The Inevitable Death of the Movie Studio Theme Park

[@hazelleblanc8969]

Years ago, when it was still MGM Studios and still had the animation tour, my husband and I had an interesting experience. We were waiting to board a bus to park hop to another park, and my husband struck up a conversation with an elderly gentleman behind us. Turned out he was one of the animators, and we spent a wonderful bus ride with him discussing his job, how Walt was to work for, movies he had worked on, etc. It was more fun than any ride we had gone on. Pity they couldn't keep the animation studio there, as an audience wouldn't interfere any more than they did when movies were silent.

[@Bwilliams2]

Great story!

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

True and no reason they can't contract modern animators to work their part time... Like if working factory tours can work why not a studio of contractor's?

[@kriscynical]

​@@GreenBlueWalkthrough Because the entire animation studio was bulldozed inside to make way for the Star Wars Launch Bay. There's no studio left to employ anybody at, which is a travesty. I was a freshman at Ringling wanting to BE an animator at that studio in 2004 when it closed down. 😞

[@kriscynical]

Do you have any idea who it was, exactly, or what he worked on? I'm not asking because of not believing you, only because I'm sincerely curious about it. I wanted to be an animator at the Florida studio and was in my freshman year at Ringling in Sarasota to do just that the year Disney closed the studio down. I took an animation class with a Disney animator back in 1998 when the Disney Institute was still a guest experience thing, and that's what actually put me on the track to go to Ringling. I don't remember his last name, but his first name was Graham and he had worked on the Disney reboot of Doug among a couple other things. It was very, very cool. (He was far too young to have ever known Walt ofc but he's my Disney Animator Story™. lol)

[@hazelleblanc8969]

@kriscynical I wish I could remember his name, but unfortunately, I don't. I do remember that his job was a fixer, which means he corrected mistakes previously made by other animators, and that he definitely worked on Pocahontas because he said they rushed it so much that a lot of mistakes made it through to the final product. He worked mostly directly under Roy, Walt's brother, but he knew Walt and liked him. Not so much Michael Eisner, who he thought surrounded himself with yes men. His daughter was studying sound engineering, so he was as pleased to meet us, since we are sound engineers, as we were to meet him, which we thought was kind of funny.

[@davidleanza1142]

In 1991 I worked on the Tram portion of the Disney MGM Studios. I bet I could sit down and give that tour off the top of my head. The park and its concept were fresh and exciting but we all know it never became Hollywood of the East. The weather just is never cooperating and the fact that people were walking around where they were or wanting to film. I would gather that the sound technicians went crazy with all the noise in the park by people and the park’s own music pumping out in the airways. But I loved that every day, several times a day I could tell people that “Inside the animation studio, the animators are working on the 31st full length, animated feature, film, beauty, and the beast” That was a thrill for me as well as for them. And because I worked there, I got to see a Daily of B&B where everything was mostly animated pencil drawings. That’s what guests probably wanted to see but couldn’t.

[@Jonathanest90s]

Thanks for sharing your story. Even though I never experienced seeing the Disney Animation tour in Florida, I was very thankful that I managed to get a tour around Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank couple of months ago.

[@edryba4867]

Back in the days when animators actually DREW the pictures on paper, which then went to Ink & Paint, there would be something to see (the inkers would place a transparent cel over the pin-registered base, to draw the black line on to the cel in India ink, making sure their drawings would line up with EXACTLY where they were supposed to be. Otherwise, the characters could jump all over the screen at least 12 times per second.). Those clear cels would be hung up to dry, then they would go to the painters, who added the colors to the characters from the BACK side of the cels. Once the paint was dry, all the cels would go to the camera department. There, they would be placed over a painted background, and held in the right place by another set of those registration pins (again, to keep the characters from jumping all over the screen). These elements would be photographed one frame at a time, until every frame had been photographed. Remember - film goes by at 24 frames per second. So just imagine how many times the camera department people would have to go through the same set of motions, in order to shoot a 6- or 7-minute cartoon! As you can probably see, making a Theatrical Cartoon was an extremely labor-intensive and therefore expensive process. It’s for this reason that animation started to look so lousy compared to cartoons of the 1940’s. Cartoons made for TV just didn’t have the time or the budget to be able to look as good as they did in the 1940’s.

[@kriscynical]

​@@edryba4867 Traditional animation is still hand drawn on paper. The ink and paint portion has (sadly) gone digital since I believe _The Rescuers Down Under,_ but the animation itself is still drawn on paper either in pencil or, if you're Glen Keane, Chinese marker.

[@salvadorromero9712]

The Mickey Mouse Club of that era (it is hugely iconic to kids of my generation, even for those of us with no cable, and by a mile the most future-star-packed MMC) was filmed in Florida, I was surprised to hear from various interview reminisces of pop star Justin Timberlake and his best friend Ryan Gosling, the most marginal cast member. Actually from hearing about its opening to hearing those interviews I'd always assumed the Orlando parks (I may have heard Nickelodeon actually filmed there) were just faux, studio themed parks and no one thought otherwise. (There was far less on-location filming back then too.) Who would be so silly as to think there was an actual movie studio in an Orlando theme park, I thought at the time. The animation otoh I thought had been moved entirely to Orlando as soon as WDW was built; I'd thought it became a primarily Florida based company at that point. I was surprised to hear a few years back when they shut down animation in Florida and moved everything to Los Angeles. Still seems funny to think of stuff as moving _to_ Los Angeles! (Or for that matter away from Florida. And it really does seem like it should be _much_ less disadvantageous now than then in terms of recruiting young animators that the job is in Florida not in the LA production zone.) It's disappointing to hear the guest experience was always subpar in terms of giving people a true inside view of animation. I guess that's not what people want to see in a Florida theme park.

