One of Walt Disney World's most historical attractions was the Tram Tour at the Studios park, one of only two "ride" attractions when Disney-MGM Studios opened in 1989. Over the years, it went through many formats and name changes before eventually becoming the Backlot Tram Tour. I got to ride it in 2014, its final year of operation. At the time, the ride's closure had not yet been announced, but I was somewhat aware that it was on borrowed time. When Hollywood Studios had opened that day, my Dad and I ran to Toy Story Mania, only to find it closed. At the end of our day at the park, I had the option to either ride that attraction or the Tram Tour. I never rode Midway Mania in 2014, but I definitely made the right choice... I can even recall the family in front of us talking about how Midway Mania was their favorite, and I was second-guessing my decision. :-o
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| Not my photo - but licensed for reuse! |
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The tour started out with a brief walking tour that used to be longer: there was a water effects pool where volunteers were called upon to show how water effects are juxtaposed in films, then you walked through a prop building. I remember being confused by this bit: what were these things for, and where did they come from? I still think that it's kind of random and haphazard, but I'm glad that Dad took a few pictures, as you can see some of the old EPCOT World of Motion animatronics in the rafters in one shot.
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| Props from the Rocketeer |
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| World of Motion figures |
The tram tour was a shell of what it once was, so my dad didn't take a ton of pictures. Here's one of the Earful Tower, the Hollywood Studios icon that was taken down in 2016.
Herbie the Love Bug - there was a "battered" version to the left.
Of course, props like these were the build-up to the only truly impressive thing on the Tram Tour, Catastrophe Canyon. First, though, you couldn't miss Walt Disney's airplane, used to scout the land that eventually become Walt Disney World.
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| Not mine either |
Catastrophe Canyon, Disney's attempt at a Universal-like special effects "disaster" show was pretty cool. I have a video clip to share if you are interested, though you probably have seen it somewhere.
Right behind Catastrophe Canyon was the Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show. I did watch it on this visit, but I'm not sure if that show is well-enough respected to warrant a post. Turning around near the end of the Tour, we saw the Streets of America, which were only accessible by the tram in the park's very earliest days.
After the Tram Tour, there was an American Film Institute exhibit. My Dad is a big movie fan, so he took a bunch of pictures.
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| Indiana Jones whip |
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| Lifeboat from Titanic |
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| Axe from The Shining |
I came away from the ride not very impressed but glad that I experienced it. When I got home, I watched some videos of the lengthy, original version, which gave me a better perspective on how the ride had evolved into its then-current state. Catastrophe Canyon was awesome and I would be picturing oil tankers tipping over and bursting into flames for months (instigated by collapsing telephone poles). ;-) I'm glad that I got to ride the Backlot Tram Tour and several other extinct Walt Disney World attractions that closed between this trip and my next in 2014, like Maelstrom, the Great Movie Ride, and Stitch's Great Escape, but I am still kicking myself for not seeing Universe of Energy! Thanks for reading.
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