Hollywood Studios is home to many ongoing projects.  Disney made another project official yesterday while signaling the end of a classic attraction.  A new ride based on Mickey Mouse will be taking the place of The Great Movie Ride.  The new attraction will be based on the Mickey Shorts that play on Disney Channel and occasionally in front of new films.  These are wacky, zany short films that the attraction will try to imitate.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (quite a mouthful, I would have preferred The Great Mickey Ride) will be utilizing some concepts of The Great Movie Ride but it remains to be seen what technology will be utilized.  Via the Disney Parks Blog:

“Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature a new story and a new singable attraction theme song as well as a new experience we’re calling “2 1/2 D.” No glasses required. Walt Disney Imagineer Kevin Rafferty said teams are inventing new technologies that turn the flat world of a colorful cartoon short into a “dimensional display of amazingness.”

I’ll be back with more commentary on the attraction in the next few days.  Here’s a link to the previously mentioned Disney Parks Blog post.

My reaction to the news:

A Mickey attraction is a good idea.  Replacing The Great Movie Ride is disappointing and a little bit frustrating.  Where does that leave the trade-off?  Probably a net positive, however slight it is.  First, the bad.

Losing The Great Movie Ride is disappointing and a definite end to whatever was left of the original Hollywood Studios.  I’m not so sad about losing any connection to the original park, that ship sailed a few years back.  What I do find disappointing is that I think The Great Movie Ride could have fit in thematically with whatever this next version of the Studios is.  It seems that Disney will be concentrating on putting guests into the movies in this new park.  What better way to start that experience than putting guests straight into scenes from classic movies?  Still, the attraction was in pretty bad shape and would have needed a substantial update with a few new scenes.  An addition would have been preferable, but with massive projects underway in other areas of the park I can understand a budget crunch.  Over time the Studios will need more attractions to draw the hordes of crowds away from Star Wars, but I guess we’ll worry about that later.  Oh, I don’t like the name either.

Via Disney Parks Blog

Now that we’re through with negative, a Mickey ride is a great idea!  How there has never been one in the history of Disney Parks is strange and surprising.  Basing this on the Mickey Shorts is a great choice as they are weird, zany and fun.  The layout of The Great Movie Ride makes a lot of sense for the attraction that was described above.  Dashing through scenes in a ride vehicle is already what kind of happens in The Great Movie Ride.  I imagine they’ll turn up the energy a little more in this version than the attraction that preceded it.  All in all, I think what was described is exciting and the subject matter is even better.  If this was an addition instead of a replacement the news would be even better.  As is, I think this is a great idea that could have gone in a better place.

What are your thoughts on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway replacing The Great Movie Ride?  Let us know in the comments.  If you enjoy what you’re reading here on Wandering in Disney, please subscribe to the blog on the right side of this page.  That’s also where you can find links to our social media accounts.  Thank you for reading!