever hairpin turn, in 2007, Michael Eisner bought the company TOPPS - which has given him the ability to be intertwined with Disney business, co-branding all Disney characters, movies, vintage artwork and official Disney events. This also includes Disney + streaming. The D23 Destination event was also presented by Michael Eisner's TOPPS. Eisner has big plans being partners with Disney.

[@savannahatkins1488]

I really like the idea of an area embracing the history and development of animation especially since Disney was a HUGE part of that. On some of the disney cruise ships, there was a restaurant called Animators Pallete. Over the course of the meal, the whole restaurant would change from black and white to full color! If they added something like that with a ride that went through the history of animation that could make a really cool area of the park. HS definitely needs to either regain it's classic theme or adapt a completely new vision to thrive

[@savannahatkins1488]

@@PoseidonEntertainment yes they were. It basically became turtle talk with crush. But I thought the older version was really cool and imaginative and I'd love to see it brought back

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

@@savannahatkins1488 Dang, that really seems to be a trend. Replacing creative and interesting experiences in favor of half-baked IP tie ins.

[@savannahatkins1488]

@@PoseidonEntertainment yuuuup not a fan of this trend

[@annieskywalker9290]

If only Roger Rabbit's hollywood was built

[@noneofyourbusiness1114]

Couldn't you see Mickie's runaway railway sorta scratches that itch?

[@robertforster8984]

I strongly disagree with dropping The Twilight Zone theme in the tower of terror. Rod Serling’s classic show is one of the few timeless IPs out there. Personally, now that The Great Movie ride is gone (tears), The Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror in Sunset Boulevard is the ONLY reason I have left to visit MGM again.

[@MERnews]

Agreed

[@WorkingonTwos]

17:02 I think the railway attraction actually could have lived up to the Great Movie Ride if, as you said, Disney had actually stuck to the studios theaming and not turned the park into a patchwork of IPs. It's supposed to be a love letter to the golden age of Hollywood and who was at peak popularity at that time? Mickey! Even keeping it screen based to save money they could have shown Mickey through the decades starting in black and white and moving the ride through colour, wartime, to the modern day look. Heck Mickey as a character was created while Walt Disney was on a train back to Hollywood! It's right there to do something interesting that teaches the history of animation, the man behind the mouse, and not have the maintenance costs of animatronics. Also what better place for a gift shop full of Mickey plush and a meet and greet that has Mickey in tons of period costumes so you have an excuse to go back more than once for photos so everyone gets memory maker too.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@tomyourmom Unfortunately, people like them (and us) won't work at Disney now. It sadly become too corporatized.

[@nickmurtha4896]

I’ve always noticed that when I go to Hollywood studios it lacks the theming cohesion of any of the other parks I think the quickest and easiest fix is very simple lean purely into the golden age of Hollywood when it comes to everything besides the lands that were created. It sucks to say but I think the studios aspect is dead it’s hard to shoehorn that back in to the park. To keep the theming cohesive whenever you go to places like galaxy’s edge or toy story land right before you enter you get a big oversized Hollywood marquee near their entrances saying something like now entering Star Wars galaxy’s edge. This keeps the golden age Hollywood theming completely intact until you enter into the land itself which theme wise is you’re entering that movie. I could go on forever talking about fixes that Hollywood studios could have theming wise but I don’t want to drag this for too long. The fix I proposed would also be fairly cheap and you wouldn’t have to do a huge change in the park so I believe Disney would do something along those lines.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It sounds like a sensible solution to me. That was always something that struck me as odd about Toy Story Land, in that its transition is so abrupt and unthemed. The transition between that and Galaxy's Edge is even worse.

[@Italiagurl]

I agree with 90% of what you spoke about, and I thought that the muppet aspect of the park would have been so fun ---especially the Pizza restaurant idea. The muppets always have lasting appeal, even today I think people would still enjoy attractions with them. However one thing I disagree on is the part you suggested about dropping the Twilight Zone theme from in Tower of Terror. That's what makes it thrilling/ fun/ creepy ----I like that there's another spooky/ haunted place besides the haunted mansion in the magic kingdom. I think it gives Disney a nice balance and keeps them from being too goody goody, while still fitting the old Hollywood theme. I also thought the whole story they made to go with the ride was unique and still holds up all these years later. And the nods to the Twilgiht Zone throughtout are a nice touch ---a T.V. show which to this day, though vintage now, still has a lot of good episodes. The new generation might have fun checking it out on Halloween.

[@stellaluna6421]

I would be so very sad if they dropped the twilight zone aspect. It's iconic

[@richardburchett]

I loved the original theming of “the Hollywood that never was and always will be”. As somebody who’s never been to California, it was neat to walk around and feel like you were in another place and time from the golden age of Hollywood. It feels a little different now with the loss of the backlot and its replacement with separate lands, but much of the nostalgia is still there

[@notmyfirstlanguage]

Gertie the Dinosaur was also a cartoon character, from way before Walt's time, considered the first cartoon character with a distinct personality. She debuted in 1914!

[@authorrayrogers]

My father was an Imagineer for thirty years. He oversaw the development and construction of EPCOT, The Disney-MGM Studios, Disneyland Paris, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Due to this, I was fortunate as a child to experience many new Disney parks and attractions before they opened to the public. I can still remember going to the Disney-MGM Studios the week before it officially opened in 1989. I fell in love with the park instantly, and it remained my favorite of the four WDW parks for many years after. I've never been able to forgive Disney for closing The Great Movie Ride. I haven't been to the park since that closing, and I have no plans to ever return. PS: The park has always been a dumping ground for disconnected IP. At one time there were attractions or meet-and-greets for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Power Rangers, and even a short-lived stage show based on RL Stine's Goosebumps books. Somewhere along the line, this park lost its identity and has never been able to build itself back in any meaningful way. I miss what we've lost. My contempt only grows for the skeletons of the past that still remain unused and have been replaced by soulless IP machines.

[@morgancarlson2720]

Omg was your dad wathel rogers or Scott rogers?

[@authorrayrogers]

@@morgancarlson2720 Nope, but I know of Wathel Rogers. My Dad is also a big model train buff, much like Walt was.

[@AshleySpeaks09]

I’m jealousssssssss

[@thebikewatcher9819]

Your dad, and my dad, may very well have crossed paths, if not worked with one another.

[@authorrayrogers]

@@thebikewatcher9819 They very well could have!

[@luvinmaks]

I was PISSED when they got rid of the Great Movie Ride. I love your ideas for updating the Great Movie Ride but I love the old classics too.

[@J.Marciello]

Ahhh, if only the Imagineers had MORE influence in the modern attractions and parks direction. Instead they have "Imagi-Accountants."

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Agreed. It's at the point where I fear that Disney doesn't even really have creative people left in the company. Have you been following the progress on the new "Creations Shop" that's supposed to open at Epcot? It looks bland and boring.

