No more MGM by end of 2005?

HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
Original Poster
In the new "Top 7 Things To Do At WDW" video, what we have always known as the Disney/MGM Studios is referred to solely as "The Disney Studios". I talked with several cast members between 5/4 and 5/7, and this is what I found out from them:

- The contract with MGM runs out at the end of 2005

- No word on whether or not the contract will be extended

- If the contract is not extended, the Great Movie Ride would need an extensive rehab

- The use of "The Disney Studios" in the new Top 7 video is pretty much a failsafe, in the event that the contract is not renewed.

Does anyone else have any credible news on this?
 
brisem

brisem

Well-Known Member
I think a lot would have do with Sony. Sony recently bought MGM. If both sides can work it out, it could be the beginning of a great relationship--more than the Studio.
 
HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
Original Poster
Exactly! Either get rid of the name, or re-sign a long-term deal with Sony. This throwing out "The Disney Studios" and being all secretive about things is more frustrating than anything.
 
Disney_Belle

Disney_Belle

Well-Known Member
when i was in wdw last april (2004), one night my brother and I went resort hopping and met and extremely nice bus driver (I wish I could remember his name he was in his mid 50's I am guessing) and we were the only two on the bus. he was very into WDW and said how Magical it is for him every day to be there. crazy huh? anyways the point of my post - he was saying how WDW now refers to Disney - MGM Studios as just Disney - Studios. Also the Planning DVD it is referred to as Disney Studios. So Im a little confused as to what is going on lol :hammer: i guess we will have to wait and see
 
Thrawn

Thrawn

Account Suspended
HauntedPirate said:
Exactly! Either get rid of the name, or re-sign a long-term deal with Sony. This throwing out "The Disney Studios" and being all secretive about things is more frustrating than anything.
Click to expand...

They can't use "Disney-MGM" in anything that might be seen outside of the US. Which is why almost all TV advertising uses "The Disney Studios".
 
J

JungTrekAsia

New Member
when i worked in asia our boss always used to correct us - we'd used to call it "mgm" and he'd say "no, mgm is in vegas, we refer to it as "the studios"
 
C

CaptainMichael

Well-Known Member
I say just drop the MGM. It is Disney's park. Disney runs it, funds attractions, etc and everyone calls it MGM. It aggravates the hell out of me. MGM gets credit for something they have little or no part of!
 
djronnieb

djronnieb

New Member
xodisneybelleox said:
when i was in wdw last april (2004), one night my brother and I went resort hopping and met and extremely nice bus driver (I wish I could remember his name he was in his mid 50's I am guessing) and we were the only two on the bus. he was very into WDW and said how Magical it is for him every day to be there. crazy huh? anyways the point of my post - he was saying how WDW now refers to Disney - MGM Studios as just Disney - Studios. Also the Planning DVD it is referred to as Disney Studios. So Im a little confused as to what is going on lol :hammer: i guess we will have to wait and see
Click to expand...

oh dear, not the Bus driver rummers again :hammer:
 
Neptune

Neptune

New Member
While i do like the MGM Studions Sounding, Disney Owning it would sound good too. But then, it would ruin the point of alot of rides. Alot of the rides (Indiana Jones, Star Tours) would havew to be taken out, right? So, they should try to renew it.
 
SirGoofy

SirGoofy

Member
MissionSpaceFan said:
While i do like the MGM Studions Sounding, Disney Owning it would sound good too. But then, it would ruin the point of alot of rides. Alot of the rides (Indiana Jones, Star Tours) would havew to be taken out, right? So, they should try to renew it.
Click to expand...

Indiana Jones and Star Wars are not MGM properties. They're 20th Century Fox/Lucas Film.
 
Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
MissionSpaceFan said:
While i do like the MGM Studions Sounding, Disney Owning it would sound good too. But then, it would ruin the point of alot of rides. Alot of the rides (Indiana Jones, Star Tours) would havew to be taken out, right? So, they should try to renew it.
Click to expand...
I think the only "MGM" parts that are in the park are on TGMR. Star Tours and Indy are owned by Lucasfilm, Disney owns the Muppets, not sure on the owner of "The Twilight Zone". TGMR is in need of a rehab anyway so there is not much to worry about there. The biggest problem for Disney would b changing all the signage inside and outside of the park which according to another site could run into the millions.
 
Shaman

Shaman

Well-Known Member
Master Yoda said:
The biggest problem for Disney would b changing all the signage inside and outside of the park which according to another site could run into the millions.
Click to expand...

Haven't those changes been taking place already? I thought they had been phasing out the MGM title for some time now?
 
TownSquareSteve

TownSquareSteve

New Member
I say just drop the MGM. It is Disney's park. Disney runs it, funds attractions, etc and everyone calls it MGM. It aggravates the hell out of me. MGM gets credit for something they have little or no part of!
Click to expand...

The reason MGM is there in the first place is that they helped (alot) to fund the construction of the park in the begining. Eventually MGM will go away and it will become just the Disney Studios, they will have to let the contract runout first. As far as spending millions to change the signage, it probably be high but as a smart business move you would rather spend the millions rather then give a now rival studio, free publicity. Also you can already see merchandise at the studios with the "Disney Studios Logo" on it esp. at the AFI giftshop. With the TGMR, there have been rumors about its rehab for years now, esp. when the hat went up in front of the Chinese Theatre (does any one know who owns the rights to use the theatre as an icon, I know it's not Disney, is it MGM? If it is it would make sense why they covered it up and placed a new icon there.) Anyways, there is my 2 cents worth. Have a magical day!!!

Steve

P.S. One month from now I'll be starting my career with Disney in MK Guest Relations, you all stop by now and say hi ya hear!!!
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
The MGM contract expires on June 27th - a lot sooner than the end of the year! Its unclear that since MGM has gone in all but name now if the name Disney-MGM will be allowed to be continued to be used (as a special extension for example)

What is clear is that Disney walked away with the name, rights and logo for peanuts in 1985, and if MGM could do anything to scupper any plan to continue to use the name, they would.
 
Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
objr said:
Haven't those changes been taking place already? I thought they had been phasing out the MGM title for some time now?
Click to expand...
I’ve only recently started paying attention to it and from what I have seen it doesn’t appear like they are. When leaving WDW yesterday one of the new billboards for LMA had the MGM logo on it. Now granted it wasn’t the whole billboard just the section in the upper left corner shaped like a movie slate. The MGM could easily be covered with black paint and the average guest would never know.
 
peter11435

peter11435

Well-Known Member
TownSquareSteve said:
The reason MGM is there in the first place is that they helped (alot) to fund the construction of the park in the begining. Eventually MGM will go away and it will become just the Disney Studios, they will have to let the contract runout first. As far as spending millions to change the signage, it probably be high but as a smart business move you would rather spend the millions rather then give a now rival studio, free publicity. Also you can already see merchandise at the studios with the "Disney Studios Logo" on it esp. at the AFI giftshop. With the TGMR, there have been rumors about its rehab for years now, esp. when the hat went up in front of the Chinese Theatre (does any one know who owns the rights to use the theatre as an icon, I know it's not Disney, is it MGM? If it is it would make sense why they covered it up and placed a new icon there.) Anyways, there is my 2 cents worth. Have a magical day!!!

Steve

P.S. One month from now I'll be starting my career with Disney in MK Guest Relations, you all stop by now and say hi ya hear!!!
Click to expand...
MGM did not fund any of the construction of the studios. It was simply a deal so that Disney could use the MGM name and film library in the park. The only money that was transferred in the deal went from Disney to MGM. You are probably thinking of the Tishman corporation which helped alot to fund the construction of Epcot. Thus the reason the Swan and Dolphin hotels were built on Disney property.
 

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