We will always call it MGM Studios….

MGM Studios

For those of you new to the Disney World Family you know this park as Hollywood Studios, but to us it will always be MGM Studios.

Where did MGM Studios come from?   In the 80’s two Imagineers, Marty Sklar and Randy Bright were working on the plans for two new pavilions for Epcot’s Future World.   As their ideas unfolded they came up with what would later become the Wonders of Life and Great Movie Ride pavilions.    As they presented these to Michael Eisner he indicated that it would be better to wrap the Great Movie Ride around an entire park themed with entertainment and show business.

In 1985, Disney and Metro Goldwyn Mayer entered into the licensing contract which gave Disney the rights to use the name MGM.   Three years later in 1988 MGM filed the first lawsuit stating that Disney violated the contract by operating a working movie and television studio on the property.   The MGM Studios theme park opened on May 1st, 1989 keeping the name which allowed the logo use and items to be displayed in the Great Movie Ride attraction.

Lawsuits between the companies went back and forth, in the meantime MGM opened MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park in Vegas which closed in 2000.  Paying the lawyers all came to an end on August 9, 2007 as Disney announced the re-branding to Disney Hollywood Studios.

MGM Studios, Hollywood Studios, what do you call it?    Comment below and let us know, be sure to visit all the other great Disney history on the hop today!