[@JorgeSanchez-cy4jh]

$$$$$$$

[@dylanwic5163]

I’ve always thought a Mystic Manor type ride through a prop warehouse or backlot where famous movie props come to life due to some MacGuffin and start interacting with each other with some fun crossover gags would be a great fit for the park, being a spiritual successor to The Great Movie Ride and allowing Disney to flex how many IPs they own.

[@beneciotheperson]

Damn...someone make that hhappen.

[@JP-1990]

Goddamn that's a good idea!

[@raymondsramirez]

It's too bad I didn't get a chance to see the original MGM Studios park before all the changes. I still love the rides that are there now, but I agree that the theming AND the layout are a mess and need to be fixed. I don't mind the immersive land concept, but since this was a change to the original park concept, I think the best way to fix it would be to add a couple more immersive lands while continuing to keep the Golden Age of Hollywood aesthetic front and center. Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge are both tucked away, so I would add a new land behind the old Animation Courtyard and another behind the current Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular theater. Also, the lands should also make sense instead of having them be random IPs. Toy Story represents Pixar, computer animation, and the Kids/Family genre, Galaxy's Edge represents Lucasfilm, live action + special effects, and the Sci-Fi genre, and The Muppets represent Jim Henson Studios, puppetry, and the Comedy genre. I think Indiana Jones works as another Lucasfilm IP, it's very stunt heavy, and it represents the Adventure genre. The Nightmare Before Christmas could actually work as a representation for Tim Burton's studio/aesthetic, stop motion effects, and a more kid-friendly IP for the Horror genre.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I remember the shortened and watered-down version of the Studio Tour, but I think its original iteration would have been interesting at the very least. I understand a lot of the criticism though. It did become outdated a little too quickly, and also seems like a "one and done" kind of experience.

[@chrisose]

I did quite a bit of production work at MGM studios, including shoots on the sound stages, residential and New York streets. In one instance we were shooting some sequences on residential street during the day which was a challenge because Disney wouldn't deviate the tram schedule at all which meant the shoots had to be short enough to land between trams which can be tough when you are trying to coordinate a fairly complex stunt sequence. Of course now absolutely none of that remains. At least Universal still has some active production facilities. Though they are most often occupied by haunted houses and Christmas shows.

[@Brandis13]

One thing I really miss at the Studios today is the Citizens of Hollywood actors. On my first visit to WDW in 1994, they did really elaborate sketches and you could find them all over the place, it was really fun. It was almost as immersive as the Adventurers Club.

[@reternity777]

Too bad you are not on Disney's board of directors. You make a ton of sense here!

[@DisDutch]

Your videos are like therapy for my frustrations with Disney s new direction. We love you man!!! Agreeing with EVERYTHING!!!!!

[@AuthorCertifiedGoof]

Gertie the dinosaur is also a tribute to one of the first stop motion animation characters. I agree that Hollywood Studios has grossly lost its theming. However, I LOVE the background music at the entrance! It's Disney songs all done instrumentally as a big band sound and it's fantastic!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I knew I was missing something about Gertie, especially considering that I covered her briefly in the dinosaur video.

[@clurkroberts2650]

Gertie was hand drawn, not stop motion

[@AuthorCertifiedGoof]

@@clurkroberts2650 oh! You're completely right! No idea what I was thinking! Lol

[@loogoo]

Ugh! I was fortunate enough to have been to Epcot and Hollywood (formerly Disney MGM) Studios when both parks were still new and fresh. The studio tour and the late-lamented Great Movie Ride were highlights for me, as was the more grown-up, educational aura around Epcot. Now, it all seems that if something is not "thrilling" enough, or doesn't scream "IP" it gets scrapped and replaced. For years, I have thought about paying a visit to one of my old favorite places, but the extortionist pricing and the feeling that the "soul" got lost somewhere along the way have made this very unlikely to happen.

[@Jen-sz7fn]

Why hasn't Disney just hired you to head the parks division? Or, better yet, CEO? Clearly, you have more dedication to Disney and the creativity and passion for dreams that have continued to die in the last 10+ years.

[@jedi501spider6]

For Galaxy's Edge, maybe they could have movie filming props (filming in progress barriers and crates) outside the tunnel, that will now look like a soundstage, in the tunnel, there will be props from various Star Wars movies and some more theming that suggests that the land is a life size movie set for an upcoming Star Wars movie. The entrance to Toy Story Land from Galaxy's Edge will be another soundstage, this time having crates fill of Toy Story Aliens, Pixar Balls and even a life size Pizza Planet Truck as well as various Star Wars props, because it is also the entrance to Galaxy's Edge from Toy Story Land, alongside filming equipment lying around the room.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I think you're the first person to actually address these transitions in the comments and I think you make a good point.

[@mcblocks123]

I got my annual pass in the last month of Hollywood studios backlot tour being open and I loved all the old mgm stuff hidden around the park - always loved to see the stuff in the back section of the park Great movie ride as my favorite ride in the park too along with tower or terror And lights motors action was one of the coolest stunt shows at any theme park in my opinion - always loved that show

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I never understood why people seemed to dislike Lights, Motors, Action. I felt it was a really well executed show and I'm disappointed that it really didn't even exist for that long.

[@Skye_Writer]

Omg, I would have LOVED a Roger Rabbit style area...it fits with the studio theming, it could have been wacky as hell, and fun!

[@MERnews]

In California , the ride queue is amazing

[@MERnews]

Ride would be better if updated but they’ll probably toss it before that ever happens

[@lindawirag9962]

I was upset when I first discovered that Mickeys wizard hat had been removed. To me that was iconic on MGM Studios

[@DZstudios.]

Tatooine traders was called Endor vendor originally

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Ah, I missed that. Thanks for the correction!

[@skellzzed8255]

Just had an epiphany of people thinking Disney is for kids. Even the Disney workers making that mistake and forgetting that Disney was about creativity, imagination and innovation, meant to inspire people to dream. Elon Musk is more Disney than Disney. The parks Walt built were a way to explore, have fun and envision what the future could be. Disney today is becoming more and more like the regular parks Walt used to be frustrated that they were just for kids and mediocre for adults. That's why Walt built Disneyland...

[@thecrazydisneyparksfanatic921]

I actually managed to go once in 2002 before they started completely retheming the park, I loved the golden age of Hollywood aesthetic, The whole vintage Hollywood look with one half and with the whole backstage feel for the rest of the park, i’ve always had a fascination with the how movies were made feel, it’s sad that a lot of the head is either being rethemed or removed all together

[@LL-bl8hd]

"A dumpling ground for IP" ... So, the same as every other Disney Park now. 😒 Ok, that's a bit cynical but am I wrong? I mean what is California Adventure anymore? (Interesting that both parks had classic Hollywood/movie studio set as part of the theme.) I think we just don't romanticize "the movies" as much as we did back then: Old Hollywood is a distant and fading memory (for young adults in the 80s/90s, it was a nostalgic connection to their parents' generation), movies have lost their place as the top of the pop-culture hierarchy (even if they're still popular) becoming just another content option on our devices' screens, and movies are increasingly made in computers so "behind the scenes" isn't nearly as exciting. In general it seems like the era of a park having a unified theme is coming to an end, at least for Disney. I think they could've done something with a combined Star Wars/ Marvel park, as a sort of action-adventure/scifi counterpart to the more gentle and nostalgic escapism of the Magic Kingdom, but they decided to put them in existing parks instead.

