Way back when, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was called Disney-MGM Studios. The year was 1989, but stepping into the park meant being transported back to the 1930’s. Hollywood was bustling with glitz and glam. Disney had recreated Hollywood Boulevard, and later added Sunset Boulevard, complete with trolleys and actors honing their craft. Grauman’s Chinese Theater was magically recreated. Stars made their mark in front of the theater, leaving their handprint and signature.
The Streets of America honored other magical and artistic cities, like San Francisco and New York. Animation Courtyard honored the animated film history of Disney. But all in all, Disney-MGM Studios was about the movies.
Opening Day
When it first opened, MGM had five attractions. Superstar Television recreated the production of some of televisions greatest shows, using the audience as the actors. The Monster Sound Show was a live show demonstrating the importance of sound in movies. The Magic of Disney Animation was a nine minute show on animation and included a short animated film. The Backstage Studio Tour was a two hour guided tour through the studios. And The Great Movie Ride was, of course, a “magical journey through the movies.”
Transitions and A New Name
Between 1989 and 2017, a lot in MGM changed. For instance, the name itself changed and became Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney added Pixar Place. A Sorcerer’s Hat was added (and then subtracted). Star Wars took over for a while. Frozen took over for a while. And then Star Wars took over again. We got a hotel that travels to another dimension and a super stretch limo courtesy of Aerosmith. Disney Junior characters dropped in and so did the Muppets. The Streets of America disappeared. And along the way, the old Hollywood glamour went the way of the dodo.
As of 2017, all of Disney-MGM’s opening attractions are gone, except one. The Great Movie Ride was the last one standing. The journey through the movies admittedly featured very outdated Audio-Animatronics, but it also featured a concept that was groundbreaking. Thanks to this ride, you could literally enter the movies. Who hasn’t watched The Wizard of Oz and imagined that they get to fight the Wicked Witch? Who hasn’t imagined flying with Mary Poppins or swinging through the jungle with Tarzan? Plus those tour guides were incredible. They put on the greatest show in Disney World.
And then it was gone. The Chinese Theater still remains, but inside will be Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad, a dark ride based on Mickey’s shorts on Disney Channel. Which doesn’t match the feeling of the Chinese Theater in the slightest.
As of 2019, the areas of the park will be Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Sunset Boulevard, Mickey Avenue, Animation Courtyard, Pixar Place, Grand Avenue, Echo Lake, and Hollywood Boulevard. I challenge you to find the theme. Because the theme no longer is Hollywood.
Hooray for Hollywood?
Disney seems to be playing a game of will they, won’t they when it comes to changing the name of the park. It’s high time they should considering the current name is a symbol of what once was. The glitz and glamour has faded away. And we’re left with…what? A park that is basically at least three different parks cut and pasted together. Pixar, Star Wars, and what remains of Hollywood.
What used to be my favorite park is now Disney’s biggest disappointment. Toy Story Land’s budget was cut and we were left with something that was…well…unsatisfying. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge remains to be seen, but, frankly, knowing that the timeline is going to be in the world of the First Order instead of the Empire, I’m not super excited.
Magic Kingdom has always been about fantasy and adventure. Classic Disney. Epcot has always been about the world of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Animal Kingdom is pretty self explanatory. Hollywood Studios used to be self explanatory too and now I would need way more time to analyze what it even is. But it’s not MGM anymore and it’s not Hollywood Studios anymore. So this is my formal goodbye to my favorite park. Farewell, Hollywood Studios. It’s been nice knowing you.
I completely agree with you. This still remains my favorite park. I cannot really explain why. The Great Movie Ride was the first attraction to get removed that really affected me. We just went a couple weeks ago and it was hard to accept that it was gone. It was such a unique experience and I each trip it was a goal of mine to get both scenarios. With it gone, the name needs to be changed. I don’t know what it should be called but Hollywood and Studios both no longer make sense.
How is Toy Story Land unsatisfying? It hasn’t even opened to the public yet. As far as I can see people are incredibly excited about it and not disappointed in any way. The name of the park is more of a debate. But as hollywood produces movies and this park is now themed to different movies it can still work. But who knows!
