May 1st, 1989 Walt Disney World opens it’s 3rd theme park, a nighttime entertainment district, and a water park just a few weeks later. Today we are going to take a look at what has arguably been one of the most changed Disney theme parks in the world, Disney/MGM Studios…oh wait, that’s right, as of 2008 it became Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While everyone is looking at the history of the park, which is far too extensive for even a month of coverage, I am going to focus on the difference between May 1, 1989 and current day attractions in those locations.
Let’s start of course with the least changed attraction,
The Great Movie Ride
This classic attraction as covered here has not changed much over the past 25 years, so check that one off the list!
The Backstage Studio Tour
The original Studio Tour took you through what was then a up and coming actual working studio. The tour lasted two hours and covered not only walking of the special designed sound stages but also a tram tour of what has now become the Streets of America. As the park needed more capacity and less of a 2 hour attraction, they started to split up the attraction with now some of the former walking tour portions being used for Toy Story Midway Mania, One Mans Dream, and the Legend of Capt. Jack Sparrow, and the much down sized tram tour.
Now all that is left of the Backstage Studio Tour is the queue that is the special effects demonstration known as Harbor Attack where they pick guests to help show how a scene from a WWII type film would be done and the prop warehouse where mostly old attraction props are stored. Of course the actual tram tour itself is still there, but what went from being a huge part of the park has now turned into a quick loop through the costuming and sign shop, around a small part of the back of the park, doing Catastrophe Canyon, and seeing the “bone yards” where vehicles from past films and attractions are used. Of course the highlight of the tour is the special effects overload that is Catastrophe Canyon where they took almost every highlight of the Universal Studios Tour in Hollywood and combined them into one area. This attraction has been on the bubble for years it seems as being the next area of “future development” but for now it is still a great way to see some of the Hollywood Magic in Walt Disney World.
The Magic of Disney Animation Tour
This of all the changes to the Studios, I would say, is the greatest loss. Originally designed as a sister studio to the one in Burbank to help with productions, it went on to be a full blown animation studio producing Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear before it was closed down. The tour when it first opened gave you a chance to actually view animators at work while being taking on a tour on screens above your head by Robin Williams as a Lost Boy from the short film about animation Back To Neverland. Now the building has become a patchwork of attractions from Disney California Adventure,
One of the few special spots in the building that has not been touched was the Animators Courtyard where 5 of the original 9 old men left their marks on opening day of the studios.
The Monster Sound Show
Was a short film attraction staring Chevy Chase and Martin Short and was all about the importance of sound in the cinema and included guests from the audience to become Foley artist by adding sound effects to the film. The attraction was one of the longer lasting opening day attractions in is original form. The theater went on to be used for Sounds Dangerously starting Drew Cary as a bumbling cop in a binaural experience mostly in the dark. Currently it’s home to the Maleficent extended trailer and has been used for the Lone Ranger trailer and a place to watch holiday cartoons during the peak Christmas time.
Superstar Television
This attraction really was the embodiment of the Disney/MGM Studios at opening, guest would volunteer to be put in scenes of some of the classic tv shows of the past via a green screen. This 1000 seat theater has hosted a few different shows over the years, it’s current and seemingly longest lasting is The American Idol Experience. Essentially
There you have it, those were the attractions in the little park knows as Disney/MGM Studios 25 years ago. I must say that since those few attractions the park has expanded to have a great line up while still holding on to the Studio feel as best it can. DHS is home to two of the most thrilling attractions in all of Walt Disney World now in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock’n Roller Coaster along with other great shows and attractions. I would like to wish a happy 25th anniversary to one of my favorite theme parks and hope that the Hollywood Magic stays alive for another 25!
