The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening

"The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening" is an episode of The Magical World of Disney. It aired on April 30, 1989, the day before Disney's Hollywood Studios opened to commemorate its grand opening.

Synopsis
Of course the special is introduced by Michael Eisner. I always liked his intros, it made these specials uniquely Disney. So the special finally opens on the recreation of the Chinese Theatre, and we pan back to get a special song from Smoky Robinson. The song is, ok. During the song we see actors in different costumes from famous movies. The song is basically them all inviting the audience to come and "experience the movies". Is that replica of the Chinese Theatre still there? Then John Ritter appears to guide us through the park, showing us all the Hollywood landmarks that were recreated around the working movie studios. There is a storyline in this, sort of; it appears John has less than two hours to get the park ready for the big grand opening! So basically the special is John checking out all the attractions to make sure they are ready.

We also get interviews from celebrities on their favorite movie memories. These include Kate Jackson, Ronald Reagan, Lech Welesa, Margaret Thatcher, Mickey Rooney, Jane Fonda, James Stewart, Stephanie Powers, and Walter Cronkite to be specific.

In the final segment we cut to John on the Earfull tower (anyone remember that??) ready to get the celebration under way. We see a parade down the main street filled with celebrities. Not going to try to list them all. Michael Eisner then cuts the ribbon, and then music numbers followed by the finale in front of the Chinese Theatre with fireworks. You can't help but watch and realize how far that place has come since it opened.

Cast

 * Harry Anderson 	... 	Himself
 * George Burns 	... 	Himself
 * Monica Lacy 	... 	Herself (as Monica Creel)
 * Leanna Creel 	... 	Herself
 * Walter Cronkite 	... 	Himself
 * Jane Fonda 	... 	Herself
 * John Forsythe 	... 	Himself
 * Estelle Getty 	... 	Herself
 * George S. Irving 	... 	Himself
 * Kate Jackson 	... 	Herself
 * Rue McClanahan 	... 	Herself
 * Ann Miller 	... 	Herself
 * Yves Montand 	... 	Himself
 * Willie Nelson 	... 	Himself
 * David Johansen 	... 	Buster Poindexter (as Buster Poindexter)
 * Stefanie Powers 	... 	Herself
 * Tony Randall 	... 	Himself
 * John Ritter 	... 	Himself
 * Smokey Robinson 	... 	Himself
 * Mickey Rooney 	... 	Himself
 * Cathy Lee Crosby 	... 	Herself
 * Janeen Damian 	... 	Dancer
 * Chasen Hampton 	... 	Himself
 * Hayley Mills 	... 	Herself
 * Anita Pointer 	... 	Herself (as The Pointer Sisters)
 * June Pointer 	... 	Herself (as The Pointer Sisters)
 * Ruth Pointer 	... 	Herself (as The Pointer Sisters)
 * Ronald Reagan 	... 	Himself
 * Suzanne Somers 	... 	Herself
 * James Stewart 	... 	Himself
 * Donna Summer 	... 	Herself
 * Margaret Thatcher 	... 	Herself
 * Lech Walesa 	... 	Himself