Agreed on Toy Story Land! I have a 2 year old and 4 year old who cannot ride Tower of Terror, Rock’n’Roller Coaster, or Star Tours (the 4 yo can ride two of the three but is also scared to ride them). They are so excited and go nuts every time they see the ads with Slinky Dog heading towards WDW. It’s surely not the park I grew up with (my first visit was in November 1989), but neither is Epcot! And at $100/person/day, I don’t want to take my kids somewhere for them to wait for Mommy and Daddy to ride all the rides while they get to watch Disney Junior Live and that’s it.
Both rides have heigh requirements that your 2 year old may not meet.
Tom – we’re not going until December, but she’s already tall enough for Alien Swirling Saucers. She’ll be close for Slinky Dog, but if she can at least ride one, she’ll be happy.
Because they gutted the original announced plan. Two rides, down from …. what was it originally, four? Etc, etc…
Things will change, they always do. There are two rides now but it remains to be seen what happens after they open, Toy Story IV opens, and they rename the park (which I’m sure they will do one of these days). Someone, possibly on a different WDW blog, mentioned a retro WDW park or area where the old rides go and I think this would be a terrific idea.
That would be so cool.on a different subject Mickey and Minnie railroad won’t work.
I agree that Toy Story Land is “unsatisfying” even though I have not been there yet. Sadly, it looks like something from a Six Flags instead of Disney. It is cute, but not up to the higher creative standards one would expect from Disney.
Terrific editorial.
I actually feel privileged to have gone to the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park.
It was total fun.
Frank
Absolutely agree….
The first time I walked into Disney MGM Studios it was like walking into the magic of yesterday – with the glitz & glamour of H’wood front & center. Now it’s just like mobs trying to get down the ‘street-like’ entrance to the ‘important’ things – & they aren’t important because the feel is gone.
I do hope they change the name of the park because the name no longer fits it. They’ve messed far too much with what was once my second favorite place (magic kingdom being the first).
I’m expecting them to start messing with MK soon & then WDW will have completely lost its heart.
They should rename it IP-Land. Then rename Epcot IP-World.
If you’re going that route, you missed a huge opportunity with IP-COT.
Excellent! I am abashed.
While I LOVE Pixar and have always been a huge Star Wars fan and I can’t wait experience these new attractions, I’m so disappointed in the direction (or lack thereof) of Hollywood Studios. I first went to the park about 2009/10 and it quickly became my favorite because it was about the things I’ve always had an interest in, movies and how they are made. Why not use Star Wars, Pixar, etc. to keep that theme alive? Disney would never sacfrice the core values and themes of their other parks so I don’t understand why HS isn’t treated the same way.
The closing of The Great Movie Ride was both outrageous and unnecessary!! Obviously another penny pinching move by Trump acolyte Iger, that has done nothing but lower the morale of the innocent families and guests that travel from all over the globe just to experience The Great Movie Ride. Disney should be ashamed!
What the heck is the matter with you why do you people always think it’s Trump’s fault for everything that goes on get over yourselves Disney does things because Disney wants to look at they’ve done at Magic Kingdom they’re always changing things there and has nothing to do with Trump
Lol @blaming trump for the great movie ride.
Are you that stupid ? How does the president of the United States have any say in a theme park? Also Iger is a Democrat and a Hillary and a Obama acolyte. Iger is a tool, but chapek is to blame. Go back to reading huffignton post you utterly brainless fool.
indeed
Had to throw politics in did you, you are something else.😡🤬. Get over it! The Great Movie Ride was long out-dated, Disney is phasing out old attractions which most kids don’t enjoy and are trying to bring in younger, new families with attractions that they might possibly enjoy. I don’t care if they change the name, it is irreverent. The park is finally getting some new stuff to bring some much needed life into that place.
Politics aside, no it wasn’t outdated! NOTHING is outdated, period. If kids don’t enjoy it that is their fault and they need to be forced to. Screw future generations as well. Disney should be catering towards their parents and attempting to brainwash kids into becoming just like their parents, with the same tastes. It’s called propaganda, sweetheart. When I take over Disney I’ll be draining the swamp of newer attractions like Toy Story, Star Wars, and Marvel while putting back attractions like The Great Movie Ride to make the park MGM and great again.