[@charlesdebarber2997]

The "Hollywood East" movement did end up working out with productions now being shot mostly outside of Hollywood. Georgia and the Carolinas are especially popular. In the digital age it is easier to film elsewhere than it was in the early 90s. The parks were also really inconvenient for filming. Apparently Disaster Canyon's explosion was infamous for making some of the sound stages unpopular for use.

[@Disney8272]

I think even without the park being a functional studio for filming, leaning into the Hollywood theme could help parks as they struggled with an identity. A lot of people still like the allure of the old Hollywood mythos and it could be really cool to recreate iconic sets to allow people to feel like they've stepped into the film making process. (Edit) Or give us more Muppets! I'd love a land that is a "real" Muppet studio, there would be so many fun opportunities including the Great Muppet Movie ride!

[@GeorgesSpace]

The entire park could be Muppets themed and I'd be so happy

[@Meatball2022]

I love the muppets, too. But be real for a minute. Muppets is a theme that saw its heyday 40 years ago, and can’t be seen anywhere nowadays except the park. Expanding the muppets is ridiculous.

[@N_g_er]

​@@GeorgesSpaceppl😂

[@Spudeaux]

I believe Disney-MGM was supposed to have a whole Muppets land, but after Jim Henson died, his widow nixed the project because she didn’t trust Disney to do it right without having Jim around. Muppets 4D is the last project he personally worked on.

[@Meatball2022]

@@Spudeaux I’ve heard that also. And it would have worked - 30 years ago. Today, it’s a dying or dead franchise

[@MCat360]

I honestly like both the movie studio theme park concept as well as immersive worlds like Harry Potter. It’s fun feeling like I’m walking down the streets of New York one minute and Beverly Hills the next.

[@TVRose]

I just wanna say, I really appreciate how your channel feels like Defunctland season 2 with all of your topics being related to each other and interconnected in some way, it makes me feel like we’re building towards something bigger in that way. Love your content dude, keep up the amazing work.

[@jasonking3182]

It still ticks me off that the two best movie based rides no longer exists, Jaws and Back to the Future, yet crap like Fast and the Furious and The Tonight Show can take up space

[@gremlinfinger5964]

Don't forget Kong! The original ride was the shit. Universal Studios in the 90s was the greatest theme park in the US. With MGM studios and Epcot really close behind. Whats happening to the Disney parks now is a travesty! They've been destroyed along with the entire company.

[@CaptainBadNews]

The 90’s we’re the absolute peak of theme parks.(PERIOD) emphasis on THEME because if it didn’t fit the theme of the park and/or the “land” of the park it didn’t didn’t get made, unlike today.

[@MrWestNileVirus]

One of my fondest memories of my final few years in Florida, was when 'The Tonight Show' recorded a week in Universal, and my friend got me a ticket to get a test run of the opening monologue for one of the shows. Jimmy came out, and did various jokes, to see which would land, and thus be kept in that night's show. I didn't get to sit in on the actual taping of the show, but it still felt like a rare experience that most people wouldn't get to have.

[@gabrielvasquez8831]

It’s also worth noting that most movies nowadays aren’t even shot on practical sets anymore. It’s all CGI. And nobody is impressed by looking at a green screen

[@mtoni93]

😢

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Yeah togun maverick didn't even put Tom cruse in a real F-14 for recording him in the cockpit it's all CGI.

[@MACMAMI]

I feel like Disney Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios Florida should just rename their parks "Disney Random I.P. Grab Bag Extravaganza" and "Universal Random I.P. Dumping Ground Florida"...........because the theming of both parks is so lost and incohesive at this point that I have no idea what the overarching, unifying idea of either park even is anymore. And, in the latter's case, even worse because of the lack of sightlines throughout the park.

[@CeoOfYeet84]

Universal designed both parks without sightlines on purpose, studios did it because it was once a working studio, and it was done in islands of adventure to show the different areas of the parks when you enter

[@Viscount3]

That's hilarious haha. On a serious note though. All parks are basing attractions on movies. So the "ride the movie" idea is alive and well. To me epcot has more of an identity crisis.

[@Twinjeremy]

They might as well call Epcot that to now... It's even worse

[@steezycarson6037]

@@TwinjeremyEpcot has an identity crisis yes, but it’s the best park right now for sure. The addition of the guardians and ratatouille ride is insanely amazing. Ratatouille makes sense because it takes place in the Paris section, but I will admit Guardians makes no sense but it’s my favorite coaster ever so it’s fine. ALSO that Moana section is so damn random so I think we’re all in agreement that Epcot isn’t exactly on par with its theming, but it’s undeniably the best so it works

[@jzungre]

I disagree, I think a grab bag of immersive worlds is way better than a park unified by a weak idea, like movie-making. actually, any park unified by a grand idea eventually has to shift, think about all the movie making parks and epcot, even animal kingdom is now like "well, I guess avatar is ok too"

[@xyzipz]

Bro I love your documentary style of work. This is just an example of some your best videos. Keep up the hard work

[@jamesmay5860]

Bro? Hey Holmes, what it be?