[@vincentmusic09]

Every one of your videos is filled with so much quality and I love it. Keep it up!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@Louismoxley]

miss Osborne lights..Star Wars is a boring shopping mall.. Toy Story is a cheap DinoLand .. miss the backstage tour, great movie ride, candy shop, starring rolls bakery, Little Mermaid show before they stripped it down etc.

[@cynthiamarshall6004]

Yea, that addition of "Frozen" in Epcot is a bust to anyone without a pre teen or younger girl. We avoid it every time.

[@thebikewatcher9819]

It's an awful overlay! Arendelle is a fictional Scandinavian country, has absolutely NOTHING to do with Norway. I really dislike the "let's stick an IP everywhere" mentality, especially in EPCOT.

[@NocturneFexy]

I think Runaway Railway looks like a pretty good C/D-Ticket ride but it doesn't nearly live up to The Great Movie Ride. Had they replaced that glorified Star Wars mall over at Animation Courtyard with Runaway Railway, I honestly don't think anyone would complain. That section of the park needs something substantial, and plus it would make much more sense thematically (at least in my opinion). Not only that but they missed a big opportunity to make the ride about the history of Mickey Mouse as you ride through his various cartoons over the years.

[@KoopaKool12]

Exactly! That's what I'm saying!!!

[@Robb1977]

i get disney wants to make money, theyre a company after all. I get they want to increase marketshare/profitability. I completely understand the company wants to avoid another mishap like eurodisney, or early MGM studios, which existed as mostly a themed tour because of how rushed it was. What i dont understand is how disney doesnt see their current mode of entertainment as short sighted. If youre not a fan of the present IP's then there really isnt alot disney is willing to offer you. Im not a big marvel or star wars fan, so neither is going to draw me into the park. I imagine in 5-10 years, these IP's will be really outdated, meaning the novelty of a heavily star wars themed park would (and has in the past) gotten stale. I remember going to MGM studios when i was a kid, shortly after the prequels came out (probably what put me off star wars for life). The area felt like there was some new life breathed into it, but the fact all the sets were designed for the 1980s era really made the concept seem disjointed. I wonder if in 5 years, when disney comes out with another set of star wars shows and movies, if their big star wars experiences will be left outdated, or if they will desperately try to shove a new generation of media into the facades and frame of the original. Dont get me wrong, theres always place for IP in a place like disneyworld, but it does feel like the parks havent brought anything new to the table (short of animal kingdom but even that is fading with Pandora being added). Theres half a century of unique abandoned Imagineering projects waiting to be revived: western river cruise, Discovery Bay, various more timeless versions of tommorrowland, even aspects of disneys america: the 1930s state fair for instance, Edison square, haunted boat rides...

[@kellygreenstudio]

I agree with your thesis on this park-it's just a hodge-podge of IP all over the place. However, despite the wait times at Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge, they are cohesive and operational. On the other hand, Muppets "Land" is mostly dead, and the area under the arch is wasted as the Ariel show is shuddered and Star Wars Launch Bay needs to be removed to make way for something more substantial. Although the Disney Junior Dance Party and meet and greet is great for my kids, that section of the park is 66% dead. WDW doesn't need a fifth gate; it needs to fill out the dead zones that exist in the four parks, not with E ticket attractions, but with decent B, C, and D ticket attractions as quality filler to act as crowd eaters. Not every new attraction needs to be Tron LIghtcycle Run or Cosmic Rewind.

[@kentuckiancoasters]

Lights motors action was frickin awesome when it was around

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I definitely agree. It's one of the last projects of the Eisner era despite being a clone, but it really serves as a stark contrast to the Iger/Chapek era. It's not afraid not to be action oriented and not something meant to little kids.

[@cgimovieman]

Really great video essay. I completely agree with pretty much every single thing you mentioned. It's frustrating to see so much of MGM Studios (I'll always call it that) original theming go, just like it's frustrating to see the great mantra of Epcot with learning about science and history in Future World and about other culture in the World Showcase slowly fade away en lieu of another character ride or theming with value. I suspect I'm a little older than you, but my second trip down to Disney in August of 1989 still remains the best family vacation I ever took. MGM was new, Typhoon Lagoon was new, Pleasure Island was new, there were some new rides at Epcot, there was real film and television activity at MGM and Disney was in the middle of new renaissance. So it's very difficult for me to see changes in any of the parks of things from that era. But having worked for Disney briefly a few times, and understanding how they operate as a business and big corporation, I can tell you with a lot of certainty what they'd say to keeping some of these areas and rides around. Essentially they would say that, overall, the parks are primarily for kids, and keeping those areas and rides around wouldn't be much of any appeal to kids today. Yes, personally I'd love the golden age of Hollywood, rides showcasing the history of things, etc. But most kids today (on the whole) just don't want that, and wouldn't go to those attractions. They want, Frozen, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and things themed around cartoons on Disney Junior. Believe me, I wish that wasn't the case, but I have two younger nephews, as well as some other younger relatives, and that's what they're into. Whether we like it or not. And if kids today don't want to go to the parks because there's nothing appealing to them, then the parks will just be empty, lose business like crazy, and could nearly die off. Again, believe me, I hate it. Even at the Universal parks, I miss the classic rides like Kongfrontation, Jaws, Earthquake, and especially Back to the Future. But a lot of kids today just haven't even seen those movies. It's difficult as an adult who still loves theme parks, to have so many things that you loved from them growing up go away. I do think that even if things were re-themed, you could still incorporate learning about things like history, science, art, and other cultures. As a kid, I really enjoyed those things the ways that Disney presented them. But attention spans have shortened a LOT in the past 20-30 years, and you really need to wow kids today to have even the slightest wow-factor.

