The other behind-the-scenes attraction
The emotional center of the new park showcased the heart of the Walt Disney Company—animation. The Art of Disney Animation featured a working studio, a studio that in its infancy assisted the Burbank studio in the making of classics such as The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. Eventually, this little studio that could went on to animate complete feature motion pictures on its own; films like Lilo and Stitch, Brother Bear, and Mulan. When the short-sighted decision was made to abandon hand-drawn animation altogether, this wonderful group of talented artists was disbanded. The lovely building, designed to echo the Disney Studios in Burbank was converted into office space for accountants and executives. The loss of Walt Disney Animation Florida is one that is still hard for animation fans to accept or understand.
The other behind-the-scenes attraction on opening day was the Backlot Tour. Built around the concept of movie studios of old, this attraction featured everything from a costume department to a re-creation of that old Hollywood sample, a backlot. Join me in bidding a fond farewell to this last remaining vestige of the original concept of the Studios theme park.
In its original design, the tour began next to the Magic of Disney Animation. Guests boarded tzXrams—much like those found at Universal Studios in California—to begin their journey through the backlot. At one time, this portion of the tour was extensive, showcasing the residential street, complete with facades of the houses from then-current television hits like The Golden Girls and Empty Nest. Guests were also taken to the Streets of America, an area that was once accessible only via the tour. Here, tour guides explained that by simply framing a scene carefully, moviemakers could use the lot to film scenes in a small town or a big city like New York or San Francisco. The facades, or false fronts, of the buildings were exposed as the tram wound its way through the streets, giving guests an opportunity to see behind the illusion of the movies.