The Husband Was In The Backlot Tour Again!

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can be in the movies!  And, the husband got another chance to be in the Backlot Tour during our most recent visit.  (Click here to read more about his first time—thousands of gallons of water.)

We headed to the Backlot Tour after riding Toy Story Mania, and the lines had already formed in the queue area.  We thought we would be taking in this attraction as just guests, not participants.  Then, a Cast Member appeared at the top of the ramp and yelled that they needed one more volunteer.  I yelled back, “He will do it!” meaning the husband.  Of course, the husband agreed and off he went to don his blue jumpsuit.  In the meantime, we were ushered to the front of the lines, visited with the other families who had volunteers in the show, then made our way to the special reserved spot for family members.

This time, the husband played the Captain of the PT boat.  He didn’t get quite as wet!

The video below is of the film—Harbor Attack—that is made from footage from the volunteers while the special affects get recorded.  Check it out:

And the cast takes a bow!

The rest of Backlot Tour includes a tour of a prop room, a tram tour through Catastrophe Canyon, and backstage at Lights, Motors, Action.  The attraction itself lasts for several minutes and there is no exit.  So, if you are crunched for time, I would skip it until you can go at a more relaxed pace.

The Backlot Tour exits in a movie costume museum of sorts, and of course, a shop.  But just beyond that are Mike and Sully from Monster’s, Inc.  

The Husband Was IN the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Do you want to be in the movies?  If I were asking the husband that question, he would say , “yes!”  And, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, some lucky guests get to “be in the movies.”

The husband got his wish when we visited the Backlot Tour at Hollywood Studios.  When moving to the top of the inclined, multi-lane queue, a Cast Member appeared and asked for 3 volunteers over the age of 18.  The husband raised his hand and was selected, along with two other gentlemen from the group.  He was whisked away behind a door.

Soon the Cast Member reappeared and asked for the families of the volunteers to move to the side of the queue with her.  She explained that we would have a special viewing area and that we would need to take our own pictures and/or video of the experience.  I told her that the husband had the video camera in his bag.  She told me she would get the video camera and be right back, as the volunteers had lockers to store their belongings in the backstage area.

This is when Cast Member Tracey appeared.  She came out from behind the door and asked for me.  I raised my hand and she proceeded to acknowledge my planning for this trip, as she was carrying our video camera which was stored in a waterproof container with a lid.  It is actually a re-used Crystal Light drink mix container.  The shape of the plastic containers make them perfect to hold cameras and flip video cameras—and an extra set of batteries—all in one easy to find, transparent, waterproof container.  My interaction with Tracey made my head swell.  She said, “I bet you have a Tide Stick in your purse.”  Of course I did and I showed her, along with the wet wipes, snacks, custom autograph book, etc.  She asked if I wrote about my traveling tips.  Yes, and I proceeded to give her a customized family card which included the web-site for our blog.  (Click here to read more.)  This wouldn’t be our last interaction with Tracey during our trip, but I’ll have to tell that story another time.

The families of the volunteers were soon directed to the special front viewing spot for the water battle scene of the Backlot Tour and the rest of the guests filed in behind us.

The volunteers appeared, were introduced, took their places to film the battle scene, and took their bows when finished.

(Note:  Special quote the husband, "I'm glad I didn't turn left.  And, you still get wet!")

The completed “film” then played on overhead screens.

We waited a few minutes while the rest of the crowd made their way through the “prop” room and to the trams for the rest of the tour so the husband could change his clothes, collect his things, and join us for the rest of the tour.

The husband had a grand time being in the movies at the Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!