85th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank
This month marks the 85th anniversary of The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. While Walt Disney had a couple of other smaller studio locations previously, this location has flourished for decades and has remained the headquarters of The Walt Disney Company. We’ll look at how these studios came about, how it became a world-class facility, what set it apart from other movie studios in town, and why it was such an “employee-friendly” place. And we’ll look at how all that still happens today! With all of this we’ll share some lessons for any business location or place of business. And we’ll also suggest how it contrasts with Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as it points to a particular problem the Studios has that is different than the other Walt Disney World theme park experiences. So join us for the 85th anniversary of The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.
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The Studios Today
It is fascinating to know that most all of the buildings created some 85 years ago still stand today. The animation and entertainment medium has evolved considerably, and many of those facilities now serve a different purpose, but they still stand today. Around it other a new animation building, other soundstages, and offices such as the Roy E. Disney Building, the Team Disney, Michael D. Eisner Building, the Frank Wells Building and the ABC Building have added considerably to the studio complex. But at its heart, The Walt Disney Studios still very much follows the same concepts and principles it set out to accomplish decades ago when it was built.
A Welcoming Place
A World Class Studio Facility
It is a world class studio these days with seven soundstages, and post facilities with digital studio technologies. Disney animation is now about CG and has the best facilities for its animators to create product.
A Park Like Setting
While the studio is most importantly functional, it has a campus look that is truly unique, especially compared to film and television studios today. There are still well kept lawns, shrubs and hedges, big shade trees, and park benches to sit under. The marker for Dopey Drive and Mickey Avenue is still there. Legends Plaza near the Team Disney building pays homage to the Disney Legends over the years with hand prints of those who made a significant contribution, bookended with statues of Walt and Roy O. Disney. There is still a sense of heritage and tradition, and one feels very much like they’ve been to a very special place.
An “Employee-Friendly” Place
Support services for studio personnel still include
- Commissary now known as the Buena Vista Cafe.
- The Hyperion Health Club which is more open to all employees than the Penthouse was
- A Studio Store
- Childcare Facilities
- Partner’s Credit Union
- Starbucks on Location
Souvenirs for You and Your Organization
Consider the following when it comes to your own workspace and facilities:
- How do you invest in making it easier for others to do their work?
- How does your physical environment support your ability to get the job done?
- How does your physical environment support the productivity of the work performed?
- What messages does your work environment say about your culture?
Disney’s Hollywood Studios–A Contrast
There is an obvious difference between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Disney Burbank Studios. The latter is a functioning studio that creates motion pictures. That wasn’t always the case, and in truth there was a modest volume of work–and even some important animation work–that came from the earlier days when it was Disney-MGM Studios.
But that isn’t the contrast I want to point to. The difference between the two actually is the same difference that exists between it, and Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There is little, if any park! The Burbank Studios stood apart from other Hollywood Studios because if its campus like feel with green lawns, shrubbery, tall trees and flowers. Of all the Walt Disney World theme parks, this is the least park like. Sure you are in Andy’s backyard at Toy Story Playland. And there is the outpost where Rise of the Resistance is staged for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. But it seems that every major segment of the park is an urban segment. Make no mistake, I love Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. But Animation Courtyard, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Plaza, Commissary Lane, Mickey Avenue and Grand Avenue are fairly abysmal. Little shade and in some instances, not pleasant spaces altogether. And the announcement of another urban space like Monstropolis only extends this look. Don’t miss me, I’ll probably come to like the land and its theming. But I won’t like the park. It seems the only redeeming part of the Studios in terms of park space is around Echo Lake.
A great example of this is Pixar Place at the end of Mickey Avenue in the park. In truth, this area, which used to be an entry point for Toy Story Mania (before that became part of Toy Story Land) was filled with theming (bricks matched the Pixar studios in California) and even a very cool animatronic Pixar Lamp (long since broken). It then became an Incredibles Zone (?) before being titled as Pixar Place. They close it off in the evening, maybe to keep unknowing guests from hitting a dead end of nothing. But it is another urban space with no park appeal at all. It’s dead and it’s ugly. Turn the corner and head toward Toy Story Land and you get what I call the Studio Walk of Shame where nothing makes sense of any sort until you enter Toy Story land. And while there is greenery in Toy Story Land, none of it falls on you mid-day, mid-summer. You can literally end up melting in a concrete foot print of Andy.
The best solution is what is happening at The Walt Disney Studios, soon to become Disney’s Adventure Park. They too had some of these urban looking spaces, and are working to create a much more park-like experience as you move down the center boulevard toward Adventure Bay. The Frozen and Lion King additions will also utilize a lot more landscaping. I think this needs to be the thought as the Studios moves to occupy the remaining spaces to add attractions and lands. It needs lands that are evergreen and lush, not more concrete and building.
Time to Travel!
Hopefully this podcast has made you realize you need help and support in planning your next trip to Disney. David and Leah with Zanolla Travel know Disney in ways few do and they can make your next trip on land or sea an exciting one–or at least less stressful! Be sure to contact them as you explore your next vacation, whether it is a Disney theme park vacation, a cruise, or an Adventure by Disney. There is no charge to utilize their services, but it will save you enormous time getting all the details right, and with their insight you can be assured you’re going to experience the best trip possible. Contact them today!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
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