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{{Template:Infobox amusement park
| image=Earfultower2ChineseTheater2.jpg| caption= The Earful Tower in ''' A replica of Grauman's Chinese at Disney's Hollywood Studios.'''
| theme=Golden Age Hollywood and today's Disney Studios
| opening_date=May 1, 1989
===Conception===
Like most things in Walt Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios can trace its origins back to Walt Disney himself. In the 1960s, Walt wanted to build a theme park that would show guests the movie making process <ref name= "studios"> http://www.studioscentral.com/history-hollywood-studios </ref>. At that time, Universal Studios had a popular backstage tram tour, and Walt wanted to do something similar on the backlot of the Disney Studios <ref name= "studios"/>. Due to land costs and potential traffic problems however, this idea never came to fruition<ref name= "studios"/>. Although the Disney Studios backlot tour was never built, the idea would later resurface.
[[Image:DisneyMGMConcept.jpg|thumb|350px400px|Early concept art for Disney-MGM Studios]]The genesis for what would eventually become Disney's Hollywood Studios began in the mid-1980s. Although there are varying accounts as to what sparked the creation of the new park, it was likely a confluence of factors. One possible launching point came when Imagineers led by Marty Skylar and Randy Bright were given the task of creating two new pavilions for [[Epcot#Current_Future_World_Pavilions_Pavilions|Future World]] in [[EPCOT Center]] <ref name= "history"> http://www.studioscentral.com/history-great-movie-ride </ref>. One of the pavilions idea they created came up with, was to be called the Great Movie Ride pavilion<ref name= "history"/>. The main , which would house an attraction of the pavilion which would have taken guests through various iconic movie scenes and was very similar to (a concept that would eventually materialize in the [[The Great Movie Ride|attraction of the same name]] that would eventually open at Disney-MGM Studios). Michael Eisner, then the CEO of the Disney Company, decided that the idea for the pavilion was strong enough to warrant its own theme park and he told his Imagineers to begin working on it<ref name= "history"/>.
Before the new park was even announced Disney had already been working behind the scenes to acquire the rights to the name and logo of Metro-Golden-Mayer Inc. This led to Disney and MGM agreeing on a contract in 1985, which allowed Disney to use the MGM name, logo and certain film clips <ref name= "yesterday"/>. The new theme park would eventually be named Disney-MGM Studios, and would feature the classic MGM logo- Leo the Lion.
===Construction===
Construction on Disney-MGM Studios began in 1986 <ref name= "studios"/>. As mentioned before, besides being a theme park, Disney-MGM Studios was also a working studio. Both animation and live action studios were built, which guests were eventually able to tour and to see how Disney made films<ref name= "studios"/>. Imagineers also wanted the park to be the perfect representation of the "Golden Age of Hollywood." To accomplish this, the park was themed to look like a small version of Hollywood, with replicas of icons such as Grumman’s Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Brown Derby. To give Disney-MGM Studios an "icon," , Imagineers created the large "Earful Tower". The 130 ft. water tower looked exactly like the one on the Disney Studios lot in California, with the exception of the large Mickey ears placed on top <ref name= "studios"/>.
===Opening Day===
Disney beat Universal to the punch when Disney-MGM Studios opened on May 1, 1989 <ref name= "yesterland"> http://www.yesterland.com/mgm-beginning.html </ref>. When the Studios opened, the park consisted of [[Hollywood Boulevard]], Lakeside Circle, and the Backlot Annex (with the production studio and animation studio making up the rest of the park)<ref name= "yesterland"/> .[[Image:MGMGrandOpening.jpg|thumb|350px400px|Michael Eisner and Bob Hope leading the first family into the park on its opening day]] On opening day, Disney-MGM Studios only had five operating attractions. On [[The Great Movie Ride]], guests boarded large trams and rode through scenes from famous movies. Audio Animatronics were used to recreate these scenesmoments, and at the ride’s end guests could see a montage of clips from "great movies". The second and third opening day attractions were The Monster Sound Show and Superstar Television. Both of these attractions were interactive stage shows hosted by Sony <ref name= "day"> http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/Disney-MGMGrandOpening.html </ref>. On the Monster Sound Show guests were able to help add sound effects to an "all-star haunted house mystery". Superstar Television on the other hand, showed guests how TV production worked by recreating some of the greatest shows in television, with guests cast in the show. The other opening day attractions consisted of a lengthy tour of the animation studio and a shorter tour of the production studio <ref name= "day"/>.
