Ask Magically Speaking

In each issue we like to answer questions from you. What are your questions? Are you wondering about a certain attraction? Are you curious about a resort or cruise? Do you have some nagging little trivia question that you are just dying to know the answer to? If so, please send them to us. We have a great team of Disney experts and sleuths who would love to answer your questions! If you have a question, send it to us at magicallyspeaking@themouseforless.com.

Ask Magically Speaking is a regular feature in the Magically Speaking newsletter. The following Ask Magically Speaking was published in the July 30, 2007 issue
of Magically Speaking ISSN: 1556-3863

Q. I am SO confused about what is going on at MGM with Pixar! Is the name of the park changing, or just a part of the park? Could you please spell it out for me, simple-like? THANKS!!!! (Submitted by Aaron S.)

A. Hi, Aaron. That is a great question. For years, there have been rumors that Disney is going to drop the MGM from the Disney-MGM Studios name, or even had dropped it already. Every business move Disney makes seems to add a new spin to this tried and true rumor. So what's the real story? As recently as June of this year, Disney management reported to Orlando's Channel 13 that the park will not be changing its name 'anytime soon.'

So, how does this rumor persist, year after year? In a word, Disney. In order to create 'the Hollywood that never was and always will be,' Disney needed credibility and when it comes to the Golden Age of Hollywood, no studio personifies Golden Age more than Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Founded in 1924, it soon rivaled and overpowered the then-largest studio company at the time, Universal.

The caveat with using the MGM in the Disney-MGM Studios name however is that Disney is prohibited from using "MGM" in promotional materials. This is what fuels the rumor the most. Inevitably someone will get the WDW Planning DVD, for example, and note that the park is referred to as the Disney Studios. They then jump to the understandable conclusion that Disney and MGM have parted ways. In addition to this, the initial agreement was made with MGM and by the time the agreement expired, MGM Studios had been acquired by Sony, who made no public acknowledgement of whether the partnership would continue.

Then, of course, once Disney acquired Pixar (and there's little hiding the growth of Pixar's property presence at the Disney-MGM Studios), new rumors were sure to follow. The latest and strongest rumor has been that the park would formally be rechristened "Disney-Pixar Studios" once Toy Story Mania opens in 2008. It's now known that this will not happen, but Disney has acknowledged that an area of the park will be dedicated to Pixar. This is expected to be the portion of Mickey Avenue which is now closed off as work on Toy Story Mania is completed (just past the Journey into Narnia on one end and the Backlot Tour on the other end). Rumored name? Pixar Place! Another expected Pixar change to Disney-MGM's lineup next year is that the Stars and Motorcars Parade will be replaced by Disney's California Adventure's Block Party Bash, an interactive parade that features characters from Toy Story, A Bug's Life and Monsters Inc. , including characters never before seen at WDW.

Long story short, Aaron, for now the Mouse and the Lion (MGM's mascot) will continue to live in harmony.

Q. Thanks for your great answers- I always learn something new. A few issues back, there was an article in Magically Speaking about seeing the characters at Epcot (I sure do miss the Characters on Holiday!). At the end of the article, a Disney Visa photo op was mentioned. Could you tell me more about this? We don't have a Disney Visa, but if it's worth getting, we may! (Submitted by Suzanne G.)

A. Hi, Suzanne. Thank you for your kind words and your question. What you are asking about is an exclusive and private Meet & Greet opportunity with a few of the Fab Five. And best of all? It's completely free (with paid admission to Epcot, of course, and a Disney Visa card.) Between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30 pm daily, you'll find an unassuming Cast Member standing in front of a large curtain wall in Innoventions West, just past the fire engine at the Where's The Fire? exhibit. Sometimes you may encounter a small line, but usually you'll wait no more than a few minutes to go behind the curtain for your own private encounter with a combination of 2 or 3 (or perhaps more) of the Fab Five - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto.

A Photopass photographer will be on hand to take as many photos as you like and all the photos will go onto your Photopass card. Of course you can feel free to use your own camera as well. You will then be able to take the voucher provided to you by the Cast Member to Epcot's Camera Center and receive a free 5x7 print of your choosing from the Meet and Greet.

Each Disney Visa card will grant access to up to six guests and if you have two separate accounts in the household, you will be entitled to two prints. Feel free to visit up to once each day during your vacation. One fair warning however: The Meet and Greet started as a cardholder perk with the Happiest Celebration on Earth and was initially set to end on 9/30/06. It has been extended to 9/30/07. There's been no word yet if it will continue on past September of this year.

While not one offering one of the greatest reward programs available, the Disney Visa entitles you to many perks at Walt Disney World and Disneyland along with other occasional offers. For a list of full benefits, visit http://www.disneyrewards.com.

Q. I read Carol Garcia's article "Music To My Ears" and feel the same way about wanting to hear "park music." I do have the Official Album of the Walt Disney Resort and Wishes. They have many songs and melodies from the rides and the parks. What I'm looking for is the music they play while walking around the Magic Kingdom. It's instrumental music. I was there in May of this year and the music playing was from The Music Man. Also, in the MGM Studios, they play a lot of 1940s melodies while you're entering the park, like Frank Sinatra's High Hopes. Do they sell any of these "Park CDs"? If so, where can I purchase them? (Submitted by Donna)

A. Hi, Donna. Unfortunately while most (if not all) of the tracks featured in the Main Street USA loop may have previously been available at the dearly departed Disney World Forever kiosks, they are not currently being made available on any CD sold by the resort. In fact, a call (with a long hold time) to Disney information proved futile when their library refused to divulge the music list. All is not quite lost, however. Remember the days when Time Life compilation commercials would challenge you to assemble the collection yourself (at a much greater cost)? Those days may be gone but the challenge lives on. Careful digging through cyberspace has revealed this page to get your collection started: Mr. Liver's Tribute to Main Street.