So What is Disney-MGM to be used for again?

[ClemsonTigger]

Going over the days news on other sites, I came across at Miceage:

Paramount is not the only outside studio shooting on the Universal lot, Disney also has two major projects going on. ABC's Desperate Housewives continues work on the Colonial Street sets (off limits on weekdays to the trams) and construction has begun over in the Little Europe outdoor set area (beloe) for Pirates of the Caribbean II & III. I guess we can start looking for Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp there pretty soon.

I understand the whole Hollywood is closer to everyone's home etc. but doesn't this strike you as a little strange? Go to Universal to watch a bunch of Disney movies and ABC shows taped?

Strange bedfellows indeed!

 

[longfamily]

I actually just posted about the downfall of MGM. It seems as though this park is in limbo, doesn't it? there is so much space being wasted there. It's really dissappointing.

 

[DisneyFreak529]

I agree, I don't really like MGM as much but, it's night to have a nice relaxing day at a Disney Theme park with out having to worry about getting everything in. When we go to MGM the day is slower and not as crazy. Plus MGM has all the cool rides.

Tower of Terror, Rock-N-Roller coaster, Fantasmic, Great movie ride.

Yes they have Indiana Jones stunt show, but it's the same show over and over again for years!!

 

[bryon1]

The problem is that Disneys studios are very small. Yes, they did film the inside sward fight from Pirates (the same stage that they filmed the street scenes from M. Poppins). Most of Disneys (Burbank) studios are just used now for TV production. Plus most TV shows are built by a seprate Production company that usually has a deal with another studio for taping. If you drive infront of WB's in Burbank you can see all the different shows in production...(Friends was shot at WB for NBC).

Dont forget that in the late 80's even the Golden Girls and Empty Nest only used the set pieces in Florida and shot the episd. in Burbank.

But, thats the problem with both MGM & Paris theme parks..."studio" is in the MAIN title yet does one see ANY taping? No. You do at Uni. MR. Iger shoudl be bringing production of ABC shows to Orlando to add something, anything to the tram tour. At Paris you drive by a grip truck and you can see this huge spider web inside the truck...hmmm lots of production going on in a movie studio lot.

 

[marni1971]

Please remember TV shows are taped, motion pictures are FILMED!

I think its apparent now that the parks are studio THEME parks.. Disney has shyed away from calling them movie studios for a long time. More a park themed on a movie studio.

MGM can still claim to be `the Hollywood that never was` (THAT hat aside) and WDSP has never claimed to be a working movie studio - just a park that shows how movies are made. Sad but true!

 

[KevinPage]

I myself have ZERO use for seeing a TV show filmed, I go to a theme park for rides/attractions.

I enjoy MGM's use of movies and Hollywood as basis for attractions.

Granted they need to completely revamp the backlot tour. Maybe they will once Motors opens, since both that and Indy have HUGE capacity, they can afford to close it.

 

[MKCP 1985]

I can answer the question, "What is the Disney-MGM Studios park to be used for?"

This park is for entertainment of guests based upon the theme of "Hollywood - the movie capitol of the world." As a side note, I believe the park hits the mark exceedingly well and it is currently my favorite Disney park.

While the park may have been intended to serve as a working production studio, that original vision/plan did not work out for several reasons. Even so, the park has much to offer guests as a theme park. Too bad it didn't work out according to original plans, but the park has a bright future as the destination park for young adults and families with older children.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Yes, I'm fine with the current state, but believe that there is a significant chunk of the park that has yet to convert. When it first opened, there were limited shows taped there, and the premise of the backstage tour is that of (a direct lift from Universal) behind the scenes of a working studio.

marni1971:

MGM can still claim to be `the Hollywood that never was` (THAT hat aside) and WDSP has never claimed to be a working movie studio - just a park that shows how movies are made. Sad but true!

I shudder at the thought of disagreeing with you Marni, but I always thought that through the script of the backstage tour in the beginning and possibly even today, there is the presentation of the soundstages, trailers, wardrobe, props (previously the residential street) as part of a working studio.

Possibly today one could argue that that is just part of the "ride show and theming". I do seem to remember the guides rattling off a list of shows/movies that had done work on site...just as in the animation tour, identifying the site as a working studio, they proudly presented the movie artwork that they had done.

 

[winterparkbaby]

millionaire taped there a couple of weeks ago, right?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I used to LOVE the Studios when Mickey Mouse Club was taped there in the early 90's. Even now when I'm on the tram tour, I still cheer when they say about MMC being taped there.

