Originally opened on May 1, 1989, Disney-MGM Studios changed its name to Disney's Hollywood Studios in January 2008 as part of a contract dispute with MGM. Dedicated to the entertainment industry, Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks in the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. With behind-the-scenes views of Hollywood, the theme park features backstage tours, live shows and attractions such as "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure, Star Wars: Jedi Training Academy and Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Original Plans
Have fun comparing the dream with the reality when you see Walt Disney's original, hand-drawn plans for his resort which are on display in the One Man's Dream attraction. The multimedia attraction was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth in 1901. Other features of the attraction include Walt Disney's second-grade school desk, Special Academy Award statues for ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' and models of Disneyland Resort's Main Street, U.S.A.
The Earffel Tower
The Earffel Tower, a water tower featuring giant Mickey Mouse ears, is a tribute to the water towers commonly distributed on Hollywood studio back lots during the early 1900s as a preventative measure against set fires. A Disney Hollywood Studios' landmark, the Earffel Tower is 13 stories tall, has ears that weigh 2.5 tons and would wear a hat size of 342 ¾. In 2001, the Earffel Tower was replaced by the Sorcerer's Hat as the icon of Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Height of Fright
Wander through the Hollywood Tower Hotel lobby, library and boiler room before entering the seemingly harmless elevator in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction. As the elevator gradually rises 13 stories, guests encounter a series of scary and supernatural events. After reaching the top, the doors briefly open before the elevator rapidly descends towards the ground in a random series of starts and stops. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the highest attraction at Walt Disney World Resort. Other tall Disney World attractions include the Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom at 185 feet, Spaceship Earth in Epcot at 180 feet and the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom at 145 feet.
Hidden Mickeys
Hidden Mickeys are subtle images or outlines of Mickey Mouse's ears and face that are scattered throughout the Disney theme parks. Hidden Mickeys in Disney Hollywood Studios include one at the Sunset Theatre and one at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. At Sunset Theatre, find the location where Mickey Mouse is available to pose for photos with guests and then look carefully at the doors behind Mickey's position. When the door is closed, the door handles create a Hidden Mickey. The one in the Tower of Terror is a little more difficult to spot. There are two doors with several square windows in them as your first enter the lobby of the Tower of Terror. On the left door, the one closest to the stand-by line, look at the second row of windows from the top. In that row, examine the window that is the farthest to the right to see a very tiny Mickey in the center of the window.
Fun Food Facts
According to DiningInDisney.com, the 50's Prime Time Cafe serves at least 125 orders of meat loaf and mashed potatoes and Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano serves 720 pounds of pasta every day. The Hollywood Brown Derby tosses 31,000 Cobb salads every year.
Tags: Hollywood Studios, Disney Hollywood, Disney Hollywood Studios, Tower Terror, Walt Disney, Earffel Tower, Zone Tower Terror