Disney
MGM Studios
Disney MGM Studios in Orlando is a theme park at
Walt Disney World in Florida. It opened on May 1, 1989. 135 acres
in size, the park's theme is Hollywood classic movies and popular
TV entertainment.
It is not owned by MGM, but it does have a
contract with MGM to use the MGM name as well as some MGM content
in a ride called The Great Movie Ride
Attractions - Disney MGM Studios
in Orlando Florida
The park consists of five themed areas. Major attractions
are listed below.
Hollywood Blvd. - Disney MGM Studios in Orlando Florida
Hollywood Blvd. is lined with shops selling Disney
merchandise and food. This is also the location of the "Disney
Stars and Motor Cars Parade."
New York St. - Disney MGM Studios in Orlando Florida
- Sounds Dangerous, a show following Drew Carey
through a day as an undercover detective when his videocamera
fails and the audience is left in the dark, following his adventure
through sound cues
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, a live-action
performance showing how movie stunts are done
- Star Tours, a motion ride identical to the one
at Disneyland
- Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3D, a 3-D movie experience
similar to Epcot's "Honey, I Shrunk The Audience"
Mickey Ave.- Disney MGM Studios in Orlando Florida
- The Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour, showing how
movie special effects are done
- Lights, Motors, Action!, a special-effects show
currently under constriction and not yet open to guests
- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It!, a theme
park version of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? game show
- Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, a biography film
of Walt Disney's life narrated by Disney himself
Animation Courtyard - Disney MGM Studios in Orlando Florida
- Voyage of The Little Mermaid, a live performance
using puppets
- The Magic of Disney Animation, a short presentation
showing how animated films are made
- Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage!, a live performance
featuring
- Disney childrens television characters
Sunset Blvd. - Disney MGM Studios in Orlando
Florida
- The Great Movie Ride, a dark ride paying homage
to several classic films
- Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage, a live performance
of a simplified version of the film
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, an
indoor roller coaster in the dark with three inversions
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a thrill ride
which drops guests in an elevator
- Fantasmic!, a nighttime show with characters and
fireworks
Disney MGM Studios in Orlando Florida Studio Operations
and Production
The Walt Disney Company's original concept of the
Disney-MGM Studios was not only to operate it as a theme park but
also as a full fledged television and motion picture production
facility. The studio/production part would house two major television
and motion picture production facilities, the Walt Disney Animation
Studios which was home to such classic Disney animated films such
as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin just to name a few and the Walt
Disney Studios Florida which consisted of several soundstages which
were used for various Disney projects including the The Disney Channel's
All New Mickey Mouse Club and several third party productions. A
radio studio is also located on the lot which original housed the
first children's radio network Radio Aahs which rented the studio
until Disney founded Radio Disney and essentially forced Radio Aahs
out of business. Unfortunately Disney management including CEO Michael
Eisner decided to downsize Disney's Florida operations by closing
the animation studio, laying-off personnel and then moving the operations
to the main animation studio in Burbank, California. Radio Disney
decided it was no longer profitable to operate in Florida so they
moved all of their shows from the Disney-MGM Studios to the Radio
Disney headquarters in Dallas, Texas and the once bustling Disney
Studios Florida soundstages now sit vacant and unused.
In 1992 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer filed a lawsuit against
The Walt Disney Company claiming they violated a 1985 licensing
agreement by operating a working movie and television studio at
the Disney-MGM Studio in Florida and Disney filed a countersuit
saying that MGM (The studio), MGM Grand (Hotel operator) and MGM
Airlines had conspired to violate Disney's right to exclusive use
of the name MGM at theme parks worldwide and that it would harm
Disney's reputation by building the MGM Grand Hotel and theme park
in Las Vegas, Nevada On October 23 Superior Court Judge Curtis Rappe
ruled against MGM and said that both the Disney-MGM Studios and
the then under construction MGM Grand casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
could both use the name as long as the park in Las Vegas is not
on the movies like Disney's.
Disney MGM Studios Trivia
Each year, Star Wars Weekends bring Star Wars fans and celebrities
for special park events. Star Wars Weekends are generally held for
five consecutive weekends (including Fridays) through late May and
early June; they feature a local Star Wars fan club parading through
the park in Stormtrooper costumes, a "Star Wars Edition"
of the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It!" game
where the game begins with Greedo answering questions and a Gamorrean
Guard in the audience cheering him on, two Star Wars actors appearing
each weekend for photos and autographs, Jedi Lightsaber Training
classes for kids, and other assorted events.
|
|
