Ready when you are, C.B.!
Since opening on May 1st, 1989, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (originally Disney-MGM Studios) has undergone significant transformations. Initially a park filled with the magic of movie-making, it now invites guests to step directly into the stories and embark on their own adventures. Despite these changes, it has always maintained that special Hollywood charm, offering a peek behind the scenes.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios 35th Anniversary
Yesterday (May 1st) marked the 35th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The park celebrated this milestone with a short and sweet ceremony at the Theater of the Stars, home to ‘Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage.’ Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy charmingly hosted the event.
Jackie Swisher, Vice President of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Walt Disney Ambassador Serena Arvizu took the stage to speak and ultimately paid tribute to long-term and legacy Cast Members from the park. They were joined onstage by Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Belle, Moana, and Tiana, who danced to the score from ‘Fantasmic!’ before the stage was filled with Mickey-shaped confetti.
Commemorative maps were given out upon entry into the park. They unfold into a poster:
A celebratory 35th-anniversary merchandise collection was also released, featuring shirts, a hat, Loungefly mini backpack, a collectible statue figurine, a Corkcicle water bottle, and pins. The items are available at the Stage 1 Company Store (a rare step inside the old Muppets gift shop, as it’s been shuttered since the park closure in 2020). A Virtual Queue was required for a return time to shop. The collection is available while supplies last.
What do you think of the commemorative collection? I’m still holding out for some retro designs, maybe celebrating opening day attractions? I can’t be the only one pining for more Great Movie Ride and Backlot Tour merch, right? Maybe some throwbacks to Star Wars Weekends…
The Pressed Penny machine located behind Hollywood Junction now features 35th-anniversary designs. Sadly, it was out of order when we stopped by!
An Evening in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Evenings at DHS are some of my favorite recent park memories. Taking in the sights, basking in the neon lights, and catching Star Tours flights… whether you’re nostalgic for the golden era of Disney-MGM Studios, or fell in love with the park it is today, you can’t deny the glitz and glimmer of this special little park. Happy 35th anniversary, Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Here’s to 35 more years of adventures, movie magic, and imagination.
And, we noticed that the bar seating at Tune-In Lounge has FINALLY returned at the 50’s Prime Time Café.
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Head Into The Future By Honoring The Past
I would be remiss if I didn’t give a special heartfelt shoutout to the attraction that started it all, the original heart of this park; The Great Movie Ride. You are missed.
As Disney’s Hollywood Studios looks forward to its next 35 years, what changes would you like to see? Are there attractions you’d like to see return, updates you hope for, or new attractions and characters you’d like to welcome to the studios?
That’s a wrap… we’ll see you in the movies!