Studio 20: Day 1
All over the Walt Disney World resort there were Lights, Cameras, and Action to help celebrate Disney’s Hollywood Studios 20th anniversary. Of course it would not be a major anniversary without WDWCelebrations who celebrated by staging, “Studio 20″.
To honor this milestone Disney celebrated by holding a event at the Premier theater, not to mention selling decorated cupcakes, a beautiful t-shirt as well adding a few special touches like banners at the park entrance and a history exhibit on the park in the One Man’s Dream attraction. While Disney mostly celebrated the anniversary on May 1 WDWCelebrations held their “Studio 20″ event over three days, April 30 through May 2.
The first “Studio 20″ event actually began on the night of April 30 at the Fantasia Mini Golf course where attendees were invited to play golf and have fun. For those who have never visited Fantasia Mini Golf it is separated into two courses. The “Fairways” course, where most of the group golfed, is based upon a “not so miniature” golf course and comes complete with water hazards and sand traps. Those who enjoy a more traditional mini-golf can enjoy the “Gardens” course. During the night I caught up with WDWCelebrations Core Team members: Tom Corless, Jose Castillo, and Matt Pezzula who were all about half way through the Fairways course.
Matt Pezzula making a great putt on the “Fairways”
I thought this description was great
looks like someone gave up and left their ball in the water hazard
Tom Corless finishing out the game with a great putt
Everyone was having such a good time that the some people didn’t notice Fantasmic going on in the background and too soon the last ball fell into the final hole. After that final hole everyone bid farewell until the following morning as it was only a few hours until the “Studio 20″ festivities would officially begin.
It was May 1 and sometime before dawn everyone in my room woke up. The group in my room included: myself, my sister Katherine, her friend Felicia, and my mother Chris. To try and get a nice advantage at getting to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios we chose to stay at an Epcot resort and ended up staying in a Beach Club Villa. This plan almost worked out well as we could use the boat transportation to get to the park and back to the resort with little to no trouble. Unfortunately we did have a little trouble as the boats didn’t begin operating until 7:30 a.m. on May 1. This made getting to the studios by 8 a.m. a little difficult but still possible.
The view out of our villa.
The calm waters before the boat arrived.
The boat transportation was actually fast that morning and we made it to the gates by 7:45 a.m. Decorating the walls around the turnstiles were new banners celebrating the occasion. At 8 a.m. sharp the rope drop ceremony began, and despite being a few rows deep to the side we could enjoy the ceremony. My sister snuck into a store to get a better view through a window, while I snapped pictured in one hand and recorded audio in the other.
Entering the park, they had the wrong times posted
The celebration banners
These are a nice touch
The rope drop ceremony consisted of the director pulling up in his truck and inviting the entire crowd to be the extras in his latest picture. With him was his assistant who one day wanted to be a famous star, She would hold the clapper and help with the recording. Normally the director would have a small family help him by being the stars but today this position was filled by Rilous Carter, Vice President of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Carter talked a little about the parks history and even threw in Toy Story Midway Mania and The American Idol Experience. At the conclusion of his speech the director had everyone in the crowd yell “Hollywood Here We Come” and then instructed everyone to walk rather than run to their next destination.
I was a little far back, but could hear the ceremony quite well.
Today’s Director
The lovely assistant, hoping to one day be a star
Vice President of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rilous Carter
Everyone walking to get into the park
After the rope drop ceremony many guests divided into smaller groups. Some groups “walked” to get Toy Story Midway Mania fast passes while others went to get a 20th anniversary t-shirt. The longest line was at the Sorcerers Hat where guests were lined up to get the limited edition Disney’s Hollywood Studios pin set. My sister, Katherine, and her friend, Felicia got in line fast and were even in front of Tom Corless, owner of WDWNT. My mother, Chris, went to pick up some t-shirts for the group.
Felicia near the front of the line for pins
Tom Corless getting his pins
The line for the pins kept growing before they opened 2 more registers
Disney’s Hollywood Studios 20th Anniversary T-shirts
As the line for the pins grew the characters and my sister, Katherine, and I hung out with them while waiting for everyone else to finish buying the anniversary merchandise. It was during this time Katherine brought out a special guest that a lot of cast members fell in love with through out the visit, Figment. The characters loved playing with Figment, who was dressed in his Hollywood finest with a party hat!
The special guest, Figment
Mickey had the longest line, and was the only character I posed with
Donald was surprised to see figment
Mickey still doesn’t know about the kiss Figment gave minnie.
Figment is a ladies man here
Stitch got a kiss from figment, a little creepy yes.. but why not!
Katherine loves this photo.
