Disney’s Hollywood Studios Archives Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show Disney’s Hollywood Studios

UPDATE January 15, 2016: The Disney Parks Blog announced that the Lights, Motor, Action attraction (and other nearby locations) will close April 2, 2016 to make way for the future expansions of the park.

Introduction | Attraction | Touring Tips | Kids/Characters | Dining | Shopping | Interesting Facts

Lights Motors Action Stunt Show Car in Flames

Soft Opening Report and Photos | Reader Reviews | Construction Photos

INTRODUCTION

The Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show is in the Streets of America backlot area. It is patterned after a show that originated at Disneyland Paris.

ATTRACTION

Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show — You walk into the open-air theater and find your seat on metal, stadium-style bleachers that overlook a Mediterranean village-themed set.

The premise of "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show" centers around the filming of a spy thriller, with production crew members, stunt managers and a director and assistant director on the "live" set. Using a Tinseltown trick known as shooting "out-of-sequence," the director sets up the different stunts for the audience. After each scene is "filmed," the director then combines the shots to create the completed scene that is played on a giant video wall for the audience.

Featuring high-flying, gravity-defying automobile, motorcycle and high-speed watercraft stunts, the turbo-powered stage show immerses park guests in the thrill-a-minute world of big-budget movie stunts.

A cast of more than 50 thrills audiences with pulse-pounding chases featuring automobiles, motorcycles and watercraft. Customized and modified, these vehicles are piloted by a group of trained drivers throughout the show.

The arena for "Lights, Motors, Action!" — a 177,000-square-foot facility featuring a Mediterranean village set — is one of Disney World's largest "stages," allowing stunt drivers to include high-speed spins, two-wheeled driving, jumps, pyrotechnic explosions, high falls and plenty of surprises created just as they are performed for the silver screen. The 5,000-seat stadium allows guests to see every inch of the nonstop action.

TOURING TIPS

Lights, Motors, Action! is a FastPass attraction.

Hidden Mickey at LMA Stunt ShowHIDDEN MICKEY ALERT: Look in the shop window marked "Antiquites Brocante." You'll see an image of Mickey if you look closely!

To have the best view, cast members suggest sitting higher up. Beware though, that sometimes a pole may obscure your view at the higher levels.

Children (and even adults) who are frightened of loud noises and fire should sit further away from the main stage area, as some of the effects and explosions are ear-splitting.

Wheelchair/ECV users can take the elevator to the special seating area about halfway up the stadium.

Restrooms are located in the plaza to the right of the entrance of the Stunt Show. There is a companion restroom at this location.

Reader Craig points out a few things to look for: The backdrop for the show is a French scene, a nod to the show originating at Disneyland Paris. It also saved Disney from re-filming the pre-filmed portions of the show. Also, the very right-hand section of the set has a cafe with tables under umbrellas. The umbrellas on the set and the ones in the film don’t match.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

"Cars 2" character Lightning McQueen joined the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show on July 19, 2011. The sporty red car took the place of Herbie the Love Bug, which had been appearing in the show since its debut.

Disney Characters are sometimes found outside this show. Check your daily Times Guide for times and locations of character Meet and Greet opportunities.

Disney's Hollywood Studios Characters At A Glance
Character Meet and Greet FAQ!

DINING

The nearby Studio Catering Co. is a convenient counter service location. There is also a snack cart, Herbie's Drive-In, located just outside the attraction entrance.

Disney's Hollywood Studios Restaurants At A Glance
Menus From Around the World
Vegetarian and Other Special Diets

SHOPPING

Shopping in Disney's Hollywood Studios

INTERESTING FACTS

Construction on the stunt arena began in February 2003. It features a Mediterranean village facade, stunt ramps, pyrotechnic equipment and a man-made canal.

The arena for "Lights, Motors, Action!" is a 177,000-square-foot facility.

The stadium seats 5,000.

The show features more than 40 vehicles on stage and inside the garage area.The cars featured in "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show" are custom-built in Europe.

The cars are equipped with a 1,300cc, 150-horsepower motor built inside a custom racing chassis.

Show cars weigh just 600 kilograms (approximately 1,322 pounds) and consume one liter (approximately one quart) of fuel per show. The cars weigh less than half what a standard production car does. (An average mid-size car weighs approximately 3,500 pounds.)

Vehicles are designated by color so the audience will always know which is the "hero" vehicle and which is the "chase" vehicle.

In addition to four forward speeds, the cars are equipped with a custom-designed transmission gearbox that also allows four reverse speeds. This enables the cars to go as fast in reverse gears as they do in forward gears.

