Disney's Hollywood Studios Memories – The WDW News Today Podcast: Episode 23



In anticipation of WDWNT’s Stage 89 event, Tom and Eric discuss Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

👉EXCLUSIVE CONTENT for our Patreon supporters! https://patreon.com/wdwnt

📣 FOLLOW US! 📣
WEBSITE: https://wdwnt.com
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/WDWNewsToday
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/wdwnt
TWITTER / X: https://twitter.com/WDWNT

#WaltDisneyWorld #DisneyParks #DisneyNews

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 – Stage 89 ad
00:01:45 – Intro
00:06:00 – WIGS
00:06:35 – Stage 89
00:12:26 – Park Candy
00:13:28 – History of Disney MGM Studios
00:18:17 – Filming in Florida
00:22:17 – Theming of theme parks
00:27:43 – History of Disney MGM Studios
00:39:18 – Tipping at Sonic?
00:40:44 – History of Disney MGM Studios
00:46:24 – Universal Studios vs. Hollywood Studios
00:51:24 – Starting to lose things at Disney MGM Studios
01:00:09 – Tom Explains Wrestling at MGM
01:07:24 – The end of the original MGM/Hollywood Studios
01:10:36 – What are you looking forward to at Stage 89?
01:14:34 – How would you have updated the Great Movie Ride?
01:22:15 – Gertie Plush
01:23:15 – MGM Memories
01:26:40 – Outro

🏰 A Disney fan’s hub for all Walt Disney news today!

If you’re looking for exclusive Disney news or want to experience the inside of the Disney parks, then you’re in the right place. The magic is just a click away! 🚀

For over 16 years, WDW News Today has been your go-to for all things Disney – news, podcasts, radio, and video. We’ve had a blast sharing our love for Disney, and it’s all thanks to our dedicated audience that we’re now the best website for Disney Parks News worldwide.

source

29 thoughts on “Disney's Hollywood Studios Memories – The WDW News Today Podcast: Episode 23”

  1. Honestly if you couldn’t keep Wizard of Oz in the movie ride, I would have replaced it with Sleeping Beauty. Could easily make it the scene where Maleficent places her curse at the Royal christening. Simple reskin for the Witch and an iconic Disney movie moment.

    Reply
  2. 18:50 Yeah I noticed that as well. Around 2005, Georgia saw an opportunity to bring a major industry to the state, making Atlanta (which we already deem the economic capital of the south) a hub, not just in planes lol, but movie studio production as well. California was starting to get too expensive for production and New York is already the global powerhouse New York. So what made Georgia stand out from other states is the tax credit for production companies which is up to 20% with an extra 10% if the film includes the “Made in Georgia” logo in their credits.

    The kicker is that with the tax credits, unlike other states, THERE IS NO END DATE, THEY DON'T EXPIRE" So a company can get up to 30% in tax incentives forever, whereas in other states, those tax credit renewals have to keep getting approval from their state governments after so many years. Which can lead to uncertainty, when production companies are planning for future projects.

    I don't know why Florida chose not to pursue expanding the film industry in the state. 😁

    Reply
  3. Florida as a “Hollywood East” production arm was too ahead of its time, nowadays with the increased costs to California and the movement to Georgia, in the last 10-15 years or so, proves that Florida was onto something, just maybe 10-15 years too early, enough time to wane interest and pull out investments and put them elsewhere. If Universal and Hollywood Studios’s developments in the past decade has proven anything, it’s that they’ve doubled down on this area being suited for theme parks first and foremost, the studio portion no more than a namesake at this point.

    Reply
  4. For me one of the biggest loses was the animation studio aspect. Watching the artists in the "FishBowl" was like watching actual magic being made in front of you.
    Seeing that area now being Launch Bay is so depressing to me. Going from the magic of Disney animation to a Star Wars meet and greet in a park that already has a Star Wars land is just a real slap in the face, lol

    Reply
  5. Tampa actually had the APMs to the gates before Orlando International. TPA was the first US airport to use the system, opening in the early 70's while MCO's first one opened in the early 80's. They were designed to give all travelers a "short" walk to any gate after checking in, something you can't promise outside of "small" airports. Taking the APM to the terminal after landing always felt (and still feels) like the first attraction of my vacation when I come down to visit WDW.

    Reply
  6. We went to Universal Orlando a few months after they opened and pretty much everything was broke down…on the way out they gave all of us an admission ticket to come back that never expired.

    Reply
  7. Not sure if you are interested in ideas or have spoken about this before, but I'd be interested in hearing from you on what tips or tricks you would have for someone who wants to take an overseas trip to one of the parks, but might be a bit intimidated to do it. Which parks to prioritize? At which ones are language barriers more or less an issue (for an english speaker) and how do you deal with them? Are there cultural differences to talk about? What things would people not necessarily think of that will make their experience better? Some of these I can speculate on the answers you might have but I think it could be an interesting topic.

    Reply
  8. MGM holds such sentimental value for me. The nostalgic memories of my late father’s favorite park. I miss the Great Movie Ride so much. Thank you for reminiscing your memories with us 💛

    Reply
  9. It’s almost ironic how WDW is turning into Universal. Hollywood studios also has no theme? I can’t explain that park to someone? It’s Hollywood but with basically a Star Wars land and Toy Story and random rides? It’s basically an IP dump like you said. Instead of Disney moving forward in storytelling it’s going backwards. I love IP and I’m actually for IP at the parks but with a story that makes sense.

    Reply
  10. As a massive movie fan I would’ve loved to have a ridden the great movie ride but unfortunately I only managed to visit for the first time last September. For me personally I think after the purchase of 20th Century Fox they could’ve updated the ride with scenes from: Planet of the apes, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Titanic and The Sound of Music

    Reply
  11. WDW News. Lads, "Superstar Television" the show producer was Michael Sprout. The "Disney Animation Studio" the show producer was John DeSantis ( I hope not a relative ). The tour ended at the "Disney Classics Theatre." Glen Randall was the director of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," stunt show. Over at "Catastrophe Canyon" on the tram tour you'd be greated by 20,000 gallons of water pouring down and around you. Michael Eisner said to the media on opening day, " This studio park is going to be wonderful experience for each and every visitor." Cheers, Chris Perry

    Reply
  12. Really enjoyed this video! Anytime you two are discussing parks history / lore is good time! That said, this also made me very sad… It's such a disgrace what has happened to Studios and Epcot. We've lost thematic cohesion, and seen objective downgrades in attraction quality!

    Reply
  13. Love this podcast….I’m so interested to hear the stories of what was supposed to come with The Muppets! I was sooo disappointed at D23/Destination D (whichever the last one was) that they started with the Muppets and had them featured throughout the whole show and….nothing! I thought for sure they were going to be announcing something coming with The Muppets but sadly I was disappointed 🤬. Another great podcast…keep ‘em coming!

    Reply
  14. Tom, I really don't think the theme change of Studios was natural… I believe Iger viewed it as being a subpar park when he came in, in a similar light to DCA, and needed "fixing." Seeing as Iger only utilizes IP, it was a conscious abandonment of the original theme, being replaced with IP theming he viewed as better (aka less risky / easier).

    Reply

Leave a Comment