All that meeting and greeting helped pass the time and the shoppers were soon done and on their way to the Streets of America so the WDWCelebrations group could get settled and ready for the first session with imagineers. During May 1 disney held two public sessions and one cast member session with three imagineers who helped create and transform Disney’s Hollywood Studios into what it is. They were detailed and shown a lot of artwork and even reference photos for the real buildings which helped inspire the parks architecture. When the subject of the Sorcerers Hat came up, they quickly changed subjects and joked about how they didn’t like it either, unfortunately most don’t think the hat will be going anywhere for a while. Shortly before we entered the theater though, the entire group got together against the San Francisco Backdrop for a photo.
Unfortunately I don’t have a group photo, but you can find one here.
The imagineers at the session
I can’t read.. did it say no photos or no.. never mind
They used these monitors for photographs, concept art, and even old videos.
They sat there for most of the presentation.
After the glorious hour long presentation we were forced to leave rather than get an encore. The imagineers did have to do a second public session still, followed by that cast member session so everyone who was with Studio 20 went out of the theater and gathered next to the Lights Motors Action Stunt Show arena to pick up a scavenger hunt packet. It included 69 questions and only one really required you to enter an attraction, or go through the exit like I did. The packets also included five tie breaking questions that were harder. An example of a question was: Who is this white character hanging from a clock tower. The answer was Gonzo who is found hanging off the clock tower at the Muppets courtyard. The idea behind these questions was to create a challenge that anyone could find the answer to if it was their first time or their one million and first visit. The following photos were taken while on the hunt.
Jason and Marcus giving out the Scavenger Hunt and explaining the rules
A slightly old photo showing Gonzo hanging off the clock.
Double word scores was another question
On my way out of the Animation store I found this collectible for sale. They were selling 100 of these framed reproductions of the opening day map for $350. It is an exact replica except for one change which was the subtraction of the chinese theater and using the current icon, The Sorcerers Hat. One of the managers said the lawyers asked that the theater not be used so they sketched the hat there instead. I don’t know how accurate that story is though. I did get a little sidetracked and ended up at “Staring Rolls” and picked up a scrumptious “Studio 20″ marble cupcake which was loaded with chocolate, so much I did not finish it.
The limited edition of 100 sketch
a little side tracked
The Studio 20 Cupcake
Take the hat off, and you find more chocolate.
Time was soon running out and the scavengers soon had to return to the Sorcerers Hat to turn in their answerers and then enjoy the street extravaganza known as Block Party Bash. Upon celebrating everyone got out their cameras to record the event, During the parade the green army men from the floats ahead of our show stop even joked and ordered everyone to put the cameras away as we should be dancing and watching with our eyes, not viewing screen. After our show stop the entire group followed the parade to the Star Tours parade gate and enjoyed the play off that all the dancers from the parade participate in and grabbed a few foam balls at the end.
Matt Pezzula sure is not camera shy
Let’s party!
They sure do get off the ground
Some adults join in on the other side
The incredibles show up!
The Play off at the Star Tours gate
After gathering our belongings we trekked back to the Chinese Theater where a presentation was going to take place. This presentation including donating $300 to The Dream Team Project, a charity that Lou Mongello of WDW Radio runs, as well as announcing the winners of the scavenger hunt. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t get enough right. For those who are curious about the scavenger hunt it was announced that WDWCelebrations will soon post the questions and answerers on their website. Upon finding out the winners it was then time for a group photo followed by a ride on the Great Movie Ride.
Lou Mongello thanking us for coming to the event, and for the donation
Jason Diffendal presents Lou Mongello with a $300 check
Lou personally thanking the core team.
The WDWCelebrations Core Team presents Matt Hochberg with a commemorative shirt, which Everyone Signed
The WDWCelebrations Core Team for Studio 20
The winning groups of the Scavenger Hunt
Jason Diffendal trying to direct us to stay together for the Great Movie Ride
After the Great Movie Ride it became time for a break for dinner, My group had decided to try out the Brown Derby since it was a studios original, and we have not eaten there in years. Strangely on the way there we spotted some adventurers who were enjoying the anniversary as well. For dinner I enjoyed sharing a cobb salad and a steak. Everyone enjoyed the meal, though a it was little pricey and if it were not for the anniversary the 50s prime time cafe would have been my choice.
Marching along, we’re forever adventurers!
This was really good actually!
After this there was no room for dessert.
The final event of the day was a group ride on Toy Story Midway Mania, and we closed out the attraction! all in all this was a fun day.
We had people all over the loading platform
Lets see how we did
I’m on the left.
I wonder was the top score someone who enjoyed “Studio 20″
Everyone leaving hand in hand, till tomorrow!
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Thank you for reading Day 1 of the Studio 20 Report. Click here for Day 2.