Does “Motors” arrival mean that Indy’s now on his way out?

Jim Hill

20 years ago

Photo by Seth Kubersky

Even though we’re still a more than a month away from the official opening of “Lights, Motors, Action!,” rumors are already flying about the potential impact that this new stunt show may have on Disney-MGM’s line-up of rides, shows & attractions.

To explain: Many members of the Disneyana web community have begun talking up the idea that the studio theme park doesn’t really need two stunt shows. Which is why they’re hoping that the Imagineers will use the opening of “Lights, Motors, Action!” as an excuse to shutter MGM’s long-in-the-tooth “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.” With the long range plan being that the “Epic Stunt Spectacular” arena will eventually be torn down to make way for a Disney World version of that Disneyland favorite, the “Indiana Jones Adventure” ride.

Well, it is true that WDI has been looking for an excuse to bring this EMV (Enhanced Motion Vehicle)-based attraction to Orlando for more than a decade now. But just because “Lights, Motors, Action” is now up & running doesn’t automatically mean that the “Epic Stunt Spectacular” is headed for that big “Temple of Doom” in the sky.

Why for? Well, were you to take a peek at WDI’s previous expansion plans for the studio theme park, you’d discover that — not all that long ago (I.E. 1995) — the Imagineers were actually toying with the idea of building a WDW version of the “Indiana Jones Adventure” out behind the “Epic Stunt Spectacular” arena. In effect creating an “Indy” based “land” within MGM’s borders.

Mind you, according to this version of Disney-MGM’s 10 year expansion plan, only the “Indiana Jones Adventure” ‘s queue, load & unload area would have actually been located inside the theme park’s pre-existing footprint. The attraction’s enormous show building would have been built out in MGM’s parking lot — directly across from the resort bus pick & drop-off arena.

“Could that same expansion plan be revived today?,” you ask. Most likely not. Why for? Because Disney-MGM Cast Services building currently occupies the spot where the queue, load & unload area for the studio theme park’s version of the “Indiana Jones Adventure” were originally supposed to be located. Which sort of puts the kibosh on MGM getting its very own “Indy” land.

But let’s get back to this whole “Disney-MGM-can’t-have-two-stunt-shows” idea. Which is really utter nonsense. Why for? Because — were you to go back to the Imagineers’ original plans for the studio theme park — you’d see that this facility was initially designed to support two stunt shows.

Don’t believe me? Okay. Here’s an excerpt from one of the very first press releases that Disney ever issued for the studio theme park. Which — back in 1985 — was actually known as “The Disney-MGM Studio Tour.”

Among tour experiences planned are “Great Moments at the Movies,” a ride-through adventure; “Video Theater,”a sound and imagination experience; the Epic and Slapstick Theaters, featuring live demonstrations and filmed stunts; and the Disney Archives, an interactive gallery and film theater of Disney lore and history. In addition, guests can visit Video Playground, a back-lot facility with costumes for photo and video setups, shops and restaurants. Guest will also have a chance to tour the Animation Department to see animators, artists and technicians at work on current animated film projects.

And here’s a concept drawing for that early, early version of the theme park.

And — as we go in for a close-up on this MGM concept drawing — you’ll notice that (at least in this incarnation) the studio theme park actually did have two separate stunt shows. One with a somewhat medieval setting that clearly paid tribute to adventure films. (Please note the Viking longboats in the lagoon as well as the Trojan Horse waiting off-stage right.)

While — just a couple of hundred yards away to the north — the studio theme park was to have featured an entirely different facility. Where the Imagineers wanted to pay tribute to Hollywood’s early master of mirth, Mack Sennett, by setting up a slapstick stunt show. In fact, if you look extra close at this drawing, you can actually see a paddy wagon full of Keystone Kops roaring around the arena.

So what does this all mean? Well … Given that no good idea ever dies at WDI … From the Imagineers’ point of view, having “Lights, Action, Motors!” and the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” both up & running at the same time means that Disney-MGM is finally living up to its full potential.

Speaking of full … I have heard from a number of Disney-MGM employees that WDW management is already expressing some concerns about the studio theme park’s new stunt show. The suits are reportedly troubled that “Lights, Motors, Action!” has been playing to half empty houses during the attraction’s soft opening / test-and-adjust period.

As to why this is happening, theories abound. Some suggest that it’s because the arena for MGM’s new stunt show is located far too far to the back of the studio theme park. Which is why WDW guests are currently having trouble finding the place.

Still others are suggesting that the half-empty arena is just because the big PR push for the studio’s new stunt show has yet to begin. That — once “Lights, Motors, Action!” is officially unveiled and this new MGM attraction is supported by a national series of TV ads as well as billboards all over Orlando — that Disney-MGM visitors will then have no trouble finding their way back to the new arena.

That said, I’ve also heard that the Florida field office of Walt Disney Imagineering has quietly been asked to put together some ideas for a possible “Lights, Motors, Action!” icon. You know, something similiar to the rainbow-colored hot air balloon that’s found on top of the “Kermit the Frog presents Muppetvision 3D” theater? Which would (in theory) make it that much easier for Disney-MGM guests — as they’re arriving at the studio — to zero in on where the studio theme park’s new extreme stunt show is actually located.

So — if you were the Imagineer that was assigned to this project — what would you suggest as a possible icon to draw Disney-MGM guests back to the “Lights, Motors, Action!” arena?