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Disney's Hollywood Studios Introduction

 

It's "on with the show" at Disney's Hollywood Studios where guests of all ages are immersed in the glitz, glamour and excitement of show business -- strolling down Hollywood Boulevard, surrounded by the sights, sounds and personalities of Tinseltown in the 1930s; watching as classic Disney characters are brought to life through the magic of animation; or blasting off on a wild limousine ride with America's premier rock band, Aerosmith, as their guides.

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, guests enter the turnstiles onto the main street, Hollywood Boulevard. A walk along this "Golden Age" boulevard blurs the line between audience and performer -- guests are surrounded by the sights and sounds of show business! This giant movie set straight out of the fabulous '30s and '40s is a crazy quilt of flashy neon, chromed art deco and streamline modern architecture. "Detectives," "starlets," "cabbies," "cops" and even superstar memorabilia salesman "Sid Cahuenga" can be found prowling the streets.

Around the corner, Sunset Boulevard pays tribute to the glamorous theater district in all its glory. It also includes a shopping area with gifts themed to classic films and Disney characters. Light dining and snacks are available at the outdoor Sunset Ranch Market.

Standing at the end of Sunset Boulevard, like an ominous beacon straight out of an episode of a television thriller, is the Hollywood Tower Hotel. It beckons guests to experience The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Climb into a creaky elevator in the abandoned Hollywood Tower Hotel. Suddenly, the lights go out. The elevator lurches. Shudders. And shakes. You fall 13 stories faster than gravity itself. Then you're up. You're down. Then up. Are you falling or flying? Fear every drop.

Nearby is the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith. This "whirl'd" tour through Tinseltown will take you from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. You'll hit 4-G turns in a car crammed with 125 speakers that will rock your world with the sounds of Aerosmith.

At the end of Mickey Avenue, guests can board the Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour. The 25-minute tram tour takes guests behind the scenes of a staged movie production in Catastrophe Canyon and past vehicles, costumes and props from some of Hollywood's hottest films as well as television homes of popular sitcoms.

Innovative design allows theme park guests to peek in at shooting on state-of-the-art soundstages and sprawling backlot sets. Feature films such as "Instinct," "Marvin's Room," "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," "Passenger 57," "Oscar," "Quick Change," "Ernest Saves Christmas," the acclaimed ABC-TV mini-series "Separate But Equal" and the award-winning Home Box Office production of "From the Earth to the Moon" all used the sound stages or the backlots for shooting.

Some of the many television shows which have taped at Disney's Hollywood Studios include: "ER," "Full House," "Wheel of Fortune," "Thunder in Paradise," "Miss Collegiate African American Pageant," and the "ESPN College Football Awards."

Star watching is a popular attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where celebrities appear regularly in "star" motorcades on Hollywood Boulevard, placing their hands in cement and participating in photograph, autograph and interview sessions with park guests.

The full-scale re-creation of the famous Chinese Theater is the gateway to one of Disney's most elaborate ride-through attractions. The Great Movie Ride showcases the charm, romance, suspense, intrigue and blazing six-shooter action of some of Hollywood's most memorable cinematic moments.

The courtyard of the Chinese Theater features handprints of numerous show business stars who have visited the studios, including Alan Alda, Lauren Bacall, Robin Williams, Charlton Heston, Samuel L. Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, Bette Midler and Tom Cruise.

Guests can experience what it feels like to be the size of an ant as they make their way through giant blades of grass in the "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids" Movie Set Adventure. It's a jungle out there as guests experience hidden slides, caves, spider webs, a "leaky hose," tunnels and ants in a "backyard" from the hit film, "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids."

The Muppets star in "Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D." For the first time ever, Jim Henson's puppets and special-effects wizardry combine with Disney's famous Audio-Animatronics technology, explosive in-theater effects and the most advanced 3-D action and animation on 70mm film, all to showcase the wild antics of Jim Henson's legendary Muppet characters.

The stunts are left to the pros in the "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!", an action-packed live show that re-creates the death-defying heroics of classic adventure films through movie stunt demonstrations.

Nearby, Star Tours invites theme park guests to embark on the wildest galactic journey ever to depart from this side of the continent. Star Tours combines flight-simulator technology and an action-packed, thrill-a-second motion picture to create a "Star Wars" experience that transforms the audience into passengers aboard a careening spacecraft on an uproarious flight to the Moon of Endor.

Another major attraction in real-life film making is The Magic of Disney Animation, where guests get an insider's view of animators and talented production artists at work producing the next generation of Disney animated feature films and short subjects.

The tour includes displays of Oscars won for the many classic Disney films produced over the years and artwork from Disney's most recent animated film, "Tarzan."

From the Oscar-winning films "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Disney's beloved animated characters spring from the big screen and come to life on stage in other theme park shows.

"Beauty and the Beast -- Live on Stage" captures the spellbinding story of Belle and the Beast in a 25-minute Broadway-style musical extravaganza at the Theater of the Stars. "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" features dazzling special effects which combine with puppets, Audio-Animatronics figures, live performers and favorite clips from the film to tell the tale of Ariel.

"Fantasmic!", a nightly spectacular featuring Sorcerer Mickey in a tale of fantasy and fright with lasers, lights, fire and water, is presented nightly in the new 6,500-seat Hollywood Hills amphitheater. In a dream-world battle of good versus evil, Mickey's imagination comes to life -- from the whimsical ways of his colorful friends to the darkness of the Disney villains.

Join Bear, Tutter, Pip & Pop, from the popular Disney Channel series, for a delightful, interactive, musical, "Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage."

A "Disney's Doug Live", you'll see Doug and his friends from the ABC cartoon, star in a don't miss stage show combining live action with animation. You may even be chosen to join the show.

"Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Musical Adventure" takes guests to the catacombs of 15th century Paris in a colorful, 32-minute musical featuring the lovable Quasimodo and enchanting gypsy dancer Esmeralda, with several shows daily at the Backlot Theater.

Other behind-the-scenes treats include regular appearances by Mickey Mouse and other Disney character stars on Mickey Avenue.

Shops and restaurants continue the adventure through Tinseltown history and lifestyle. The Brown Derby faithfully recalls the landmark Hollywood restaurant, meeting place of the stars where gossip washed down the signature Cobb salad and grapefruit cake.

"California crazy" architecture on a quiet lake serves up snacks and desserts from buildings created in the form of a tramp steamer and life-size dinosaur. Around the bend, the 50's Prime Time Cafe takes guests into the kitchenettes of '50s sitcoms for dining atop laminated tables next to old-fashioned TVs tuned in to reruns of long-ago shows.

Other themed dining opportunities include: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, Toy Story Pizza Planet, Backlot Express, ABC Commissary and Hollywood & Vine. Hollywood & Vine features meet-and-greets with characters including Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Goofy.

Disney's Hollywood Studios immerses guests in the glamour of show business 365 days a year with thrilling attractions, incredible Broadway-style shows, world-class atmosphere entertainment and interactive film, television, radio and animation production facilities. The theme park and working production facility is part of the 30,500-acre Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.

 

Detailed information on Disney's Hollywood Studios...

 

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