“We had FACES”
Who doesn’t get chills when you enter the last scene in The Great Movie Ride? If I’m being honest, the original screening is my favorite! But I’m old school. I’m the type of person who likes things just the way the are, within reason. Can you picture Disney Hollywood Studios without the Great Movie Ride? It seems impossible, but we are out of luck.
Walking into the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre we are first hit with the almost pungent smell of the past, our past, our parent’s past and so forth. It wasn’t a “smell” in the way we think of old, dusty clothes. But it did have some hint of age to it and I think the visuals of timeless treasures behind those glass boxes helped secure that thought. For years we were able to gaze at the magical slippers Dorothy once clicked and ran up that infamous yellow brick road. We were able to set eyes on objects that we had seen only in movies, maybe only in black and white movies even. These treasures kept us occupied in the long line. That winding queue was also one of Disney’s most functioning lines I've seen. Synchronicity at its best. You hardly remembered you were spending an hour in line back in the day!
While you wind around those velvet ropes, didn’t you almost feel part of the movies? The immersive Hollywood theme in this attraction was unlike non other for me. Even the pre-show was able to bring goosebumps on your arms and maybe shed a tear or two. Silly, I know! But, the collection of talent on the screen in front of you just sometimes takes you there!
“How many in your party” You hold your breath waiting to see if they had enough room for your party size.… It's almost time CB! Those doors swing open and its time! You made it in! Who wanted to be in the from row?? ME! I didn’t mind which section of vehicles I was in, I just preferred the front row. (Ok at times the back row too when I was moody LOL)
Here’s where I feel sorry for all the younger folks or those that hadn’t been to the Studios in years. You don’t know how cool it was to watch the Busby Berkley’s Footlight Parade gals covered in bubbles and rotating around. Each tier of that wedding cake style display rotated independently making it quite the display all while hearing Hooray for Hollywood”.
That’s it! It’s started and I dare anyone to say that this attraction was not one of the most well themed rides in Walt Disney World history. Every room was saturated with movie history down to the tiniest detail. Detail is the key! It’s the theming that allowed us to never truly get bored of the Great Movie Ride. Sure, we might skip it here and there, but we were never bored of it. You couldn’t be!
One of the oddest OCD traits I have would be finding something new on attractions every time I ride them, but not all of them. I engage in this sometimes tiring ritual on the Pirates of The Caribbean and The Great Movie Ride. What do both of these attractions have in common? A full guest themed experience! So, there hasn’t been a time that I’ve I hit up these attractions without partaking in this sport! And the Great Movie Ride never disappointed!
I won’t regale you with every scene and detail, but just for a moment imagine Gloria Swanson and her striking beauty saying “We had FACES”!
That’s a Wrap… The Great Movie Ride closed August 13, 2017, but will always be remembered!