[@Sorcerer-SMC]

This is actually something I agree on. I do feel like Disney’s Hollywood Studios has lost a lot of its original theme, and if it wasn’t for certain decisions and such, here’s how I would’ve done things differently. 1. Since the Disney Parks were unable to keep the rights for many of the movies in The Great Movie Ride and such, instead of turning it into Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (which was an okay attraction, but nothing compared to the Great Movie Ride) I would turn it into a newer version of The Great Movie Ride known as “The Great Muppet Movie Ride.” Now originally, The Great Muppet Movie Ride was originally going to be a parody of the original Great Movie Ride back when Jim Henson himself was planning on a small, Muppet-themed area in Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ earlier years, but since the original GMR doesn’t exist anymore, it can’t be a parody, so I’ve come up with an entirely new concept for it. The new plot is that The Muppets are actually trying to bring back the original Great Movie Ride, but during the experience, not everything goes as Kermit planned or hoped for due Muppet Mayhem. 2. Instead of replacing most of Streets of America, I would have Galaxy’s Edge be an expansion of the park in general like it was in Disneyland. And even though I absolutely LOVE Rise of the Resistance, I do agree that it needs to be re-themed since the failed Sequel Trilogy isn’t relevant anymore. The way I’d retheme it is after both the Original Trilogy and mainly the TV Shows that take place after it (i.e. The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett) and the ride would be about keeping Grogu safe as you’re trying to escape The Remnants of The Empire and their leaders, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Moff Gideon. 3. Have Star Wars Launch Bay be an expansion to Star Tours’ exit area instead of replacing Magic of Disney Animation 4. Bring back The Sorcerer’s Hat, but instead of being in the middle of the park, it’ll be a new edition to the queue of Fantasmic, and instead of being a store, The Sorcerer’s Hat will be a monument hall dedicated to Walt Disney Animation. The list goes on and on.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

You certainly have interesting ideas. I was never a fan of the hat, but I agree with moving it. I think that would be an interesting little area to explore.

[@jasonh277]

I’m with both of you on this. I never cared for that Hat and I thought it blocking the Chinese Theatre was the worst place for it. When you enter the Studios and walk in a beeline to the end of the boulevard, do you want to see the Chinese Theater or that Hat? I think moving the Hat to the Art of Animation or Fantasmic like you said would be the better idea. And off subject, but I never saw the need to destroy the Earful Tower. It was a good park icon.

[@Sorcerer-SMC]

@@jasonh277 That’s actually another thing I agree on, perhaps the Earful Tower could’ve been moved to the Park’s entrance

[@jacksonrogers6751]

Another great video with excellent commentary. Also, you should do a video comparing Disney and universal directly over the last 10-20 years, and the directions both are going in. I think that could be really interesting. Great video!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I was thinking of eventually doing a breakdown of the competition between the two. Now that Epic Universe is ramping up in construction again, it would be an interesting topic to cover. I perceive Disney as creating a lot of expensive, lasting damage to its parks, whereas it appears that Universal is developing pretty substantial attractions again.

[@jacksonrogers6751]

@@PoseidonEntertainment yes please do! That would be awesome! I used to be Disney all the way but that has dramatic changes lately

[@thewalkingdad68]

Of the parks on Wdw property, this has become my least favorite of all of them. 20 years ago it rivaled Universal studios in many ways, now it's obvious that all Disney is trying to do is capture what Universal studios did with Potter. In the process not only have they failed miserably, they've turned the park into an incoherent flop. There's literally three rides in the park worth riding. Also the two shows that are worth watching, never returned when the parks let the public back in. Fantastic is a great show (it could be improved by making it more like Disneyland's version...and they could put a little money in it and it could be something closer while they wait to bring the performers back) and Indy is still empty and it doesn't appear that it will ever return. I'd rather just swing by MK and Epcot during a festival. But honestly, I don't really think it's worth the time and money right now. Not to mention the whole reservation issue. It's just not worth my time or money. Universal studios Orlando is just doing a better job than Disney in many ways and right now those issues are the ones that matter.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree with pretty much everything you've said here. Galaxy's Edge feels very much like a poor emulation of The Wizarding World, showing that Disney leadership didn't understand the appeal. I also agree that Hollywood Studios doesn't really seem worth the time. I go because I have a pass, but I'm not sure that I would buy a day ticket there. It feels like there's not much to do even with all the new additions. Tower of Terror and Rock n' Rollercoaster are great, but because the park offers so little, their lines are always long and in the sun and so not really worth the wait to me. Runaway Railway always has a 2 hour line snaking all over the place outside, whereas The Great Movie Ride was an excellent people eater that felt like a significant experience. And Rise of the Resistance? Good luck getting a boarding group. I'm also not interested in waiting an hour for Star Tours or 80 minutes for a lightly themed kid's coaster.

[@thewalkingdad68]

@@PoseidonEntertainment agreed. The juice isn't worth the squeeze. Pretty much the least appealing park in the Disney chain next to it's sister park in Paris. Until they fix what needs to be fixed, don't go during peek times and just spend a few hours.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

@@thewalkingdad68 I haven't been to Walt Disney Studios Paris, but I think my least favorite park has to be California Adventure. It feels like it offers even less fulfilling experiences because I can't stand the tacky theming of Pixar Pier and Radiator Springs and Guardians have the same issue of lines being longer than the experiences are worth.

[@tulinfirenze1990]

Nope - I was there EXACTLY twenty years ago for the WDW thirtieth anniversary and trust me - it was BAD then. It was actually our LEAST favourite park in ALL of Orlando!!!

[@MrParkFan]

Honestly it’s time to turn Hollywood Studios from a (Half-Day) to a (Full Day) park. It needs a massive expansion because its in desperate need of a massive expansion to make the park more big and give us the (Golden age of Hollywood) theme back. And are my ideas. 1,Reroute roads and build some new lands to adjacent to the park and here’s what themed lands will be. “Toon Town Studios” “Pixar Area” and the “Backlot, Streets of America” 2, Close and relocate Mickey Minnie to the new land “Toon Town Studios” and bring Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin, with the cancelled “Toon Town Trolley ride” 3, Bring back the Great Movie Ride with new movie scenes coexisting with classic scenes. 4, Bring back the Backlot Tour with new scenes and events along with Catastrophe Canyon, and Streets of America with more dark rides. 5, Pixar Area will be adjusting to Toy Story Land, with more rides themed to Pixar movies like The Incredibles, Wreck it Ralph, and Inside Out, Poseidon you are right about what they are doing to the park in my opinion it’s time for Disney’s Hollywood Studios to have its theme back.

[@froakie1404]

Hollywood studios baffles me because I really enjoy it’s attractions (yes even the new additions) but the thematic cohesion is completely gone and the park just felt super small to me. Plus the lines for literally every ride will always be at least an hour long and genie plus goes out for everything at noon. The only reason I enjoyed my latest visit to it so much was because it rained and drove everyone out of the park making lines pretty short so I was able to ride everything

[@neml5755]

Went to Florida for the first time from the uk in 1989. What a fantastic first visit that was. Disney MGM and Typhoon Lagoon had just opened so we experienced it all. Brilliant trip. Things have definitely slipped over the years.

[@JamesE88]

Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a flawed concept from the beginning when I look at other studio themed parks around the world with the exception of Universal Hollywood I don’t think anyone else has done it better. Hollywood Studios biggest issue is that it doesn’t a creative leader with a strong vision for the park which has made it the dumping ground because no one knows what it is. It blows my mind that we’re told Galaxy’s Edge cost 1 Billon dollars and how that could have been better spent. After years of expansion and millions of dollars it’s still a sprawling and jumbled half day park. BTW, my favorite bit of theming in the park is the house that is home to guest relations and PhotoPass which is a homage to a time when Hollywood was expanding so fast that stores were set up in residential homes to keep up with the demand for retail space.

