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The Studio Backlot Tour is was an attraction located in [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]].{{Infobox Disney ride || image=Studiobacklot.jpg| caption='''The entrance sign for the Studio Backlot Tour'''| opened=May 1, 1989| closed= September 27, 2014| theme= Hollywood Studio Tour| duration=35:00| park= Disney's Hollywood Studios| land=Streets of America| type= Tram Tour| vehicle_type= Tram| riders_per_vehicle= 200| custom_label_1= Formally Known As| custom_label_2= Also Known As| custom_value_2= Backstage Studio <br> Disney MGM Studios Backlot Tour}}
==Attraction History==
When Disney Imagineers were originally designing Disney's MGM Studios, they wanted to give guests an idea of how a working movie studio ran. In order to do this, Imagineers created a Backlot Tour for the park. The attraction that they created, was a two-hour tour known as the Studio Backlot Tour. The original tour consisted of a tram ride with stops at The Production Center, Costuming, The Scenic Shop, Residential Street, New Your Street, Catastrophe Canyon, and "the bone yard". Following the tram tour guests would embark on the walking portion of the Backlot Tour. Here, they could watch demonstrations showing how special effects are created, followed by a tour of various sets. After touring the sound stages, guests would reach the "Making of" portion of the attraction, which was a tour of the set of Disney's latest movie. Finally, guests reached The Walt Disney Theater where they watched film called "Michael and Mickey" which previewed upcoming Disney films.
==Attraction Plot==
===The Original Backstage Studio Tour===
After boarding the tram vehicles, the original Studio Backlot Tour began with guests stopping at the Production Center. Here, they first visited the Costuming Department, where authentic Hollywood clothes were being designed. Continuing on, guests would visit The Scenic Shop, where craftsmen created sets used in television productions.
After exiting New York Street, the tram would reach Catastrophe Canyon, which was a movie set used to demonstrate special effects. Here, guests experience a simulated earthquake, followed by an oil tanker blowing up, catching on fire. The experience concludes with a flood coming down from above the tram. After surviving Catastrophe Canyon, guests entered the bone yard. Here, props from various movies including The Rocketeer, Roger Rabbit, and Star Wars.
[[Image:Catastrophye.jpg|thumb|Catastrophe Canyon has remained a part of the Backlot Tour since it's inception.]]
Passing through the bone yard marked the halfway point of the original Studio Backlot Tour. After a short break, guests would begin the walking portion of the attraction. The first thing guests experienced on the walking tour was the Water Effects Tank. Here, guests got to see how special effects were used to make ship scenes realistic.
Leaving the Water Effects Tank, guests entered Mickey Avenue, which was based on the Mickey Avenue located at the Disney Studios in Burbank. Here, guests could enter an area known as the Special Effect sand Production Tour, where they learned how various special effects were created. One of these effects included allowing guests to "ride" on a giant bumblebee, in front of a green screen. Following the special effects, guests could visit sound stages where real production was going on. Shows such as the Mickey Mouse Club, as well as other Disney television shows were filmed here. Also on Mickey avenue, was the Jim Henson Creature Shop, where guests could visit various Jim Henson puppets and props.
At the end of the walking tour, guests would visit the "Making of" set tour, where they were allowed to visit the set of the latest Disney film. The tour concluded with guests entering the Walt Disney Theater. Here, they would watch a short film titled "Michael and Mickey", where Michael Eisner and Mickey Mouse showed guests previews of the newest Disney productions.
===Current Backlot Tour===
When guest’s enter the queue for the current version of the Backlot Tour, they are shown a short film hosted by director Michael Bay. In the video, Bay explains to guests how many of the special effects were created for the movie Pearl Harbor. Also in the queue, is props from various films including: The Rock, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Pearl Harbor.
After exiting the bone yard, guests reach Catastrophe Canyon. Here, guests are told that they are actually on set, while the cast of the film is on break. As the tram stops, guests experience a simulated earthquake, followed by an oil rig exploding, which starts the set on fire. Finally, floodwaters come down from above the tram, putting the fire out. After leaving Catastrophe Canyon, guests travel around the [[The Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show]] before passing by Walt Disney’s private airplane. After concluding the tour, guests pass through an exhibit, which show’s the AFI’s 50 Greatest Villains.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* 70,000 gallons of water are used to create the flash flood in Catastrophe Caynon
* 1,000 guests can be on the Backlot tour at the same time.
* The airplane that guests pass by on the Backlot Tour, was the actual plane Walt Disney used when scouting out locations for the [[Florida Project]]
==References==
http://www.yesterland.com/backstage.html
http://www.yesterland.com/waltsplane.html
http://www.florida-project.com/disney-hollywood-studios-guidebooks-guidemaps
http://allears.net/tp/mgm/m_backlot.htm
