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General Disney-MGM Studios TriviaGeneral Disney-MGM Studios Trivia |
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Written by Louis A. Mongello
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 Disney-MGM Studios - General
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Disney-MGM Studios was an accident... sort of...
The idea for the Studios theme park was due in part to a pavilion that was planned for Epcot.
Disney Imagineers planned a pavilion for Future World focusing on the
movies and Hollywood. It would have a ride-through attraction, similar
to the "Great Movie Ride," and am Audio-Animatronic, behind-the-scenes
history of the making of Mickey Mouse cartoons called "Mickey's
Movieland."
Not long after he took over as the "Head Mouse" at Disney, Michael
Eisner realized the enormous potential for more than just a single
pavilion (with maybe a little inspiration from the people at Universal
Studios... you know, the ones that were building the theme park up the
street...) and Disney-MGM Studios was born. |
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The Disney-MGM Studios opened on May 1, 1989 with five attractions and one exhibit:
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The Monster Sound Show (now ABC Sound Studio), presented by Sony
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SoundWorks (exhibit), presented by SONY
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SuperStar Television, presented by Sony
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The Great Movie Ride
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Backstage Studio Tour (now two attractions, tram tour called Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour, walking tour called Backstage Pass to "101 Dalmatians")
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The Magic of Disney Animation
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The opening press event for the Disney MGM Studios on May 1,1989 , was
the largest in Walt Disney World history, with Newsweek featuring an
extensive cover story touting the project a few weeks earlier.
Entertainment legend Bob Hope cut the ceremonial ribbon, and Michael
Eisner proudly read the dedication plaque, which reads:
"The world you have entered was created by the Walt Disney Company
& is dedicated to Hollywood - not a place on a map, but a state of
mind that exists wherever people dream & wonder & imagine, a
place where illusion & reality are fused by technological magic. We
welcome you to a Hollywood that never was - and always will be." |
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The Studios encompass 231 acres, including 77 acres of parking |
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The "streets" of Disney MGM Studios are:
Hollywood Blvd., where you will find the Great Movie ride;
Sunset Blvd., home of the Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and the Beauty and the Beast stage show;
Mickey Ave., which includes the Backlot Tour, Backstage Pass, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Play It!.
New York St. includes Al's Toy Barn, Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, Muppet Vision 3D. and the Pizza Planet Arcade.
Echo Lake includes The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Sounds Dangerous and Star Tours.
Last but not least, the Animation Courtyard is
home to The Magic of Disney Animation, Playhouse Disney Live and the
Voyage of the Little Mermaid. In November, 2003, sets from the
attraction-inspired motion picture "The Haunted Mansion" were opened on
Soundstage 4 (the former home of the 101 Dalmatians set). The
attraction is a self guided tour through the actual sets used in the
movie, and its opening coincided with its release.
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The amount of paint used to cover the Sorcerer Mickey hat in Disney MGM Studios could cover 500 Cadillacs! |
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The idea for Disney-MGM Studios
came from an idea to have a movie pavilion at Epcot. Once Imagineers
realized that the range of possibilities using that theme were larger
than just one attraction, the idea for a third theme park was born.
Surely
the announcement of a major competitor (one of "Universal"
proportions), planning to open a movie-themed park right up I-4 had
NOTHING to do with Disney's decision to come up with the brilliant idea
for the Disney-MGM Studios.
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Ariel in the "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" attraction was once played by the actress Leanza Cornett, who eventually became Miss America.
Crowned Miss America in 1993, Leanza was the first Miss Florida to win
the Miss America title. She has appeared as a reporter on Entertainment
Tonight, co-hosted numerous shows including Lifetime Network's New
Attitudes, and also starred in Barefoot in the Park. |
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Disney-MGM Studios' Superstar Television, which closed Sept. 26, 1998, allowed selected guests to participate in a few scenes from popular TV shows.
One of the segments included a scene from the western series from the 60's and 70's, Bonanza (insert theme song here).
A prop used on the Bonanza set of SuperStar Televisions was that of a
horse. Most people who saw the attraction never realized where they saw
that horse before. No, it wasn't Mr. Ed. It was actually the same,
famous horse's head that was used in the movie "The Godfather." |
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The Earful Tower is a non-working water tower that is 130 feet hight and 8 1/2 feet in diameter, which makes the hat size of 342 3/8 |
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TV shows taped at the Disney-MGM Studios include:
"Sheena,"
"Full House," "Wheel of Fortune," "World Championship Wrestling," "ESPN
College Football Awards," "Talk Soup," "Step By Step," "Barbara Walters
Special" and "Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee."
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Look for Andy Mation, a "balloonimator,"
in the Animation Courtyard of Disney-MGM Studios. He created balloon
sculptures, animals, etc. while spouting off great bits of Disney
animation trivia. He's the guy in bright yellow costume! |
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Among the hundreds of actors, comedians and entertainers who've
appeared at the studios are: Charlton Heston, Dustin Hoffman, Bette
Midler, Ann-Margret, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Hanks, Liza Minnelli,
Billy Joel, Kevin Bacon, Michael J. Fox, Gary Sinise, Samuel L.
Jackson, Louis Gossett Jr., Drew Carey, Oprah, Susan Lucci and Britney
Spears. |
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The Sorcerer Mickey Hat
icon at the center of the Studios stands 100 feet tall, which means
that Mickey Mouse would have to be 350 feet tall, and wear a hat size
of 605 7/8 if he were to put on this giant hat! In fact, the interior
space of the hat equals nearly 60,000 cubic feet, and if you turned it
upside-down, could hold 444,744 gallons of water
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The Crossroads of the World
is a replica of the original Crossroads, on Sunset Boulevard in
Hollywood, California. Once a retail shopping center, today it is a
quiet office complex. Unlike the original, the Disney-MGM Studios
version is topped by a rotating glove and Mickey Mouse. Mickey's right
ear is slightly higher than his left, is made of copper and acts a
lighting rod.
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"Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage"
ran from June 7, 1999 until August 4, 2001 . It featured characters
from the Disney Channel show in a live show in Soundstage 5 in the
Animation Courtyard. Geared primarily to small children who sat on the
carpeted floor in front of the stage, it was replaced by "Playhouse
Disney Live!" on October 1, 2001 . Prior to the opening of the "Bear"
show, Soundstage 5 was home to the variously-themed "Soundstage Restaurant."
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Mulan was the first full-length film to be produced primarily by Walt Disney Feature Animation at the Disney-MGM Studios.
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The "lifelines" available to players in the "Hot Seat" at "Who Wants To Be a Millionare - Play It!" are the 50/50, "Ask the Audience, and a slightly different "Phone a Friend" option.
Rather than allowing guests to call a friend that might not be home
(and to avoid those long-distance calls overseas), it really is "Phone
a Complete Stranger." If the contestant chooses this lifeline, a phone
rings near the entrance to the Millionaire Soundstage on Mickey Avenue
. When it does, a waiting Cast Member will hand it to a random guest
who may be passing by.
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"Walt Disney: One Man's Dream" opened
October 1, 2001 to coincide with the "100 Years of Magic Celebration."
It is located on Mickey Avenue and contains a walk-through gallery of
memorabilia from Walt's life and professional career, as well as
timeless treasures from Walt Disney World. After the self-guided tour,
guests can view a short film of Walt Disney's life, hosted by Michael
Eisner.
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The HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon", starring Tom Hanks was produced in two sound stages throughout 1997 at Disney MGM Studios. |
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