[@STSGuitar16]

Top quality content yet again. Thank you, Poseidon

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Thanks, I appreciate the support!

[@disneyfied-sundquist7349]

I generally agreed with every point you made (Especially Mickey's Runaway Railway) except for The Tower of Terror. That Ride is absolutely iconic and is in my opinion, incredibly well themed. Let's be honest, if they rethemed Tower of Terror it would be far lesser than what we already have. And what we have is Gold 🪙

[@NeelTheSphynx]

When they removed the hat I was so thankful that the Chinese theater would become the icon again... And then they made the icon the Tower of Terror.

[@dorkultra]

I love your videos, one of the few channels that is realistic with the BS that Disney has been dishing out for the past couple of decades

[@Elfosng]

To me personally, I think Hollywood Studios is to far gone with lack of 'studio' theming. It also is abundantly clear with other studio parks across America and even California Adventure, that as much as we love the studio idea it simply is no longer an enticing theme for guests in most of America. People know how movies get made now, the magic of Hollywood is broken down in KZbin videos. And Hollywood itself faces a decline with the rise of streaming. Personally as much as I don't like the new additions. They already exist and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Trying to return it to Hollywood Studios just doesn't make sense financially, and with its current consumer base. I think a twist converting it into a park that takes you into the worlds of movies makes much more sense. Call it Disneys Enchanted World's, or something. But leaning into the idea of having these pockets of films yet explored that guests go into. You made a good point that Galaxy's Edge doesn't take you into any specific movie so lean into that. Offer guest a chance to create their own story in movie worlds. Retheme it to be a set of gateways to these various places with a central hub that takes you there. A gateway to toy story a gateway to Star Wars, you could expand upon this with what else is left in the park and with new additions. It's a known fact that the age of IP is only beginning, and Disney rarely if ever back tracks and retreads on it's torn down rides. Just my two cents.

[@Slame333]

Probably the best idea I’ve seen in the comments section.

[@brendanramirez5923]

Disney hasn't come up anything original for a long time ...something that is not a theme from some movie where are the space mountains.. the big thunder mountains. . Everything is based on some movie . No originality

[@GoBiggie1880]

Anyone else miss the American Idol Experience? I actually auditioned for the show and had fun. I tought it had universal appeal to all of us who secretly might want to be a celebrity entertainer. I thought it fit with theme of Hollywood theming even if it was added after the opening and was closed wayyyy to quick. Disney shuts and revamps so quickly , they don't realize what they had until it is gone. (original Journey into Imagination anyone?)

[@hotwax9376]

I don't see why someone doesn't make their own classic Hollywood-based theme park. I would definitely be interested in such a place. You really should be a Disney Imagineer, considering all your ideas for what they could do with the parks. The sad fact is, however, is that Disney knows they can get away with mediocrity for a certain subset of consumers, because there are some Disney fans who are so obsessed and toxic (like my mom) that they feel the need to put down every other studio or theme park. They will always embrace anything Disney does, no matter how objectively bad it is.

[@SCH0B3L]

Love your content, great job! It would be cool to explore a video essay on whether Walt’s EPCOT vision could come to life today with someone like Elon Musk driving it.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Thanks, I'm glad that you enjoy!

[@DiegoMatos-u6u]

Here is my Version of Walt Disney Studios Park, Anaheim as the second park of the resort instead of Disney’s Cashgrab Adventure! Hollywood Boulevard: Add the Great Movie Ride, and Add Cinemagic! Production Backlot: Add a Complete Version of Disney’s Studio Tram Tour, and Add Rock in Roller Coaster! Worlds of Pixar: 4 Sub Lands, and Add The Great Pixar Movie Ride! Andy’s Room: Add RC Racer Go Karts, Add Jessie Critter Roundup, and Add A Monsters Inc Ride and Go Seek Style Toy Story: The Mission Continues which takes place after Toy Story 2/Before Toy Story 3! Monstropolis: Add the Monsters Inc Suspended Roller Coaster! Municiberg: Add A Scoop-Based Incredibles Dark Ride based on the retelling of the first Incredibles movie, and Add An Intamin Multi-Launch Roller Coaster based on the Underminer fighting against the Incredibles! Radiator Springs: Add Radiator Springs Racers, Add Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, and Add A Symbolica Style Luigi’s Dancing Roadsters! Muppet World: Add the Great Muppet Movie Ride: a parody of the Great Movie Ride, Add Muppet Vision 3D, and Add an Eatrenalin Style Rizzo’s Pizza Maker Restaurant! Marvel Comics: Add 4 Sublands again Avengers: Add a Scoop-Based Interactive dark ride based on Avengers: Infinity War, Add a Captain America Motorbike Roller Coaster based on Winter Soldier, Add a Kuka Arm Dark Ride based after the Events of Iron Man 3, and Revive the Concept of Adventure Thru Inner Space and Retheme it based on the First Ant Man movie! Spider Man: Add another Intamin Multi-Launch Roller Coaster based either on the Train attack from Spider Man 2 or the Spider Man Variants chase from Across the Spider-Verse, and Add Another Scoop-Based Dark Ride based on the Final Battle of No Way Home! Guardians of the Galaxy: Add a Ministry of Magic Style Guardians of the Galaxy ride based on Vol 3, and Add Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind! X-Men: Add a Danse Macabre Style X-Men 97 Ride, and this will be the Last time, the Final Scoop-Based Dark Ride based on Deadpool and Wolverine! Walt Disney Studios: Add the Magic of Disney Animation: an Onmimover Dark ride, A Cinemagic Style Mickey’s Movieland, and Fantasmic which will be moved from Disneyland to Walt Disney Studios Anaheim! Sunset Boulevard: Add Egyptian Theatre, Add the Grand Theater, Add Dick Tracy’s Crimestoppers which will be an Enhanced Motion Vehicle Interactive Dark ride, and finally a complete version of the Tower of Terror! And I will be adding an Arizona State Capitol Museum style Movie Museum! And that will be everything in my Version of Walt Disney Studios Anaheim! And no Star Wars in any Disney park! George Lucas should’ve built a Star Wars Theme Park based on the Original/Prequel Trilogy!

[@chaiguy2930]

This video reminds me of a blog I came across years back- it’s a collection of photos from Disney’s Hollywood Studios and it details the landscaping that went into the park, telling thematic stories and providing the otherwise bland studio soundstages with vibrant plant life. The palm trees that dot the main streets of Hollywood, the planters that hang on the lampposts, even the overgrown mess at the Hollywood Tower Hotel was designed carefully. I love the amount of detail that went into the gardens of the park, because they too can help tie everything together with a nice leafy bow.

[@theowornbegd7]

When the majority of Disney films seem to be remakes are we really surprised that this is the direction they are going? Why craft something new and innovative. Why take the risk to create an original timeless attraction or phenomenal film when you can just slap a well known IP in there? I keep seeing this phrase "Disney treats their guest like they are dumb." Well yeah. I mean when these movie remakes keep raking in millions why should they try? They know they just need to slap their brand on something and people will eat it up.