On hand for the Studios’ opening day were camera crews from various television stations from around the world <ref name= "mouseplanet"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/11330/The_Premiere_of_DisneyMGM_Studios </ref>. Actor John Ritter hosted the festivities, and celebrities such as Mickey Rooney, George Burns, Ann Miller, Willie Nelson, Jane Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, Dick Van Dyke and The Pointer Sisters attended <ref name= "mouseplanet"/>. Furthermore, Tony Randall, President Ronald Reagan, and British Prime Minister Margret Thatcher all appeared in video clips <ref> https://d23.com/a-to-z/disney-mgm-studios-theme-park-grand-opening-the-television/ </ref>. The festivities started with Smokey Robinson singing and dancing his way down Hollywood Boulevard <ref name= "studios"/> and Michael Eisner reading the park’s dedication:
==Changes Since Opening Day==
===1989-2000===Although only opening with five attractions, Disney-MGM Studios was popular and quickly expanded. Later in 1989, the [[Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular ]] opened in [[Lakeside Circle ]] <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/st-indiana.htm </ref>. The stunt Initially intended to be an opening day attraction, the new show recreated stunts from the Indiana Jones film "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Also in 1989, [[Star Tours debuted]], another collaboration between Disney and George Lucas, made its debut. The new motion simulator attraction that transports guests to the world of the George Lucas' film series Star Wars film series <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/st-startours.htm </ref>. In 1990, New York Street was opened for pedestrians (it had previously been part of the [[Backlot Tour]]) and the 3D film Muppets [[Muppet Vision 3D ]] was added <ref name= "timeline"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10692/Celebrating_the_Silver_Anniversary_of_Disneys_Hollywood_Studios </ref>. Also added to New York Street at this time was the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground <ref name= "timeline"/>. In 1991, two shows were added to the park: [[Beauty and The the Beast Live On Stage]] and the [[Voyage of the Little Mermaid]]<ref name= "timeline"/>. [[Image:TowerOfTerrorday.jpg|thumb|300px400px|The Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios]] In 1994, the [[Sunset Boulevard]] expansion was added to the Studios <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/06/vintage-walt-disney-world-sunset-boulevard-under-construction/ </ref>. As a part of the addition, the [[Twilight Zone Tower of Terror]] opened. On the Tower of Terror, guests are transported into Rod Sterling's Twilight Zone where they board a haunted elevator. The elevator drops guests 15 stories before rising back up and dropping them again. The next change major to the park came in 1997, when the Monster Sound Show was replaced with the ABC Sound Studio: One Saturday Morning<ref name= "timeline"/>. The new show was used to feature cartoons airing on ABC, a network recently purchased by Disney. In 1998, the nighttime spectacular Fantasmic! was added to Disney-MGM Studios<ref name= "timeline"/>. The new firework show features a battle of good vs. evil staring Mickey Mouse. In 1999, Sunset Boulevard got another thrill ride with the addition of the [[Rock N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith]], which took guests on a high speed tour of Hollywood set to the music of Aerosmith <ref name= "timeline"/>. ===2000-2007===With the turn of the 21st century, Disney-MGM Studios began to see a series of changes. As a part of the 100 Years of Magic celebration, a 122 ft. tall Sorcerer’s Hat (from the Disney movie Fantasia) was constructed in front of Grumman’s Chinese Theater <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/removehat.html </ref>. At this time, [[Walt Disney: One Man's Dream]] also opened <ref name= "timeline"/>. This new attraction featured both a museum of Disney artifacts, and a short biographical film about Walt Disney himself. In 2003, the animation studio located at the park closed, ending the Animation Tour that had been a staple of the Studios since its opening day <ref> http://www.filmbuffonline.com/News/2003-2004/DisneyClosesStudio.htm </ref>. In 2004, New York Street was expanded to include architecture found in San Francisco and renamed The Streets of America. The section of the Studio Tour that resided behind the Streets of America (Residential Street) was then bulldozed in 2004, in order to make room for a new stunt show titled Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, which opened in 2005 <ref> http://allears.net/tp/mgm/m_stunt.htm </ref>.
===2007 Name Change===
In 2007, Disney announced that it would be renaming the park Disney's Hollywood Studios. The contract signed in 1985 between MGM and Disney had expired in 2005, and Disney chose not to renew it <ref name= "yesterday"> http://www.yesterland.com/mgm-end.html </ref>. When announcing the name change , Meg Crofton (the President of The Walt Disney World Resort) stated:
{{Quotation|"The new name reflects how the park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment that today’s Hollywood has to offer—in music, television, movies and theater"|Meg Crofton, President of Walt Disney World Resort <ref name= "yesterday"/>}}
Reflected in the new name change , was the fact that over time the theme of the park had changed. Originally the park was set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, but by 2007 the theme had clearly shifted to a more modern view of filmmakingfilm making. By 2008, the park had been was officially renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios; however it took more time to change all the affected signs<ref name= "yesterday"/>.
