Disney Studios

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The Disney MGM Studios, which opened in 1989, has been transformed into the Gateway to the 100 Years of Magic Celebration, the centerpiece of which is a huge 120-foot Sorcerer Mickey hat, built at the very end of the entry plaza, outside the Great Movie Ride attraction.

A working studios, Disney MGM is themed to resemble Hollywood in the 1930's, even down to the Hollywood Towers Hotel, which towers more than 190 feet above the park.

The Disney MGM Studios isn't as large as The Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, and like the Disney's Animal Kingdom, it can't be reached by the Disney Monorail but it's still worth allocating a full day to see the park's many attractions, which includes musical productions such as The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and the Beauty and the Beast at the Theatre of the Stars.

Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 4d is a 25 minute show, which starts harmlessly enough, but is full of traditional muppet antics, with a grand finale in which the theatre is destroyed!

The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular (another 30min show) takes you behind the scenes to see how some of the classic Hollywood stunts are performed, while in the 22-min Great Movie Ride the whole theatre breaks up into a large-scale gentle ride through the golden age of Hollywood.

The Backlot tour takes 35-mins to complete, and takes you through some of the original sets and props used in many classic Disney productions, culminating with a trip through Catastrophe Canyon.

The Animation tour takes you through a real working animation studio, where Disney animators can be seen putting finishing touches to a forthcoming Disney animated feature.

From late November to early January the Residential Street part of the backlot is used to display the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. Enhanced and added to by Disney there are now more than three million fairy lights in the display. Originally bought by Jennings Osborne of Little Rock in Arkansas over a period of years to make his child's christmas wish come true, it was bought by Disney and moved to the Disney MGM Studios when Jennings Osborne received too many complaints from his neighbours about the volume of visitors to see his local christmas light show.

As with the Magic Kingdom, many of the well known Disney characters are on hand throughout the day signing autographs and posing for family photographs.

 

	Baby Facilities	Changing tables, and facilities for nursing mothers can be found at the Baby Care Centre, in the Guest Relations lobby near the park entrance. Disposable nappies / diapers are available at many of the shops in the Studios, though you may need to ask for them.
	Cameras and Film	The Darkroom on Hollywood Boulevard stocks film, batteries, and disposable cameras. It also offers two-hour film processing, (also offered wherever there's a Photo Express sign). Additionally, most of the shops in the Disney MGM Studios park sells film of varying speeds.
	Disability Information	Most attractions, restaurants, shops and shows are fully accessible to guests using wheelchairs and walking assistance devices. Additional services are available for guests with visual or hearing disabilities. For a detailed overview of the services offered, including transportation, parking, attraction access, and more, collect a copy of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities at Guest Relations.
	Early Entry	On Wednesday and Sunday, WDW Resort Guests may enter the Disney MGM Studios up to 1½ hours before the official opening time to enjoy some of the more popular attractions without the disadvantage of the large queues that form once the parks have opened. Attractions that are particularly during the early opening days are the Towerof Terror, Muppet Vision, The Great Movie Ride, and Star Tours. Note that unless you're a resort guest it is often worth avoiding the parks with early opening on the EE days, and head for a park without EE instead, where it's likely that the early morning queues will be shorter.
	First Aid	The First Aid Center is located right next to Guest Relations at the main theme park entrance.While they're not really geared up to handle major emergencies, they can effectively treat minor medical problems, and in the event of anything more serious can contact the emergency services as required.
	Information	Guest Relations, located just inside the main park entrance has free guidemaps, along with fully trained staff that can help with most kings of queries. Restaurant bookings can be made at the small booth at the junction of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards.
	Lockers	Lockers, located at Oscar's Super Service near the theme park entrance cost $5 per day, plus $1 refundable deposit.
	Lost and Found (including Children)	Lost and Found items can be handed in, or claimed, at the Lost and Found near the theme park entrance, just past the turnstiles on the right. To report an item lost after your visit, call (407)-824-4245. Lost Children should be reported to Guest Relations, or to any Disney Employee. Generally, it's not as frightening an experience as you'd think for a kid to get lost in the theme park, because once found by a Disney Employee they'll be well entertained until their parents arrive to claim them. If naything it's more of a nerve wracking experinece for the parents than the kids.
	Money	If you find you're in need of hard cash rather than plastic whilst in the Disney MGM Studios, there's an ATM machine located just outside the park entrance on the right. In addition to cash, all major credit cards are taken at practically all locations within the park, including the Disney Credit Card. Travellers cheques can be used just like cash, and for resort guests staying in a Disney hotel, the resort ID card can be used to charge purchases back to your hotel bill.
	Package Collection	When you buy something in the Disney MGM Studios park, if it is bulky, or particularly fragile, or if you just don't want to carry it around with you all day, stores can arrange to transport your purchases to Package Pickup, located at the Lost and Found near the main park entrance. You can then enjoy the park's attractions at your leisure, collecting your packages as you leave the park. This is a free service to all Disney guests.
	Same Day Re-Entry	If you plan to leave the theme park, and want to return later in the day you must make sure you get a hand-stamp on exit. Basically this means your hand (usually your right hand) will be stamped with an Ultraviolet-sensitive ink, clear in normal light. This hand stamp can then be used in conjunction with your original theme park pass to get you back into the park. You don't need to worry about the hand-stamp washing off if you visit one of the water parks either, because it's reasonably hard enough to remove so that it will survive a good day at a water park. (In fact it'll also survive a couple of normal washes as well).
	Strollers and Wheelchairs	Strollers (Prams), Wheelchairs, and ECVs (Electric Convenience Vehicles) can be rented on a daily basis from Oscar's Super Service, located on the right just inside the main theme park entrance. Wheelchairs and Strollers cost $5 per day with a $1 refundable deposit. ECVs cost $30 per day, with a $10 refundable deposit. You need to make sure you keep your receipt, so that in the event that someone else helps themselves to your rental while you're in an attraction, you can claim a replacement free of charge.
	Tip Board	The Tip Board in the Disney MGM Studios is located at the junction of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, and should be one of the first places you visit in the theme park, because the Tip Board lists the current waiting times for all of the most popular attractions, along with the details of any attractions that are closed. The Tip Board also lists the times for the various shows that are put on throughout thepark.