Yesterworld: The Untold History of The Great Movie Ride - Disney’s Beloved and Abandoned Attraction

Explore the history of The Great Movie Ride, Disney MGM Studios most beloved attraction. From concepts that were cancelled, ideas that were unfinished, controversy and legal disputes with MGM vs Disney, and secrets about the attraction that will change your life.

SOURCES:

VIDEOS USED:

Disney MGM Studios Making Of, Opening Day & Souvenir video.

[benpadilla]

RIP, I wish they would have just revamped the whole thing, it was too good of a ride

[brimbroomhim]

I’m sorry but the image of Mickey and Minnie being shot at is hilariously dark

[Captain-Cosmo]

Thirty years ago today, I was on the opening crew of the great movie ride. It was never my favorite ride, but I spent a 1/2 a year preparing for opening day, and I am happy to have been a part of that history.

[c-puff]

That "Old Yeller" attraction sign is the worst thing I've ever seen in my life and I love it so much.

[austinwainscott]

I'll always miss the ominous voiceover in the ALIEN scene. "This is ALIEN...you are with Sigourney Weaver, aboard the space vessel Nostromo...". Sent chills down my spine every time.

[lildannyd]

Michael Eisner literally represents the quote “you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

It wasn't just a great movie ride, it was THE great movie ride.

[Xycron]

I'm glad I got ride it once before it bit the dust

[icantthinkofaname]

Man, having grown up in Orlando, this ride meant so much to me. It was the first time I’d ever heard of Alien, of Casablanca, and I think of Indiana Jones. It was part of what sparked an interest in me in films and storytelling in general and every time I went I would watch the trailer reel in the queue and try to see if there was anything on it that I hadn’t seen and try to remember the titles for later. It helped spark an interest in storytelling that I still hold on to and hope to put to good use one day, even if for no one’s benefit but my own.

I understand the need to innovate and that things can’t last forever, but this ride was the heart of what Disney MGM Studios represented, a celebration of cinema and of he worlds and characters and stories we could lose ourselves in. Updating the ride to improve technology and change out some of the film scenes from time to time would’ve been a great way to keep the ride alive and fresh, as long as the scenes weren’t constantly just used to promote new flavor of the week films. But there could still have been ways to update it with some newer stuff that could draw in a new crowd while introducing them to older films.

I’m just sad to see it go, as it really encouraged me as a kid to seek out older media alongside current stuff. It may not have been “cool” anymore, but it was a celebration of an art form and just a small fraction of its history and cultural significance. And the montage of video clips at the end served as a reminder that there was far too much great art and entertainment in the medium to be represented in a single ride.

[arnold]

Since Disney owns pretty much every movie studio, I'm really surprised they haven't made another ride like The Great Movie Ride.

It would be so cool to see many rides like this. Have one ride with Great Classic Movies, another with Great Sci-fi Movies, and a third ride with Great Modern Movies.

Each have iconic scenes from these great movies and evolution of movie making.

[Afineaddition]

Never clicked on a video faster. This was my favorite ride at MGM Studios because it started my love for movies as a kid.

[Tarkus_H]

Nothing was held sacred at this park. Aside from Tower of Terror, the park is now almost unrecognizable from when I was a kid, even down to the name.

[victorkong]

Clint Eastwood's AA inclusion was an eleventh hour addition. Frank Wells was best friends with Eastwood (they were skiing together the day Wells died) so he convinced the Imagineers to build an AA of The Man With No Name. But Wells was so busy he didn't have time to get Eastwood's permission. Ten days before the park opened, Wells dragged Eastwood to Florida and got him to sign the release right as they rode through the Western scene.

[Unownshipper]

There are these rare lightning-strike moments when different forces come together to create something great. Who Framed Roger Rabbit was one such example and The Great Movie Ride was another. It's hard and expensive to create deals where studios allow their licenses to be shared, but it's a magical moment when it happens. TGMR captured everything I love about cinema and I was SO sad when it closed. My favorite part was the montage of ALL the films at the end, breathtaking!
At least the ride lives on in memory and in recordings of the tour posted on YouTube.

[FlamingoRadio_]

The last time I rode this was in 2016 and it was twice in a day. Whoever your guide was could wildly impact your ride! My first guide was so upbeat and happy. Then the cowboy who took over was so in character and interacted with a ton of us. Then on the second ride, our guide clearly wanted the day to end and our gangster put in such little effort, it was pathetic. So if you ever rode this ride, I hope it was early in the morning.

[claudiobizama]

Casablanca used little people on the background for a forced perspective?
That's... kinda impressive actually

[Rocketfoot]

This ride scared the crap out of me as a kid! The last time I got to ride it, they still had the live tour guides thankfully, and I was old enough to appreciate it... that being said, the Alien section was still terrifying 🙈

[legomania]

Ironic Eisner tried so hard to get the licensing to Alien, and now Disney just straight up owns Fox and by extension Alien.

[machturtlepresents]

I am still immensely bitter they closed this ride. A pox on the houses on all who greenlit this decision.

[joeypatapas]

I first rode the Great Movie Ride in July 89, just a few months after the park opened. I saw the “shot” tour guide in the gangster scene. That bit was not removed prior to the park opening but some time in the first season.

Cool that you mentioned the animatronic of the Wicked Witch. My parents actually thought it was an actor after our first visit (the movements were so fluid and lifelike, given the technology of the time).

Fun fact about the ride sponsors: prior to the park opening, all the promotional material stated that Sears was the sponsor for TGMR. I was surprised to see Coca Cola as a sponsor when I actually went.