Each of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks are unique in their own way in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no exception. On Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be celebrating its 30th anniversary! In honor of this major Disney park milestone, here are ten fast facts about the movie-themed Disney park.

Originally Planned as a Pavilion

A movie-theme park wasn’t always in the plans for Walt Disney World, but a movie-themed pavilion at Epcot was. For a second phase of Epcot’s Future World, additional pavilions including the Wonders of Life pavilion and a movie-themed pavilion were in the works, but once Disney CEO Michael Eisner heard of Universal Studios’ plans for an Orlando park he decided that the pavilion idea should be a theme park instead.

Major Hidden Mickey

Hidden Mickeys can be found all over Walt Disney World, both big and small. Did you know one of the largest Hidden Mickeys on property is only visible from the sky? When Disney’s Hollywood Studios was first built, the courtyard buildings and landscaping was strategically spaced to create a giant Mickey Mouse! Although several changes have been made to this area over the past three decades, remnants of this major Hidden Mickey can still be found if you look hard enough on a theme park map.

Mickey Mouse Club

When the park originally opened, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (previously Disney-MGM Studios) was a working television and film studio as well as a theme park. In fact, the All-New Mickey Mouse Club was filmed and produced inside of the park! During its run, guests could watch the cast prepare for their tapings and even sit as part of the audience on some occasions. It’s amazing to realize that this television show that was filmed inside of a Walt Disney World theme park is where stars like Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and Britney Spears all got their start!

Working Animation Studio

In addition to live-action movies and television, Disney-MGM Studios was also home to a satellite animation studio known as Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida. Guests who embarked on the Studio Backlot Tour could watch as Disney Animators worked on aspects of classic Disney Renaissance era films like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. The animation studio would eventually fully produce three different Disney animated movies, Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, and Brother Bear before shutting down the animation studio in 2004.

Multi-Purpose Mickey Mouse

When it comes to Disney parks, every aspect is themed! From the trash cans to the restrooms, the detailing is just stunning. When Disney-MGM Studios was originally constructed, matching important Hollywood icons was a major part of the theming for the park even as guests walked through the gates.

Right at the entrance, a replica of the “Crossroads of the World” building is standing before guests with one notable difference — Mickey Mouse! Although he seems small from so high up, he actually stands 5’3” tall and in addition to welcoming guests into the park he is also there for safety. Mickey’s right ear on the statue is made out of copper, which serves as a lightning rod for the entrance area!

Hepburn’s Handprints

For Disney-MGM Studios’ Chinese Theater replica, it was important to get every detail as close as possible to the original Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. One major part of the Grauman’s Chinese Theater is the many celebrity handprints outside of the entrance. Disney followed suit holding star-studded handprint ceremonies in the park, asking the same celebrities to give their prints.

When it came time for Audrey Hepburn to create her handprint for the park, she became emotional. When asked about it, she revealed that she had never been asked for her prints before! Believe it or not, this was true and when the Grauman’s Chinese Theater tried to fix this oversight she declined. This means that the only place you can find her famous prints is in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Meant For More

Muppet*Vision 3D wasn’t all that was originally planned for the Muppet Courtyard area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Decades ago there was an idea in place for an entire land called Muppet Studios! The area was to include The Great Gonzo’s Pizza Pandemonium Parlor, Swedish Chef’s Cooking School, and The Great Muppet Movie Ride — an intentional spoof of the Great Movie Ride.

With the unexpected death of Jim Henson in May of 1990, the idea of Muppet Studios slipped further and further from reality as Henson family shut down all further development of theme park attractions using the Muppet brand. Since Muppet*Vision 3D was already produced and was Jim Henson’s final work, after some persuading the family finally agreed for the 3D attraction to premiere within the park. This attraction is still in Disney’s Hollywood Studios today.

Brown Derby Replica

Back in the day, the Brown Derby was where Hollywood’s elite, including Disney executives, would dine. Today the restaurant in Hollywood no longer exists, but Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to an authentic Brown Derby replica! As one of the finer dining options at the park, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back into the Golden Age of Hollywood as soon as you arrive. This restaurant is also home to a pretty unique dining experience. Guests can actually make reservations to dine with a Disney Imagineer! Ask away with all of your Disney parks questions as you enjoy a delicious four course meal at the Brown Derby.

Long Running Live Stage Show

Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage has been a part of Walt Disney World’s third theme park for almost three decades. It’s been around for so long that it actually debuted in the park on the same day that the movie released in theaters, November 22, 1991! In an effort to get guests excited for the new Disney animated movie, this lengthy live on-stage show gave them a sneak peek into a few scenes from the film. Here we are almost thirty years later, and the show is still drawing major crowds daily at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Towering Heights

From certain areas of World Showcase in Epcot and even riding up Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror can be seen in the distance. Why you may ask? The Tower of Terror is actually the second tallest attraction on property! At 199 feet tall, it’s only a half of a foot shorter than the slightly taller 199.5 foot Expedition Everest. Both towering attractions are strategically under 200 feet tall to avoid the need for red blinking aircraft beacon, which would take away from the theming of the attractions.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has had a pretty exciting three decades so far and with so many exciting things coming to the park over the next few years, there’s never been a better time to visit! So next time you make your way to Disney’s movie-themed park, keep these ten fast facts in mind.

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