I agree it’s just not the same park we once knew. Slowly through the years things just kept getting shut down. And yes the great movie ride was the icing on the cake, along with for me, Osbourne lights. With that said however I still enjoy the architecture and themeing on the Hollywood and Sunset Blvds. I felt so great the other day walking around in the shops and listening to the music and feeling transported, then to top it off at the Brown Derby lounge. So I did feel like I was in 1940’s Hollywood. I think the name can still fit as Hollywood represents movies, and we have movies represented at the park. The architecture as well. Not sure another name would really matter at this point.
It is time for a name change, to reflect what is really in the park now. My suggestion would be a simple Disney Movie Park, or Disney Movie Land. The park has no studios (just the fake stunt show camera stuff still in the Indiana Jones show), and the word “Movie” tells people there are things in there from the movies (Star Wars, Frozen, Toy Story, anything Pixar, Walt’s One Man’s Dream area, even Tower of Terror with it being Twilight Zone themed). They could eventually re-theme Rock’n’Roller Coaster to have some kind of movie theme (or have various rock-tempo movie soundtrack music as if we’re riding the limo on the way to a movie premiere), and then everything would pretty much fit in. Come out with a new Mickey & Minnie animated movie in the new animated show style and the runaway railway would fit in, too, as would the Chinese Theater hub icon.
The issue comes down to Disney trying to keep interest in the parks with new things… the problem is that Disney is not willing to build new things and leave the old things alone. It is a HUGE mistake because the old attractions have great meaning to those who go to Disney as a matter of tradition. They are destroying these traditions simple because they do not want to pay the costs to keep them running which includes hourly Cast Members simply running the Attraction. And they want to keep the lines long in general, so to add new attractions and keep the old ones means lines are shorter because there are more choices. The bottom line is that these decisions are being made based upon costs rather the heart. People who do not LIVE the parks and the experience are sitting in offices and having meetings deciding these issues. When the man in charge is NOT there living the dreams daily, it is noting more then corporate decisions. When Universal Studios removes attractions it is not a big deal… we do not think of Universal as anything more then a corporation park…. However Disney was about a real man and the heart that went along with the dreams… take that away and you have lost the magic which is Disney… Why the decision makers NOT see this is their biggest asset??
Bravo! Well said!
There are two big reasons why they chose to replace attractions instead of just adding them. One is the cost issue. Brand new attractions, not ones that replace old ones, would require additional things like utilities and cast members that would add to the everyday cost of running the park. And the second reason/issue is about the space needed to expand to install new attractions. Disney, in my opinion, stupidly painted/built themselves into a corner with Epcot and Hollywood Studios. DHS is surrounded on three sides by three different roads and highways, which can’t be moved, so no expansion in those directions. The fourth side is the entrance and parking lot, so no real expansion that way either. With Epcot, they blocked themselves in somewhat with the hotels by the international gate and by building the support buildings right outside the different show buildings so that expansion would require them to be demolished and then rebuilt. That would be entirely too expensive. So given those two big and expensive factors, they often choose to replace older attractions that have lost their luster and appeal encourage those who are not the big Disney and park fans that we are to come back again.
My two cents, they missed an opportunity for building a “5th gate” buy putting Galaxy’s edge at HS. I 100% agree they needed to refurbish HS, but Star Wars is so epic, it could have handled an entire park on it’s own. I like it when DLR and WDW differ slightly in attractions anyway, so having an “outer space” park would have still worked, with its own connecting themed hotel. And you could have brought in guardians and even Pandora for a real trip to other galaxies, almost a nod to lost in space. They could have even incorporated stitch there. Then bring in Avengers to HS, ride and stunt show (maybe like terminator at universal), adding back honey I shrunk the kids playground but with toy story overlay and put in Toon Town to tie in Mickey’s run away railroad, which should have been put into a completely new area, #keepthegreatmovie ride. As for EPCOT, I love the realistic feel in the world showcase but don’t mind IP there as well. What about the Mary Poppin’s ride for the UK that was proposed but never realized.
But, it is what it is now, so for this 5th park a frozen themed land is not bad, esp since HKDL will be getting such and the second movie will be coming out soon. I would make Elsa’s ice palace a ride, an updated version of the bobsled on the matterhorn at DLR. Then Tangled and Brave dark rides.
