Great Movie Ride alternate show

[JimB]

Geez all the years we've been going to WDW and we just found out there's an alternate show (cowboy with a bank "explosion" instead of the gangster skit) in the Great Movie ride. Has anyone else seen (or knows about) the cowboy skit? I wonder how often it is shown. In all the years (15 plus) we've been going I never even knew it existed. Talk about being out of the loop!!

[Amy]

Geez all the years we've been going to WDW and we just found out there's an alternate show (cowboy with a bank "explosion" instead of the gangster skit) in the Great Movie ride. Has anyone else seen (or knows about) the cowboy skit? I wonder how often it is shown. In all the years (15 plus) we've been going I never even knew it existed. Talk about being out of the loop!!

It has been a while since we went to WDW but as I recall, out of all the times we rode the Great Movie ride, we saw mostly the gangster scene. There were a few times we saw the cowboy scene but not very often. I wonder if it has to do with how busy the parks are and how many cast members are available? I know one of our fellow subsonic's was a gangster at one time (MadEye maybe?) so maybe they will pop on here and enlighten us

[NaCler]

I've seen both and I just figured that they alternated between cars. Car #1 would go to the Cowboy scene and Car #2 would go to the Gangster scene. That way it keeps everything moving.

[MmeLeota]

I've never heard of the cowboy scene...I have only been on the ride twice, but both times was the gangster scene.

[theBIGyowski]

I've been on it several times...and always had the gangster. Granted, I have only been during the off-season, so that might have something to do with it. One of these days I hope to see the cowboy scene, but not at the expense of having long lines everywhere.

[Mr.ToadWildRider]

It used to operate all the time, now I think its only when the park is busy and they run two cars at a time (i.e. two cars with two operators leave the load at the same time). They do the two scenes at the same time so the first cars whizzes through gangland w/ the 2 gangster AAs popping up and saying "It ain't them" and ducking away and move right into the west while the 2nd car stops at the red light. The cowboy (I think) rushes you through the Alien and Raiders scene to get you up to the ruby well ahead of the 2nd gangster driven car. I think the 2nd car also kinda moves lazily through the west, alien, and raider scenes. Then the pace switches with the lead car going slower through Tarzan Fantasia and Casablanca while the 2nd car speeds through the to meet back in Oz.

Ironically, my family and I used to request the Gangster scene cause we liked it more but this past trip when I was down there I saw the cowboy and it was a bit refreshing. They put out a decent explosion from the bank (my guess as to why they opt to only use that scene when crowds demand it or whatever the reason for re-opening it is- it must cost more to show that the gangsters); you can see the char marks above the windows of the bank from all the times the flames have shot out.

I'm sure MadEye would be the best person to get an answer from.


*EDIT: As a side note, we used to always go the last week of August when not too peak (though still sorta summer vacation, at least it was for MA), but when I saw it this past trip it was in October which is pretty off-season I think.

[MmeLeota]

It used to operate all the time, now I think its only when the park is busy and they run two cars at a time (i.e. two cars with two operators leave the load at the same time). They do the two scenes at the same time so the first cars whizzes through gangland w/ the 2 gangster AAs popping up and saying "It ain't them" and ducking away and move right into the west while the 2nd car stops at the red light. The cowboy (I think) rushes you through the Alien and Raiders scene to get you up to the ruby well ahead of the 2nd gangster driven car. I think the 2nd car also kinda moves lazily through the west, alien, and raider scenes. Then the pace switches with the lead car going slower through Tarzan Fantasia and Casablanca while the 2nd car speeds through the to meet back in Oz.

You know, I think this is what they did the last time I rode it (in 2003) because I seem to remember the Alien scene taking forever...I don't like that scene and it seemed like we were rushing to get to the Oz scene.

[wewantsdaredhead]

I have been on it three times and I have yet to see the Cowboy one...
What is the theme of it? Is it similar to the gangster one?

[Len90]

I believe they are "A" vehicle (Bandit) and "B" vehicles (gangster). I have usually seen the gangster show. I think I might have to request the bandit show when we go this summer.

As for the sequence of events, Mr.ToadWildRider explained it perfectly.

[wewantsdaredhead]

Got it---thanks. Maybe next time we will "ask" for it also.

[MadEye]

Tip for anyone who has not seen the Bandit scene: Ask if they are running it. If they are say that you'll wait if you have to. Hopefully you get a good Bandit.

Another tip for the next time you ride: Look below you on the left or right. At the end of most scenes you will see a stop light of sorts with either a green circle or a red X. This helps the guides, Gangsters and Bandits know if the scene is clear of the vehicle(s) ahead of theirs.

As said before, there are two vehicles. One Bandit, one Gangster. You will notice the forward vehicle (Vehicle A, Bandit Vehicle) speeds through Gangster wile the rear vehicle (Vehicle B, Gangster Vehicle) starts to slow down in Mary Poppins. This allows the Bandit Vehicle to get to the Western/Bandit scene. Both shows go on at the same time with the Bandit scene taking less time to conclude so it can leave Western before the Gangster Vehicle enters the Western scene (and the guests are none the wiser). Bandit Vehicle goes faster to reach Anubis (that is what the scene is called where the Bandit/Gangster "die") and leave before the Gangster, moving slower through Western, Alien, Raiders of The Lost Ark. Sometimes, depending on the Bandit or Gangster, you can see the tail end of the Bandit Vehicle leaving Anubis while still in Alien or Raiders. As the Gangster Vehicle goes through Raiders and reaches Anubis, the Bandit Vehicle is going veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy slowly through Tarzan and stops in Casablanca. This allows the Gangster to "die" and the Guide to come back and catch up with the A Vehicle.

Any questions, just ask.

[JimB]

I have been on it three times and I have yet to see the Cowboy one...
What is the theme of it? Is it similar to the gangster one?

Here's a link to a one minute youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJHdJqRsuwA

Not great quality but it gives you an idea. I'm sure it's a much better experience in person.

[horizons1]

My only beef with the off-peak days when only Gangster is running is that they still do the Bandit shootout too - Kind of anti-climactic when you just saw the Gangster shootout.

[boilerbabe]

It has been a very long while since we've seen the bandit scene. On our past few trips, it's been the gangsters.

[metsofny]

The exact same thing happened to me two years ago, and I've been riding that ride since the park opened.