Walt Disney World’s third theme park has undergone many changes during its almost thirty years of existence. With the recent opening of the all-new Toy Story Land and the future plans for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, all eyes have been Disney’s Hollywood Studios lately. To celebrate the upcoming excitement for this park, here are eight facts you probably didn’t know about Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The All New Mickey Mouse Club Was Filmed Here

Ever wonder where stars like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake got their start? Right in Orlando, Florida of course! When Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in 1989 as Disney-MGM Studios, it was originally planned to be a theme park and film studio combined. Although a few other titles used Disney-MGM Studios for filming, the All New Mickey Mouse Club was filmed exclusively in the parks! From 1989 until the show ended in 1996, park guests could watch the cast rehearsing while taking the Backlot Tour, and sometimes even get the chance to be a studio audience member. How cool is that?

It’s Home to One of the Largest Hidden Mickeys in Walt Disney World

Most Hidden Mickeys are subtle details in architecture around the parks or within a ride, but others are much more elaborate. There are some Hidden Mickeys around Walt Disney World that you will miss unless you’re taking a helicopter ride over the property! Back in the ‘80s, while Disney-MGM Studios was still being built, the company planned out the largest Hidden Mickey at the time, which could only be seen from a plane. Echo Lake makes up his right ear and the courtyard toward the Chinese Theater covers his eyes, nose and face. As the years have gone on, this park has undergone several transformations so the Hidden Mickey is less prominent, but the creative idea was always there from the beginning!

Mickey Has A Special Purpose on the “Crossroads of the World” Recreation

As you enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll notice the iconic Crossroads of the World building with one magical difference – Mickey Mouse! Most guests stop by this stand to grab autograph books and other park essentials, but there’s something pretty unique about this structure. From the ground this statue seems small, but Mickey Mouse actually stands 5’3”, and serves a more important purpose than just welcoming guests to the park. Mickey’s right ear is made of copper, so this Mickey statue on top of the building serves as a lightning rod for the area!

Three Disney Animated Movies Were Fully Produced in The Park

As a part of the full Hollywood movie experience, Disney wanted to include an animation portion of the Backlot Tour as well. During this time, Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida was located at Disney-MGM Studios. Many classics from the Disney Renaissance Era were partially produced in the park, such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. In addition to these films, Mulan, Brother Bear and Lilo and Stitch were all fully produced within the park. The animation studio eventually closed in 2004, and went through a few transformations. Although this animation area has since been repurposed into the Star Wars Launch Bay, it’s exciting to know the artistic achievements that first came from this area of the park.

It’s All in The Vintage Details

Disney focuses on the details in every aspect of their park, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no different. When constructing the park in the ‘80s, Imagineers took special trips to Hollywood to take in the feel and little details of the surrounding streets. They also did their research back to the golden age of Hollywood. You’ll notice the shops that line the street that lead you into the park closely resemble shops from those days of Hollywood’s past. One shop in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Darkroom, was directly inspired by The Darkroom in Los Angeles, a shop that opened in the 1930s.

The Idea Was Originally A Pavilion At Epcot

Epcot’s Future World is full of pavilions dedicated to different subjects, such as Imagination, Energy and Land. Did you know that a Movie Pavilion was also originally discussed for the park? It was planned to be placed between the Imagination and Land pavilions. The pavilion’s main attraction would be a ride that very much resembled what the Great Movie Ride became. Disney’s CEO at the time, Michael Eisner, loved the idea so much that he used it as inspiration for a brand new Disney park based on Hollywood, entertainment and show business!

Home To The Second-Tallest Attraction in Walt Disney World

Tower of Terror is a lot more than just a beloved former attraction in the park. It was built to stand tall at exactly 199 feet – one foot shorter than the required height for a red beacon light on top of buildings to alert planes passing above. It is only shorter than Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which clocks in at 199.5 feet tall! Due to the close proximity to Epcot, the Tower of Terror can actually be seen in the Morocco Pavilion skyline from the Mexico Pavilion in World Showcase. To help hide this towering attraction from sight, Disney Imagineers designed the outside of the building with Moroccan-inspired architecture, causing it to blend in with the Morocco Pavilion’s many buildings.

Guests Can Have Lunch With An Imagineer

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is full of several replicas of famous Hollywood icons, but one features a very unique dining opportunity. Its Brown Derby restaurant is a replica of the original, famous Los Angeles restaurant that no longer exists. Back in the day, the Brown Derby was the type of restaurant where Hollywood’s movers and shakers – including some Disney executives! – would dine. In a similar way, at its replica in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can reserve the chance to dine with one of Disney’s Imagineers, and ask them all kinds of questions about the parks and any projects they may have worked on.

Each of Disney’s many parks are unique in their own way, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no exception. Even with a name change and several transformations throughout the years, the park’s original charm still shines through in its many details! So next time you find yourself in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be sure to take the time to be transported back to the golden age of Hollywood.