Disney World dismisses Hollywood Studios name change rumor
The Walt Disney World Resort today released new concept art for the Alien Swirling Saucers ride that is coming to Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios when that new land opens this summer. But that's not the real news from Disney World today.
Here is the concept image, which shows that the ride pretty much will be a "Little Green Men"-themed version of the Mater's Junkyard Jamboree spinner at Disney California Adventure. (And the Big Hero 6 ride coming to Tokyo Disneyland in 2020.)
But a concept image of a spinner ride is not why Disney posted to its blog today. For the past few days, Disney fans on social media have been buzzing over a rumor that Disney would rename Disney's Hollywood Studios as Disney Cinemagine Park.
I didn't report the rumor because my sources within the company said it wasn't going to happen. But I didn't know if that was a firm no from the company, or just if my sources were out of the loop. So I shut up and figured I would let this one play out for a while. (Reason #101 why my journalism background is killing my earning potential as a blogger or social media "influencer." Alas.)
It's not pure rumor that Disney has thought about changing the name of the park, which opened as the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. Disney CEO Bob Iger himself said that another name change was in the works. With Disney no longer having any actual production studios in the park, keeping the word "Studios" in the name seems a relic of what the park once was instead of what it is becoming, thanks to the additions of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, which opens next year.
Disney surveyed guests about potential name changes last year, one of which was Cinemagine, a portmanteau of Cinema and Imagine which also sounds a lot like the name of the now-shuttered Cinemagique show at the Walt Disney Studios theme park in Paris. (The anglicized "Cinemagic" was on the name-change survey list, too.)
The names that Disney tested all stunk, IMHO, and apparently Disney now feels the same. So here's the official word:
In response to questions we have been receiving, we also want to let fans know that the Disney’s Hollywood Studios name will remain the same for the foreseeable future since we are immersing our guests in a place where imagined worlds of Hollywood unfold around them from movies and music, to television and theater.
There ya go. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, but if it's only broke a little bit, at least don't make it worse.
Replies (16)
Really, how hard is it just to go with "Disney's Hollywood Adventure?"
It will always be MGM to me and most of the people I know who have been going to WDW for a long time.
Robert, you get a vote from Mrs Plum and myself.
DHA works yet Tokyo has been more consistent with their rumored 3rd park name as DisneySky.
There’s always another name. Disney Grand Avenue Park
Yes Robert! "Disney's Hollywood Adventure" an EXCELLENT name! I LIKE IT!!!!!
What if they changed it to “Universal Escape”?
The names were terrible, I could have come up p south ten names better. The name cinemagine made me throw up a little in my mouth. I went to MGM when it first opened. Went to star wars weekends at dhs. That park has a special place in my heart and once star wars galaxies edge opens it will be my favorite park.
TH, I believe that Universal demanded that Disney rename the entire Walt Disney World Resort "Universal Escape" as a condition of selling back the Marvel rights. ;^)
Totally on board with the "Hollywood Adventure" name, or maybe "Movie Kingdom" or something. Studios doesn't make any sense and actually sells the park short, but I get that they want DHS to be their version of a Universal park, so it is what it is.
All the proposed names did stink, but Disney Hollywood Adventure sounds too much like Disney's California Adventure. Or is that park getting a name change, too?
As for the concept art, it looks good. I get dizzy with too much spinning, but I think we'll have to try this one.
Another vote for Disney's Hollywood Adventure. Being similar to California Adventure isn't a bad thing. The Chinese Theater, Grand Avenue and Sunset make it look like Hollywood to me.
The building facades still made the "Stuidos" theme work the last time we went to the park a few years ago.
At some point, the popularity of Toy Story Mania will fade, and, with a little work, the buildings housing the ride could return to use for TV production. I don't see that happening in FL under the current occupants of the Governor's Mansion and Speaker's chair, however -- GA makes production in that state too lucrative to ignore.
Disney's Movieland, there, done. Or is it still owned by the no-longer existing Movieland Wax Museum? If so, they could always buy the name. Some people might associate it with the long gone wax museum in Buena Park, but it would be in Florida, and IMO the best name.
Eventually, Disney’s California Adventure will need to be changed to more accurately reflect the Park.
I think it has to be one or two words in the name.
I was actually one who liked Cinemagic mostly because it was likely that Disney had already copyrighted that made up word.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
Or if every idea you come up with and trademark stinks and results in tons of negative reactions, just sweep them under the rug.