Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – Live in Action was one of the most unusual entertainment offerings ever presented at Disney-MGM Studios. The short-lived outdoor comedy stunt show appeared in late 1995 to promote Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, the sequel to the popular Jim Carrey comedy. Unlike most attractions at the park, the production was not based on a Disney property. Disney licensed the character from Morgan Creek Productions, reflecting an era when Disney-MGM Studios regularly incorporated outside franchises and temporary promotional experiences into its entertainment lineup.
Performed several times each day among the New York Street backlot facades, later incorporated into the Streets of America area, the show featured a Cast Member impersonating Carrey’s eccentric pet detective. The performer adopted Ace’s exaggerated physical comedy, distinctive wardrobe, and recognizable catchphrases while scrambling across rooftops, ladders, fire escapes, and zip lines. The setting was a particularly good fit for the concept: rather than serving merely as decorative scenery, the urban facades became a functional stunt-show environment.
One version of the show centered on a missing giant spider. After Ace rappelled from a rooftop, he attempted to track down the escaped arachnid while swinging across the street, climbing buildings, and stumbling through a series of intentionally chaotic mishaps. At one point, the spider became stuck to his face and later crawled into his clothing, allowing the performance to lean heavily into the broad slapstick humor associated with the films. Another version involved the search for an albino bat, likely inspired by the “Shikaka” storyline in When Nature Calls.
After the performance, guests could meet Ace, pose for photographs, and view props associated with the sequel. The experience was modest in scale and operated more like a promotional street show than a permanent headliner attraction. It disappeared quietly by early 1996, only a few months after its debut.
Today, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – Live in Action is remembered primarily as a fascinating artifact of 1990s Disney-MGM Studios. Its brief run, licensed character, movie-promotion origins, and energetic use of the backlot scenery make it a revealing example of how experimental and unpredictable the park’s entertainment offerings could be during its early years.