The Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour
The Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour is a truly fascinating experience that shows guests many aspects of movie making. The first stop on the tour is a special effects set. Two guests, selected before the tour starts, are used to demonstrate how natural disasters and waterborne scenes are created on a studio set. The first guest is put at the helm of a small boat called "Miss Fortune", and then pummeled with gigantic waves, simulating a storm scene on the high seas. The second guest is put on top of a submarine and bombarded with pryotechnics, simulated depth charges, and torpedo blasts to produce a sea battle. Fortunately, the two guests are wearing rain coats because they get very wet. Next, guests board a comfortable tram that first passes through a tunnel where guests get to see real working television and movie production departments. The viewable departments include the enourmous wardrobe department, and the camera, props and lighting departments. After exiting the tunnel, the tram turns onto a lovely residential street where exterior shots are done for movies and television shows. The houses, which are just facades, include "The Golden Girls" house and the house from "Empty Nest". The tram then passes by a huge array of vehicles used in Disney movies and television shows. Guests also get to see Walt Disney's private plane. The most exciting part of the tour, Catastrophe Canyon, is up next. The tram pulls onto a huge set made to look like an active oil field in the middle of a rocky desert canyon that is supposedly being used for filming. The tour guide says it's okay to tour, because they aren't filming today. As soon as the tram stops though, someone yells "Action". Suddenly, the ground starts to shake and dozens of fires erupt a few metres from the guests. Just as a huge tanker truck is about too explode, the canyon set is drenched by a flash flood with a somewhat scary amount of water. Then, everything stops and the tram drives around the back of the set, revealing the superstructure of the canyon set and the enormous tanks used to store the water. The tram then drops off guests at the American Film Institute Showcase, where costumes, props, and set pieces used in recent and classic movies and television shows are on display.
Interesting and little known facts
-Catastrophe Canyon lets loose enough water to fill 10 olympic-size swimming pools in a matter of seconds!
-the air cannons, used to shoot out water in Catastrophe Canyon, could shoot a basketball over the Empire State Building!
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