Over the past couple of weeks, you’ve been able to really see the change in the Disney-MGM Studios theme park. What started out as a mix of real working studio with theme park, ended up being turned into a complete theme park.

Under most circumstances, that type of change would be considered a failure of planning. I mean, they should have known that the “real” studio idea wouldn’t have worked out, right?

Well folks, that’s the beauty and genius of the folks at Imagineering. When things were heading south in the studio section of the park, they decided to salvage those areas by transforming them into theme park material. I must admit that although the Park still has a way to go, it is much, MUCH better than it was originally.

...and that’s what good execution is all about: observing changes day by day and adjusting as needed.

As we speak, several new attractions, shows, and possibly sections of the Disney-MGM Studios are most likely being created on paper and in clay. This Park is in the very middle of its transformation from half theme park to whole theme park...and the first major step has already been complete.

What step? Why I’m talking about the icon, of course. While most of you know what a park icon is, some may not. While we would like to think of Mickey or another character as being an icon, what we are really talking about is the physical architectural anchor of a theme park, and all true theme parks have them.

The best an easiest example is the Castle. While there are many, for this example any will suffice, so pick your favorite. Mine would of course be Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom here at WDW. The castle serves as the Magic Kingdom’s icon.

What does it do in that role? Well first off, it provides a physical representation of what park it’s in. In other words, if you were dropped into a theme park without knowing which one, upon seeing the Castle, you would know that you were in the Magic Kingdom. In that sense it also represents the park. These qualities are integral when it comes to theming and marketing where the image, or sometimes just the silhouette, are utilized.

Of course, how does this relate to our discussion of the Disney-MGM Studios? It has to do with everything, and in fact provides a nice irony.

You see, the Disney-MGM Studios of the past had several icons, not just one. Remember, the park was also going to be a working studio, so the thought was that a “real” studio needed a water tower, so one was built. Icon number one:

Also, since guests would be entering an animation section which was officially part of the real studio, some sort of arch or gateway was needed. Icon number two:

Now, since there is still going to be a theme park element in this new park, there needs to be a centrally located official icon. What’s that? You’re using a replica of Mann’s Chinese Theater for the entrance of the Great Movie Ride? That’ll work great, then. Enter icon number three:

What ended up happening, however, is that the park had a bit of icon-identity crisis. That was until the 100 Years of Magic celebration came around, and the park received it’s new, large, and centrally located official icon: the Sorcerer Mickey Hat:

Finally, the Disney-MGM Studios had a clear icon, and a chance to break away from its old image.

With this new icon come some other things that may affect the park in the future. Of the many rumors, there are three that are very big, and quite possibly park-altering.

The Walt Disney Studios?

One of the main things to look out for in the future is the actual name being changed to something like what’s above, as opposed to the Disney-MGM moniker. This change has to do with the belief that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor (MGM) does not want to renew the contract with Disney in relation to this park. This would obviously change the name and all references to MGM in the WDW Resort, but would be another good reason to have created a new icon for the park, as to stay away from the old icons.

Another recent development that is fairly interesting is that Metro Goldwyn Mayor itself has been bought out. In fact, the Sony corporation was the one to buy the historic studio, which is very, very interesting in out case here.

I say that because now, the decision for a renewal is no longer up to the MGM company as it was. As a parent company, Sony may want to choose for them. The interesting part is that Sony, back in the older days, was an attraction sponsor for Disney Parks and Resorts. Which attractions? Why, the Monster Sound Show and SuperStar Television at the Disney-MGM Studios, of course! While this is most likely coincidence, it is an interesting fact, don’t you think? Maybe it will play into the renewal decision in the end.

If MGM does not re-sign with Disney, however, there will need to be some changes inside the park as well. The Great Movie Ride would have to be redone with some scenes, but could quite possibly be completely overhauled with a Disney-movie theme or something else...

Muppets Muppets Muppets Everywhere

This park was a testing ground for something which has never been done before, and will likely (and hopefully) continue to lead to more use. I’m talking about the use of Jim Henson’s Muppet characters in theme park attractions, of which MuppetVisison 3D was really a grand test into the future of Muppet animatronics.

