On April 30, 1989, Walt Disney World officially opened Disney-MGM Studios, marking the debut of a new kind of theme park. Unlike Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, Disney-MGM Studios was designed as a working movie and television production studio, offering guests a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood magic. To commemorate the opening, NBC aired a star-studded television special featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood, music, and entertainment.
Now, 35 years later, it’s time to take a nostalgic look back at opening day, the original attractions, and how the park has evolved into what we now know as Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
A Star-Studded Opening Day Special
The Disney-MGM Studios Opening Day Celebration was broadcast on NBC and featured an unbelievable lineup of Hollywood legends. Hosted by Michael Eisner and Harry Anderson, the television special included appearances from Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Lech Walesa, George Burns, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, James Stewart, Tony Randall, and Suzanne Somers—just to name a few!
The special showcased the park’s glamorous Hollywood theme, bringing together a mix of classic and contemporary stars, with performances by The Pointer Sisters, Willie Nelson, and Ashford & Simpson.
The Five Opening Day Attractions
When Disney-MGM Studios opened, it was far from a full-day park. The park launched with only five attractions, emphasizing behind-the-scenes movie magic rather than traditional theme park rides:
- The Great Movie Ride – A journey through Hollywood’s greatest films, from Casablanca to The Wizard of Oz.
- Backstage Studio Tour – A tram tour of real working soundstages, special effects demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes movie magic.
- The Magic of Disney Animation Tour – A look inside Disney’s animation studios, where guests could watch animators at work.
- Monster Sound Show – A sound-effects demonstration starring Martin Short.
- Superstar Television – A live show where guests were inserted into classic TV scenes.
While these attractions made for an exciting concept, the park quickly gained a reputation as a half-day experience, which led to the addition of more thrill rides and immersive experiences over the years.
Transportation & Expansion: The Early Years
When Disney-MGM Studios opened, it introduced a new transportation link between parks. Guests staying at EPCOT could board a tram at the International Gateway. That station is where the Skyliner station now stands, it was a direct ride to Disney-MGM Studios. The tram ride even passed by the still-under-construction Swan & Dolphin and Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
In the years that followed, the park saw major expansions, adding attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (1994), Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (1999), and Toy Story Mania (2008). Eventually, the working studio concept faded, and Disney-MGM Studios became the immersive movie-themed park we know today.
Disney-MGM to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: A Park in Transformation
While Disney initially positioned the park as “The Hollywood That Never Was and Always Will Be.” It became clear that the park’s future would focus on immersive storytelling rather than behind-the-scenes production.
By 2008, Disney-MGM Studios was officially renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new name reflects its shift from a studio experience to a theme park filled with movie-based attractions.
Over the last five years, the park has seen a massive transformation, including:
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – A completely immersive Star Wars land, opened in 2019.
- Toy Story Land – A larger-than-life world of Andy’s backyard, opened in 2018.
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – The attraction that replaced The Great Movie Ride in 2020.
Some fans have even speculated that Hollywood Studios has become Walt Disney World’s “fifth gate”—an entirely new theme park that was built right before our eyes.
Watch the Opening Day Special
Want to relive the excitement of Disney-MGM Studios’ Opening Day? Watch the full NBC television special featuring all the celebrity guests, musical performances, and Disney magic.
For more on the opening of Disney MGM Studios be sure to Check out. The Making of Disney MGM Studios Theme Park, and Walt Disney World MGM Studios The Dream Comes True
