These past four Crapstravaganza’s have all dealt with Disney theme parks. If you count past Crapstravaganza’s, we’ve essentially covered every other Disney theme park and waterpark except for MGM Studios, now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I guess it’s high time for that park to step into the limelight…
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Firstly, we have the cover of MGM’s 2003 guide map. Underneath the logo then modestly proclaim, “where showbiz is.” The image below the logo shows Tower of Terror even though Rock n’ Roller Coaster was around at this point. Maybe Disney felt that everyone associates MGM with the Tower, which was and still is kind of true.Now the photo doesn’t just show Tower of Terror, but it also shows a car full of children about to slam into the ground in front of the ride. Studying the photo, we also see sparks raining down from the sign and that the ride is being run in a severe thunderstorm. Artists obviously depicted ToT as being unsafe and thus the ride should be avoided. |
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Skipping a FastPass page, we come to a page promoting Pal Mickey and Fantasmic.Pal Mickey is a stuffed Mickey toy that spews out information when you walk past certain areas. A friend of my sisters actually lent us one for the trip (it was like $65 to buy one.) What happens is when you walk past, let’s say Tower of Terror, Pal Mickey will begin to vibrate meaning that he’s anxious to say something. I think you squeeze it’s hand or something and Mickey will say his random fact or statement about Tower of Terror. What it says is usually presented in a Disney ‘kayfabed’ fashion as to not destroy the ‘magic.’ Pal Mickeys have been discontinued as of 2008, but they still work if you decide to tout one around.
Fantasmic on the other hand is a show that the park put on every night, and is basically their alternative to the fireworks show that Magic Kingdom and Epoct have. Fantasmic takes place in a giant outdoor amphitheater, and runs for 26 minutes. It shows a lot of scenes from different Disney movies using water screens, actors, props and fireworks and culminates with Mickey battling a giant dragon with great fire and water effects. Here’s the video on YouTube if you want to check it out. (There’s three parts to the video by the way.) |
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For the sake of completion, here’s a page showing all of the eating places around MGM as well as information and another Kodak ad (I think I should be getting some kick backs with all the Kodak ads I’ve presented these past weeks!)
In the Tips and Info section, the guide tells us “anytime you see someone with a Disney name tag, just ask!” It’s kind of open ended; I guess we can can ask anything from “where is The Great Movie Ride” to “how many lock nuts are on Rock n’ Roller Coaster.” Then again, it’s so open ended that I guess we can ask anything! “How far away is the sun?”; “What do you think about Universal Studios?”; “Where can I find a good strip club?” |
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Again, this page is added for the sake of completion; it shows all of the shopping venues in MGM. It also has Timon and Pumbaa telling us some park safety rules such as “no stampeding” and to “keep your tails on the seat.” |
Giant image alert! You might want to right click and choose “open in new window/tab” |
Finally we have the park map. MGM/Disney Hollywood Studios hasn’t exactly changed a whole heck of a lot since 2003. Some of the changes are:
Also added, without taking anything out, were:
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It says Lights, Motors, Action! was added without taking anything out, but this is not true. An entire section of the Backlot Tour was gutted out in order to make way for LMA.
Oops, I’ll have to do my research better next time. Thanks for the correction Bob!