19 things you probably didn't know about Disney's Hollywood Studios

Before Disney's Hollywood Studios was its own theme park, the idea behind it started as a movie- and entertainment-themed pavilion in Epcot's Future World, according to History.com.

The Walt Disney Imagineers had so many ideas that it quickly outgrew the pavilion size and was transformed in its own park — originally called Disney-MGM Studios — which opened in May 1989.

It started out as both a theme park and a fully functioning film and TV studio, but today, Hollywood Studios is only focused on its attractions.

When Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in 1989, there were five attractions: The Great Movie Ride, the Studio Backlot Tour, The Magic of Disney Animation Tour, the Monster Sound Show, and Superstar Television.

By 2017, there were no opening-day attractions left after The Great Movie Ride closed to make way for the newly debuted Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

Hollywood Studios, then MGM Studios, used to have parades dedicated to individual films to celebrate their releases.

Disney did this for movies like "Mulan," "Hercules," "Aladdin," and "Toy Story."

When the parades ended their runs at the park some floats got repurposed later on. For example, the Genie float from the "Aladdin" parade was also in Magic Kingdom's 25th-anniversary parade.

One of the opening-day attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios was The Magic of Disney Animation, where visitors could see a real animation studio working on new Disney movies.

While it was still a working studio, three classic Disney animated films were made there: "Mulan," "Lilo and Stitch," and "Brother Bear."

Although it's not an opening-day attraction, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular has been entertaining guests since a few months after the park opened.

Throughout the beginning of the show, audience members watch a reenactment of an iconic scene from "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" where the hero has to outrun a giant boulder.

Right after the boulder "runs over" the performer, everything resets and the crew shows the audience the behind-the-scenes secrets for capturing that action-packed shot. Although a few crew members seem to roll the giant boulder back into place with relative ease, it actually weighs about 440 pounds, according to WDW Magazine.

When Disney's Hollywood Studios debuted its latest attraction, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, in March, guests flocked to the park to hop on the new ride.

But even avid fans may not have noticed one of the coolest parts about the train: Its whistle is a recording of the one from Walt Disney's original animated short "Steamboat Willie," according to D23.

Mickey is the ultimate mascot of the Disney parks, and he's been around since the 1920s, but Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is actually the very first ride-based attraction that prominently features the iconic mouse and his pals.

To make it feel like you're really at a rock concert, each Rock 'n' Roller Coaster ride vehicle is equipped with a 125-speaker, 24-subwoofer, 32,000-watt audio system.

Every rider has five speakers around them in their ride vehicle — four around their head, and one in the seat — for an optimal sound experience.

One of the most popular restaurants at Disney's Hollywood Studios is the Hollywood Brown Derby, which is modeled after the original Brown Derby restaurant in California.

The menu offers recreations of three of the famous dishes served at the original Brown Derby: the Shirley Temple cocktail, the grapefruit cake, and the Cobb salad — which was created by Bob Cobb, the owner of the historic restaurant.

Fans of Star Wars can finally know what it's like to pilot the Millennium Falcon on Smugglers Run.

The attraction is normally hosted by Hondo Ohnaka, from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," but the ride also has a secret "Chewie Mode" where Chewbacca directs riders in his distinct growl.

To activate the mode, you'll have to push the right combination of buttons before takeoff, kind of like a video-game cheat code.

Hidden Mickeys are little nods to Mickey Mouse — whether in the form of three circles or a full-body silhouette — found all around the Disney parks.

The recently opened Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is home to the most hidden Mickeys of any other Disney park attraction to date, according to PopSugar.

There are also other fun Easter eggs on the ride that are connected to Disney history.

The nighttime show at Disney's Hollywood Studios, "Fantasmic," is about 25 minutes long.

During that time, Mickey Mouse has five outfit changes: tuxedo Mickey, classic Mickey, Sorcerer Mickey, Steamboat Willie, and "The Brave Little Tailor" Mickey.

"Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage" is Walt Disney World's longest-running stage show, and it opened on November 22, 1991 — the same day that the animated film "Beauty and the Beast" premiered in US theaters.

When the park first opened it had working sound stages that were home to many shows of the early 1990s, including "The All New Mickey Mouse Club."

The show featured some of today's biggest stars, like Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears.

When Disney's Hollywood Studios was being built, Walt Disney Imagineering knew there had to be a park icon that drew people down the main walkways and into the heart of the park.

They decided to build a replica of the famous TCL Chinese Theatre at the center of the park, and, according to WDW Radio, Imagineers actually used the blueprints from the original building in California to make sure they got it exactly right.

Although Audrey Hepburn's handprints and signature can be found outside of the replica of the Chinese Theatre at Hollywood Studios, they aren't actually in front of the real theater.

When the Star Tours ride was being developed, Disney reached out to Lucasfilm — which wasn't owned by Disney at that point — to get some of the movie stars to reprise their iconic roles for the attraction.

Both Anthony Daniels and Carrie Fisher returned to their roles as C-3PO and Princess Leia, respectively, for the ride.

Inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge there is a blue and gray X-Wing ship near the exit of Rise of the Resistance that's actually a prop from Disney Plus' "The Mandalorian."

The ship was used in a short sequence on season one, episode six when other X-Wing pilots fire at a space station that Mando escapes from, according to an episode of "Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian."

Hollywood Studio's Toy Story Land is supposed to make guests feel like toys in Andy's backyard, and the theme is brought to life with fun details like giant string lights, super-tall pencils, and plenty of toys.

According to WFTS Tampa Bay, there are also over 400 toy blocks scattered throughout the land.

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