[@AkiDave]

Being sick and you providing peak comfort content , what a legend. Also the idea of a slow moving tram driving through the actual park is the most Florida thing I’ve ever heard lmao

[@twoblacklabs904]

That “slow moving tram ride” locked into a violent Earthquake “shake,” and got “flooded” with hundreds of gallons of water from various sources. That ride was pretty memorable…

[@AkiDave]

@@twoblacklabs904 I did Disaster once and it was really cool, sucks that it got replaced with Supercharge 💀

[@jamesmay5860]

​@@twoblacklabs904 you soundstupid

[@KC-Mitch]

I would've mentioned how the original Universal Backlot "experience" ended within a year of sound production movies and wasn't brought back until the early 60s. This is quite an important note, because it is one of the _key_ reasons that these studio theme parks failed. I think it would've been a good introductory foreshadowing to the overall story here - noting how, it failed once, and Hollywood didn't learn its lesson.

[@WDWCentral]

While Studios parks are not as popular, I am still surprised by the amount of actual production that happens at Universal Studios Florida…😊

[@Wrathgir]

When I was a kid, back in the late 80's I was so happy to have experienced Disney MGM studios. I got to see a part of the Disney Short Rollercoaster Rabbit. At that time I knew nothing on how anything was made and seeing animation being created right in front of me was really a amazing thing to me. I also got to go on the studio tour as well seeing the effects was great and I still have pictures of the ride. Also I think we did do the Universal tour as well. We did walk around the park area as I remember getting to sit in K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider and he did actually talk. I was unsure what to make of it at the time, but to this day I find it amazing I got to sit there when I could. Man that year was so memorable regardless of how now we can just make movies just like Hollywood can. I will never forget all the amazing memories of that time. it was truly the best years of my life.

[@arlencarlson]

As far as I know, KITT from Knight Rider was always at Universal and never at MGM.

[@Wrathgir]

@@arlencarlson yes that's why I said I also went to Universal.

[@RonnieRLD]

I do think they truly wanted to get productions out there, but there were reasons why LA was chosen originally. One being the weather. LA gets more sun and less rain, which when filming started and relied on natural light sources, was necessary. Florida is know for sun, but also rain and hurricanes. It's a bit of an issue when filming in the Backlot, and production needs to shut down while it rains and then needs to dry. Also, the rain can add noise in the sound stages as well. The other thing was the talent also didn't want to move out for Florida, and would only fly in for filming. Which adds costs to production and issues if reshoots need to be done.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Also what people forget is Hollowood Florida is the original Hollowood... It just failed for a whole host of reasons.

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

Great vid, but you missed a few key things: one, the introduction of DVDs allowed for behind the scenes/making of to be watched directly at home, rather than going to a theme park (same reason why VR saw such a quick rise and fall in theme parks). Secondly, there isn't much repeatability when you've already seen a tour or know how the movie magic works. Third, the introduction of major tax credits for productions in Georgia made a lot of productions that were in FL drive up to Atlanta. Lastly, universal has done productions since 2018, including Deal or No Deal 2.0 and other smaller productions.

[@keithbarnes9419]

The full backlot tour (walking and riding) was very interesting. Watching the animators was very cool. However I have heard that many on the animators didn't like the "fishbowl" they were working in.

[@jamesl1130]

DCA is a park that represents a bridge between the studio park and the evolution into a series of story areas in a park that you describe USO and DHS has morphed into.

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

The frustrating part is that the one studio theme park where the theme works - Universal Hollywood - is getting rid of all the unique parts about the park and replacing them with an attempt to be Universal Florida west which they can’t do because of space and sound limitations. The only “see how movies are made” attraction still left is the tram tour and fortunately that at least isn’t going away

[@TSF224LL]

I loved the hat and miss it so much. Hollywood Studios doesn’t have an icon or identity. Now. The Chinese Theatre is ok, but it reminds me more of what Las Vegas would do (copy an attraction) - than what Disney would do (create an attraction)

[@edryba4867]

DISNEY HASN’T CREATED ANYTHING ORIGINAL IN OVER 40 YEARS! They just BOUGHT IT (think Star Wars, Pixar, etc., etc., etc.)

[@TSF224LL]

Frozen, Moana, ... maybe 2 things.

[@cj33333]

At disney resorts (at bus stops, the tvs in the rooms, etc.) they always use Tower of Terror as the Hollywood Studios icon which I think is much better than the theater and the hat. It's much more grandiose, unique, you can see it from WAY outside the park, and it's on Sunset Boulevard which is like the one part of the park that still has a consistent and immersive 1900s theme

[@gabrieldally6044]

Universal Studios Hollywood is my home park and I go there very often. With the closure of animal actors and special effects show, I feel like the park has no identity anymore and doesn't tell a story

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

The best time period of USH was that point where they were starting to build more rides but still had the movie things like the Backdraft attraction, the special effects show, etc

[@VictiniMujigae]

I ended up going with my mother, father, and grandmother to Universal Studios Florida during a trip in September 2013. I was about a month shy of turning 9 at the time, and I was sort of scared of loud noises and pyrotechnics… They wanted to stay until nighttime, but because of my fears at the time, we ended up leaving at roughly 6 PM.

