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Bye-Bye, Drew; Hello, MGM Progress!

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:15 pm
by AwallaceUNC
Another breaking news item from WDWMagic:
It seems that the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is here to stay for a good while longer. Plans to replace this long running show with a major $100 million + Eride are rumored to have been canned for now. Attention now has moved to demolishing the ABC Theatre, and the Sounds Dangerous show, and installing a new ride through attraction in that location. The timeframe for this is said to be within the next 4 years.
I like the Indy Stunt Show, although I've seen it so many times that I wouldn't be torn up over a replacement. First and second timers love it, though, and it remains a very popular attraction, so I understand the decision to keep it open.

I also very much enjoy Sounds Dangerous and feel that it's very much underrated, but it's by no means a must-see. MGM is in sore need of some innovation and more attractions, so this is great news in that regard. The entire ABC area is a poor use of potential space overall and I'm very pleased to see apparently for-real plans for an actual ride coming to MGM. I'll miss Drew, but this is exciting news!

-Aaron

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:24 pm
by Timon/Pumbaa fan
Well it looks like I'm going to have to edit my post in "The Most Underrated Theme Park Attraction thread" since I listed Drew as one of them! :( That show was better than Fantasmic I tell ya! :lol:

Oh well, I hope they replace it with some other cool "sound" ride! :)

As for Indy, they've been talking about closing it for a while. I can see how it can get boring after third viewings, but being a HUGE IJ fan, I'm glad Disney has decided to leave it! They'll probably take it down eventually, but looks like it's staying for a few more years! :)

How about updating it when the long awaited Indy 4 comes in theaters?

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:40 pm
by Escapay
Woohoo! A new MGM attraction!

For a second I thought, "Is MGM gonna have a Carousel of Progress?" just because it said progress in the thread title.

I found Sounds Dangerous to be interesting once, but that's it. So it's not gonna be missed much by me.

Escapay or whatever

Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:10 pm
by ckdish
YES!!!!! JOY!! I'm more excited that the awful Drew Cary attraction is being destroyed than the fact that a new attraction is taking its place. Ugh, good bye rusted seats and inane concepts.

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 2:37 am
by Disney-Fan
The Drew Carry show was great fun, but if in it's place comes a new ride, I say: Hell ya! Bring it on! The Indy show is too good to be replaced. Especially since many visitors (such as myself) only get to experience the magic every few years (some only once!).

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:54 pm
by orestes.
Well I'm glad theya re keeping Indy around since I've never seen it and if I ever go that will be the first things I see. I've been looking forward to the day I see it for some time now.

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 2:05 pm
by Raydawggie
Excellent! A new ride for MGM is much needed, but I'm glad Indy will stick around. Although I still think WDW needs an Indiana Jones Adventure ride!

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 2:14 pm
by The Little Merman
Escapay wrote:For a second I thought, "Is MGM gonna have a Carousel of Progress?" just because it said progress in the thread title.
:P That's exactly what I thought..

I found Sounds Dangerous to be terribly scary, considering I'm not a big fan of the dark :oops: and I am really not a fan of knives..

I do, however, think they need a new ride, preferably thrill :twisted:...maybe, a Lost ride :D

*tlm

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 2:26 pm
by orestes.
Oh a 'Lost' ride would be great! It would be so fun if they had a simulator and you are on a plane about to crash and then you experience some adventures on the island. Maybe make it 3-D too.

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:37 pm
by Loomis
orestes. wrote:Oh a 'Lost' ride would be great! It would be so fun if they had a simulator and you are on a plane about to crash and then you experience some adventures on the island. Maybe make it 3-D too.
Or maybe it would be for problem children. Just stick them on an island in the middle of the park for the day, and then pick them off one by one...

In all seriousness, I think I like the idea of a 'Lost' simulator, or a similar thing. Although given that it is dependent on tourist dollars, simulating plane crashes may not do them any favours :)
(BTW, is there any precedent for rides/attractions based on ABC shows?)

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:21 am
by Raydawggie
TheLittleMerman wrote:I do, however, think they need a new ride, preferably thrill :twisted:...maybe, a Lost ride :D

*tlm
Might be a little too intense for Disney, but I know I would love it! :D

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:36 pm
by Fidget1234
hmm....i'm looking forward to whatever they decide to add to the park. that area of the park needs more foot traffic anyways so not everyone will be on Sunset Blvd at once.