It's ashame that there isn't anything being taped there. It's sad to see the soundstages just sitting dormant. I know...let's get them to start taping a NEW MMC there! LOL

TheDisneyGirl02

 

[twirl2378]

They should bring one of their new Disney Channel shows or movies to be filmed there. I bet they'd get a lot of younger teens to drag there parents to try to get a glimpse at the next Hilary Duff.

 

[PaisleyMF]

The problem is that Disneys studios are very small. Yes, they did film the inside sward fight from Pirates (the same stage that they filmed the street scenes from M. Poppins).

This Films were filmed at studios over England not California.

Please remember TV shows are taped, motion pictures are FILMED!

Some TV shows like NYPD Blues, Desperate Housewifes and others are Filmed, Star Wars episodes 2 and 3 were taped on HD cinema systems.

 

[Brick Tamland]

I still dig the MiGuM, I go for the rides and what nots. And the Alien part of the great movie rides still phreaks me out. !MUAH!!!

 

[longfamily]

I think that the original concept was to bring shows onto the sound stages to tape on a regular basis. This likely got pushed aside for whatever reason. If MGM is going to be a park based on films then it really needs to have more attractions that are ride based. I'm very excited at the prospect of a vehicular stunt show. Currently, Indiana Jones serves well as a stunt show. I'm also happy with the quality of shows presented there but I believe that you can only watch Beauty and the Beast so many times. They either need to replace the shows that have been there for awhile or they should spend a little money and rotate new shows with the old ones. Wouldn't it be great to watch Pinnochio too? Also, if I were in charge I would have "street" performers hanging around in various areas to entertain the guests. If we are going to celebrate Hollywood, we should be celebrating film, tv, cartoons, song, and dance.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Longfamily,
Your wish is Disney's command:

WDWKat26:
Streetmospheres, I love all of them, they're great and so clever with their jokes! I used to watch their "99 Jokes" skits all the time (i.e. 99 Baseballs walked into a bar, the bartender said "Hey we're not serving you 99 Baseballs in here" and the baseballs replied, "Well fine we just wanted a pitcher but I guess we'll run home!" haha!) Anyway, let's see...odd jobs. The only people I could think of are the Hollywood Works guys, who are actually great. The Boss, Lenny and Fredrick usually are out there every day, here's 2 pics of them:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...tie/Img0703.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...tie/Img0702.jpg

HCWalker: Great idea on the guests who "magically" reappear even after the accident. The last time I saw the haunted bellhops or any bellhop carrying a suitcase was last year during the Annual Passholder Meet at MGM. They really had a lot there, they had a man checking in, a janitor "fixing" the elevators, a dead bellhop, a wandering bellhop and more. As for recently, I haven't seen them do it, who knows why. Great ideas and great acting that night in my opinion. Hope this helps!

Also, do a search on Streetmosphere....there are a number of additional characters to be seen at different times.

 

[marni1971]

Some TV shows like NYPD Blues, Desperate Housewifes and others are Filmed, Star Wars episodes 2 and 3 were taped on HD cinema systems.

Sorry.. I was thinking of sitcoms. Its nice to know some US drama is still on film - we generally use super 16 in the UK for TV drama, 35 mil mainly for features. I thought Ep3 was going solid state? Guess even Lucasfilm has limitations :lol:

As for HD... after years of laughing at Never The Same Colour you guys have it and thanks to the British government we`re destined to be stuck with PAL for the forseable future (and don`t even ask about terrestrial 16:9 flagging - its a mess!)

 

[Lynx04]

I actually just posted about the downfall of MGM. It seems as though this park is in limbo, doesn't it? there is so much space being wasted there. It's really dissappointing.

Yeah I just posted in the "Backlot Tram Tour" Thread that it might be a good idea to just take out the whole tram tour and prop warehouses and use the land for expansion. It would be land better used.

 

[imagineer boy]

I like MGM, but I seriously think they could do a WHOLE lot more with the whole studios concept. Come on people, add more studios, more backlot sets and actually film stuff here you keep claiming you do.

 

[Lynx04]

I like MGM, but I seriously think they could do a WHOLE lot more with the whole studios concept. Come on people, add more studios, more backlot sets and actually film stuff here you keep claiming you do.

I guess they relised that making films and shows their just isn't pratical. I don't have a problem with that, don't film moves there, I just hope they decide to do something with the areas that are not being used. I guess LMA was the first step, I guess we may see more of the same.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

MGM hasn't been a working studio in a long time. With animation gone too there is no production at all going on there. It is just a movie theme park now and nothing more.