G-Fan and I took a short walk around EPCOT and D/MGM today as the weather has been lovely in the past couple of days. Did 'Soarin" and ended up in row #1 which was nice! Then walked over to the MK and the castle mirror is yet getting a new addition of what appears to be a rotating sign which will identify the resort where the displayed castle is from. However, it was inop so I am just guessing here...
Then went to MGM. G-Fan and I decided to go on the 'Great' Movie Ride since it was refurbished not long ago and the wait was only 5 mins. So, we walk in. Waited about 10 mins and then we boarded the ride vehicles. We noticed there were only 2 vehicles as opposed to the customary 4.
We started our trip and we are in that "By the waterfall" Footlight Parade set. You know the one..which stopped rotating like months after MGM opened in May 1989 and has never been fixed to it's original glory... The one they have covered with a see thru screen where Follies photos are projected.... A japanese rock garden has more personality and animation than this mannequin set. Even the water fountains are turned off, which is odd since the bubble machine overhead is on, and dripping soap.
We proceed down the Mary Poppins set and into the gangster scene where we had to endure the very very very BAD acting of the female CM playing the mobster who takes over our ride vehicle. She was truly bad. Don't they auditions these kids before hand anymore?? Anyways... I noticed many of the effects that used to go with the shootout scene are inop. There is no more smoke on the walls to simulate bullet hits. The whole scene felt bland to say the least.
We then proceeded down the western scene, where my favorite scene ("the bank's gonna blow!!!" KABOOM!) appears to be dead in the water and no longer used since there are no vehicle #1 & #2 ahead of us. So we go pass this area quickly. Then the totally unscary "Alien", the nicer "Indy", the skelleton scene, and Tarzan scene. All these scenes appeared to have newer lighting and some new set dressing.
Then we came to a halt in the "Casablanca" scene. We were stuck there for about 4 mins and saw the same scene play out repeatedly about 3 times when finally our CM came on the mike and informed us that we were temporarily delayed... Finally we started moving forwards and our trip continued. Passing the "Fantasia" scene and into the "Wizard of Oz" scene. It all played beautifully..."Who killed my sista!!!!"...."Begone before someone drops a house on your too!!" jada jada.
Then...we didn't move. Again, we sat there as the Munchkins sang "follow the yellow brick road" until the music faded and the Munchkins AAs stopped operating. As we sat there in silence for a few moments, the brat next to me asked "what happened?!" The CM never said a word as we sat there in a dead set. Then after what appeared to be an eternity, we started our forward motion, the saw Dorothy and Oz friends, then the final movie montage.
I just have to say that this was by far the worst Movie Ride I have experienced. The CMs involved in our tour were horrendously bad actors and never gave a performance that would engage the guests with the plot of the ride. Coming to 2 stops where sets and AAs were seen horribly off cue was painful and sloppy. So it was quite disappointing for both G-Fan and I. I did notice improvements in lighting and some minor set dressing (most notably in the bank scene) but that was it.
Honestly...I much rather see them pull the plug on this ride, since it was so totally blocked off from view by the gift shop hat, than to see them run it so poorly. Very bad show. My post refurbishing rating: D-
Then went to MGM. G-Fan and I decided to go on the 'Great' Movie Ride since it was refurbished not long ago and the wait was only 5 mins. So, we walk in. Waited about 10 mins and then we boarded the ride vehicles. We noticed there were only 2 vehicles as opposed to the customary 4.
We started our trip and we are in that "By the waterfall" Footlight Parade set. You know the one..which stopped rotating like months after MGM opened in May 1989 and has never been fixed to it's original glory... The one they have covered with a see thru screen where Follies photos are projected.... A japanese rock garden has more personality and animation than this mannequin set. Even the water fountains are turned off, which is odd since the bubble machine overhead is on, and dripping soap.
We proceed down the Mary Poppins set and into the gangster scene where we had to endure the very very very BAD acting of the female CM playing the mobster who takes over our ride vehicle. She was truly bad. Don't they auditions these kids before hand anymore?? Anyways... I noticed many of the effects that used to go with the shootout scene are inop. There is no more smoke on the walls to simulate bullet hits. The whole scene felt bland to say the least.
We then proceeded down the western scene, where my favorite scene ("the bank's gonna blow!!!" KABOOM!) appears to be dead in the water and no longer used since there are no vehicle #1 & #2 ahead of us. So we go pass this area quickly. Then the totally unscary "Alien", the nicer "Indy", the skelleton scene, and Tarzan scene. All these scenes appeared to have newer lighting and some new set dressing.
Then we came to a halt in the "Casablanca" scene. We were stuck there for about 4 mins and saw the same scene play out repeatedly about 3 times when finally our CM came on the mike and informed us that we were temporarily delayed... Finally we started moving forwards and our trip continued. Passing the "Fantasia" scene and into the "Wizard of Oz" scene. It all played beautifully..."Who killed my sista!!!!"...."Begone before someone drops a house on your too!!" jada jada.
Then...we didn't move. Again, we sat there as the Munchkins sang "follow the yellow brick road" until the music faded and the Munchkins AAs stopped operating. As we sat there in silence for a few moments, the brat next to me asked "what happened?!" The CM never said a word as we sat there in a dead set. Then after what appeared to be an eternity, we started our forward motion, the saw Dorothy and Oz friends, then the final movie montage.
I just have to say that this was by far the worst Movie Ride I have experienced. The CMs involved in our tour were horrendously bad actors and never gave a performance that would engage the guests with the plot of the ride. Coming to 2 stops where sets and AAs were seen horribly off cue was painful and sloppy. So it was quite disappointing for both G-Fan and I. I did notice improvements in lighting and some minor set dressing (most notably in the bank scene) but that was it.
Honestly...I much rather see them pull the plug on this ride, since it was so totally blocked off from view by the gift shop hat, than to see them run it so poorly. Very bad show. My post refurbishing rating: D-
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