No more MGM by end of 2005?

[CaliSurfer182]

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.

I know this post was a little back there, but I didn't see anyone else really respond to the Disney owning it part. I don't know if this is a grammatical error or if I am just reading it wrong, but Disney does own the Disney-MGM-Studios. They might not own the "MGM" name as Sony does, but they own the theme park.

I don't think that I would mind seeing the "MGM" portion dropped from the name then it would just sound a lot better to me, but if they lost anything else like the MGM movie library that would not be so good.

 

[CTXRover]

If it was up to me, I'd suggest they just drop the MGM name already. The only thing MGM related in the park are parts of the GMR. Since GMR could use an update anyways, I don't see the big deal of keeping the name and deal alive anymore, especially if Disney is continuously coughing up $$ to keep the name. Dropping MGM would actually force them to do something with the GMR, which Imagineers have publicly acknowledged working on an update for some time now. The big problem is that people will still call it "MGM" for a VERY long time even after its removed. Afterall, there are many people who still consider the MK alone to be "Walt Disney World".

Just change the name to Walt Disney Studios Florida or Walt Disney Studios Orlando.

 

[jeanylaser031]

i like the name of walt disney studios Orlando. the great movie ride will change the name to the great muppet movie ride i hope that disney will put the great muppet ride when the idea will be official. please! tell me that the great muppet ride will be official.

 

[Disneyfan1981]

Hmm...WDSO.....I'm not sure if it has the same ring but I think I like it better than Disney-Sony Studios. IMO, if Disney is gonna drop MGM then stick to just Walt Disney Studios, don't bring another company into the mix...

 

[Captain Chaos]

I used to call it Disney-MGM Studios. Now I refer to it as Disney Studios, I dropped the MGM. Personally, I would like to see Disney change the Great Movie Ride into the Great Disney Movie Ride and create scenes from their all time great live-action films, not the recent corny ones. And The Great Muppet Movie Ride can be created down by the MuppetVision 3D theater. But, is there any room for Disney to build the Great Muppet Movie Ride down there?

 

[ballewclan]

Wait so which one do you guys like best?

1) Disney-MGM Studios
2) Disney Studios
3) Disney Sony Studios

I like the 2nd one! lol

O/T- How do you get your avatar to be a slideshow?

 

[jmuboy]

Walt Disney Studios Florida has a nice ring to it.

 

[CRO-Magnum]

Back when I was a CM and it first opened...

we (reservations) were told that MGM was selected as a partner to A) provide legitimacy that it was a real working studio, B) generate the proper timeframe of the late 30's and 40's when MGM was at its height around which the studios is themed, and C) broaden appeal via access to the characters and films in their film library. Disney did not want to bring in Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures references which would "tarnish the family image" but that chinese wall came down before the park opened.

I was told when consulting back in 2001 that Disney has access to the MGM name for a long time (something like 49 years or more) from when the park opened with certain caveats. MGM claimed that Disney violated some of the caveats around marketing and therefore reserved the right to dissolve the contract. However the person talking to me believed the elements of the contract were separable and therefore any failure of a clause would have no effect on the agreement as a whole. So fighting/negotiating ensued in which Disney agreed to some tightening around the use of the MGM logo to which Disney pretty much removed it from everything (except garbage cans for some reason?!?). MGM then claimed Disney was improperly using the name to which Disney started referring to the studios simply as The Disney Studios (I still have a Disney Studios hat from the park). Disney decided to drop the MGM name sometime around 2000 but MGM proved it was a violation of the contract. Apparently MGM enjoyed the free publicity and association with Disney during a time when they were selling assets including the film library. It is my understanding that if any re-negotiation occured, Disney would kick MGM out, close down TGMR, and either replace it or revamp it around Disney titles.

As an aside, exterior scenes of D Tracy (first name is wiped by the forum, so add your own 'ick') were filmed at Universal Orlando during its construction. Disney-MGM Studios backlot wasn't available yet and they had an earlier opening date. Universal couldn't say anything about it, but Disney's crew forgot/didn't repaint the facades on the New York Street set. So Universal left the street in place with a small placard indicating the street was used for the filming of a new Disney (or Touchstone, whatever) release. Of course it was quite obvious which one! I don't know how long the street stayed that way, but during the first few weeks Universal was open it was one of the only attractions (if you can call it that) that didn't suffer repeated breakdowns.