[@pikachuthegayatheist6215]

Yeah there's something else, Disney most likely had a statistics that showed that nobody was showing up to these futuristic or otherwise attractions at Epcot. Also Disney couldn't keep the MGM name because MGM ended the contract.

[@Ant-dw2uy]

I LOVED going to MGM as a kid, and I’m pretty sure my love for movies as well as theme parks stems from my initial visit. I even had the opportunity to work at Hollywood Studios as an adult. Bur man… this park sucks so much now. It has no spirit anymore and has become the garbage disposal of Disney World.

[@WoodsUlmann]

First off, excellent video. I'm so glad I found this channel and often find myself nodding in agreement with the content. However, I feel that you kind of hinted around the edges of an idea regarding how to unify Pixar, Star Wars, Muppets, and classic Hollywood, but stopped just short of something I've long wondered why Disney didn't do with DHS (jk, I know, it's cause they're creatively bankrupt!). To me, it seems the obvious thing would have been to keep the classic Hollywood theming at the center of the park, but then as you move further along the outer areas (like traveling along "spokes" in a wheel... hmmm...), you move into the "future" of Hollywood. The "future", of course, being the various divisions of Disney's filmed entertainment... Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land would only come AFTER you've walked through the Lucasfilm Campus and Pixar Place. The most immersive areas for each studio could only be accessed once you've passed beyond an area that mimics the actual campuses/facilities of the studio that IP represents. Lucasfilm has a gigantic facility at the Presidio in San Francisco. Audiences are familiar with green screens, "publicly accessible" studio stores, how often modern movies combine CGI with partially built sets, digital facial scans, and the like... those moviemaking methods have matured and been the norm long enough that the educational aspect could be brought back without the risk of seeming outdated. This along with mock offices, a studio store, museum-like areas, and then rides that fit outside the fully immersive area could be justified by retaining some of that "studio" feeling that used to exist in Disney MGM queue and exterior areas would unify the theming of the entire park. For instance, what you said about an Incredibles ride in Pixar Place would fit the bill perfectly. Pixar Place could have a building that is smaller, obviously, but mimics the actual Pixar building in California. Put a studio store in there, a kitchen similar to the one Pixar employees eat at; make it seem like we're walking around and getting a peek into Pixar's creative process... then some doors lead to rides and other, more typical theme park attractions. Put a courtyard in there and now you've got an actual space from which to add other Pixar themed rides as a kind of hub and spoke within a hub and spoke design. This could have been done with Marvel (I'll get to that Mississippi thing), Disney Animation (they already had this at one point), Fox... what would tie it all together would be the "good faith" of continuing to pay for and update the classic Hollywood theming at the center of the park. This way it doesn't feel like the sell-out, self-promotional cash grab it currently is. With regard to The Great Movie ride, they should have reimagined the ride with trackless tech, taken advantage of the IP they now own through FOX (which you mentioned) and then kept a few other classic elements taken from the films of other studios (if they must, stick to non-competitors in the Orlando theme park arena like WB, Paramount, etc.) I'd also perhaps split the movie sections into 'Decades' or 'Eras' of Hollywood, keep the AMC narration or get someone else and pick up the pace. Come to think of it, Scorsese wouldn't be a bad idea for a fast-paced, motor-mouthed trip through the history of Hollywood and they could make nice that way : ) Anything would be better than what they've done and it would feel less awful, cheap, and hideously tacky. With regards to Marvel, I submit that it would have been cheaper and a better long-term play to take a significant portion of $2 billion they spent on not one, but TWO Galaxy's Edge areas and fork it over to Universal for those theme park rights east of the Mississippi. I heard it rumored a while back that Universal would have taken $500 million for them. That's a bargain when you consider what Marvel has done for Disney's bottom line and what Marvel could do to bring people into the WDW. Perhaps it would have only been worth it if Marvel were the subject of its very own 5th gate. OR that 5th gate could have been a far more massive expansion of DHS that gave Marvel and Lucasfilm plenty of room to breathe. Then again, I look to DCA and the extremely underwhelming Avengers campus and remain content that Universal gets to keep the fun comic book theming in IOA and the still more Amazing than Disney's Spider-man ride. Even the premiere of that thing had some strange vibes coming off the Marvel actors who participated and even Feige himself.

[@nintendowizard1628]

The Great Movie Ride was an awe-inspiring marvel that rivals the very best of what a ride can and should be. I was lucky enough to witness it and experience it many times on family vacays.Imagine, if you will, the extraordinary effort, dedication, and sheer artistry poured into this extraordinary attraction back in 1989 when it opened, when technology was but a fraction of what we have today. It was a time of rudimentary tools, where computers were simplistic and emails were a distant dream. Yet, against all odds, they crafted a masterpiece that demanded one hundred times the time and effort compared to a similar project in the present day. Picture it: the meticulous craftsmanship, the sweat and tears shed, the tireless preparation, the immeasurable cost, and the countless hours invested to bring forth a breathtaking experience beyond our wildest imagination. Each movie scene unfolded on massive sets akin to Hollywood soundstages, with animatronics and live actors infusing the Great Movie Ride with an undeniable grandeur and authenticity. And who could forget the charismatic Disney cast member host, dressed in classic Hollywood attire, guiding us through the magical world of cinema-a testament to the irreplaceable human touch that modern technology can never replicate. However, my heart weighs heavy as I shift my gaze towards the Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway-an attraction that seems hastily put together, as if Disney Imagineers were preoccupied with showcasing their latest projection technology or the cutting-edge trackless ride system, all at the expense of creating a timeless masterpiece. Alas, the ride falls disappointingly short of capturing our imagination; it lacks depth and fails to leave a lasting impression. The sets feel two-dimensional, devoid of the meticulous attention to detail that once characterized Disney's creations. And while the choice to feature the original black-and-white Mickey from yesteryears may hold nostalgic appeal, it misses the mark in showcasing the vibrant evolution of Mickey Mouse we know and love today-the colorful, lively character who embodies joy and fun. Instead, we are presented with a sappy Mickey song at the end, a weak and forgettable finale that fails to ignite the senses. Yet, imagine the sheer wonder that would unfold if the Mickey brand were revived in all its glorious splendor! Picture Mickey and friends-Pluto, Goofy, and the whole gang-bursting forth with the magic that has made Disney an unrivaled powerhouse of joy and entertainment. Let us reflect upon the greatness that once graced the Disney MGM Studios, and the spirit of camaraderie and delight that permeated every Disney movie and theme park experience, touching the hearts of millions worldwide. In the face of such a lackluster creation, I join Poseidon Entertainment's fervent plea for change. It is time, Disney, to acknowledge when we have deviated from our path and seize this opportunity to recreate something truly remarkable. Consider resurrecting the iconic Great Movie Ride, featuring the unforgettable classics from Fox or Disney's timeless masterpieces, as the brilliant minds at Poseidon Entertainment suggest. Alternatively, breathe new life into the Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway, infusing it with the very essence of Disney's enchanting spirit. Imagine a breathtaking adventure where guests are thrilled to encounter an animatronic Walt Disney himself-a stunning addition that would leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who experience it. Let us transform this ride into a topic of conversation, a must-see journey that encapsulates the very essence of Disney's enchanting spirit-a wondrous adventure that leaves guests spellbound and longing to share their experience with friends and family alike.

