Behind the Attraction
GenreDocumentary
Created byBrian Volk-Weiss
Directed byBrian Volk-Weiss
Narrated byPaget Brewster[1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
  • Dwayne Johnson
  • Dany Garcia
  • Hiram Garcia
  • Brian Gewirtz
  • Kevin Hill
  • Brian Volk-Weiss
  • Robin Henry
  • Cisco Henson
  • Ian Roumain (2023)
  • Frankie Chappiaerino (2023)
CinematographySamuel Brownfield
Matt Kubas
John Paul Meyer
EditorsRachael Wax Taber
Jeff Cole
Benjamin J. Frost
James Kilton
Production companies
Original release
NetworkDisney+
ReleaseJuly 21, 2021 (2021-07-21) –
present (present)

Behind the Attraction is a documentary TV series by Brian Volk-Weiss for Disney+ produced by Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions and Volk-Weiss's The Nacelle Company.[2] The first five episodes were released on July 21, 2021, with the remaining five released August 25 of that same year.[3] The documentary is narrated by Paget Brewster.[4][5] On October 4, 2023, it was announced a second season would be released on November 1, 2023.[6]

Premise

The series features interviews with fans and Imagineers and analyzes the history, popularity[7] and transformation of Disney attractions and destinations over time.

Production

In October 2019, Disney+ ordered the docu-series from The Toys That Made Us's creator and director Brian Volk-Weiss, with his production company The Nacelle Company and Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions attached as production houses.

’Behind the Attraction’ is the quintessential Disney+ project. Best-in-class storytellers collaborating across multiple Disney units to mine and pull back the curtain on our rich Disney history. Dwayne, Dany, and Seven Bucks have not only established themselves as some of the most accomplished and prolific producers across multiple genres, but have been long time valued members of The Walt Disney family. And Brian and Nacelle’s track record, mindset, and uber-geekdom make them the ideal partners for this project. This is going to be a special series.

— Dan Silver, VP, Unscripted Originals, Disney Plus.

In December 2021, Hiram Garcia confirmed plans to develop a season two for the series.[8] A second season was officially announced on October 4, 2023 to be released on November 1, 2023.[6]

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
110July 21, 2021 (2021-07-21)August 25, 2021 (2021-08-25)
26November 1, 2023 (2023-11-01)

Season 1

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byOriginal release date
11"Jungle Cruise"[1]Brian Volk-WeissJuly 21, 2021 (2021-07-21)
A history of how the Jungle Cruise was inspired by True-Life Adventures, how Marc Davis added humor to the ride, and Dwayne Johnson appears to promote the film based on the attraction.
22"Haunted Mansion"[1]Brian Volk-WeissJuly 21, 2021 (2021-07-21)
The Haunted Mansion was one of the last rides Walt Disney worked on before his death. This episode shows some behind-the-scenes conflicts on whether or not the ride should be scary or silly, as well as some of the technical challenges, and how the attraction is shown in different iterations in the parks around the world.
33"Star Tours"[1]Brian Volk-WeissJuly 21, 2021 (2021-07-21)
A young George Lucas was at Disneyland on its second day of operation. Almost thirty years later, the Disney company collaborated with Lucas for a new kind of simulator ride based on the Star Wars films. As the years go by, the attraction evolves into Star Tours: The Adventure Continues and makes way for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
44"The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror"[1]Brian Volk-WeissJuly 21, 2021 (2021-07-21)
After Disney-MGM Studios opened in 1989, the park planned its first expansion to what would become Sunset Boulevard. This episode reveals how The Twilight Zone set the tone of the ride, as well as the challenges to program the elevator. As the popularity of the attraction grew, an entire new story and theme was created at Tokyo DisneySea and the attraction at Disney California Adventure gets a transformation to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!.
55"Space Mountain"[1]Brian Volk-WeissJuly 21, 2021 (2021-07-21)
The creation of this thrill ride goes all the way back to the opening of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. The episode also explores Disneyland Paris incarnation, as well as how it served as the inspiration for Tron Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland, and has also since opened at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
66"The Castles"[1]Brian Volk-WeissAugust 25, 2021 (2021-08-25)[3]
The creation of the various icons of the Disney Parks is explored, beginning with Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant in Disneyland Paris, right down to the transformation of Hong Kong Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle into the Castle of Magical Dreams.
77"Disneyland Hotel"[1]Brian Volk-WeissAugust 25, 2021 (2021-08-25)[3]
The partnership between Walt Disney and Jack Wrather begins the opening of the original Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. As time goes on, more amenities are added to the hotel, and with the opening of Walt Disney World comes even more options for resort hotels.
88"It's a Small World"[1]Brian Volk-WeissAugust 25, 2021 (2021-08-25)[3]
While the "happiest cruise ever sailed" is a focal point, it is also a discussion on the evolution of Audio Animatronics in general, as well as Disney's contribution to the 1964 New York World's Fair.
99"Transportation"[1]Brian Volk-WeissAugust 25, 2021 (2021-08-25)[3]
The various modes of transportation seen around the Disney Parks are discussed, including the railroad, the trams, as well as the monorail.
1010"Hall of Presidents"[1]Brian Volk-WeissAugust 25, 2021 (2021-08-25)[3]
This is a story of how a solitary lifelike animated figure of Abraham Lincoln, as well as the abandoned concept of Liberty Street in Disneyland, led to one of the most technologically advanced attractions in the parks.

