Magic Behind the Music: MGM – Hollywood Boulevard – Area Loop
Hooray for Hollywood! The D-COT Jukebox has featured this area loop, one of the first you hear as you enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios, since October 7, 2010. Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park opened as Disney-MGM Studios on May 1, 1989 as the third theme park to become part of Walt Disney World. In fact, some long-time Disney fans still refer to the park as “MGM Studios” even since the name was changed ten years ago. Disney, then under CEO Michael Eisner, set out to create a theme park built around movie magic and the idea of classic Hollywood. Hollywood was never quite like how Disney has made it here, but that’s what makes the park a little extra magical. As Eisner put it, it’s “a Hollywood that never was – and always will be.”
After you enter through the gates, you find yourself looking down Hollywood Boulevard, a street lined with palm trees and shops designed to evoke the feeling of 1930s-1950s Hollywood. Then as now, a replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre draws you forward into the park, but from 2001 to 2015, it was a giant version of the sorcerer’s hat from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” starring Mickey Mouse from Disney’s “Fantasia”. The theatre used to be home to the Great Movie Ride which was one of only two attractions to debut with the theme park when it opened (the other being the, also closed, Backlot Tour).
The area loop for Hollywood Boulevard contains instrumental tunes from many classic films of the 1930s-1950s. It so perfectly adds to the area’s visual surroundings that it truly completes the feeling of being in Hollywood, especially at night with the neon signs aglow. It may take more than one visit for the average park guest to notice the music, but when they slow down and soak in their surroundings, it really sinks in and becomes a favorite. Taking a look at our D-COT community alone, 365 members have marked it as a favorite with Supporters adding it to 59 custom playlists. The really impressive number is in the play count of 55,950 which places it at number 19 on the Top 25 Played Overall list. If quantity wasn’t enough, quality also is noteworthy as it holds a 4.8/5 average rating with 136 votes, placing it at number 25 on the Top 25 Rated list. So if you find yourself wondering why another track hasn’t made that final cut yet, remember which one holds the benchmark in first billing. Let this area loop transport you back to Disney’s Hollywood Boulevard, and next time you get a chance to visit in person, find that perfect camera angle, tune your mouse ears, and start rolling!
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Nascfan
Another great article and a great loop! This is a wonderful addition to my Office Loops. Thanks so much!
Acamm
One of the best Disney loops hands down. Hooooray for Hollyyyyyyyyyyyyywood!!
jman410_89
I still miss the old loop. Thank you for another article.
dngnb8
Loving loops
starbee
I ADORE the old Hollywood feel of Hollywood Studios! (Although I still call it MGM from time to time, force of habit
) it’s so beautiful, especially at night 
This loop is a perfect fit with the scenery and is equally beautiful! I listen to it all the time 