[@GoBiggie1880]

Good comments. Bring back the Great Movie ride . Yeshhhh 🔥🔥🌶🌶💯💯

[@nintendowizard1628]

@@GoBiggie1880 So Agree w you. If I was there while they were dismantling the Great Movie Ride piece by piece, I might have died of a broken heart.

[@reidoo]

16:59 to 17:01 when the new ride transitions to a shot of the old displays how extremely lazy and out of touch disney is getting with the ideas of the park. it's so frustrating and felt like a waste of money going there last.

[@jasonh277]

I agree. That is one of the best parts of the video. The dissolves from the current day to the past show that the previous incarnation of the Studios was the best. As they say, the classics always hold up.

[@Mr17051963]

Disney Parks are losing their original themes in favor of a neverending Marvel Invasion!

[@jaydensvhsarchive3.095]

Gertie the dinosaur was in cartoons by winsor McCay and was probably placed there because it inspired walt Disney to make cartoons

[@theresaremsing2777]

Hollywood Studios park should have theme lands based on genre of movies. animation (Disney IP rides), sci-fi (Star Wars), horror (Tower of Terror and re-theme of Rock n Rollercoaster), comedy (muppets land), and action (Indian Jones area) and Mickey and Minnies should be re-themed to jump from movie genre to movie genre instead of chasing their picnic basket. Personally I don’t think Disney was ambitious enough with M&MRR. The the trackless ride tech they should take advantage of the opportunity to have every ride be different. Each train car can go their own direction into multiple different themed rooms. Yet each car goes in the same direction into the same rooms together. Even though they are not attached to a track that dictates that. Disney should have build the extra space along with extra scenes and let the guest want to constantly re-ride it to see what how it changes this time. The constantly changing ride works with guest experience and desires because star tours and Tower of Terror do exactly the same thing with the different storylines and drop changes.

[@JoeB0604]

retheme Rockin to Howard Stark's invention expo and have the ride go through the earliest depiction scenes of Howard starts work on the Avengers without directly referencing the characters. problem solved.

[@nol_dur]

I think a name change and new slogan could help the park. Obviously keeping the great movie ride would have been the best move for the park, but changing the name to Hollywood adventure or something like that would help. Also having a slogan like universal’s where you could ride the movies would help. Right now the park doesn’t really work with the studios name and the dropping of the theme, but changing the name to the current theme they’re going for would help.

[@thebikewatcher9819]

The live action Muppets show, that used to be housed in The Little Mermaid show building, was pretty great.

[@600HP_Camaro]

Since you brought up Radiator Springs Racers in this video, I have to say there IS NOT ENOUGH Cars representation in Walt Disney World. One section of a hotel most park guests will never see, and a typical lazy Disney no-effort show at DHS, is not enough for the franchise. People forget that Cars still has a HUGE following with young boys (plenty of girls too), and lots of us dads/car enthusiasts in general love the Cars franchise. RSR is 1,000x the attraction than the newer Test Track is; as a matter of fact Cars Land is 1,000x the themed land that Galaxy’s Edge is. I’m sorry but someone has to say this and put some respect on the Cars IP. I’m in my 30s and guys my age and older rock with it because of all the nods to real autos, history, motor sports, etc. Look in the internet and you’ll find a plethora of NASCAR & F1 fans who dig it and even collect diecast. Out of all of the guests who enter the WDW parks everyday, there is probably a vast amount of them who are into car subculture in some way, and there’s money to be made by Disney if they gave us more Cars in the parks.

[@thefly7331]

I feel like all Disney parks have lost there theme and are just yeah put a new ride there I don't care what it is along as it makes us money. TBH the only park that has consistent theming is Animal Kingdom but for how long.

[@fandomcentralstation]

Ya lost me at dropping the Twilight Zone theme from ToT, lol. That’s a classic, and the parks need a more spooky edge

[@tylerhfroemming]

Galaxy’s edge could be entered through through a new land called Skywalker Ranch on the side of Eco Lake facing star tours. The land would take over where grand avenue, Star Tours, and the Indiana Jones Stunt spectacular are. Based off of the real Skywalker Ranch, it would have shows and a museum about the behind the scenes making of Lucasfilm movies as well as an entrance to a new land based off of Indiana Jones.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

That's an incredible idea that would make so much sense in fixing the park. I suppose Muppetvision would be stuck in some sort of weird mini-land limbo, but this is a far better idea than anything I could think of.

[@tylerhfroemming]

​Yeah, Im still thinking of how muppet vision and the surrounding area could work in this idea. Im always coming with ideas to fix the parks now that we're in this sad state of Disney. Im planning on sending the board a proposal for how to fix the parks, just to give them some more awareness. . . I doubt they'll change at all for years if not a decade though.

[@themntraveler5138]

I wish they didn’t get rid of the tv/movie making stuff, backlot tour or the movie ride. 😢

[@fluffy11cat]

For what you said about the great move ride. Is what my family said Disney should of done to it. Make it a great movie ride for Disney movies.

[@BowTiesareCool12]

I used to work on Toy Story Mania and was working there when You Story Land opened and I literally used to talk all the time about how I thought it would have been so much better of they kept the Pixar Place theming and just added more Pixar IP's...Pixar Place itself is an exact copy of part of Pixar Studios in California, I thought it would be neat if they expanded on that. Even if they wanted to still do the big prop thing like they have in Toy Story Land, it could be focused on materials used in the creation process and each ride is a different Pixar movie. Because they really only care about Toy Story in the parks

[@EM_1989]

I agree with everything but removing the twilight zone theming from Tower of terror. That's so iconic to me and I can't imagine it without it

[@everettgaspar3482]

I hope they re make the great movie ride. I liked it when I went there as a kid but at the time I didn’t recognize the movies from most of the scenes. And by the time I returned in 2019 having seen most of those movies it was gone. I’d love to see it return, it would be interesting to see what new scenes they could come up with utilizing more contemporary films.

[@sandwich_bubbles47]

I completely understand and agree with the complaint about Runaway Railway not fitting with the theming, but I thought it was a really fun attraction, one of my favorites actually… it did a really good job with the effects to make things look like the new Mickey shorts, and it definitely had the chaotic nature of them! I think it would fit much better in Toontown (which is where they’re putting it in Disneyland which makes me happy!)

[@SKIN121]

disney could of easily themed the entrance to galaxys edge to that of a studio.

[@danshull1331]

What would think if Meow Wolf redid Journey Into Imagination?

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I know what you're going for, but I don't think its the right style for a redo of that attraction.

[@danshull1331]

@@PoseidonEntertainment Curses, foiled again!!!