[@ihateuyu]

my dad used to work in the disney studio behind the park. he always loved to reminisce about walking past tower of terror everyday. i miss the magic mgm studios used to have 😭

[@overlygoated3791]

The vibe was immaculate

[@shikinami-san]

Hve you been recently? I went last year and it was honestly full of life. More so than I expected. Its starting to pick back up again recently :)

[@overlygoated3791]

@@shikinami-san yeah no it is i went probably 3 years ago? Was lively exciting filled with energy and was not dead at all, definitely picking up

[@mushieslushie]

I do remember once being at MGM studios and they were pulling people in the be in the audience for some pet TV show. We went in and saw a portion of it, but I do not know at all was show it was. They did do some occasional filming there but in the older days. Not to mention the entire animation area where many full length amidated Disney films were made.

[@edryba4867]

I was BORN a few blocks from the ORIGINAL MGM STUDIOS, Lot 1, in Culver City, CA. If you’re a fan of old movies (such as the stuff they run on TCM), LOOK at where it says “The End”, and below that, “Made In Hollywood, USA”. That last statement is a complete LIE! EVERY MGM movie was made in Culver City! (With the exception of anything that was shot on location somewhere, or overseas.). And at that time (and for a couple of decades before that), MGM had not one… not two… but SIX SEPARATE MOVIE LOTS in Culver City! They were HUGE!

[@dankind64]

Great video! So cool seeing all the clips from yesteryear and getting all of the context I couldn't appreciate as a kid.

[@mtoni93]

I actually loved the studio parks concept. Mgm was ny favorite park as a kid and always will miss it. I disagree with the notion that it was always going to fail though they could have made improvements like having guests be extras in productions

[@TheBaldr]

Paris Disney Movie Studio is easily one of my favorite parks, it small so it easy to get around, has a lot of good rides, Web Shooters/Avengers/Crush/Tower of Terror/Ratatouille. The shows are the best of any park.

[@Random_BillyBob]

An MCU studio tour would be awesome! I have always wanted to take a tour of a series of green rooms!

[@jacksonpalmer4408]

it's crazy you uploaded this when you did because I was just at hollywood studios a week ago

[@bebopblue]

I was mostly fascinated by seeing props which were featured mostly at the end of the Studio Backlot Tour at MGM or Hollywood Studios. This included a huge selection of sets and puppets from Nightmare Before Christmas as a way of promoting the film. The later years it was mostly Pirates props. The way Hollywood Studios is now has lost my interest by replacing my favorite ride The Great Movie Ride with Runaway Railway.

[@Grymbaldknight]

I personally think that studio parks should retain a focus on showing how entertainment is made, and just be updated for the modern age (e.g. showing CGI). I also think that IPs could be tied in by turning the lands into immersive sets, with the various characters "playing themselves" and otherwise helping out with production. Look at the Toy Story 2 "bloopers" to see what I mean. This would have the advantages of retaining the immersion, as everything would take on a "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" style of diagesis. It also means that any IPs can be added to the parks, as all you need to do is emphasise that the themed lands are "movie sets", and that the guests are seeing the characters making their own films. I dunno, i think the idea has potential.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Good idea and it would also retain the cost level. And could be easly made to be family friendly and even a day affair by having them be more like sandboxs where you interact with the sets and characters in more of an open way. Which would be good for those who treat theme parks as parks first and don't go on the rides or to the shows often.

[@DarMar106]

Also since it the holidays; give Earnest Saves Christmas a watch. Which coincidentally takes place in Orlando. But all those highway scenes with Ernest in his cab he’s driving the main roads of Disney World. At one point you can even see the old brown directional signs that clearly say Magic Kingdom

[@jazzlover10000]

When I grew up in LA it was super easy to find events with famous actors or authors and go see them to hear them talk. That is the kind of thing I was expecting from these places. Going to a real presentation or interview with say, Ray Bradbury would have been interesting... and then maybe next month someone else. I like hearing what people think... so y'know if you're gonna have a Hollywood themed park, you should be able to go there and hear an intelligent actor speak on some topic he wants to; something like that. I'm thankful I got to hear actors from Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, various TV shows. I had the opportunity to see live-studio filmed shows and that was great. So y'know... the fake stuff holds no appeal to me... since I was raised on access to real actors and such.

[@patcaldwell5730]

I still have vhs tapes with the ads for this place, I wish I could’ve seen it

[@Meatball2022]

Disney mgm did film a bunch of game shows there regularly… and also some episodes of tv shows like Stargate. Universal was the home of pro wrestling tv shows for several years, and other stuff. Movie studio? Nah. It was a quasi tv studio for a bit though.

[@edenmuriel1021]

Here is what I like. Have a little bit of what it’s like to film, with items from shows and movies being replicated and explained. Then immerse us in popular and classic worlds and sets. I think we can honour movie making/ show taping while entertaining guests.