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:42 pm
by AwallaceUNC
Loomis wrote:(BTW, is there any precedent for rides/attractions based on ABC shows?)
Attractions? Yes. Rides? No, not to my knowledge. MGM has had many ABC attractions over the years (in fact, they have a whole ABC plaza-type place, which is where Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey is located, as well as the ABC Commissary restaurant). Most of the attractions have been set walk-throughs or shows. Sounds Dangerous itself is ABC-related, as it is presented by ABC and Drew was starring in two ABC series at the time. Currently, MGM still has the Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It! attraction, which is also an ABC show. A ride would be an interesting concept, but I don't think any of their shows have enough appeal to warrant the money a ride would take, not even Lost.

-Aaron

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:59 pm
by Loomis
AwallaceUNC wrote: Currently, MGM still has the Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It! attraction, which is also an ABC show
D'oh. I was only just in DCA, and they had a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire -Play It thing there in the Backlot. It didn't actually visit it (doesn't really interest me), but it should have twigged...

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 6:24 pm
by AwallaceUNC
No worries, mate (look at that, 12 episodes of Five Mile Creek and I'm an Aussie!). They once had a long-running Home Improvement attraction... Luke would have loved that. I should also mention that the Backlot Tour that is still running featured the house facades of many Touchstone/Buena Vista shows (like the Golden Girls, even though it wasn't on ABC) until recently.

-Aaron

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 6:54 pm
by Timon/Pumbaa fan
AwallaceUNC wrote:They once had a long-running Home Improvement attraction... Luke would have loved that.
Oh yeah, that show was called Backstage Pass!

It's still empty I believe! I would've liked to see it! :(

Also in DCA, they had "Superstar Limo" which was originally going to be a fast-past Hollywood version of Mr. Toads's Wild Ride, but they decided to change the theme due to the Princess Diana Car crash, and made it into a cheap commercial for ABC! I never rode it, but it got TERRIBLE reivews! Even my uncle(who is a Disney Imagineer) said the ride was unimpressive! Now it's getting a Monster's Inc. rehab! :)

As for "Lost", that idea can actually work. They could probably make it less intense for kids, but the whole idea of a "sound" show on a deserted island could work. It also helps that it's ABC's most watched t.v. show at the moment(excluding the kid, and adult :P, boring Desperate Housewives)!

I'm not sure about a simulator, but I'd just be pleased if they kept everything exactly the same, except change everything Drew to Lost!

I'll still miss Drew though! :( But I guess every show must leave at some point! Especially since The Drew Carrey show isn't on air anymore. Overall, I say alirght to a Lost ride, even if the show is cheap! :)

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 7:33 pm
by AwallaceUNC
Timon/Pumba fan wrote:It's still empty I believe!
It has been... until now! In a few weeks, a new Narnia Backstage Pass will open up on the vacant soundstages next to Millionaire. It sounds very exciting.

I was excited by the idea of a new ride, but all this Lost talk has me already missing Drew! :P

-Aaron

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:32 pm
by gadgetmobile
I wish they would bring back "Superstar Television" or whatever the name of the attraction was when the park first opened. I probably am showing my age here, but I thought it was cool because you felt like you were in a studio audience where a sitcom was being produced. When my husband and I were on our honeymoon, we were selected to be on stage on the Cheers set. It was really neat to experience the attraction from that perspective, too. Our lines were on a teleprompter and they had directors on stage giving us our cues. It was a fun attraction. I always think of it when I walk past that building now. :)

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:49 pm
by GhostHost
Lost isn't the kind of show like The Twilight Zone, that appeals to kids as well as adults. Please let there never be a Lost ride. Non-Disney things in Disney are like Indiana Jones and Star Wars that appeal to a wide audience.

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:34 pm
by The Little Merman
Wow :D! Didn't know my idea would strike such conversation (Yes I did :wink: ) I just can't help thinking, every single time they show the plane splitting in two, how amazing they could make this. If anyone has been on The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Studios in Florida, you know how terrifyingly real the 400-foot "drop" to the pavement is.

*tlm