===Disney's Hollywood Studios 2007-Present===
[[Image:Earfultower2.jpg|400px|thumb|The Earful Tower served as the park's icon from 1989 until 2001]]Since the 2007 name change there have a few major additions to the Hollywood Studios. In 2008, Mickey's Avenue was renamed Pixar Place, and all attractions on the Avenue were closed <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2008/08/04/pixars-place/ </ref>. Opening in their place was [[Toy Story Midway Mania!]], a new 4D attraction that lets guests travel through (and play) classic Midway games, while wearing 3D glasses <ref> http://www.studioscentral.com/toy-story-midway-mania-construction </ref>. The opening of Toy Story Midway Mania! was followed by the opening of the American Idol Experience in 2009 <Ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/st-americanidol.htm </ref>. The American Idol Experience was located on [[Hollywood Boulevard ]] in the ABC Theater , and based on the popular television show American Idol. On December 6, 2012 an interactive walkthrough attraction named The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow replaced the Journey Into Narnia walkthrough attraction <ref> http://www.insidethemagic.net/2012/11/inside-the-legend-of-captain-jack-sparrow-as-walt-disney-world-debuts-new-lifelike-pirates-of-the-caribbean-attraction/ </ref>. Also in 2012, Sounds Dangerous! officially closed <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/st-sound.htm </ref>.
2014 saw a series of changes occur in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On August 30, the American Idol Experience closed its doors <ref> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-american-idol-experience-closing-20140815-post.html </ref>. Subsequently on September 27, the [[Studio Backlot Tour ]] (an opening day attraction) was closed <ref> http://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/article2771271.html </ref>. Following this pattern of change, in October 2014 Disney announced that the Sorcerer’s Hat (which had been built as a temporary structure in 2001) would finally be demolished in 2015 <ref> http://www.wesh.com/orlandomyway/orlando-theme-parks/walt-disney-worlds-sorcerers-hat-to-be-torn-down-wednesday/30571590 </ref>. This announcement was paired by the announcement that The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow would be closing for good on November 6, 2014. On July 12, 2015 another opening day attraction [[The Magic of Disney Animation]] closed permanently <ref> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-hollywood-studios-magic-animation-closing-20150629-post.html </ref>.
On August 16, 2015 Disney announced that new areas dedicated to Star Wars (eventually revealed to be named Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge) and Toy Story would be constructed in Disney's Hollywood Studios. In January 2016, Disney announced that [[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure]], [[Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show]], the Writers Stop, Watto's Grotto and the Studio Catering Co. would all be closing on April 2, 2016 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/lights-motors-action-extreme-stunt-show/news/15jan2016-lights,-motors,-action-extreme-stunt-show-to-permanently-close-in-april-2016.htm </ref> <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/lights-motors-action-extreme-stunt-show/news/15jan2016-lights,-motors,-action-extreme-stunt-show-to-permanently-close-in-april-2016.htm </ref>. At this time , Disney also announced that the Earful Tower would be removed as part of the construction <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/disneys-hollywood-studios/news/15jan2016-more-closures-confirmed-for-disneys-hollywood-studios-as-the-park-moves-ahead-with-redevelopment-plans.htm </ref>.
On August 29, 2019, Star Wars: Galaxy'''s Edge officially opened to guests <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/disneyparkslive-tune-in-for-the-opening-of-star-wars-galaxys-edge-live-august-28/ </ref>. At this time, [[Star ToursMillennium Falcon: The Adventure ContinuesSmuggler's Run]], Oga'''-Star Tours is s Canteen and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo opened alongside a 3D motion simulator ride that takes guests into the world plethora of Star Warsshops including: Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiques, Black Spire Outfitter, Savi's Workshop, and Droid Depot. The land's second attraction is now updated and features 54 different adventures. , [[Image:studios2016.jpg|thumb|350px|The 2016 Hollywood Studios map (click to enlarge)Rise of the Resistance]], opened on December 5, 2019.
==Current Attractions==[[Muppet CourtyardImage:studios2020.jpg|thumb|400px|The 2020 Hollywood Studios map (click to enlarge)]]===To see the current Disney's Hollywood Studios map [https://secure.parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/wdpro-assets/parks-and-tickets/destinations/hollywood-studios/Disneys_Hollywood_Studios.pdf ''[[Muppet Vision 3D]]'Click Here'''-A film starring the Muppets, the show features a combination of 3D video and Audio Animatronics to bring the Muppets to life.]