[@fifthrider]

I'm old. Back in the 60's and 70's the movies still had some mystique and magic. They were a far off land and we rarely saw behind the curtain. Today a studio's marketing department publicizes behind-the-scenes details to death, every actor runs at the mouth with their political and social opinions, VIP studio tours show you every last secret and every influencer films it then posts it on their YT account. Eventually franchises are milked for all they're worth until you just don't care anymore. There's no mystery to movie theme parks anymore, it's more like an onlyfans page where you see every sordid detail until you just don't care anymore.

[@davies3rd]

19:21 the 2 front seat passengers on Rockin Roller coaster look comfy

[@GroundedForLife27]

Keep up the great work George. Your videos are always first class and as good as any other theme park history videos out there. Even on subjects that have been done before by other channels, you still always manage to make a video that feels like it's providing new information and adding more depth.

[@SaKOTR]

Having visited both Florida and California parks. It was the same throughout the years. Even if something was being filmed. They'd just redirect the walking paths or shuttles around the stages or spots being used for filming. Complete drag, considering they still put photos on their websites or pamphlets with camera cranes, etc. If you're not gonna see it, don't advertise it honestly. I understand the risk of stupid adults or kids making noises. But what would be nice... is if they would randomly pick people at the park and ask if they would like to be a background extra. That probably would have helped keep the interest alive. I've been an extra twice for local filming, and it's a neat experience. But to know going to a park for a day, I'd have a shot like anybody else visiting that I may be able to be a background extra on a major show or film would be really cool.

[@mtoni93]

I love that idea!!!

[@hbshined]

this video was absolutely fascinating to watch. I'd love to see a disney vs universal video!!!

[@floridafamilyfun1597]

I just found your channel and the quality of your videos is incredible! Immediately subscribed!

[@johnsalgado9217]

Hey I just want to let you know that I love your videos, there’s so much effort into the scripts and editing and it’s very much appreciated and noticed! Your continual success is not surprising and you definitely deserve it.

[@GeorgesSpace]

That's very kind, thank you!

[@catpella]

What a fantastic video! I remember vaguely the old movie tram show and wish I'd got to see it again befoire close, not as just an under-8 kid.

[@nick_knows_stuff]

Disney and Universal did produce a number of popular shows filmed in front of live audiances at their Florida studios. So, while cinimatic films may not have been filmed, they were very much production studios, and you did get overly hung up on the movie only production numbers not being up to snuff, but it could be due to you not being from The States, and a familiarity to how we percieve things here.

[@JacobHarding]

I spent a lot of time at “Hollywood Studios” and “Universal Studios” as a kid, and now I work full time in the film industry. While they are very lazy parks, they obviously had a big impact on my life and showed me how amazing filmmaking can be.

[@davidthomas283]

I always feel that Disney and Universal are in competition with each other.

[@Jonathanest90s]

And it’s annoying

[@edryba4867]

I hate to break this to you, Sparky, but they ARE IN COMPETITION WITH EACH OTHER FOR THE ALMIGHTY TOURIST DOLLAR! WHAT DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT? Since a VERY LARGE percentage of visitors to either park are from OUT-OF-STATE, and when the overwhelming number of visitors come from out-of-state, there’s VERY little difference to THEM whether they have decided to go to Orlando or to the Disney property (which was purchased IN SECRET under Walt’s personal direction, using fake company names, so as not to tip anyone off to the fact that the actual buyer was The Disney Company, so the people who were SELLING the property wouldn’t raise the price on the swamp land Disney was buying), starting around 1959.

[@davep9]

@@edryba4867That was pretty rude, downvote from me 😊

[@mattwolf7698]

I mean they are... Same with Paramount and if you want to go to theme parks even SeaWorld is, that's kinda how industries work...

[@tulinfirenze1990]

Don't be so upset missing courthouse square. The actual courthouse/clock tower building burned down in a fire several years ago so you're not even seeing the original now.

[@kriscynical]

I've never been a fan of Universal parks. I know a lot of people adore them, but I've just never had a good day at one. The one time I went back to Islands of Adventure to check out Wizarding World of Harry Potter after it first opened, it was a huge disappointment. Diagon Alley was a letdown because 90% of the storefronts were fake so you could only look in the windows. Honeydukes and Weasely's Wizard Weezes were one connected store that was SO TINY it was shoulder to shoulder jammed with people and you could barely move or see anything (the fire marshall would have had a heart attack on the spot, seriously!). Then there was an hour+ long line to get into Olivander's or even the simple gift shop. And then, to top it all off, they had the entirety of the Hogwarts Express _completely blocked off_ by light diffusing screens because they were filming a commercial that day, so we were never able to even SEE the damn thing let alone get close to it or take pictures with it. Yay, in-park filming. Woo. Fun. 🙄 At least the Butterbeer was good, but not $250+ admission/parking for two for the day good. 😒

[@dantefreely5850]

"The Mickey Mouse Club was filmed in front of a live studio audience at the Disney MGM Studios in Lake Buena Vista Florida" hearing that at the end of every episode made me want to go to MGM so bad as a kid. 😢

[@shikinami-san]

My favorite memory from MGM as a teen was going to ABCs super soap weekend and getting to meet a bunch of soap opera stars I loved. It was my birthday during the event and I ended up getting to make a birthday wish (I believe this is when they were still having imagineers do wishes) and I ended up getting this awesome packagw with signed headshots from all of the soap stars who attended that year! And a card from my favorite one! Mgm has always been my favorite park and no I'll never call it Hollywood Studios xD

[@nikkimirhosseyni9535]

Another element that I think could have quietly impacted interest is the popularization of DVDs and the Behind the Scenes special features. Movie magic used to be a lot more mysterious to the general public, so the draw of it was a lot more interesting. Now, you can find multiple hours of “making of” content for pretty much any movie here on KZbin for free. The only special element is the potential to see celebrities, and that is never going to happen on a theme park attraction, unless the celebrity it there riding it.

