That’s A Wrap!
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say yesterday was the last day of Walt Disney World’s “Studios” theme park. If anything, it’s a stretch to say that yesterday was the end of that era. The park that was born as the Disney-MGM Studios opened with a heavy emphasis on actual filmmaking and allowing guests to step into the movies until production was gradually shifted away (ending entirely in 2004).
After some pivots in theme, the park was re-branded Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2008. The park had a few good years under that moniker and enjoyed the addition of hits like Toy Story Mania and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, all the while having an identity crisis. It simply wasn’t a “studios” park as originally envisioned, but it continued on.
In the last couple of years, it has lost several attractions that at one time were its flagship offerings, including the Backlot Tour, the Magic of Disney Animation, and The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow (okay, maybe not the last one). If the loss of the Backlot Tour wasn’t the nail in the coffin for Disney’s Hollywood “Studios” then yesterday’s closure of the Streets of America and the attractions on it certainly were.
While I lament some of the losses over the years at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I’m not the least bit upset by all of this. Quite the converse, in fact. I think the park is way overdue for a refresh, and I am really excited for the potential that Star Wars Land holds. I’m also cautiously optimistic that this Toy Story Land will be something more ambitious than it is in Paris or Hong Kong.
Moreover, I think the park could, potentially, emerge thematically stronger out the other side. While precise layout details are unknown, the extensive nature of the overhaul will allow for lands organized by “studio.” It sounds as if the area around MuppetVision will be re-themed to the Muppets, making that “Muppet Courtyard.” (It’s already on the updated map, out today!)
That, in turn, allows all of Pixar (well, just Toy Story) to be concentrated in Toy Story Land. Then, there’s Lucasfilm with Star Wars Land. (I don’t know how Star Tours fits into that, but hopefully it’s addressed.) The front of the park can provide an introduction to old Hollywood, offering a portal into a choose your own adventure sort of set-up. (Choose your own, ahem, “Hollywood Adventure.” At Disney.)
As a result, I suspect Disney will want to rebrand the park after all of this is complete. I don’t think the DHS incarnation of the park has been a “failure” to the extent that Disney’s California Adventure was, but I do think Disney will be looking to hit “reset” on it and start fresh. With over a billion dollars being poured into DHS in the next several years, a new name will signify to guests that the park has been reborn.
In any case, with all that closed yesterday and the construction that has already started today, there’s a clear demarcation line. The end of an era. The “Studios” park many of us grew up with is now gone, and work starts on whatever is next.
I have a lot of sentimentality for many things Walt Disney World from my childhood trips, and the Disney-MGM/Hollywood Studios is no exception. I took a stroll down memory lane a while back in my Brickers’ Vintage Walt Disney World Trip Report, but I’ll share some specific memories of the Disney-MGM Studios here…
As noted in that report, my family visited Walt Disney World almost every spring starting in 1989 (my first visit was 1986!) and the Disney-MGM Studios was a favorite park of my parents. Probably due to the newness of it all and partly due to the actual production, but we spent a lot of time there.
The park’s studio elements were always entertaining and fresh. While portions of the Backlot Tour were staged and remained the same with each ride, other aspects changed with each visit. The tour then seemed like it lasted hours, but never grew tiring. I always wanted to see what would happen next.
The same went for “step into the show” attractions like SuperStar Television and the Monster Sound Show. (I still think that either of these would play well with current audiences.)
One of my fondest memories from these family visits was meeting Clarence Gilyard. My dad (that’s him, above) and I watched Walker, Texas Ranger religiously back in the 90s, so meeting him was a really big deal.
Celebrity appearances at the Disney-MGM Studios were fairly common place then, it seemed.
Back then, the Streets of America were alive and a popular spot for guests. There was a lot of live entertainment, and in many cases it was pretty zany. From Ninja Turtles to Dick Tracy to the Rocketeer, there were all sorts of live performances back on New York Street.
Aside from National Treasure Baby Sinclair (if he isn’t featured in Star Wars Land, we riot), the best characters ever to grace the Streets of America were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The zaniness didn’t stop there. Back when Goosebumps was all the rage, the Disney-MGM Studios had a short-lived stage show on New York Street that was a bit like a magic act with characters from the most well-known books appearing and hijacking the show.
I’ve shared this photo of Roger Rabbit and me before, but I feel compelled to share it again. Talk about the 90s summed up in a single photo!
Then, there are the trips Sarah and I have made as adults. By this time, the Streets of America area was in pretty sad shape. The Backlot Tour was already significantly truncated, Lights, Motors, Action was running, and there wasn’t much else there.
It was mostly a dead space, save for the performances of Mulch, Sweat, & Shears. This band was about the only thing I enjoyed about the “normal” Streets of America, and I was able to see their final day of performances last October.
The Streets of America at Christmas-time was a totally different story. It was a sharp contrast to its “dead” daytime atmosphere. Our first Christmas trip was in 2007 (the trip during which we got engaged), and this was our first time seeing the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. It was mesmerizing.
