Originally Posted By brotherdave I think most people would agree that the Studio Tram Tour is now a complete shadow of itself and waste of time to ride, especially since its downsizing a few years ago. Even Catastrophe Canyon, as good as it was when the park opened, is now very predictable and old. Something new needs to be added along its route ASAP! What would you suggest to improve it? What would make it be a headliner, E-Ticket attraction again? Why not the proposed Journey to the Center of the Earth addition? This idea actually became reality for Tokyo Disney Seas, but, why can it not still be added as part of the tram tour? That could make a great start in its revitalization. Also, why not add something featuring the film versions of Pirates of the Caribbean? Imagine as the tram drives through the set of Port Royal as the Black Pearl is firing upon it while pyrotechnic effects and other special effects recreate some of the movie's memorable battle scenes. Other ideas could be taking guests through the icy world of Narnia, through a set from Armageddon, past the treasure room of National Treasure, etc. It just seems a real shame that this attraction could not have been better and ever changing as it should be. It, of all of WDW's attractions, has the ability to be constantly changing to promote new movies for Disney, as well as always offering something new and WOW guests with the latest special effects wizardry. Yes, Universal Hollywood's tram tour has excelled in this, but, imagine what Disney could do with their's if they would only invest the time, money, and creativity to truly make this an expceptional look into Hollywood filmaking. What would you do (aside from removing it altogether) to make it a better and more memorable experience?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Really like your ideas. Hope something good happens. It's really been cut back, I can remember the long walking tour through Animation. I feel Disney has cut back on a lot of enjoyable, informative things for thrill rides. For me the big thrill is just being back home at WDW.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Those are cool ideas, but then, wouldn't the tram tour just be essentially another Great Movie Ride? The point of the tram tour was to show the behind the scenes of a working studio. That's the big problem with the tram tour is that there basically is no studio so there is nothing going on. May as well rip the thing out.
Originally Posted By CMM1 trekkeruss: Good point! What should be the signature attraction of the Studios park, the one type of dark ride that Disney above all other amusement park entertainment companies should be able to design in a compelling way, is right now an afterthought stuck behind a big "All-Star Resort Quality" hat. You can't tell me that the creative minds at Disney can't come up with something a bit more interesting and or compelling than the scenes they have on that ride now? As for the outside tram ride, what you need is a working vibrant studio like they have at Universal in Hollywood - they do very good job on that tour of throwing in the set pieces for Kong and Earthquake. Perhaps Disney might be able to put in a couple more set pieces like that if they want to spruce up their tram ride. As for the volcano from Tokyo DisneySea, it appears that rumors of a 5th park for WDW are beginning to show up again (economy warming up?) so it's hard to imagine that they wouldn't find a way to work the JTTCOTE/volcano attraction into a new park given the Disney "commitment to cloning" that seems to be one of their mantras these days.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The tram tour at Disney-MGM Studios came about because Universal Studios Hollywood has a tram tour. But, USH has a tram tour, because there's actually a backlot to tour around -- and it's too big to tackle on foot. Universal Studios Hollywood is an actual working studio -- with actual movie making sets, costume departments, props, and in many cases, the actual filming of movies and TV shows. *gasp* Once Disney-MGM got rid of any filming in their studio [was that in 1992?], it became kind of pointless to have a studio tour in a tram. My vote? Say buh-bye to the tram tour and just build more attractions. The park is so small that it's all walkable anyway.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think if they added video screens like at USH that explained things along the way it would really help. At USH, they have parts where Whoopi Goldberg explains something in a mildly humorous situation that the driver announces and you look at as you're driving from one set to the next. If Disney were to do it, they should have it running the entire time (since there really isn't much space to just watch it) and use it to explain things that words alone can't really do. They could also show what the sets (are there any left?) and props looked like in the movies as you pass them. This would require fairly close timing by the drivers, but it could have points worked in where you can skip ahead or add more footage as needed. I thought it was really useful when I was at USH, and it would certainly help the consistency of the spiel, since I would assume that can vary a bit.
Originally Posted By avromark ^^^ Makes you miss the Studio and Animation done in Florida doesn't it? With the economy picking up maybe both can make a comeback... at least one can hope.
Originally Posted By jmuboy Those poor tours (tram and animation) are both embarassing shells of what they used to be. At least the elements of DCA's animation building that they added to MGM are mildly entertaining. The tram tour however is just limping along to a slow death.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I mentioned in another post that they should make a Radiator Springs town with a CARS attraction - somewhat similar to Tomorrowland Speedway, but more themed. Guests would drive the character cars, and the existing tram path would be reconfigured to look like Radiator Springs, Route 66 and Ornament Valley. Catastrophy Canyon could be slightly transformed into a section of Ornament Valley. An animatronic of Tow Mater could be placed into the Valley along with some Tractors (some tipped) and Frank the Combine. The flood could still come washing thru. Mater could say "I think I hear a gully-washer a'comin! Watch out for that bumpy road!" The area after Ornament Valley could be a complete recreation of Radiator Springs. If there's some area available, make a loop somewhat similar to the Butte where Doc Hudson raced.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I like your suggestion, Mark! Very creative! And if the tram tour were to dissappear entirely, I would be totally in favor of that! However, personally, I'd like to see the tram tour somehow resurrected and brought back from near extinction to become a 'must do' attraction again for the park. Also, I realize the similarities that some of my ideas are to the Great Movie Ride, but, like Universal's famed tram tour, make this go through sets (if possible, I'd love to see the actual sets possibly re-errected along the tram's route, otherwise very close recreations would suffice) of these movies, but with more emphasis on the movie-making aspect of set design and how special effects are created for each movie represented. I also realize that the studio park has 'painted itself into a corner' land-wise. This is where the beauty of the tram tour can still be utilized. They could build an overpass for the trams to take across the auto entrance area from World Drive into the undeveloped areas south of the studio park and parking lot. They could develop this as the 'backlot' area for movie sets, and, with some possible foresight by Disney management, they could actually UTILIZE some of this backlot area for actual 'on location' filmmaking. I'm not talking about making EVERY part of a live action film here, but, those scenes that might fit what they need, could be done here, I'm sure. Then, when the movie makers are finished with the sets, then they could easily make them a part of the tour, very much like Universal has done for years. It then would make the Studio park a true studio again!
Originally Posted By MPierce I really like your ideas brotherdave. I just don't think they are inclined to put the money into the tram tour to bring it back up to standard. It's a shame because it has the potential to be great again.
