Disney’s Hollywood Studios has changed so much since I first visited Walt Disney World over 20 years ago. Then called Disney-MGM Studios, the park focused on stepping into the movies with attractions like The Great Movie Ride and the Studio Backlot Tour. Disney’s Hollywood Studios now features Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Toy Story Land plus Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, The Magic of Disney Animation, and Monster’s, Inc. Land all coming in the next few years.
There are still small glimpses of the “good ol’ days” and the working-studios theme. One of my favorites still around is Walt Disney Presents, located behind The Chinese Theater. If you haven’t visited in a while, it’s worth seeing since The Walt Disney Archives seems to be updating the exhibits every few months.`
Right now, Walt Disney Presents has a holiday exhibit with props and costumes from The Santa Claus films and The Muppet Christmas Carol plus vintage toys from Babes in Toyland. You can also meet Santa and enjoy a continuous showing of classic Disney Christmas cartoons. This really is an impressive collection of beloved Disney movies and one of the highlights of my holiday visits to Disney World. Plus, a theater experience with continuous cartoons is such a luxury on a busy park day. As I sat watching my son laugh and enjoy Pluto’s Christmas Tree, I smiled remembering the magic of Christmas at his age.
With the release of Taylor Swift: The End of an Era on Disney+, Walt Disney Presents recently became home to three of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour costumes bringing joy to so many Taylor Swift fans. In fact, there is a line just to walk by the display case to take pictures! It really goes to show just how much Disney is a part of and how many future exhibits are possible.
Of course I would be remiss not to mention the wonderful Walt Disney exhibits permanently on display at the front of the exhibit. Guests can see original models from as early as the opening of Disneyland to new projects like the Tropical Americas and the Encanto attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Plus, it serves as a sweet reminder of Walt Disney the man and his journey from early animation to live action films and theme parks. Disney fans will be in awe to see personal items like Walt Disney’s luggage trunk and an original animatronic from Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
With the Taylor Swift exhibit brining a new demand for Walt Disney Presents, I only hope this fuels the need for future exhibits and updates. It really is rare to see a callback to history at Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Presents serves as a constant calm in an ever-changing theme park.
