Memory 097 – Studio Backlot Tour

Come and join us for another installment of the WDW-Memories podcast, where I try to make it possible for you relive your Walt Disney World Memories when you can’t actually be there.

I don’t know about you, but I need an escape. My reality is becoming more stressful. A very good friend of mine just lost his battle with Cancer, the requirements of my new job are taking their toll on me, and a summer trip seems so far away. Thankfully we can escape with the simple use of our Memories to a place we all love.

Today we’ll once again escape to Walt Disney World  and this time to another place to escape reality is the Movies, but more specifically a movie set. Today we’re going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to take the Studio Backlot Tour.

Our request today came from Lori in Puerto Rico, she wrote in a recent email.:
I wondering if you have a recording of the Backlot attraction at Hollywood Studios?

Well Lori, as it turns out, I do. I used to really love this attraction. I kind of think it’s gotten the same sort of reputation that Stitch does, one that is less liked because a lot of us fans remember what it used to be. This was the main point of visiting the Disney-MGM Studios back when it first opened. You would begin with a ride down residential street, then you were taken to Catastrophe Canyon, then began the 2+hour walking tour through actual Movie and TV show sets which included the water tank and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids bumble bee. I still remember seeing that blue screen effect with some kids from our tour group. Or on another trip much later stopping above the Who Wants To Be a Millionaire: Play It just as they called up to phone a complete stranger…. and we got it right! Sadly, I don’t have either of those memories recorded so I won’t be able to share them with you, but I do have on in Binaural from 2006, so that’s what we’ll be using today.

Of course I wanted to hear from all of you, so I tossed it out on social media and got many responses. Here are some of my favorites.

On Facebook, Dennis reminisced about the old days: I remember when the tour still had residence street. The golden girls house empty nest house. And Herbie the love bug would drive towards you down a driveway when you came up to him in the tram. The canyon is the only big part left of the attraction. I miss the houses especially during Christmas when they would light them as well as New York street.

On Twitter, @Cody011 wrote: Backlot tour used to TERRIFY me as a kid with the shaking car/ water cascading close by oddly enough!

And finally from Google+, Jessica wrote: Seeing the bone cage from POTC 2 and then the tour guide asking what one of the ships from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was from and me being the only geek on the tour to know it! 🙂

These are just a few of the memories shared with me. This is either a very popular ride, or a very polarizing one, and everyone wants to share, so stop by to read or leave more of your memories on the social medial pages.

So like I said, today’s memory is from 2006. It’s our anniversary trip and Traci and I have returned for a second day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to do some of the things we didn’t get done in our half day with her parents. We’ve done some of our favorites and have worked our way towards the back of the park now. We’ll join this memory as we are waiting in the main queue to be let into the water tank area. The video is running overhead, with Michael Bay showing us how he filmed Pearl Harbor in a set just like the one we’re about to enter. We’ll be let in shortly and the memory will take off from there. Just a heads up, there is also going to be a lot of noise from the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show which is running as we head for the unload area, so things may get a little noisy.

Today’s memory is in binaural, so I’d suggest putting those headphones on to fully immerse yourself in the memory.

Now sit back. Relax. Close your eyes. And come with me as we take a behind-the-scenes look at how movie magic is made.