The story goes that while Jim Henson was alive, he was very interested in selling the Muppets to the Walt Disney Company, based on experience with them and their existing character base. In this realm, Jim Henson was extremely excited to have his Muppets be animated in theme park attractions through the use of animatronics.

The reason, as he put it, was that for the first time a fictional character would be in the same medium. In other words, for Disney to create an animatronic of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, they have to somehow interpret how an animated two dimensional character would look in real life. In doing this, they are switching mediums for Stitch: from two dimensional animation to three dimensional real life:

   

However, all of the Muppet characters we grew up with have always been three dimensional, and in “our” world. Seeing them move as an animatronic would seem the same to us as if they were moving the traditional way.

   

It was this thought that got Jim Henson, and Walt Disney Imagineering, VERY excited about the possibilities of using the Jim Henson characters for various attractions. That’s what led to MuppetVision 3D, and it has proved to be a major success.

Unfortunately, Jim Henson is not around us anymore, but the wish for his Muppets to become part of the Disney family has been fulfilled finally, thanks to his children.

What this means, folks, is that you will most likely see more attractions with Muppets, and one that may be right up what the alley of what’s needed at the Disney-MGM Studios.

I’m talking about an attraction that was thought up by Walt Disney Imagineering for the studios that was very similar to the Great Movie Ride. Of course, we mentioned earlier that the Great Movie Ride could need some scenes pulled, and possibly completely overhauled. This ride could be a replacement for it, and would fit in nicely.

As far as the actual ride, it is in the same format as the current ride, except that the Muppets would be acting out famous movie scenes themselves, with all of us seeing the backstage as well as onstage antics of things going hysterically awry.

While that ride is/was on the drawing board, we’ll still have to wait and see if a Muppet replacement is headed for the Chinese Theater. If not, there still could be much more Muppet-themed attractions coming our way.

The Lucas Strikes Back

There is no doubt that the Disney-MGM Studios have a heavy Lucas-based influence for much material. I mean, the entire area past the Sounds Dangerous building is all his creations: Indiana Jones and Star Wars. Heck, the entire Park even has a Star Wars Weekends celebration every year!

The problem here is that again, there are contracts involved. The problem isn’t Lucas not liking Disney, but rather the price that Disney gets to pay for having his creations in the parks and in attractions. A price that Lucas reportedly got angry over being too low.

For that, we have to thank the shrewd negotiating ability of Disney’s very own Michael Eisner. When the initial deals were being worked out in the late 80s, Lucas and Eisner reportedly worked out a deal for the use of characters in the parks.

As I’ve heard it there wasn’t even a second thought on Lucas’ part as to what company to go with. He knew he wanted to have his characters involved with attractions, but wanted Disney to be the only ones to bring his creations to life, based on their impeccable record. Thanks to this partnership, Disney was able to invent the motion base simulator as we know it today with Star Tours.

However, once the popularity of the attraction took off, Lucas as I remember hearing it wasn’t too happy about the deal he had already made.

In a worst case scenario, this could mean that Lucas would want to pull out of all Disney parks, which would effectively shut down Star Tours and the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, as well as at least one scene from the Great Movie Ride.

However, I doubt this will happen. Disney can loose MGM rather easily if necessary, but Lucas is another story altogether. I’m pretty sure they can patch things up, if they already haven’t.

That’s good news for us especially, since it’s been rumored that the Stunt Spectacular may be replaced in the future with a version of the Indiana Jones ride in California.

Of course, all these types of things are just rumors until we get a press release in our hands, which I guess is a good reason to keep checking back here at Mickey News for the latest official word from Disney on all things, not just theme park attractions. Of course, I get my Disney news delivered to me personally, don’t you?

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As far as my time this week is concerned, I think it’s up. I hope you enjoyed this series on the Disney-MGM Studios (ahem, excuse me, the “Disney Studios”), and of course as always...

Thanks for stopping on by, and I’ll see you next week!