Season 2

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byOriginal release date
111"Pirates of the Caribbean"[9]Brian Volk-WeissNovember 1, 2023 (2023-11-01)
122"Big Thunder Mountain Railroad"[9]Brian Volk-WeissNovember 1, 2023 (2023-11-01)
133"Indiana Jones Adventure"[9]Brian Volk-WeissNovember 1, 2023 (2023-11-01)
144"The Food"[9]Brian Volk-WeissNovember 1, 2023 (2023-11-01)
155"EPCOT"[9]Brian Volk-WeissNovember 1, 2023 (2023-11-01)
166"Nighttime Spectaculars"[9]Brian Volk-WeissNovember 1, 2023 (2023-11-01)

Season 3

Release

All episodes of Behind the Attraction were initially scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on July 16, 2021.[10] However, after the success of the premiere of Loki on a Wednesday, it was announced that the release dates for most original Disney+ series would be moved to Wednesdays. As a result, the series premiered its first five episodes on July 21, 2021.[11] The remaining five episodes premiered on August 25, 2021.[12]

Controversy

On September 16, 2021, a statement of alleged plagiarism was raised to episode 4 of the series regarding the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror. A Canadian YouTube channel called Art of Engineering pointed out several undeniable similarities to their original artwork and animations (showing the ride's interpreted interior layout) created by Art of Engineering and used in "How Disney's Tower of Terror Works" that was published on YouTube in 2019. Not only are the animations used in the Disney+ series a near perfect trace of the 2019 diagrams, but other fans pointed out the series' use of an orange background may allegedly indicate awareness of the parallels to the channel's 2019 work and an attempt to conceal the act as, throughout the rest of the episode, a more standard blue background was utilized. Neither Disney nor Seven Bucks Productions, the company responsible for the series, have commented on the matter, but internet reaction and US law seem to heavily be in favor of the original 2019 work.[13]

As of September 21, 2021, the matter was resolved and Brian Volk-Weiss "offered a genuine apology on behalf of Disney, Nacelle and Seven Bucks Productions." The episode's credits were edited so that Art of Engineering creator James St. Onge received a credit for "Tower of Terror Blueprint Graphic Design".[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Gruber, Andrea; Driscoll, Jennifer; Aziz, Nadia. "Disney Behind the Attraction Fact Sheet" (PDF). Disney Media & Distribution. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  2. ↑ Otterson, Joe. "Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Brian Volk-Weiss Partner on Disney Plus Docuseries (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Disney+ (August 1, 2021). "Next On Disney+ - August 2021". YouTube. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  4. ↑ Chrysostomou, George (July 19, 2021). "Behind The Attraction: 10 Things You Should Know About The Disney+ Show". ScreenRant. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ Torres, Lauren (June 13, 2021). "Disney Plus Making Docuseries About Disneyland's Classic Rides". Game Rant. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Levine, Heather; Greenberg, Alexis (October 4, 2023). ""Behind The Attraction" Trailer Teases More Disney Parks Secrets When Season 2 Premieres November 1 On Disney+". Disney Branded Television. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ Behind the Attraction (Documentary), Seven Bucks Productions, The Nacelle Company, July 21, 2021, retrieved December 28, 2022
  8. ↑ Weintraub, Steve (December 31, 2021). "Exclusive: Producer Hiram Garcia on 'Red Notice,' 'Black Adam,' the Next 'Jumanji' Sequel, and Dwayne Johnson's Upcoming Schedule". Collider. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Levine, Heather; Greenberg, Alexis (October 4, 2023). "Disney Behind the Attraction Fact Sheet" (PDF). Disney Branded Television. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 8, 2021). "Disney+ Sets Summer Premiere Date For 'Behind The Attraction' Docuseries". Deadline. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  11. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (June 16, 2021). "Disney+ Officially Moves Original Series 'Drop Day' From Friday to Wednesday in Wake of Loki's Record-Setting Launch". TVLine. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ Newsdesk, Laughing Place Disney (August 20, 2021). "Five New Episodes of "Behind The Attraction" Set To Debut on Disney+ August 25". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Disney+'s Behind the Attraction Accused of Copying Artist's Work Without Permission". September 17, 2021.
  14. ↑ St. Onge, James [@aoEngineering]. "I just had a productive phone call with Brian Volk-Weiss, director of 'Behind the Attraction' and CEO of The Nacelle Company. He took full responsibility for the Tower of Terror situation and offered a genuine apology on behalf of Disney, Nacelle, and Seven Bucks Productions." Twitter, 21 Sep 2021. https://twitter.com/aoEngineering/status/1440491792776916995
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