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2. The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)

The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

Few will mourn the loss of The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The attraction was the latest in a series of basic walkthroughs to occupy the same space in the park, and replaced the similar Journey into Narnia.

Often derided as little more than a pre-show, the attraction was based on the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, rather than the original theme park ride. It offered guests a view of key moments in the films from the perspective of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Although Disney did at least make an attempt to theme the surroundings, it’s difficult to view The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow as much more than an extended trailer for the movies.

The Narnia attractions and The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow continued the "behind the scenes of the movies" theme that Disney's Hollywood Studios is now moving away from, albeit in a very unambitious way. Expect the attraction's replacement to be very, very different.

1. Studio Backlot Tour (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)

Catastrophe Canyon

If the replacement of Maelstrom at Epcot marks a change in approach to the World Showcase, then the removal of the Studio Backlot Tour is an even more significant change to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is the final nail in the coffin of the decades-old dream to turn Orlando into “Hollywood East”, and finally sees Disney dropping the pretence that Hollywood Studios is still a working production facility.

Clearly “inspired” by Universal Studios Hollywood’s famous tram tour, the inclusion of the Studio Backlot Tour in Disney’s plans for Disney-MGM Studios (as it was then known) forced rival Universal to tear up its original plans for Universal Studios Florida (which included a very similar tram tour, with a set-piece that was almost identical in concept to Disney’s Catastrophe Canyon).

Ironically, the Studio Backlot Tour actually contributed to Disney-MGM Studios' failure as a working studio. The noise from Catastrophe Canyon made outdoor filming on the park's backlot streets impractical. Yet the ride outlasted the studio itself, continuing to offer a glimpse at the process of filmmaking for some 25 years before finally being closed.

Disney is yet to confirm what use it plans to make of the acres of space opened up by the removal of the Studio Backlot Tour, but all signs point towards an expansed Pixar area. It’s inevitable, too, that we’ll eventually see the long-rumored Star Wars Land installed at Hollywood Studios. We may even see the park receive a new name.

 
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Comments

I was so sad when Norway became a new home for princesses. I loved Norway and could not wait to have another wonderful meal there. At 72 I am not interested in what Disney has done to Norway. Sounds as if it will be even further from the original, then it is now. What is wrong with things that have stood the test of time?

Disappointed in Disney's decision to close Maelstrom. It was a shame to see it boarded up this past week when I was there, and even more disappointing to see all of the Frozen merchandise in the Norway store. The cast members in said store seemed to be very annoyed at that as well. To come all this way, and end up hawking Frozen rice krispy treats instead of items relevant to their heritage, it didn't seem like they were that happy about it. My problem from the removal stems is that it is an erasure of the Norway cultural heritage. Look at the other countries in the World Showcase, and the animated films set in those places. No other animated film has taken over those countries like Frozen has, and while it was a success, is it a Disney masterpiece? Will it stand the test of time? I mean, look at the UK section of the Showcase, and you will see a small amount of Alice in Merchandise related to tea...not a whole ride! I wish Disney would keep the Princesses in Magic Kingdom, as it's a fictional movie, with fictional characters, in a place that is fictional. Yes it's based on areas of Norway, such as Belen, but Arendelle is NOT real, and isn't part of Norway. I mean, you don't see Mulan, Belle, or Jasmine merchandise all over their respective countries, do you?

In reply to by Bri (not verified)

I think you'll find loads of Winnie the Pooh items in the UK section - he is a fictional character. Maelstrom is just a ride, albeit one that is set in a 'country'. Its boring, my kids never want to ride it.

Winnie the Pooh was written by a British author, A.A. Milne. It is a beloved book in the U.K.. Having Pooh products in the England pavilion makes extremely good sense.
I am not completely sure Frozen will be a good fit for EPCOT, but I will reserve judgment until it is finished. I do not understand why characters should not be present at EPCOT, especially if they are found in the countries that the original fairytale or story came from. Cinderella in France, Snow White in Germany, Pinocchio in Italy. Maybe then some the visitors would be educated that these classic stories come from all over the world and not just from the minds of Disney storytellers. That is called education, which is what Walt Disney wanted EPCOT to do (among a few other things).

my daughter loved the movie Frozen because she travelled to Norway in college. She said that the essence of Norway is all through the movie as well as in the music.

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