MGM and Disney

[betterlatethannever]

What is the arrangement between Disney and MGM?

Is it expiring soon?

We were on the Illuminations cruise this past Sunday and when the boat got down to MGM, the HAT was brought up. The CM driver mentioned that the hat is planned to be taken down.

HOWEVER, it depends on whether MGM stays or not. If they leave, it would be called Disney Studios and the hat would STAY in order to block the view of the Chinese theater (since it is part of MGM).

Any information on any of this?

Ed

 

[daber]

Doesn't make sense to me. I don't believe Gramans (sp?) Chinese Theater is owned by MGM. I hope the hat does come down, but doubt it since it seems to be the new park icon. It also struck me funny that it is a constant reminder of Paul Pressler, since it was one of the last things constructed under his regime, and he changed the park icon from a watertower into a store.

 

[mrsapalm]

Here's the history on Grauman's (Mann's) Chinese Theatre - too long to post all the info.
http://www.press-manntheatres.com/
It's not owned by MGM.
-MrsAPalm

 

[dansyr]

I don't know if this means anything but on the new vacation planning video.....MGM is referred to as Disney studios.

 

[raidermatt]

There's an older thread on this that explains why the planning videos refer to the park as Disney Studios. It has something to do with the contractual arrangement between the two companies, and in what types of materials the MGM name can and cannot be used.

Last year's video also called it Disney Studios.

 

[aurora713]

When I was a CM (fall 2000), we were under the impression that the Hat was not only being built for the 100 Years Celebration, but also as a new focal point for the Studios...like the other parks have - Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, Tree of Life. The Chinese Theater isn't such a powerful "logo" as the others, and the Earful Tower isn't either.

The Theater isn't an MGM thing, it's a Hollywood thing.

Another thing I heard back then was that part of the reason for not changing to Disney Studios was the cost of the name change. It will take quite awhile, and a lot of $$$ to get everything changed over.

I don't know anything about the setup with MGM though.