[@chrisab66]

First visited Orlando from the Uk in 98 and absolutely loved Universal Studios. Appear in Star Trek, Jaws, Earthquake, Back to the Future ride was there I think, Horror make up show and the fascinating Alfred Hitchcock experience. Went back in 02 and a few had gone but it was still decent as Twister had arrived but missed some of the old ones. Returned for the last time in 10 and was gutted BTTF had gone along with many other classics, it was a shell with Islands of Adventure the main park. Now knowing Jaws has gone along with the Great Movie Ride and Splash Mountain have also gone at Disney I probably wouldn't go back. I understand it though as all those classics were what I knew as I grew up and times change and as you get old you aren't the target audience anymore. It's all Super Heroes or other stuff now for the new generation and at my age I now feel as obsolete as all those classic rides. Glad though that in the 90s I may have experienced the best of it in some ways. Got far too expensive and commercial now. Certainly at Disney I'm not sure if old Walt would say it's now what he intended it to be.

[@Nojintt]

Question - will Universal make another Studios park in the UK? Will they continue to call new parks "Universal Studios " purely out of brand recognition?

[@adrianagomez412]

I live in LA and there’s no more glamour or glitz. And I think it’s always been appropriate that Disneys HS is the Hollywood that never was. I really wish they would have hashed out the Roger Rabbit theming concepts that they had and would give some more love to Muppets Studio. I went to Universal Hollywood a week ago and we avoided the areas where filming was. They never mention as many of the older films that were shot there anymore which is sad to me. They usually point to a building and tell us one or two shows that film there sometimes. Now they have really been just advertising Peacock. I think CGI, Covid, social media, reality tv and taxes killed “Hollywood.” A lot of productions have moved to Georgia and other states that give reduced filming fees/taxes to promote tourism. I like immersive theming also. I just think it’s a risky gamble to assume kids are going to care and not grow out of certain IPs. You really have to know your demographic. I went to Nintendo World because I grew up on classic Mario, but it was filled with 8 year old boys. I don’t have the patience to spend a lot of time with that age range. I think Walt had it right when he chose timeless themes like Adventures or middle America, ect because you can build on that nostalgia and update. But you don’t HAVE to know the characters or IP to be able to fully appreciate the experiences.

[@edryba4867]

Define “Disney’s HS”. What IS that? High School? And another thing. Uncle Walt chose specific time periods in U.S. History. There’s nothing “timeless” about ANY of them.

[@jmaldonado790]

I think one of the bigger factors in why these types of parks don’t work out is that the theme of movie making is so hyper specific that it becomes difficult to come up with attractions that aren’t just “show where you learn about one facet of movie making” The fact that a lot of people have trouble grappling with is that at the end of the day the lay man wants rides and it’s difficult to make a ride that is both entertaining and educational. The most you can hope for is a very generic sense of inspiration. Like Soarin’ might inspire someone to look into the mechanics of flight but is anything actually learned from that ride other than “flying is cool”? I’m honestly kind of shocked that (too my knowledge) no movie park has tried the much easier theming of making lands themed to different genres and making specific attractions that match the theme of the land. (A horror movie land with creature and costume design attractions, an action land with stunt shows, a sci-fi land with an attraction on special effects.) not only does this give a smooth way for the companies I.P. to make an appearance but it also gives the park unique lands that give it a unique identity because honestly, what actually separates Echo Lake from Grand Avenue other than the titular lake?

[@andreworders7305]

0:00 were these just skits or was this the actual filming of the tv show?

[@disneytriviabuff8188]

The biggest problem with movie studio theme parks is that unlike other theme parks that have rides/attractions based on movies/TV Shows that are timeless classics that almost everyone knows and thus don't need to be constantly changed, studio parks have to frequently have new movies/TV shows filmed there and/or constantly rotating props otherwise people are paying to see sets/props from stuff that they've never even seen/heard of!

[@adam_nathan]

Oddly I would say Warner Bros Movie World on the Gold Coast has been the best at actually attracting movie ant TV productions, partly because it filled a gap in the Australian film market. It didn’t start strongly in that regard but improved a lot and it’s where Baz Luhrmann shot his Elvis movie.

[@The2wanderers]

Not convinced it was inevitable. You make a passing reference to changing technology at the end, and I think that's a much bigger factor that should be considered. Sure, you can make movies yourself easily nowadays. But I think more importantly is that movie making is much more boring now. Even into the early 2000s, most special effects were practical. So when a tanker explodes or it starts to rain on command in the backlot tour, you feel like you're actually peeking behind the curtain and seeing how things are made. But now, almost everything is done digitally in post. That doesn't make for an exciting ride, and anything practical they do put in will feel old timey and fake. The animation studios can't show you people drawing anymore...someone moving wireframes around a computer screen doesn't have the same effect. There's a world where computer animation and graphics didn't develop as quickly as they did, and seeing a movie production, even a fake version for a ride, still seems magical.