During that 2007 trip, I was just starting to get into photography, but still had almost no clue what I was doing. Sarah had gotten me a Casio point and shoot the previous year for Christmas, and I found a travel tripod at Best Buy on clearance before the trip. We ran around the Streets of America getting photos of us and the Osborne Lights, using the camera’s 10-second self-timer.
The same scenario played out the following year. While I was setting up a “test” shot of Sarah, a small child wandered into the frame and posed with her. At the time, it was an outtake that we redid because we didn’t want some random kid in the photo. Over time, it’s become my favorite photo from the night because I can still vividly recall it happening, and we still have a good laugh when we see it.
No matter how many times we saw the Osborne Lights, the display never got old. We could stand on the Streets of America for hours–literally–just soaking it all in. We would stay as late as we could each night, and I’d scramble to get “empty” park photos as the Streets of America started to clear at the end of the night.
Seeing those lights for the first time each trip always gave me chills, and the display dancing to the music was absolutely enthralling. I know elaborate lighting displays on homes with synchronized music have become so commonplace in the last several years that they’re almost passé, but the Osborne Lights were so superior to those that there was no comparison.
As we knew our trip last Christmas would be our last chance to see the Osborne Lights, we made sure to spend extra time back on the Streets of America, soaking up the atmosphere and people-watching. We both commented on just how many people were laughing and smiling–I don’t think I’ve seen that high of a concentration of happy people anywhere, ever.
I’m not embarrassed to admit that I got a little choked up as the Osborne Lights danced for the last time and then went dark. Some of our best memories together at Walt Disney World are just sitting and watching the lights.
To think about how much happiness they brought to so many guests…just got to me. At their best, Disney attractions have an inarticulable x-factor that makes them resonate with guests. The Osborne Lights had this “magic” to them, and are what I’ll miss most during this transition period for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
That’s really about it. I miss shows like SuperStar Television, the original Backlot Tour, and seeing animators work on the next film at The Magic of Disney Animation. The original vision for this Studios park was a sound one, and those experiences were exceptional, but they’re all long gone. However nostalgic I might be for the past, this is one case where I’m even more excited for the future. This park has deserved an exciting new vision for a while, and finally, it seems like it is getting exactly that.
So, here’s to putting one era of this park in the can. I guess that’s not really a wrap, as reshoots begin today.
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Your Thoughts
Do you have any fond memories of the Streets of America, Backlot Tour, or anything else from the glory days of the Disney-MGM Studios? Optimistic about the future? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
Look forward to the future for this park. I would be surprised if Star Tours is still around when the new Star Wars Land opens. The new rides sound a lot like Star Tours, so I would imagine something new will take its place. How cool would a new Indiana Jones “studio” be!?
I dunno…with how cost-conscious Disney is, I could see it staying. I think it would make sense to repurpose Star Tours (a new video and re-skinning the building can’t be *that* costly in the grand scheme of things), but I’ll bet it doesn’t happen.
Thank you for this post Tom! This was also my favorite park as a kid in the 90’s! The behind the scenes approach of so many of the rides and attractions was indeed so well executed – The Backlot Tour remains my favorite Disney ride of all time. Thanks for the memories – I’m certainly looking to the future Hollywood Adventures in this new era of the park.
Does anyone know if Gertie is still there, and if she is, whether she’s staying? I’d heard that she was having her last day sometime last October, but I feel like I’ve seen her in pictures since. She’s always been one of my favorite parts of any Disney Park, so I’d hate to see her go!
Gertie is still there, and is staying.
Solid read Tom. Thanks for sharing your story and amazing photos.
That was worth the read just for tiny Tom’s knee socks!
You may not know this, but I used to be a fashion icon.
I think you still are with your tie-dye Disney shirt 😉
They still have not decided for certain about Earful Tower.
The Earfell Tower will be removed.
Just got back today from a 10 day trip. I talked to a cast member manager. Mama Melroses, Muppets, Pizza Planet all are staying. Writers Stop will be converted to a bar/lounge for Sci-Fi. No more carrot cake cookies. Everything else will be demolished.
Oh, how I will miss the magic of the Studios. I loved the days when “starlets” and movie-making “big shots” roamed the streets, interacting with the guests and posing for photos. It definitely had an “old Hollywood” feel with the art deco and the palm trees…simply magic. I loved the store with the movie-star memorabilia near the front entrance (Sid Cahuenga’s). Found a pair of sunglasses there in the mid-90’s formerly owned by Farrah Fawcett (price was about $100) and I passed on them–have kicked myself about this ever since. ugh. I have no interest in Star Wars whatsoever, but maybe someday with the grandkids. 🙂 Love the blog and photos, Tom. Thanks for the always-great reporting.
Great article, as always. I will miss what Hollywood (and MGM) Studios was, but am very much looking forward to it’s future!
So Tom what happens to immediate future trips to disney… We are going in laye part of August and I can’t help but get nervous about the visit to Hollywood Studios… Seems a bit too pricey to go in with most things closed and construction walls up… Will it still be worth it? I do have first time visitors with me coming in from the UK. Thank you Tom. I always enjoy reading the blog.