 

[ctwhalerman]

I was frankly surprised that Disney did not simply just put in a bid and buy MGM a couple years ago. Just think what Disney would be able to do with the legendary film catalogue that MGM had (though Warners for some reason must have bought the DVD/Video rights to most of the big MGM classics and musicals(Dr. Zhivago, Gigi, An American in Paris, Network, etc.). I think it would have made perfect sense to put a bid on MGM, rather than waste billions on Fox Family.

Anyway, I think we'll end up with the name "Disney Studios Florida," as Sony will probably try to extort some crazy deal out of Disney, one that is not worth the fading brand that it represents, as MGM has not been a major Hollywood player since the late-70s, and name a non-movie buff under 25 who remembers a non-Bond MGM film.

And on a sad note, this is just another great studio that is going to die a quick death at the hands of a huge corporation. Sony already owns Columbia, and since MGM bought United Artists back in the early 1980s, Sony will now have 3 of the old-time studios under their label. In fact, I think Disney is the only studio that has not been bought or sold in the last 60 years, as Universal, Warners, and Paramount all have been bought and involved in mergers, and RKO bit the dust 50 years ago. Sorry for the snoozer...just something sad I noticed in the midst of all this talk.

 

[stitchcastle]

Personally, I would like to see Disney change the Great Movie Ride into the Great Disney Movie Ride and create scenes from their all time great live-action films,

I'm thinking the way a normal visitor would....."Do they have any?"

 

[brich]

I suspect the logistics of an overnight change are borderline impossible. Wouldn't it seem logical that if a deal is not made with the MGM name then from that point forward, a gradual change would take place? :veryconfu

So, any opinions on a Disney - Pixar Studios???? OOOOOOOO the potential.... :lol:

 

[Captain Chaos]

I'm thinking the way a normal visitor would....."Do they have any?"

Check out Grizz's post on this thread, numner 35. He lists a lot of Disney movies what would be considered Disney classics and have potential to be included in THE GREAT DISNEY MOVIE RIDE. And there are a lot more Disney classics Grizz did not mention.

 

[GoofMaul]

...
Tron
...

Now Tron is a movie that would cross-over to a sweet ride.

 

[TiggersPooh]

At my traditions class only a little over a month ago we were told to call the park "The Disney MGM Studios" not just the Disney Studios

 

[bgraham34]

Walt Disney Studios Florida has a nice ring to it.

Thats what I would choose. I for one can not see how MGM would want to be out of the parks. I think they will come to an agreement. It has to help MGM with some video sales.

 

[Disneyfan1981]

So the contact ends in June? I guess we won't have to wait every long to see how this one plays out. But I like Walt Disney Studios, over Disney Studios Orlando or Disney Studios Florida.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Didn't "The Great Movie Ride" jus have a rehab? When we went in Feb 2003 it was closed for rehab.

Yep, it was still closed at the end of April.
If the MGM contract runs out mid June - then I'm pretty sure that Disney would have a plan up their sleeve (wouldn't they ? ) and are just delaying the announcement of any changes (if there are to be any)

 

[WiCKMaN]

But I like Walt Disney Studios, over Disney Studios Orlando or Disney Studios Florida.

True, but don't forget that there are more Disney Studios out there, which might cause for some confusions. So, in my opinion:

- Walt Disney Studios Florida
- Walt Disney Studios California
- Walt Disney Studios Paris

This would be the best option to name the studios.

 

[Sloppy Skunk]

i remember when i was down in WDW in march around 4 years ago they were not calling it Disney Studios, not MGM. It was crazy, from what I remember there was not even the slightests trace of the MGM name. My dad asked a cm about it and she gave us the story about the contract coming to an end somewhat soon. However, two years later when I went to disney it was back to disney-MGM studios. Did they do a trial run of this name a few years back to see how people responded? or have my dad and I become insane...

 

[pilka214]

most cms tend not to refer to the park as mgm. but my friend who is a cm who works there actually does. and my entire family does too. so ya but ohh well by the end of this summer it will now be known as "disney-studios Florida" or i like "walt disney world studios" too. it's original