Could Have, Should Have, Would Have- Disney's Hollywood Studios

There are three approaches to the history of Disney's Hollywood Studios. One group, the "official" story, claims that the Studios' Great Movie Ride was intended as the focus of an entertainment pavilion for EPCOT Center, and Michael Eisner thought that it was an excellent idea that could anchor an entire park. Group two insists that it was all a plot by Eisner to undermine the success of the nearby soon to open Universal Studios. In reality, it is most likely a combination thereof, an idea for an entertainment pavilion was proposed and Eisner thought that it would anchor a park that would keep guests from going to Universal. The park is currently undergoing a major rehab, with name changes, new areas, and new attractions galore. Yet, there are only three things that Disney could have, should have, and would have done to improve the Studios.

Could Have- Done Actual Filming

Actual filming while guests toured the park. That was Disney's plan to lure guests to the Disney-MGM Studios, as it was then known. It's seemed to be the perfect idea, a win-win-win situation- Disney could shoot television series and films in Florida much cheaper than in California, guests could experience show business first hand, and the state of Florida and city of Orlando could get the prestige of becoming Hollywood east. Everything was set. The promise of filming was printed in guide books and advertisements, Disney had multiple shows and movies to film at the park, and guests were anticipating seeing real movie stars. Then reality came in fantasyland. It cost just as much to film in Florida as it did in California once the price of airfare was added in. That ended Disney's desire to do much of anything, other than a few television shows and animation, but even those stopped filming. Guests were upset, as whenever shooting actually did happen, those parts of the park were closed off. Disney finally set up cast members with cameras along the backlot tour route, and had the tour guides tell guests to be quiet, due to the filming of a music video. Frequent guests caught on to the ploy, and Disney stopped. Actual filming in the park of television and animation could easily happen again, and guests could walk through sound-proof halls with audio playing inside the hall for guests to hear. Also, if the price was the same for movie making, then Disney could film in Florida without problems.

Should Have- Indiana Jones Adventure

Disney has often had a good friendship with George Lucas, leading to such attractions as Star Tours, the Studio's Indiana Jones stunt show, and Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure attraction. Disney's Hollywood Studios prominently featured the works of Lucas in the form of the Stunt show and Star Tours. Rumor began to circulate in the late 1990s that Disneyland's amazing Indian Jones Adventure attraction would be coming to Disney-MGM Studios, a park in desperate need of expansion. The attraction would have been the perfect compliment to the similarly-themed stunt show, and was considered by Disney executives. However, Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 with the Countdown to Extinction ride, which used the same technology and track layout as Anaheim's Indy. Disney decided that two similar rides should not be on the same property, so in a twist of fate similar to that of the Western River, Indy was doomed. With the current emphasis on refurbishing the Studios, rumours have started again that the Temple of the Forbidden Eye will be an aspect of a proposed Lucasfilm Studio expansion, which would be very beneficial to the Hollywood Studios, still very much a "half day" park. Disney's notion that two similar ride systems are not good when close together is a bit far fetched considering most of Fantasyland is the same type of darkride, and rarely do guests ride Peter Pan's Flight and deem it the same as Snow White's Scary Adventures. Technology does not usually affect the average guest; it's the theme that makes two rides different or similar.

Would Have- Maroon Cartoon Studios

"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" was an excellent success for the Walt Disney Company, so naturally they capitalized on the characters, opening Mickey's Toontown in California, devoting much of Disneyland's fortieth anniversary to Roger, making theatrical shorts, and naturally having him be a heavy influence on their newest park in Florida. Eddie Valiant's office from the film is seen over Echo Lake, complete with "No Toons" sign and a Roger shaped hole in the window. On Hollywood Boulevard, Roger, Jessica, and Baby Herman are the focus of Maroon Cartoons' billboard. Disney even intended to devote much of the Sunset Boulevard area to Roger, opening the Maroon Studios. The area would include the Red Car from the film, a simulator ride through Toontown, a diner with actual Toons eating along with guests, Baby Herman's runaway buggy miniature roller coaster, in which guest would ride a baby carriage while wearing a giant diaper and bonnet, making for hilarious photos throughout the ride, and Roger's multilevel Car-Toon Spin, where guests would ride in Benny the Cab through Toontown. The problem was that Disney did not completely own the rights to the film. Steven Spielberg and Amblin also owned the movie, and had to agree with everything Disney did, or Disney could not use the characters. Spielberg denied Disney the privilege to create more shorts after a dispute over who's film would open with "Roller coaster Rabbit," so Spielberg began preventing anything Disney wanted, killing the Maroon Cartoon Studios. The Red Car Track still remain in the Sunset Boulevard pavement, both as a sign of the Maroon Studios idea not coming to fruition and the time in which Sunset Boulevard is set, when the Red Car was being phased out, a scandal alluded to in the Roger Rabbit film.