3. Monster Sound Show

A comedy horror spoof starring Chevy Chase and Martin Short, the Monster Sound Show introduced visitors to the world of Foley artists—the people who provide sound effects for movie and television productions. Audience members were selected to create all the sounds for the short film after watching it only once with the sound effects in place. The results were generally hilarious, and both the new Foley artists and the audience left with a much greater appreciation for the hard work of the Foley department.

The post-show, Sound Works, provided numerous hands-on activities where guests could experiment with sound. From dialogue replacement in scenes from classic Disney animated features to a 3-D sound presentation, it was easy to spend an hour checking everything out.

The Monster Sound Show closed in 1999 to make room for the decidedly less interactive Sounds Dangerous, starring Drew Carey. Though the sound presentation was solid and even fun, it marked a fundamental change at the park from active, guest-driven experiences to passive entertainment. Sounds Dangerous closed in 2012, and the building is now used for film previews.

4. Superstar Television

Superstar Television allowed guests to perform alongside the stars of some of television’s most classic episodes via the magic of chroma key technology. Volunteers were cast in the pre-show holding area, mostly by jumping up and down and screaming to get the emcee’s attention. They were taken backstage for costumes and makeup while the rest of the audience watched a short intro film.

Inside the theater, guests were taken through a broadcast “day,” with each performance playing out at its designated broadcast hour. Highlighted shows included “I Love Lucy,” “General Hospital,” “Cheers,” “The Golden Girls,” and “The Late Show With David Letterman.” Newsworthy events were also noted, from the 1955 opening of Disneyland to the 1969 Apollo Moon Landing.

In a nod to the changeover from working film studio to pure theme park, Superstar Television closed in 1998 to make room for the Doug Live! kids show, which lasted until 2001. The building sat empty for years, other than hosting occasional special events, until the American Idol Experience opened in 2009. That show closed in 2014, and the building is again vacant.

5. Celebrity Guest Appearances

In the early years, Disney completed the effect of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with frequent appearances by celebrity guests. Ever wonder how all those handprints ended up outside the Chinese Theater? Almost every weekend, a different star would perform an elaborate handprint ceremony, like those done in Hollywood, followed by a question and answer session.

In addition, the park also hosted a semi-regular “A Conversation With…” evening series. Located in one of the theater buildings, this was a bit more formal than the afternoon Q&As, and typically lasted an hour or more. Betty White, George Burns, and Patty Duke were just three of the Hollywood legends who appeared at these sessions.

Of course, Star Wars Weekends still draws its share of celebrity guests. In general, however, like the rest of Hollywood East, the stars have moved on.

It is not yet clear what the future holds for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is undergoing a massive refurbishment and yet another name change. But one thing is certain—Disney might have gotten its movie park up and running first, but it has yet to achieve the astronomical success of its rival, Universal Orlando, which weathered similar changes to its core vision in a much more coherent manner.