Birt Family Focus

Disney's MGM Studios, Mann's Chinese Theatre -- 11/6/02

Today we visit the first attraction in MGM. Right at the end of Hollywood Blvd., once the main feature before the BAH moved in, is the beautiful facade of the Mann's Chinese theatre. Look at the ground - that's right, there are even star's signatures and footprints in the cement, just like the real Hollywood. Some are authentic and some are reproduced, but you can't tell which is which (some of the stars represented were dead when D-MGM was built). I believe it used to be Gruman's but changed hands. Anyway, this representation is so authentic looking that you would swear you were standing in front of the real thing if it weren't for the crowds of Mouse-eared tourists surrounding you. It houses the Great Movie Ride, a 22 minute slow tour of some of MGM's greatest hits including Singing in the Rain, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz and many more.

There are a great many authentic movie props and costumes on display in the queue area. It makes for a very nice little museum of Hollywood History. Take your time and enjoy this, the ride seats a very large group and you won't miss out by letting others pass you by as you look. You will find some neat stuff here, such as a pair of the ruby slippers from Oz and an authentic carousel horse from Mary Poppins. Once past this area, on queues up in a small theatre that shows clips from old MGM films while you wait to board your vehicle. This area always gets me in the mood for a good musical.

One boards a large, slow moving car that seats about 70 or so folks. There are 2 routes, each the same except for the live action sequence in the middle of the ride. At a point midway through, your CM tour guide will be "kidnapped" and replaced by either a gangster or a "bad guy" cowboy. Depending on your CM's enthusiasm for the game, your ride can be quite a hoot.

There are lots of animatronics here and the vast improvements in them from the old ones we were first impressed by are very obvious- and phenomenal. You will swear the Wicked Witch of the West is a CM actor until you get right up next to her. She moves so realistically it is amazing. This place is a virtual Madame Toussad's as well, with a great many stars immortalized in mannequin or animatronic form. Gene Kelly personally approved his avatar, and Ingrid Bergman's daughter brought her children here to see their grandmother in the Casablanca scene. In the Busby Berkly scene, there are over 60 mannequin dancing girls.

There are a few surprises in this ride, but nothing to scare any but the very youngest of visitors- and probably not them, as they easily fall asleep on this ride. There is a cute hidden mickey here as well - look for it in the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom scene.

Rumor has is that this ride will close or be down for rehab. It could use some rehab as it has been here since the opening of the park without updating, but closing is just that- a rumor. According to my sources, closing is not planned, so go and enjoy the Great Movie Ride. The Birt Family does!