The hits keep on coming

Between the sponsorship from D23, the addition of a D23 display, and the fact that Disney’s Hollywood Studios turned twenty earlier this year, One Man’s Dream has undergone quite a number of minute, but crucial, changes in 2009. Included in all of these mostly superficial changes were the inclusion of four display panels briefly detailing the life and times of Disney-MGM Studios and later Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

These panels, which line the right-hand wall into the Walt Disney Theater entrance, not only broke down the addition of new areas and attractions by time periods, they do so by never showing photographs of the attractions. Instead, the displays rely upon concept art and blueprints, material which has been, until now, very difficult to view.

So, what has Disney’s Hollywood Studios done with the past twenty years? I think I’ll let the display speak for itself.

On With The Show!
A Growing Park in the Early Years: 1989-1991

1989 – Star Tours – Disney and George Lucas join “forces” for the park’s first thrill ride, “A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away”
1990 – “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids” Movie Set Adventure – guests become ant-size explorers on a giant lawn set inspired by Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
1991 – The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant – Fun food and a nostalgic setting returns families to the golden age of campy flicks under the stars.
1991 – Muppet-Vision 3-D Jim Henson’s Muppets bring new dimensions of zaniness to the Backlot.A Brand New Boulevard – 1994
Guests Drop In On New Thrills!

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – The ominous Hollywood Tower Hotel invites brave guests to check in at the eerie lobby, board an elevator to the fifth dimension, and plunge 13 stories into … The Twilight Zone!
The park gains a major expansion with the addition of Sunset Boulevard, a tribute to Hollywood’s glamorous shops and historic theaters, as they appeared in their early 1940s heyday.100 Years of Magic:
A New Icon For The Studios

2001 – Walt Disney World celebrates “100 Years of Magic,” commemorating the birth of Walt Disney. The Studios adds a brand new icon to Hollywood Boulevard – a 122 foot tall “Sorcerer’s Hat,” in tribute to the imagination and magic-making that Disney brings to Hollywood, and the rest of the world.Our Second Decade: 1999-2009
The Hits Keep On Coming!

1998 – Fantasmic! In this nighttime spectacular, fireworks, special effects, and a cast of beloved Disney characters star in Mickey Mouse’s powerful dream of “light vs. darkness.”
1999 – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster brings a blast of high-octane rock and roll, as super-stretch-limos take guests on a twisting, turning night ride through Hollywood.
2005 – Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show revs up the action on the Streets of America. Highly trained stunt drivers create a breathtaking action thriller on an elaborate outdoor set.
2008 – Toy Story Midway Mania! An interactive, 3-D carnival of fun at the newly unveiled Pixar Place
2009 – The American Idol Experience - Our guests show off their vocal talents and star power to a panel of judges, and a live audience of new fans!