In the 25 year history of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, only one attraction has been a constant; The Great Movie Ride. The attraction was originally conceived as an addition to Future World in EPCOT Center called “Great Moments at the Movies,” but it was expanded to become the basis for a whole new theme park. The Great Movie Ride and its home, the replica of the famed Hollywood Chinese Theater, served as the center piece of the Disney/MGM until 2001 when the giant Sorcerer’s Hat was built in front of the facade. The facade of the theater was built directly off of the original theater blueprints from the mid 1920’s and once inside you will find one of the last grand Disney attractions built.
The Great Movie Ride has changed little over the past 25 years, with the exception of a few script changes, small changes to some of the scenes, and a bit of an update to the final film montage. Basically, it is the same attraction as it was on May 1, 1989. The attraction by the numbers is 22 minutes long, has almost 60 audio-animatronics, has 1926 feet of track, and showcases over 120 films in the end montage. The ride is a trip through some classic scenes of the yesteryear of movie history. Even when the attraction opened in ’89 the most recent scene was Raiders of the Lost Ark released in 1981.
Now lets take a look at each of the scenes that make up this truly classic Disney attraction!
