Disney <strike>MGM</strike> Studios

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

http://www.miceage.com/kevinyee/ky102005a.htm

AwallaceUNC- I TOLD you MGM would go away!

A bit of a shame since the name was cool, but it's not like they were using MGM icons anyways.

[AwallaceUNC]

Well I'm not sure who Awalla<i>n</i>ceUNC is, but I will respond on his behalf anyways...

The MGM archway was recently scheduled for maintenance. It's entirely possible that the MGM sign will go back up. It certainly won't stay the way that picture shows it (with holes all over it), and it's not as if that's the only place the MGM name shows up. Will the name eventually disappear? Who knows, but this one picture shouldn't be taken as proof that it's a done deal, and I don't think that's what MiceAge was implying either.

-Aaron

[Escapay]

I think the name "Disney-MGM Studios" will eventually disappear. Just look at the MGM park DVD. It's marketed as "Disney Studios" and not "Disney-MGM Studios".

I thought that with Sony acquiring MGM, that it would mean Disney would need to remove it from the park, since MGM as it used to be known (a movie studio) no longer exists on its own.

But too many guests know it as MGM, rather than Disney-MGM Studios, so that's probably why Disney hasn't changed it (even though they stupidly decided to change EPCOT Center to simply Epcot, which makes no sense at all).

Escapay

[AwallaceUNC]

As I understand it, Disney isn't allowed to use the MGM name outside of the US, and since its DVDs can be sold outside the US, they can't use the name on them. However, again from what I understand, the Disney-MGM contract isn't running out, and Disney won't have to dissolve any of the MGM entities that are in the park, and that whatever happens with MGM/Sony won't matter, so long as Disney's contract is good (I'm not sure how long that is, or if anyone knows for sure, although I have read some people saying indefinitely).

-Aaron

[The Little Merman]

Funny. I was more excited by the pics. of a testing Expedition: EVEREST! When I went to WDW in August, they didn't even call it Disney-MGM Studios, just The Disney Studios.

*tlm

[musicradio77]

I know you're talking about the Disney-MGM Studios where they dropped the MGM name and renamed it Disney Studios. That bothers me a lot. If you want to know about the history of the Disney-MGM Theme Park, here is a history taken from the Disney A to Z Book by Dave Smith:

The Disney-MGM Studios Park opened at Walt Disney World on May 1st, 1989, Originially called Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. An operating movie studio, the first filming was done there on February 2nd, 1988 (the TV movie "Splash 2"). Walt Disney had originally envisioned a studio tour as part of the Disney Studio in California, but little land was available and disruptions would interrupted filming. The idea was revived in the 1980's when Disney executives decided a third gated attraction on the Walt Disney World property would enhance the guests' vacation experience. The guest enters the park on Hollywood Blvd., where there shops designed after actual architecture of buildings in the original Hollywood area in California. The focal point at the end boulevard is a detailed reproduction of the facade of the Grauman's Chinese Theater, housing the Great Movie Ride. Guests can choose to begin their visit by heading down Sunset Blvd. to the "Twilight Zone" Tower of Terror, or taking a backstage tour, or walking through various outdoor sets, experiencing the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, or many other attractions. Dining possibilites range from fast food to the Hollywood Brown Derby.

As of right now, they dropped the MGM name because Sony bought it and now owns the library and it became just the Disney Studios Theme Park without the MGM name. That park lasted a long time.

[AwallaceUNC]

As of right now, they dropped the MGM name because Sony bought it and now owns the library and it became just the Disney Studios Theme Park without the MGM name. That park lasted a long time.

No, the name has not officially been dropped. At least I haven't seen any reports of this.

-Aaron

[Escapay]

As of right now, they dropped the MGM name because Sony bought it and now owns the library and it became just the Disney Studios Theme Park without the MGM name. That park lasted a long time.

Like Aaron said, that's not the reason. Officially, the park still calls it Disney-MGM studios. Park guides, road signs, and travel buses within the park all still say Disney-MGM Studios. Every item that could possibly be given the Disney-MGM Studios label is still intact. Only the arch has been removed for what is mostly just refurbishment or renovation. Though as I said earlier, it's rather puzzling that Disney has been marketing their Disney-MGM Studios park DVD simply as Disney Studios.

