Happy Birthday Disney-MGM Studios

On May 1, 1989, the Disney-MGM Studios opened for the world to see. Originally, it was never even supposed to be a theme park at all, but only a single attraction at Epcot (which ended up becoming the Great Movie Ride). After Universal Studios announced they were building a park in Orlando, the race was on to see who could open first. The Disney-MGM Studios opened more than a year before Universal Studios.

The park was actually two sections, with one side being a theme park (mainly Hollywood Blvd and Echo Lake) and the other being a production center. Its important to keep in mind that there were only five attractions when the park opened; The Great Movie Ride, Backstage Studio Tour, Monster Sound Show, Superstar Television and The Magic of Disney Animation. The Backstage Studio Tour alone lasted a whopping two-hours covering the production center, soundstages and backlot.

As you can see from the map, there were a lot of attractions that did not exist at the time of opening. There was no Sunset Blvd, no Rockin' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror or Fantasmic. There was no Muppets, no Star Tours and no Pixar Street. Guests couldn't walk on the New York set nor could they go down what is currently Pixar Street (no walking in any of the purple areas on the map). Yes, this park was small, very small.

Through the years, the park gradually grew and grew into what it is today. I first went in December, 1989 and by that time the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular had opened...I even got to do a soft-preview of Star Tours. We later would see Muppet-Vision 3D as well as some very thrilling rides, such as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster with Aerosmith (how 'bout some backstage passes).

Of course, today its known as Disney's Hollywood Studios...but to those of us who remember, it will always be the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. Happy 20th to the Disney-MGM Studios, and may the next 20 years be just as exciting as the first!!!