If you’ve been there before, you probably have a rough idea of what will be open, and are probably better equipped to make that decision for yourself, since it’s a personal one.
Personally, if I were paying for tickets (rather than using an AP), I would not spend a day at DHS. Too much has closed over the last several years, and there isn’t enough temporary entertainment plugged in to fill the voids. On our next visit, we’ll hop over to DHS at night for the Star Wars fireworks and Tower of Terror, but I don’t have much interest in the park right now, otherwise.
As for construction walls, they’ll mostly be in the back of the park, so you’d only encounter them around MuppetVision.
Thanks Tom. I am sure for my first timers it will still be a wonderful experience. We have made our dining reservations upon your recommendations and I am really excited to share the Sci-Fi Dine In experience with our girls. Always a pleasure to read the blog.
I teared up reading your description of the Osborne lights. Being from Arkansas and having enjoyed some of Jennings Osborne’s generosity throughout the years, the lights were special and sentimental to our family. We took a November trip in 2015, earlier than anticipated, because we wanted to experience the lights. While I’m excited for DHS to get some long needed year-round pizzaz, I will always miss those lights. I made nearly the same comment to my husband as we walked through them last year. I had never seen so many genuinely happy people crammed into one space. It was absolutely magical.
I am not as positive as you are about this park changing but I will remain hopeful. Our kids are 13 and 15 so not really into Toy Story anymore and we are not huge Star Wars fans either. I do love Star Tours though. It will still be a must visit park due to Rockin’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Osborne Lights was my absolute favorite thing so I got choked up reading this too. We were lucky enough to go in November to see them one last time. I have to say I loved the pics of you as a young boy!
As a general rule, I think excellent Disney attractions don’t require being a fan of the underlying films. Most people love Splash Mountain, but have never seen Song of the South. Tower of Terror is beloved, even though Twilight Zone is generations old. Etc.
I absolutely love the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands at Universal, but I didn’t really care for the first couple of films (stopped watching after that), and have never read any of the books. I’m sure some of the details are lost on me, but I still love the attractions and really appreciate the theming. I suspect Star Wars Land will be the same for non-Star Wars people.
Lovely post Tom! We’ll be there in 29days and I’ll miss our family photos on streets of America but excited to see what’s coming.
Our first time to WDW was about 1996 when my kids were 7 and 8. As a huge Disney fan, growing up with Disney myself, I thought of no better family time than at WDW so we made about 10 more trips. I was not thrilled when the Indiana Jones attraction went in as it really wasn’t Disney but the show was more of how movies were made so it was okay. Just because Disney buys movie rights doesn’t really make them Disney so the purchase of Star Wars and now putting it in the Studios park doesn’t thrill me at all. I would rather have seen then making a new park, with a new name and teaming it with a like movie and revamping studios more to the making of movies. I will never buy a park hopper package again with a choice of this park.
Throughout the history of the Disney-MGM Studios, a lot of the attractions have been licensed from other studios or companies. If an attraction or land is enjoyable and detailed matters much more to me than whether it’s “Disney.”
If Star Wars Land is amazing and blows guests away (and every indication is that this will be the case), I can’t imagine not visiting it because it’s not “Disney.”
There are many of us who have given up thirty year passes over star wars and marvel.ITS NOT DISNEY!!! I have a friend who works for George lucas and most everyone there are not happy with DISNEY. Ifeel DISNEY will do most anything if it sells and especially if it is attractive to young adults.Walt Disney created the parks for parents to enjoy with their children and there focus seems less and less in this direction.
Tom
Do you recall a sound booth located at the exit to the monster sound show? You stepped inside and put on headsets and listened to a story in what they called “3D sound.” Or something like that..It felt like you were actually in the room, getting a haircut?
Oh yes. I vividly recall those booths!
I think you’re right about Monster Sound and Superstar TV working today. Heck, the green screen effects they did on the fly in the 1990s was better the special green screen/ CGI effects on Grey’s Anatomy or Once Upon a Time today!
Thanks for that post, Tom. Even though I’ve sadly never seen the Osborne Lights display and have only ever been to WDW once (last year – but surely not the last time) this shows perfectly how much the Disney parks mean to many of us – throughout generations and lifetimes!
This park was my favorite when I was a kid as well. I LOVED the always evolving and often bustling feeling of the park. When it first opened, it genuinely felt like you were being welcomed to a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood studio magic… in central Florida. By the time I brought my own family, the park was in its current incarnation of stagnation and decline. I frequently describe the glory days to them, especially the Ninja Turtles roaming free – who didn’t love the Ninja Turtles then (and now)?! I am hopeful once everything is completed that the park will be awesome again. I mean, it couldn’t get any worse, right?
They should just add a bunch of free-roaming Ninja Turtles to the park and call it a day. None of this Star Wars and Toy Story Land nonsense. 😉
I think this might be my favorite article on the blog thus far! You really hit the nail on the head with everything I’ve been feeling, too. Really sad to see such a *magical* display like the lights gone for good, but really intrigued with all the possibility for the future.
You should have seen the Osborne lights when they were on residential street. That was very good too. To me, even better.