Where is "MGM"?

[yoko]

I just received the new WDW promotional DVD in the mail, and noticed that they say "Disney Studios" instead of "Disney MGM Studios." Even the entrance gate shown on the video clip is digitally altered to erase the "MGM" part. What happened?

 

[ivanova]

I'd heard a couple of years ago that Disney was planning on dropping MGM from the park name ... is it possible that some contract has expired (or will expire shortly??)

 

[rangebob]

They get rid of it one month the next month they bring it back. This has been going on for several years now. If they actually have it in a video now maybe the talk will actually stop and they will actually do it. I know that when I was in the Reservation center they told us that we couldn't say Disney MGM Studios but Disney Studios. As they told us MGM is in Los Vegas or in California and is a different company not Disney.

 

[Chuck S]

It probably also has something to do with a marketing agreement between the 2 companies to maintain the distinction between (the now defunct) MGM park in Las Vegas and WDW. Rumors have been around for years that MGM wants out of the Disney-MGM studios agreements.

 

[drusba]

A few years back the agreement concerning MGM sponsorship was expiring and Disney started taking "MGM" out of its promo materials. Then an agreeement to extend was reached and Disney started adding "MGM" back into its promo materials. However, that extension is apparently only to 2004 and thus Disney is again taking "MGM" out of its promo material. Note it is not necessarily Disney that wants to end the relationship as it was mentioned during prior round it was more MGM. More likely, neither is too anxious to continue the relationship involving the park but then neither is too anxious to completely end it either despite that they are movie rivals.

 

[kevind65]

As far back as 1996 or 97'(i'm not sure which) we were told that the park would now be referred to as "disney studios" instead of "mgm studios". we even have some merchandise(t-shirts and the sort) that just say "disney studios". every year we go back and it's something different.

 

[Carpe'Disney]

The funny thing about the name changing back and forth is the Disney corporation not knowing what to do. Here is a link to the official website that lists one of the big 4 as Disney-MGM studios
disney
too funny