Last point, no one has mentioned, they should bring back midday parades at ALL the parks. Back when I was an entertainment CM, I was in Disney stars and motor cars parade HS as well as Mickey’s jammin’ jungle parade. This helped with crowd control and line wait times as people will park hop to not miss those.
there is space to add if they want too…. costs are the factor for sure, but when you want to make money you need to spend. they could also build another park when hey run out of room. Soon they will attack the Magic Kingdom and destroy Frontierland and then Adventureland. Once the damage is done, it can not be reversed. Incredibly short sighted decisions, made for short term goals, as if the decesion makers know that they will not be around to feel the effects of the long term damages.
As a former movie rider myself, it really crushed me inside when they announced it a year ago. GMR was a wonderful place to work and I miss it every day, but the fact that it’s closed means I cant even visit it anymore.
I’m not surprised that Disney closed it. They get rid of things, that’s what they do. That’s what they do best.
Bravo from a fellow movie rider! #onceamovierideralwaysamovierider
It will always be Disney’s MGM Studios to me… and those first 10 years or so offered a MUCH better park experience than the last 10-15 years. Sad.
While I absolutely agree with the sentiment and spirit of the article, I look at the other side too and that is the theme park industry is a business and a lot of what was shutdown just wasn’t a “draw” anymore. Great Movie Ride was phenomenal for me, however there are a large majority of my family (and the HS paying attendance) who didn’t share the same sentiment & feelings I did towards the GMR. Many felt (as the author stated) it had outdated audio-animatronics and new guests didn’t see the appeal compared to other attractions. Unfortunately nostalgia only works for so many attractions. Looking at what was shuttered (Backlot, Lights/Motors/Action, and Streets of America), none were things people would come to that part just for. Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land are things that paying customers will. And while they are not in the “original theming”, they are movie franchises. I think we hold too tightly to what is originally placed out there and are not as accepting to change. Which is fine. We shouldn’t accept everything but maybe we can see some positives in the changes. It still is sad to think we’ll never see another Osborne Lights (oh if they could only find a plot of land off of TSL or SW:GE to build a new Streets of America to bring back Osborne Lights). End of the day, all these parks will “never be finished” and it’s still a business.
Gotta say, GMR offered no nastalgia to me. My first ride on that was in 2015, (age 43), and it was a favorite. (I’m a Disney newbie). I’d read there was some sort of contract/license that expired that affected that ride; (it was associated with TCM). Don’t know how all those pieces work together but, regardless, I was bummed. As for it’s ability to draw a praying crowd, unless it had some consistent rediculously low wait time, I’m sure it was pulling it’s weight. It would be nice if Disney would consider audience input before destroying these things. I can imagine the blow to those of you who’ve been riding that for years.
the fact that you complain about Disney, the greatest place on Earth, and even more so find time to write about it is amazing?
Our family has been to Disney 14 times in the last 20 yrs. We still love it and plan to continue going. Every time we go we find something new we have not seen before. The changes and updates are great.
I think the billion dollar corporation that is Disney knows a little more about theme parts than you do. But hey, make sure do a write up on your theme park when it opens…
Everyone so far makes great points. For me, I wanted a few of the great attractions to remain to take my children on, and I was able to. On a side note, our daughter always wanted to be a cast member and work on the Great Movie Ride (as a driver). She did become a cast member (and still is), but that part of her dream was sadly dashed. Ultimately I was hoping to some day take my grand children on these classic rides to share the magic not only I enjoyed but also their parents enjoyed. So this makes me sad on several levels. So much of the other parks have remained, but Hollywood Studios really seems to have been gutted (and yes, I do lament the loss of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride as well).
The Great Movie Ride was the heart and soul of Disney Hollywood. And then they killed it. Surely the Imagineers could have freshened it up with new innovations. Maybe Disney decided they didn’t want to celebrate other studios’ movies. I feel sorry for the people who will never get to experience the Great Movie Ride. There was nothing else like it. And now it’s gone.