===Pixar Place[[Hollywood Boulevard]]===Main Article: [[Hollywood Boulevard]]
Guest's gateway to the rest of Disney's Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Boulevard features a replica of Grumman'[[Toy Story Midway Mania!]]'''- A 4D attraction that lets s Chinese Theater. On Hollywood Boulevard guests play classic Midway games in a whole new way. Featuring characters from can also find the 1995 Disney Pixar movie ''Toy Story''Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant, this attraction allows guests as well as a wide variety of shops and tributes to actually enter midway games while they play themHollywood landmarks.
===Mickey Avenue[[Echo Lake]]===Main Article: [[Echo Lake]]
===Animation Courtyard[[Grand Park]]===[[Image:MuppetCourtyard.jpg|thumb|400px|Muppet Vision 3D can be found in Grand Park]]Main Article: [[Grand Park]]
'''[[The Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorWalt Disney Presents]]'''- A thrill ride which drops guests up to 13 storiesAn exhibition of various items celebrating Walt Disney's life. Guests arrive at the Hollywood Tower Hotel in the Twilight Zonestart out by exploring a Disney museum that tells Walt’s story, before entering "viewing a most uncommon elevator15 minute biographical film. Walt Disney Presents also features models and concept art for upcoming Disney attractions, lands, and resorts."
'''Superstar Television[[Disney Junior Dance Party!]]'''- Located in what is now the ABC Theater, Superstar Television was open from 1989 until 1998. The attraction was a live An interactive show that allowed guests to re-enact famous television scenesfeaturing Disney Junior characters. Using special effects guests would be superimposed in the Characters from popular television shows along with , ''Vampirina, '', ''Doc McStuffins'', ''The Lion Guard'' and ''Mickey and the original actorsRoadster Racers'' appear. The attraction was replaced by Doug Live!
Disney's Hollywood Studio's first major expansion, [[Sunset Boulevard]] is themed after Hollywood'The Monster Sound Show'''-Located on s theater district. Here guests can find popular attractions such as the right side [[Tower of what is now the ABC Theater, The Monster Sound Show opened in 1989 Terror]] and closed in 1999[[Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Staring Aerosmith]]. The interactive show allowed guests In addition it its attractions, Sunset Boulevard is also home to add their own spooky sound effects to a short film starring Chevy Chase and Martin Short. The format plethora of the show changed on July 1, 1997, and became the ABC Sound Studio. Although the premise of the ride was similar, the film now featured characters from 101 Dalmatians: The Series. In 1999 the show closed for good dining and was replaced by Sounds Dangerous--Starring Drew Careyshopping options.
===Star Wars: Galaxy''' s Edge===Main Article: [[The American Idol ExperienceStar Wars: Galaxy's Edge]]'''- This interactive show allowed guests to take the stage and sing, just like on the television show American Idol. Guests also had the option of sitting in the audience and watching the performances. The American Idol Experience opened on February 14, 2009 and closed on August 30, 2014.
Star Wars: Galaxy'''[[Studio Backlot Tour]]'''- The Studio Backlot Tour let s Edge transports guests see to the behind Black Spire Outpost on the scenes aspects of movie makingplanet Batuu. Guests were able to see how special effects were createdHere, and also tour a museum they can find the [[Rise of movie props. The attraction consisted of both a tram the Resistance]] and walking tour and lasted about 35 minutes. The Studio Backlot Tour opened with the park on May 1 [[Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run]] attractions, 1989 as well as Og's Canteen and closed on September 27, 2014Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo.
==Disney Genie +=={| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"|-| * [[Star Tours]] |* [[Millennium Falcon: Smuggler'''The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow'''s Run]]| * [[Muppet Vision 3D]]|* [[Disney Junior Dance Party!]]|- The interactive walkthrough attraction allowed guests to join Jack Sparrow’s crew | * [[Beauty and help the pirate defeat Davy Beast Live On Stage]]| * [[Slinky Dog Dash]]|* [[Indiana Jones. Epic Stunt Spectacular!]]|* [[For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration]]|-|* [[Alien Swirling Saucers]]| * [[Toy Story Mania]] |* [[Rock 'n' Roller Coaster]]| * [[The Legend Twilight Zone Tower of Captain Jack Sparrow opened on December 6, 2012 and closed on November 6, 2014.Terror]]|}
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
*The Earful Tower is was a non-working water tower that has a height of was 130 feet tall and is 8 1/2 feet in diameter. That gives gave it a hat size of 342 3/8.
*TV shows taped at Disney-MGM Studios included:
“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”.
*Mulan was the first full-length film to be produced primarily by Walt Disney Feature Animation at Disney-MGM Studios.