The Wandering Disciple

The imaginative minds, affectionately known as the Imagineers, at Walt Disney World have long been the architects of wonder, continuously designing and producing spectacular parades and shows that have ignited the imaginations of park guests for multiple generations. The entertainment landscape within the parks is a dynamic one, where the visitor experience is in a constant state of flux, evolution, and innovation, ranging from breathtakingly elaborate fireworks displays that paint the night sky to engaging and meticulously choreographed daytime parades.  Among the many cherished spectacles was the highly popular Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade. This specific event was first introduced in 2001, coinciding with the massive celebration known as the "100 Years of Magic Celebration," which honored the centennial of Walt Disney's birth. The parade quickly became a staple of the Disney-MGM Studios (later renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios) park experience and continued i...

  For many years, a towering, iconic Sorcerer's Hat served as the unmistakable central landmark for Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios), drawing visitors deep into the park's vibrant heart. The hat, an enormous, three-dimensional representation of the magical cap worn by Mickey Mouse in his role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice from the classic film Fantasia , was initially erected as a centerpiece for the park's 100 Years of Magic celebration, honoring the centennial of Walt Disney's birth. Its prominent placement quickly cemented its status. Much like the instantly recognizable icons of the other Walt Disney World theme parks—Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, the geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, and the intricately carved Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom—the Sorcerer's Hat became the park's most famous symbol and a favored backdrop for countless visitor photographs. Its design featured bold colors, stars, and the moon...

As you wind through the ride queue at Toy Story Mania, memories of your childhood come to life in larger than life form. Childhood favorites like View Master, Candyland, Lincoln Logs, Barrel of Monkeys and many more can be found along the ride line.  Toy Story Mania was opened in 2008 as the first attraction in the Pixar themed area of Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. Hop aboard the ride vehicle and join Buzz, Woody and all your Toy Story friends on a fun trip down the carnival midway to see who can get the high score on the midway games.  Taken: January 28, 2012 at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

Join Dorothy and Friends as they follow the yellow brick road on a journey to Oz. This iconic movie memory is just one of the many movies memorialized in the Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Here you board the ride and become imbedded in classic blockbuster hits like the Wizard of Oz, Alien, Casablanca and more.  The Great Movie Ride was a part of the Disney Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World from 1989 to 2017. Billed as the "Spectacular Ride Into the Movies", the Great Movie Ride used animatronics and live actors to bring the movie scenes to life. The ride closed in August 2017 to make way for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.  Taken: May 11, 2011 at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

When you visit the Walt Disney World Resort, not a single detail is spared in turning the Central Florida park into locations all across the globe. If you pay attention to the detailed theming, your journeys through the resort will feel a lot like a trip around the world.  This is the Sunset Boulevard area of Disney's Hollywood Studios. This area is made to look like Hollywood during the golden days of film. From the vintage traffic lights to the spot filming on the streets, the details bring it all to life right before your eyes.  Taken: November 19, 2007 at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

Take a step behind the camera lens and see what it takes to bring an action scene to life at the Hollywood Backlot Tour. This former ride at Walt Disney World took you behind the scenes at what it takes to make a Hollywood film, from special effects to costumes. (Photo: January 28, 2012)

I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too.  One of the famous lines from the iconic film The Wizard of Oz comes to life during the Great Movies Ride.  The Great Movie Ride took riders through the scenes of Hollywood's biggest films.  While it was one of the popular attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios, they management decided to close the ride in 2017 to make room for Mickey and Minnie's Runway Railway which is set to open in Fall 2019 and marks the first Mickey themed ride at a Disney theme park.  (Photo: May 11, 2011)

One part theater, the other part theme park, Disney's Hollywood Studios is the place where the movies come alive. With working soundstages mixed with stage shows and rides themed after popular movies, Hollywood Studios really makes you feel like you are right in the middle of the action. (Photo: November 19, 2007)

The playful toys of Andy’s room come to life in the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade at Disney’s Hollywoood Studios.   Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Mr Potato Head were just a few of Andy’s toys to join the parade on a car made to look like Andy’s bed.   The parade combined the stars of famous Disney movies and paired them with unique cars that were themed to match the films.   This daily parade debuted in 2001 as part of the 100 Years of Magic celebration and ran daily until being retired in March 2008.   (Photo: March 27, 2007)

Lights, Camera, Action!  At Disney's Hollywood Studios, you not only get to ride thrilling rides and watch entertaining shows, you get to go behind the scenes and see how the Hollywood magic happens.  Here at the start of the Hollywood Back Lot Tour, you get to see how special effects are used to create a movie scene as you watch a shooting of an action scene for Harbor Attack.  Guests from the audience are chosen and inserted on the set to create the scene in which the final cut is revealed to guests before boarding the trams for the tour.  (Photo: April 9, 2005)

Larger than life monkeys string across the ceiling of the ride queue at Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Classic toys appear supersized throughout the line, allowing riders to flashback to their childhood and their fond memories of their favorite toys and games. (Photo: January 28, 2012)  

A prop of a World War II fighter from the blockbuster movie Pearl Harbor sits on the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World.  (Photo: May 11, 2011)

On October 1, 1971, one man's dream gave way to the Most Magical Place on Earth.  On this day forty five years ago, the ribbon was cut to the Magic Kingdom giving life to Walt Disney World.  Although Walt Disney did not live long enough to see his dream become a reality, his legacy lives on for the millions of visitors the park has welcomed over its history.  This timeline of this vision can be experienced in the One Man's Dream exhibit at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  (Photo: November 19, 2007)

In 1965, Walt Disney announced to the world his dream of the Florida Project. At the crossroads of I-4 and the Florida Turnpike, Disney planned to turn swamp land into a vacation destination. Over 50 years later, the Walt Disney World Resort continues to be one of the top travel destinations in the world. With four theme parks, a downtown entertainment hub, 2 water parks and over twenty resort hotel, the Walt Disney World Resort welcomes millions of visitors each year. You can relive the journey at the One Man's Dream exhibit at Hollywood Studios. (Photo: November 19, 2007)

Herbie the Love Bug make a guest appearance during the Light, Motors, Action stunt show at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  The iconic Volkswagen Beetle debuted on the silver screen in 1968 and has appeared in several movies since.  (Photo: March 27, 2007)

A vintage city cab sits on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Several older cars are used to represent the Golden Era of film production, helping to enhance the story at the park. (Photo: April 9, 2005)

Walt Disney's private plane sits on display along the Hollywood Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Grumman Gulfstream I was Walt Disney's personal aircraft and remained in-service for the Disney corporation until 1991. Today the plane can be seen at the rear of the Light, Camera Action soundstage at Hollywood Studios. (Photo: April 9, 2005)

A stunt actor falls from a rooftop during Lights, Motors Action at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The action packed show give the audience a behind the scenes look at how action films are made. (Photo: January 28, 2012)

Indiana Jones reaches for the Golden Idol on stage at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. The 25 minute action show brings the scenes of the movie to life all while showing the audience how action films are made. (Photo: May 11, 2011)

The animated film Beauty and the Beast comes to life on the stage of the Theater of the Stars at Hollywood Studios.  The Broadway style play follows the story of the Disney film and features all of the stars from the silver screen.  (Photo: November 19, 2007)