I completely agree. Hollywood Studios and Epcot are always my go-to parks whenever I go up there, but ever since GMR left it just feels so hollow and empty. I guess since GMR was the centerpiece, it’s one of the first things you see if you look straight into the park and knowing that now it’s an empty building (Well, not anymore, I guess since I’m sure construction on the Mickey ride has begun) is just so disheartening. When I went last, a few weeks after the closure and they had little makeshift barricades in front of the entrance, it was just a sad sight.
GMR was always the first thing I did when I got there, then Star Tours. But now with more focus on the new trilogy and new universe of Star Wars (Which is totally fine! Don’t get me wrong, I love it!) and Star Tours somehow having the exact same scenarios despite touting so many “random scenes” no matter how many times I ride, it’s gotten stale.
My wife and I made our first visit to Disney MGM Studios on our honeymoon in May 1989. I was selected to be the newscaster in Superstar Television. Despite the fact that the park was small and had limited attractions, it became our special place and our favorite park. We have visited over 100 times in the past 29 years and have witnessed all the changes, both good and bad. While I will never understand why the park went away from its Hollywood roots, I do wish they’d pick a theme and stick with it. Whatever that may be. Things change and we can accept it or not.
Totally agree. We were there in 1997 on our honeymoon. I loved the backlot tour and seeing all the Hollywood memorabilia. My favorite was an original script from Gone With The Wind. And as much as I love The Beauty and the Beast stage show, there is nothing left of old Hollywood at all!
Now I understand many people find it difficult to adjust to changes and transition but let’s not be negative. I respect the opinions shared but I don’t support or agree. To be honest I never really enjoyed HS/MGM and often skipped it during park hopping until recently because I felt it never kept up in comparison to the other 3 parks. I just visited yesterday and frankly I like where Disney is taking the park… It brings diversity in many aspects. Cinema has evolved so much! Walt himself made adaptations to his Snow White film from when he first saw it in 1928 prior to his version being released, it only makes sense to revisit the park so that it is current and appealing to the visitor. I wouldn’t be surprised if they even introduce Marvel to it. I trust they will somehow analize the situation and make it an attractive place to visit once more.
The park is just following the orginal that it’s based on Universal Studios Hollywood, DHS is even making its main attractions screen based and more hip and action packed like basic cable Mickey or Fast and Furious.
MGM/DHS always had IP it’s name was IP and almost everything else there was licensed from Lucas film, Jim Henson or other companies. DHS is the park that has most closely followed the modern Disney company they like buying new IP but have no clue on how to use their own like building a planet not in one Star Wars movie or a Toy Story Land with no scenes from the any movie. It’s kind of sad when the decades old Pizza Planet overlay of a quick service was more authentic to the movies
I think that new attraction could have been put anywhere other than where the Great Movie Ride was. The Great Movie Ride was one of my favorites. Sure it could have used an update, other than to the film at the end, but that could be said about a lot of rides at WDW. The Great Movie Ride was responsible for introducing me to classic films that are favorites today. Those short scenes and the film clips shown in line peaked my interest to seek out films I might not have otherwise seen. Casablanca is one of my favorites today because I saw it in the Great Movie Ride. I’ll call it DHS, but it will always be MGM to me, will never be the same without the Great Movie Ride.
Mickey railroad won’t go well.
We’ve been to Disney 3 times since Aug, have an annual pass and didn’t even go to Studios this past time. The author of this report is spot on. Indiana Jones needs to be updated. As does Muppets 3D. The Stunt Spectacular was a crowd pleaser. That’s gone. Quite honestly, if not for Fantasmic, and possibly Beauty and the Beast, we would have not returned for a while. Tower of Terror and Rockn Roller Coaster are great rides, but not worth tying up a day. I understand that newbies who have never experienced Studios don’t know the difference. But for whatever reason, Disney has been slow to keep up at Studios. We’re hoping Toy Story Land and Star Wars will give a much needed boost, but even though both are based on movies, it seems like Disney has become detached somewhat from the theme of the park as advertised.
Disney doesn’t know how to update.
