LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (September 24, 2007) – What’s in a name?  Plenty, according to the folks at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  The Company recently announced plans to change the name of the Disney-MGM Studios in Florida to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  And in Southern California, Disney is renaming the guest room towers, ballrooms and breakout rooms of the famous Disneyland Hotel. 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Takes a Bow

Effective January 2008, the Disney-MGM Studios will become Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  In making the announcement to the meetings industry, George Aguel, senior vice president for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, noted that the new name better represents the experiences that the theme park offers to groups. “The new name reflects how the theme park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment that today’s Hollywood has to offer – in music, television, movies and theater,” Aguel said.

Framed by the park’s supporting cast of classic Hollywood architectural landmarks are shows and attractions straight from contemporary Hollywood, such as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.”

Since it first opened in 1989, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has become the most popular studio theme park in Florida and one of the state’s most popular private-event venues.  Its movie-themed attractions and entertainment offer a fun and exciting backdrop for opening and closing galas, receptions and networking events.

“At Disney we constantly explore new ways to deliver high-quality, immersive experiences for our groups,” Aguel said.  “As a theme park that’s all about entertainment, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will deliver like never before.  Now we can say that Hollywood is literally our middle name.” 

New Names at the Disneyland Hotel in California   

The guest-room towers, ballrooms and meeting rooms at the Disneyland Hotel in California have also been renamed. 

According to Aguel, the changes help capture the spirit of the Southern California landmark.  “The new names pay homage to the rich history of the Disneyland Resort,” Aguel said, “and they reflect the hotel’s unique legacy and the one-of-a-kind experience it offers for meetings and conventions.”     

The three hotel towers – Dreams, Magic and Wonder – feature a total of 990 rooms and suites. The hotel’s 136,000-square-foot convention center carries out the Disney theme with the 18,000- square-foot Disneyland Grand Ballroom and the 14,400-square-foot Magic Kingdom Ballroom.  Breakout rooms now also feature names like Fantasy, Frontier, Tomorrow and Adventure, evoking the fun and distinguished heritage of the Disneyland Resort. 

The Disneyland Resort in Southern California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida offer incomparable experiences for meetings and events.  Each destination is home to award-winning accommodations, world-class meeting and event venues, sophisticated nightlife, and a wide variety of entertainment and recreation options.  More than facilities, a meeting or event at Disney opens the door to an array of exclusive Disney Difference benefits, including private events in the Disney theme parks, powerful program content by the Disney Institute, and exclusive theme park meeting/convention tickets – all of it delivered with Disney’s legendary commitment to creativity and service.