[@jdlarson3955]

Great shot of the person picking their nose while on the tram tour at Universal. Lol

[@urasub]

removing the great movie ride from Hollywood studios was the biggest L ever

[@gridley]

An authentic backlot, the one originally run by Warner Bros a few miles north of Universal Studios Hollywood, was torn down a few months ago to make way for soundstages. It had facades used for TV shows like the 1960's Bewitched & movies like 1980's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. By contrast, the front of a home depicting what's in the Golden Girls sitcom of the 1980s-90s was re-created in Orlando for the backlot of Disney's former MGM park. The program itself used the shot of a real residence in the Brentwood section of LA. To make matters more ironic, the front of a home used in the Brady Family TV show of the late 1960s-early 70s was an actual residence in LA's North Hollywood. But a few years ago its interior was ripped out & made to duplicate what originally was merely a soundstage for that sitcom. Meanwhile, Universal is apparently going to build a theme park north of London, which is where a lot of actual movie/TV productions have taken place over the past 70 years.

[@edryba4867]

Uhh… Warner Bros. Is SOUTH of Universal, a Comcast Company. Get a doctor’s appointment NOW! You seem to be suffering from “Krakatoa, East of Java” disease. It’s WEST of Java.

[@gridley]

@@edryba4867 WB is at 3400 Warner Blvd & USH is at 100 Universal City Plaza. You can kind of stretch & say WB is east of USH, but it certainly isn't south of it.

[@Courier_333]

I have memories of going to universal Hollywood as a kid and seeing TV and film productions nearly every time I went on the backlot tour. I would say that stopped in the late 2010s and since then, universal hollywood has become less and less a real studio

[@logini18]

okay but hollywood studios could become Disney’s Cinemagic Adventure and Universal Studios can drop the studios word. California adventure can also become Cinemagic Adventure and that way it still works at DCA. Plus, a lot of people call universal studios universal anyways, especially because Islands and Epic are so distinct.

[@kriscynical]

Ah yes, the 2004 closing of Disney Animation Florida. Which was my freshman year at Ringling when I'd had the near lifelong dream of being an animator... at Disney Animation Florida. That blew. 🙃 It ultimately ended up being okay because I went into illustration and love what I do, but that still _really_ sucked at the time. That is still a painful loss. The Magic of Disney Animation and Back to Neverland were simply magical in a way that Disney just doesn't do anymore.

[@chrisquinlan9209]

i totaly really have plans FOR THE RIDE OF THE BACK LOT TOUR, PLUS INCLUDIG THE RIDE OF EARTHQUAKE due to the lay out

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

For me, all theme parks are about suspension of disbelief. It's way more about that "magic of the movies" vibe for me, than being certain something is in production while I'm visiting.

[@viperinvestor325]

19:19 talk about making a ride front load heavy

[@Blast2224]

MGM’s transition to Hollywood Studios is unrecognizable now. The original park had flow: the experience of Hollywood itself in Florida, and a magical angle on the glitz of movie creation. The park made you respect how movies were made, as opposed to Universal’s angle of “riding” the movies (at least in Orlando’s case and IOE). Hollywood Studios is a Frankenstein of a park now, with one strip somewhat representative of the original theme concept, while all surrounding areas are IPs crashing down and into each other. Star Wars for a couple hundred thousand feet while Toy Story only a couple hundred away, with somehow Guardians of the Galaxy nowhere to be found except at Epcot. While the Frozen Sing-Along is cute, it’s not something that’s unique to the park itself; drop it in Magic Kingdom and the dynamic is no different. If Frozen happened in the 1990s, the show would have showed how the animation and snow were brought to life somehow within a 4D theater. You’d learn some foreign words, or how sound mixing happens against animated characters. Hollywood Studios ultimately doesn’t know if it wants to be Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, and are running out of space due to poor placement.

[@edryba4867]

Just one question: HOW DO YOU BUILD A 4-D THEATER IN A 3-D world? Technically, no one has ANY IDEA of what 4-D even LOOKS like, and besides - we’re exactly ONE DIMENSION SHORT of being able to do so.

[@edryba4867]

WHAT are you calling “IP’s”? Please explain that for the majority of us who have NO IDEA of what the hell you mean.

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

I love how the ship from Flight of the Navigator is still at Universal

[@andreworders7305]

I don’t think a single noteworthy movie was filmed at MGM studios

[@kylesievertsen6]

Disney-MGM Studio Is The Equivalent of Universal Studios Theme Parks at Walt Disney Parks, Products, Destinations, Resorts, Experiences, etc. Because Disney Now Owns Fox As Fox Is Now Owned By Disney

[@sarahlovesx]

i never really thought about it this way. i just kinda thought disney had made their own park kinda obsolete as a concept once they started making every attraction IP-based across all parks. i really liked hollywood studios when it had the behind the scenes stuff. the seamstress room from the backlot tour took me back 10 years. i like this new era of immersive theming as well but i still think the movie studio theming is a cool concept if they could do it right.

