History
Disney-MGM Studios opened May 1, 1989, and its theme is based on the 1930s and 1940s Hollywood era. The idea for the park began at its sister park, Epcot, where "Imagineers" Marty Sklar and Randy Bright were told to develop two new areas for the park's Future World section. They produced the Wonders of Life Pavilion and the Great Movie Ride Pavilion, the latter now an attraction at Hollywood Studios. The entrances to the new areas were to look like sound-stage backdrops at a movie studio and a movie theater-style entrance. The current park is similar to those plans, but former Disney CEO Michael Eisner requested that those ideas be installed in a new park, one that had a showbiz, Hollywood and entertainment theme.
Features
Spanning more than 135 acres, Hollywood Studios has six themed areas, but unlike most theme parks, they are not clearly defined by sections or signs. The areas look more like the back lot of a studio and scenes from movie sets. The main entrance looks like Hollywood Boulevard, which is lined with stores selling merchandise, and at the end of the street is the Sorcerer's Hat, the icon of Disney's Hollywood Studios. The park revolves around Echo Lake, with numerous attractions and shows around it. Hollywood Studios' main attractions are The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith, Star Tours, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show, Studio Backlot Tour, Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D, and the newly opened Rip, Ride, Rockit Roller Coaster. Attractions geared toward kids are Toy Story Midway Mania, Jedi Training Academy, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre, which shows Fantasmic, a nighttime show featuring many Disney characters. Hollywood Studios also features ESPN The Weekend in March in which anchors from the station and athletes are on hand in the park.
Identification
The park is represented by The Sorcerer's Hat, a stylized version of the magical hat from the movie "Fantasia." When the park opened, there was an iconic water tower with Mickey Mouse's ears, called the Earful Tower, which was replaced by the hat in 2001.
Significance
In 2008, the park welcomed more than 9.61 million guests, which ranked it the fourth-most visited amusement park in the U.S. and seventh-most visited in the world. MGM is a separate company from Disney, but a contract agreement in 1985 allowed Disney to use the MGM brand name and logo in marketing.
Geography
Hollywood Studios has two exits off of Interstate 4 traveling east or west. Nearby are the resort's five golf courses. There are four 18-hole golf courses: the Magnolia, the Palm, Lake Buena Vista and Osprey Ridge and a nine-hole walking course, Oak Trail, which is designed for young golfers. And for fun, there are two miniature golf courses complexes, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. The Walt Disney World Golf Complex is about five miles north of the theme park, while the closest golf course is Falcon's Fire Golf Club.
About The Author
Mike Camunas is a free lance reporter, covering local golf in the Tampa Bay area, from events to golfers hitting hole in ones, to even covering the professional events that hit town. He has been playing golf for about 11 years and has never seen his handicap lower. Perhaps one day. He attended the University of South Florida.
