Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2014/04/29/disneys-hollywood-studios-original-attraction-then-and-now/" target="_blank"><b>4/29/14: Disney's Hollywood Studios Original Attractions Then and Now</b></a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Great recap. It's amazing how much the park has changed in 25 years, yet somehow still feels rather stale and dated. Hopefully they'll keep adding and updating attractions, while making some attempts to match the original spirit of the park, which has really been lost in recent years
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I like the park but still think it needs more. I'm no one to say what it needs, so in the mean time I'll enjoy what we do have.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA In general, back when it opened, as a cast member at the time, many of us felt that Disney-MGM Studios was a bit of a mixed bag. When it opened, the promise was see "The Great Movie Ride" "Indiana Jones Stunt Show" "Animation Studio" -- and by golly, that's what guest saw. We did get lots of guest complaints, especially the 'half day park / full day price' aspect. The layout of the park was (and is) very peculiar and confusing. Instead of using the Magic Kingdom concept of a "Hub" with the various sections of the park radiating out from that central location. Even the entrance way into the park, with the stores and the icon at the end of the street, certainly resembles Main Street U.S.A. from a design perspective, so guests just blew through that area to get to the rest of the park. But wait! Suddenly Disney was saying this is an attraction! -- stop and look! Enjoy the 'Streetmosphere' characters! The problem is that once guests got to the 'Great Movie Ride' Chinese Theater icon, there was no 'there' there. And because of that initial design blunder, Disney's Hollywood Studios still feels a bit thrown together. Yes, Sunset Blvd. and Tower of Terror is a great addition. So is 'Star Tours' But that original tram ride (really? a tram ride?) and outdoor sets that were used once for a TV movie or whatever -- all seemed forced and rather lame. Happy 25th Birthday! :/
Originally Posted By dagobert I know that the Studios park doesn't get a lot of praise in the US, but I really enjoyed spending time at that park. I loved Hollywood and Sunset Blvd and the park offered some great attractions. Compared to our studios park in Paris, it is a very beautiful and nicely themed park. And I enjoyed having breakfast at the Starring Rolls Cafe. There they had this wonderful sun dried tomato spread. Great memories! Happy Birthday DHS aka Disney MGM Studios. Just out of interest. Why was MGM involved with that park. AFAIK Disney never had any stakes in that studio.
Originally Posted By DlandDug When Disney decided to build their full-scale studio theme park in Florida, they recognized that DIsney alone was somewhat limited. They were able to acquire the rights to MGM fairly economically, and in that way add luster to the film legacy aspect of the park. Incidentally, there were 19 attractions listed in the opening day Guide Book. Some of them were not really attractions in and of themselves, but were part of the Backstage Tour. Here is what Disney considered "attractions" on opening day: Hollywood Boulevard 1. The Great Movie Ride 2. Theatre of the Stars (showing "Hollywood! Hollywood!") Lakeside Circle/Backlot Annex 3.SuperStar Television 4. The Monster Sound SHow 5. Epic Stunt Spectacular (featuring Indiana Jones) Backstage Studio Tour 6.The Backstage Shuttle Station 7.Costuming 8. Scenic Shop 9. Residential Street 10. Catastrophe Canyon 11. New York Street 12. Water Effects Tank 13. Special Effects Workshop and Shooting Stage 14. Soundstages 15. Post Production Editing and Audio 16. The Walt DIsney Theater DIsney-MGM Studios Animation Tour 17. Back to Neverland 18. Animation Tour 19. Disney Classics Theater