You do realize that toy story, star wars, Pixar movies, etc are all made in studios right? Not to mention that the ride that is going into the Chinese Theater is the only Disney ride centered around the Mouse that started it all, Mickey Mouse. Which was created in the original Disney studio. Or would you rather go back to 1989 when half of what we now know as the park wasn’t there and the other half was giant empty “studios” that could only be used for commercials or TV shows because MGM hff and hamstringed the park saying only they could make movies there, then never did. You seem to have such fond memories of the old park but do you remember that you could see everything in 4 hours and it was toyed with that it might be a half day park, like how EPCOT opens world show case half the day. And Star Wars is going to be awesome. And it is an outpost not a first order only place… give it a chance before you rip it’s heart out…
Mickey Mouse is the true great star of Walt Disney. Mickey Mouse, the true great star he always is, has always been in the background and not a single ride has ever featured the Mouse. Mickey Mouse, to me, has always been in the shadows. The last time Mickey Mouse ever stood out was the Mickey Show back in the sixties. Disney has been pushing Marvel Studios, Star Wars, and Pixar movies on their rides and attractions, but not Mickey Mouse the true star that started it all from humble beginnings. Even though I will miss the Great Movie Ride, it is time for a change because things do get old. We don’t know what’s in shore for the Mickey Mouse Ride and there lies the suspense and maybe a surprise. We have to wait and see. Also, the major reason for the change are the kids. The one thing that Disney fear the most is not necessarily the adults, but loosing kids. That scares them more than anything in the world is loosing kids. I reminder when Universal Studios open. Disney was absolutely petrified and almost crying over losing kids to Universal. When I read the Orlando Sentinel, i couldn’t ever remember seeing Disney so sad and hurt.
I agree. They could have updated TGMR for sure but instead they chose to replace it with the most obnoxious Mickey cartoons in history. It’s not Hollywood Studios anymore its, Star Wars & Toy Story Park, land? That’s a really small focus for an amusement park & Star Wars has gotten to be so overdone that my teenagers are over it. I still love the architecture of the park, it’s just a shame that that’s all that’s left.
I found myself nodding in agreement with a lot of what was written. Entering DHS for the first time 12 years ago, at night, was the kind of transformative experience that makes me love Disney parks. I felt like I had completely left the time, place, from which I entered and got immersed in 1930s Hollywood. I loved it and still do. I have 3 young children now and they’ve loved the park over the past 7 years, with TSMM, Star Tours, RR, and TT among their favorite experiences in all of Disney. So it’s a park that was able to appeal to the very young to the very old without feeling disjointed.
Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, but let me offer a counter point that the theming might still work with the addition of TSL and Galaxy’s Edge. If the front of the park maintains it’s strong 30s theming, inclusive of Sunset Blvd, you have the feeling of entering the parks as the movies were. You transition to more modern parts of the park, taking you into how movies are made today. As long as the transition sections maintain the sanctity of each section, and it looks like they will, the theming holds. It’s all about the movies: the old, the new, then animated.
Sometimes I read these Lou Mongelloesque articles and wonder if the author is serious or pulling a major prank. I 100% agree that Hollywood Studios “theming” is no more but it’s not bc of the Great Movie Ride. Let’s face it, the Great Movie Ride stunk. There is no way to deny it, the cheesy animatronic, the outdated movies and the lackluster performances by the cast members. I can’t speak for everyone but I feel like every time I experienced TGMR it felt forced. It’s almost as if the cast members got there assignment and began to cringe when they realized they were working on the TGMR. I put this clunker on my list of overated fanboy attractions like Peter Pan (which is mind numbingly bad) and Small World. We need to realize the parks need to change and we don’t need to keep bad attractions strictly for nostalgia. Walt Disney was all about progress.
One of the first things I’m doing after taking over Disney is putting the Great Movie Ride back as part of the plan to make the park MGM again. I’ll also put a clone in DCA with a few movies swapped out and the main holdovers being Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Wizard of Oz.
I agree with your comments. We are left with a theme park without a theme. And a mismatch of genres indeed. Still a half day overflow park until fans cram into Star Wars land. All teh redo’s are nothign to get excited about. Sorry.
…this all goes back to Walt’s original ideas for Disneyland, until he ran out of space, and then turned to Florida; that all of his theme parks would always be a work in progress, always changing, always in motion; the original idea for EPCOT was the epitome of that idea; too bad it was never built as he had intended.