Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in 1989. The Walt Disney World park welcomed guests on May 1, 1989, under the original name Disney–MGM Studios Theme Park. It was the resort’s third theme park, following the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.
The park was designed around the entertainment industry, combining movie-making attractions, studio-themed environments, live shows, and behind-the-scenes experiences. Its opening reflected Disney’s interest in competing with the growing popularity of movie-studio attractions, particularly Universal Studios Florida, which opened nearby in 1990.
The park’s name changed to Disney-MGM Studios in 2008 and then to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2008, though the exact transition is often summarized differently because the rebranding was announced and implemented during the same year. Today, its identity emphasizes cinematic stories and imagined Hollywood rather than functioning as a working film studio.
A common mix-up is confusing the park’s opening year with the opening of other Walt Disney World attractions or resorts. The dates in the choices—1982, 1990, and 1998—refer to other Disney milestones, not this park’s debut.