There is no business like show business, and no place better to feel first-hand it's glamour, charm and enjoyment than at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Since starting up in 1989 (earlier called Disney-MGM Studios), the park has enlarged to almost twice the initial dimension and today has more shows, "reel-life" adventures and star-gazing options than in the past.
Entering into the park is similar to experiencing Tinseltown from the 1930s - Hollywood Boulevard is a insane cover of flashy neon and chromed art deco where visitors are in the middle of the sights and sounds of show business and celebrities - investigators, starlets, cabbies and public works staff - is found prowling the streets.
Nearby, Sunset Boulevard gives honor to the glamorous theater area in all its glory days. At the end of the street appears Hollywood Tower Hotel, which beckons visitors to try out The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, where lately more terror was put into the tower with new shakes, drops and special effects.
Thrill-seekers will launch over a series of surprising twists and turns aboard a "super-stretch limo" at Rock 'n" Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Surely, specially recorded Aerosmith soundtracks echo during the entire indoor ride.
In the role of the centerpiece for the park, Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat crowns Disney's Hollywood Studios with a unique magic inspired from the Disney cartoon classic, "Fantasia." Just behind the larger-than-life hat symbol is a full-scale re-creation from the well-known Chinese Theater - the entrance to one of Disney's most sophisticated ride-through points of interest. The Great Movie Ride displays the charm, romance, suspense, intrigue and blazing six-shooter action of some of Hollywood's most unforgettable movie moments.
The courtyard from the Chinese Theater offers hand prints of several show business celebrities who've went to see the studios, such as Alan Alda, Lauren Bacall, Robin Williams, Charlton Heston, Samuel L. Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, Bette Midler, Tom Cruise, Jim Henson and also Kermit the Frog.
Mickey Blvd takes on host of regular performances by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh along with other Disney heroes. Along Mickey Blvd you will discover Toy Story Mania! - a 3-D interactive attraction inspired from the Disney·Pixar movies "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2." Every visitor will play along in the high-energy adventure that places them right in the action. If you are a Toy Story fan, look at where you can find different Toy Story-themed locations, trips and points of interest.
At the end of Mickey Avenue, the Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour goes behind the scenes of a staged film production and past cars, outfits and props from a few of Hollywood's greatest movies. A modern design enables having a look in at shooting on state-of-the-art sound levels and sprawling backlot sets.
More popular points of interest are Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Movie Set Adventure where you will experience what it really feels like to be the size of an ant. You will be thinking "it's a jungle out there" while you experience hidden slides, caves, spider webs, a leaky hose, giant toys, tunnels and ants in the "backyard" from the hit movie, "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids."
The famous Muppets celebrity in Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3-D which mixes Jim Henson's puppets with Disney's popular Audio-Animatronics technology into an in-theater 3-D animation movie - all to display the crazy tricks of Jim Henson's Muppet heroes.
You need to leave the stunts to the experts in Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! an action-packed live show that re-creates the heart-pounding heroics of traditional experience movies by way of film stunt presentations.
One of the greatest upgrades to the park is Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show that was "imported" from Disneyland Paris for Disney's global "Happiest Celebration on Earth" happens in a enormous "live" Mediterranean village set. The premise of the 30-minute show centers surrounding the filming of a spy thriller film. The viewers gets to discover how each scene is shot and then see the completed movie as it would appear to the big screen. High-speed chases, car and motorcycle jumps, pyrotechnic explosions, high-falls, two-wheeled driving and also high-speed spins produce a thrilling production.
The latest attraction - The American Idol Experience - is indeed a winner. The attraction catches the energy and excitement from the original "American Idol" TV series, with park visitors auditioning to take the spotlight onstage. Included in the audience, other visitors cheer them on and choose their favorite singer with immediate results. The day's top vote-getter obtains "The American Idol Experience Dream Ticket, allowing an qualified owner to plan a front-of-the-line audition to a upcoming regional audition for the "American Idol" tv show.