It was a very big news when Sony acquired MGM, and Disney most likely would have changed the name of the park to comply with this move, but Aaron also stated earlier something about Disney's own contract with MGM, so that's probably why they can keep the MGM.

Also, just a tiny little correction, but Sony doesn't own the entire MGM library either. Most of MGM's pre-1986 library was bought by Ted Turner, and it's now distributed by WB. Sony acquired everything post-1986, along with MGM"s other acquisitions (United Artists, Orion Pictures, etc.).

Escapay

[mvealf]

I just returned from a week at Disney World, and I bought the box set of the park collection, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland & MGM. When I opened it at home, I noticed that they have changed the artwork on the MGM DVD from "Disney MGM Studios" to "Disney Studios". When I watched the program, they never mention MGM, and when they show the entrance of the park, the MGM logo is mysteriously cropped out. Are they doing away with MGM?<p><img border="0" src="http://www.geocities.com/disney_laserdiscs/mgm.jpg" width="318" height="447">

[MikeyMouse]

I think it's up for debate, as they seem to be conflicting themselves. I saw that DVD, too...but the website still lists "MGM":

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/pa ... andingPage

[Luke]

First, I'm going to go ahead and move this into Theme Parks. Secondly, I can't remember if I read it in a post here or if someone told me in an e-mail but the park is still called Disney MGM Studios, but the DVD can't make reference to MGM because it is sold at parks worldwide or something and the rights don't cover it. Something to do with right to the MGM name, but I don't think the park is changing its name just yet.

[jwa1107]

JimHillMedia
has a big article on the agreement between MGM/UA that was set to expire in June of 2005 HERE

also a speculative article that the park name might change on 1/1/06 (dated 11/05) HERE

but it's almost March 2006 and nothing has happened... yet

[Disney Princess Ariellen]

Yeah...apparently the naming-rights contract is set to run out at some point in the near future, and Disney is considering not renewing it since, now that the park is established, it doesn't need the MGM name to let people know that it's a movie and entertainment-themed park anymore.

Several people I talked to on my college program that ended in January had also been hearing the change was going to happen in January, and then of course, it didn't. So I guess we can all just play wait and see.

It all seems a little silly to me because the people who knew it as Disney MGM will continue to call it "MGM" anyway. (When I started my program in May, they were encouraging cast members to start calling it "Studios" as it's abbreviated name so that the change would be easier when it came, which again, it didn't...I sort of find myself going back and forth calling it 'Studios' and 'MGM' myself )

[Escapay]

Several people I talked to on my college program that ended in January had also been hearing the change was going to happen in January, and then of course, it didn't. So I guess we can all just play wait and see.

Ditto here. Except I heard June 27, 2005, and that obviously didn't happen!

It all seems a little silly to me because the people who knew it as Disney MGM will continue to call it "MGM" anyway. (When I started my program in May, they were encouraging cast members to start calling it "Studios" as it's abbreviated name so that the change would be easier when it came, which again, it didn't...I sort of find myself going back and forth calling it 'Studios' and 'MGM' myself )

Well the way my sister sees it, back when the park was developed, both Disney and MGM weren't exactly big names anymore, and while I don't know the whole reasons behind their park merger, we thought it was perhaps to boost both studios. Disney would get to use MGM's movies in their parks, while MGM would have the name Disney associated with them. And now since MGM is part of Sony and Disney can stand on its own, that's probably their reason for not keeping MGM. But even if it's an official name change, too many people know it simply as MGM and not as Disney Studios. It's like how they (stupidly) decided to drop Center from E.P.C.O.T Center and turn it simply into Epcot.

Escapay

[AwallaceUNC]

First, I'm going to go ahead and move this into Theme Parks. Secondly, I can't remember if I read it in a post here or if someone told me in an e-mail but the park is still called Disney MGM Studios, but the DVD can't make reference to MGM because it is sold at parks worldwide or something and the rights don't cover it. Something to do with right to the MGM name, but I don't think the park is changing its name just yet.

Right on the money. I believe there is a thread for this around here somewhere. *Goes to look*

-Aaron