[@sarahlovesx]

i also miss the great movie ride lol i still can’t believe they got rid of it😭

[@DrTocan]

18:34 And it’s the greatest attraction Disney ever had

[@andreworders7305]

So wait, Universal Studios didn’t start as a theme park? Did they just stop using it as a studio later?

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

I loved the how movies were made aspect of MGM espelcly the WW2 pacific model battle and the stunt car show! But yeah that was also the late '90s and '00s still I feel if they focused on how movies were made like a live action DVD special feature/Devlogs it would be more fun and informative then seeing a movie being made... Even today when you can find how to make pixar style films in Blender on KZbin but it's not the same. As going to MGM and having a live show go though the steps of how they do it with a exemple made for the park. Then they could sell blender assets from that show to get more people into the industry.

[@dhi1145]

Another thing is that filmmaking has been un-romanticized by various scandals in Hollywood. I don’t think people look at this aspect of culture with the same rosy idealism that existed before the ubiquity of the internet.

[@Jonathanest90s]

I feel like this is soon becoming an endangered species. It sucks that Disney’s Hollywood Studios isn’t filming or animating stuff there anymore and Universal Studios Florida also not filming stuff anymore as well. Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the only studios theme park that still have the Studio Tour but sadly the Visual Effects Show and Animal Show are now gone to make way for a unnecessary Fast & Furious Coaster. Well at least we have Warner Bros Studio Tour (for now), I haven’t tried Paramount yet, and if you are very lucky, Walt Disney Studios tour by D23 are doing far better than Universal Studios. The latter that you have to be a D23 membership and get your tickets the second they are available. I done it before and it’s phenomenal. Also side note, I was lucky enough to visit Walt Disney Disney Animation Studios in Burbank all thanks to my friends at the studio.

[@chrisquinlan9209]

also including the great movie ride will be kept it to be staying in put of where it is at.

[@sandrabiscarner9587]

I wish they could have grown without taking the movies out of it. I loved backlots tour, the great movie ride. How the made that tv show or movie that inspired you. I miss the back lot where you could see memorable items from the movies and shows. This is what made Disney MGM and Universal. I’m a ride seeker, but nothing could compare.

[@battalk]

ive been to movie park germany (not too long ago) , and i must say it was better then expected. the star trek ride is one of the smoothest ive ever been on in europe. (and im NOT even a star trek fan) its a big park and i think its done a great job on staying relevant.

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Universal and mgm were always my favorite parks to visit when we went to Orlando

[@tulinfirenze1990]

LOL - to me they were the opposite. I remember thinking, these two are THE ABSOLUTE PITS for theme parks in Orlando!

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

I was very young. Give me great movie ride and Star tours and jaws and earth quake… kongfrontation… I’m happy

[@tulinfirenze1990]

@@FilmThePoliceFTP To be fair, those are/were all great attractions.

[@haileyshannon7548]

I think the whole "magic of the movies" idea isn't as glamourous and mythical as it used to be especially since cameras on phones and sites like KZbin has made it possible for anyone to make a movie and become a star. Also stuff like sitting in a studio for half-an-hour watching the taping of a sitcom isn't as fun as it seems

[@lastmatinee]

I’m pretty sure NEWSIES from 1992 was filmed at Disney MGM studios.

[@adrianastone1851]

The WB tour in Hollywood is pretty dope, FYI.

[@matthewhennretty4768]

Yes, please. Thank you!

[@nvzmv]

video idea: "so you've never been to a destination theme park"

[@DarMar106]

Shout out to Bright Sun Films who just did a great video about Nickelodeon Studios if y’all were interested

[@jaimeerindy4573]

Truly I am baffled that so many companies bought into the idea of "Studio Theme Parks" and trying to operate actual productions as an attraction. How did so many people think that would work?? (I work in TV production so I could easily have told you that wouldn't work). The caveat to that is that I do understand doing it as a THEME (as opposed to a real studio) in California, because that makes sense. But "Hollywood Studios" in Florida? Confusing marketing and not a good theme for a theme park anyway

[@TtGaming100]

Disney Studios in Paris has entirely changed its name with their next expansion. Studio theme is definitely fading

[@BOOShawny]

King Kong and Jaws scared me so much as a kid. And i vividly remember the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground area. Anyone else? Haha

[@JP-1990]

You'd think they would offer movie and television studios the chance to film there for next to nothing if it meant guests could be present to watch. Win win for everybody.

[@liamcollinson5695]

I have only ever done walt Disney studios park in paris and i was really not sold on the park or the idea if it wasn't for the tower of terror i would of outright hated it avengers campus didn't help matters

[@chrisquinlan9209]

for the back lot tour change for a different lay out

[@brainysmurf74]

You left out super boy and super force tv shows

[@luma4902]

I wish i could ride the original kongfrontation and jaws

[@mattwolf7698]

It was an interesting concept but I'll definitely take Harry Potter and Star Wars Land over this.

[@kylesievertsen6]

Universal Studios Spain Will Be A Movie Studio Based Theme Park and Universal Studios Salou Spain Will Be A Movie and Television Show Based Theme Park and A Movie Theme Park