[@mclark2288]

It's sad, but the current management doesn't care about cohesive theming, quality of guest experience, or even sight lines. Imagineering used to be masters of these aspects in theme park design. I don't know if current imagineers still care about those things and are overruled by management, or if those nuances are a dying breed. Nothing will change until income drops significantly. I felt like crying after I rode Runaway Railway. It's a hot mess, and to realize what it replaced, some of the best animatronic Disney ever created, is just sad.

[@wdwnutjm]

Very well done! As a bonus, we were stunned to notice footage of us walking in the studios from 30 years ago!!!!

[@stellaluna6421]

I think it's interesting that the newer attractions immerse the parkgoers in movie _content_ instead of the _process_ of movie creation at the same time we see movies abandoning practical effects and using increasingly rushed, underpaid CGI animators instead (and now digital and AI impersonation of actors as well, not to mention the piecemeal, redacted scripts that many actors have to work with to apparently avoid "spoilers"). I think that's sad, because there's so much ingenuity and skill that goes into practical effects, and they're still quite interesting (I've been enjoying Adam Savage's recent looks into various Fraggle and Muppet effects/costumes are made). I would love to see someone doing matte painting, just like I loved the car show and the Indiana Jones show-they give you the illusion of seeing behind the curtain and teach you how it's done in the process, which doesn't make it the tricks any less impressive. Many of the older attractions felt like magic. Plus, now that we're firmly in the digital age, many analogue things will increasingly feel exciting and clever to younger people who haven't experienced a world without computers and the internet.

[@stellaluna6421]

re: content instead of process, it's like they're too scared to lean into the movie production theme and show the wires and strings, so to speak, but they're not replacing them with anything particularly interesting.

[@phillips2683]

Remember, the only “THEME” Disney is worried about is MONEY.

[@LoLWorldChampionships]

How dare you suggest they remove one man's dream

[@scotth1423]

I know it's IP, but I do like The Muppets. They're fun characters and I always thought they could make for unique attractions (even with some adult appeal, as they do hint at adult humor at times). I'll never understand why Disney acquired the franchise without a clear plan on how to develop it.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I have no issue with IP as long as: 1. It makes thematic sense 2. It's not used as a crutch to promote cheap, subpar attractions. A high quality Muppet ride would would be great for the park.

[@tech34756]

00:55 I don’t know why, but they look like something I’d expect from Doctor Who. Human figures with an uncanny animated head.

[@Missab4000]

I loved the Great Movie Ride. I loved when the tour guide would get kidnapped by the Gangster!

[@discoyetiproductions]

Great video as always! I love your idea for a rock n roller coaster replacement, especially since every other idea I’ve heard has been absolutely ridiculous. For Galaxy’s Edge, it should be simply changed to the original trilogy to make it more iconic and fit in better with the movie theme of the park. I really hope they make any of the changes you mentioned in this video, but with Chapek in charge I doubt it’s gonna happen

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I continue to see people arguing over what artist to put into a Rock n' Rollercoaster retheme, and I think at this point, that no decision will go well. I see that in Paris, Disney decided to go with an Iron Man retheme, and while Disney's track record with Marvel attractions is pretty poor, I'm at least interested to see how it turns out.

[@jacobwarren2264]

Disney leadership has become so safe and lackluster. Iger might’ve bolstered the company’s shareholders but Eisner took the studio and its properties in exciting, innovative directions. Just think of the ways Eisner reimagined movies like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King for Broadway vs the way Iger reimagined them for the screen. Absolutely no comparison! Disney has become a cash grab instead of investing in the long term reputation of its brand. MGM used to be my favorite park and the Great Movie Ride was my favorite attraction. Would love to see it reinvented with scenes from old and modern movie classics. Now that they have access to Fox, a Moulin Rouge scene would be amazing. Here’s hoping for the company to stumble on another Golden Age.

[@SidsonCity]

Pitch:Roger rabbit themed tower of terror

[@ms.dragon1918]

i got an idea about mickey's runnaway railway, here is the idea: i know that toon town in the magic kingdom is gone now but if i had any say about it i would say they can make new fantasy land but move toontown somewhere else and the theme would be not a copy of the one in disney land but push the idea of it being a vacation spot for mickey and the others, add a park, a few resterunts and gift shops, some interactive stuff that makes it feel like you are actually in toon town like when you push a button or turn a door knob some sound effects and other stuff would play to make it feel more alive, and somewhere add some attractions that fit with the theme or add the old rides from the old toontown but much more colorful and immersive then add including mickey's runaway railway as the main attraction and the outside can have a railway look to it so it will fit with the theme maybe add some roger rabbit too

[@gabesmith9171]

The “new” Mickey cartoons are unwatchable- Walt would’ve been pissed

[@danielnguyen6113]

Your production quality is so high! I really like your ideas and perspective on the current state of Disney Parks. Please continue to produce this content, you are not alone. I'm glad someone has enough courage to do this work.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Thanks, I appreciate the support!

[@smileycindy]

Great point of view and very well laid out. It breaks my heart any time I hear about the Roger Rabbit park section that never was. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is my favorite movie so I would have LOVED to see that idea come to fruition. We went to WDW a couple of years and were discussing which of the parks was our favorite. Mine is Hollywood Studios (or should I say MGM Studios...). I was trying to put into words why it is, as it's not the biggest or most coherent park or the one with the most rides, but I think it's because of the art deco, 1920s vibe. I love the retro look (especially when it's decorated for Christmas) and old-time music and it fits with what you are saying, I think this is where Disney was getting it right when everything was linked to that look and feel.

[@coltonsupergame]

Being fair, The Universal Studios Park in Orlando (I’m referring to Orlando because that’s the one I’ve been to, and other parks may be better) is guilty of many of the things mentioned inside of this video. Inconsistent theming, lands that seem to only be there for the goal of attracting guests, old classics being replaced by new cheaper rides. Of course the individual land is impressive, however walking from Hollywood to the out place Kids zone, and then Springfield is odd to put it mildly. It also doesn’t help that Islands of Adventure, literally right next door, does pretty much everything Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios don’t. Lands fit together well, and with a couple of exceptions there are good transitions. IOA actually has a lot of lore, mainly based around the entrance area, tying all the lands together in a way, and (with merlinwood being the exception) IOA has kept its classic attractions that people like, and continued to add new things to the park. This is really all just personal opinion, but trust me when I say that IOA is way more well put together, and it reflects on my mood when leaving the park at the end of the day, unlike the experiences you’ have Universal Studios or Hollywood Studios. It really is sad because these parks for a certain time seemed to be much more enjoyable but it seems that the priority for the last couple of years in both of these parks is to replace old rides (Great Movie Ride, Back to the Future, etc) with new generally less decadent rides.

[@clurkroberts2650]

The park has added an enormous draw to the park in term of new rides and lands, which had become outdated and a shadow to Universal Parks. Great Movie ride was especially tiresome,. While I miss the original Hollywood themed park experience, that experience did not age well for newer generations. A change was needed,.