Design components in the cars include the latest in safety and technology. Among the features: a NASCAR-style fire-suppression system, speed sensors and an on-board computer that assists drivers with maintaining proper speeds for precision stunt jumps.

On-stage pyrotechnics during the show include fireballs that billow 40 feet in diameter.

Drivers wear the same driving suits as professional racecar drivers.

Guests aboard the Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour can sometimes get a glimpse of "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show." The recently redesigned backlot tram tour route passes right by the stunt show arena.

"Herbie," the loveable "car star" from several Disney films, made a special cameo appearance in the original version of the show. It was replaced by Lightning McQueen from the "Cars" movies in July 2011.

Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show officially opened May 5, 2005.

OFFICIAL DISNEY PRESS RELEASES

October 2004

Big-Budget Film Stunts Shine as 'Lights, Motors, Action!' Revs Up Its Engines for May 2005 Debut

Disney's Hollywood Studios Home for Action-Filled Show

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — High-octane energy explodes on one of the largest stages at Walt Disney World Resort beginning in May 2005 as the Disneyland Resort Paris-inspired "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show" blazes into Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Featuring high-flying, gravity-defying automobile, motorcycle and high-speed watercraft stunts, the turbo-powered stage show will immerse park guests in the thrill-a-minute world of big-budget movie stunts.

When it opens, a cast of more than 50 will thrill audiences with pulse-pounding chases featuring automobiles, motorcycles and watercraft. Customized and modified, these vehicles will be piloted by a group of trained drivers throughout the show.

The arena for "Lights, Motors, Action!" — a 177,000-square-foot facility featuring a Mediterranean village set — is one of the Florida Vacation Kingdom's largest "stages," allowing stunt drivers to pack more edge-of-your-seat action into the show including high-speed spins, two-wheeled driving, jumps, pyrotechnic explosions, high falls and plenty of surprises created just as they are performed for the silver screen. The 5,000-seat stadium allows guests to see every inch of the non-stop action.

The premise of "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show" centers around the filming of a spy thriller, with production crew members, stunt managers and a director and assistant director on the "live" set. Using a Tinseltown trick known as shooting "out-of-sequence," the director sets up the different stunts for the audience. After each scene is "filmed," the director then combines the shots to create the completed scene that is played on a giant video wall for the audience.

Other highlights and fast facts of "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show":

* Construction on the stunt arena began in February 2003. It features a Mediterranean village façade, stunt ramps, pyrotechnic equipment and a man-made canal.

* Audiences will enter through the garage — or atelier — as mechanics and technicians finely tune the show vehicles. Six giant windows offer guests behind-the-scenes views. The show will feature more than 40 vehicles on stage and inside the garage area.

* Each vehicle is highly modified to perform the many extreme stunts.

* Vehicles featured include high-performance automobiles, motorcycles and stunt watercraft. Also, "surprise vehicles," including one designed to drive backwards and another designed to split in half.

* Vehicles are designated by color so the audience will always know which is the "hero" vehicle and which is the "chase" vehicle.

* Meticulous planning, practice and timing are dedicated to each stunt. Because of the choreography involved, crew members liken it to a "ballet on wheels."

"Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show" is just one part of "The Happiest Celebration on Earth," an 18-month gala that pays tribute to the 1955 opening of Disney's flagship park, Disneyland.

The celebration, which begins May 5, 2005, will take place in all the Disney theme parks around the world with the premiere of new shows and attractions.

Disney parks in every corner of the world — Disneyland Resort in California; Walt Disney World Resort in Florida; Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan; Disneyland Resort Paris in France; and Hong Kong Disneyland — are "sharing" the best of each park with the rest of the world.

The stunt show is being imported from Disneyland Resort Paris where it thrills guests under the name "Moteurs… Action! Stunt Show Spectacular."

OCTOBER 2003

Disney's Hollywood Studios guests will be on the edge of their seats as the secrets behind Hollywood's most astounding stunts unfold at the new Disney's Hollywood Studios stunt show.

Inspired by the popular Stunt Show Spectacular at Disneyland Paris, the high-octane, stunt show features specially designed cars, motorcycles and jet skis, plus special effects — with audience members pulled into the fun. Insiders will reveal show secrets, detailing how stunts are created, designed and filmed for the movies. Filmed images are revealed on an oversized screen, illustrating how the use of different camera angles can add drama to filmed scenes.

The new show will open in 2005 and is part of a larger redevelopment of the backlot area of Disney's Hollywood Studios that also includes new cityscapes, adding Chicago and San Francisco to our existing New York City skyline.

If you have comments or tips to share with others about touring Disney's Hollywood Studios, please email us. Thank you.