A visit to Disney Studios, Burbank Quiz

Answer: Keystone Gate

Originally, the primary entrance was the "Buena Vista" gate, but it was changed, and the main entrance is the "Alameda" gate. The "Buena Vista" gate is used mainly for visitors these days. Keystone is on the back side of the lot and is the only street that doesn't have a gate.

Answer: Palm Trees

The banner and palm trees were put up at the "Alameda" gate to mark it as the main entrance. It's the entrance the executives, VIP, and important guests use. Most visitors park at the original "Buena Vista" gate, and most cast members use the "Riverside" Gate. The gates are obviously named after the streets on which they are located.

Answer: Zorro

Yes, this area was once all of Mexico and Baja California for Zorro to ride around in. Mickey and Friends is the name of the largest parking structure in the world, at the Disneyland Resort.

Answer: ABC Commissary and Studio Commissary

The Studio Commissary is one of the original structures on the lot. There are a lot of pictures on the walls of classic animation and historical shots of the past. You can see photos of the original Mickey Mouse Club getting milk here, and Walt entertaining visiting VIP's with some of his original chili. Walt didn't eat chili every day, but he wanted it on the menu every day in case he was in the mood. Today, the Studio Commissary still has chili on the menu every day, and some days it is even Walt's own original recipe. Big D by the way is at the Walt Disney Imagineering complex in Glendale.

Answer: The walkway to the ABC building

One of the buildings on the lot is the ABC headquarters built across Riverside from the main lot. The area used to be used for the transportation department. The ABC building is right next door to the Feature Animation building (the one with the Mickey Sorcerer's Apprentice hat).

The problem is that it requires you to cross Riverside Drive, so a pedestrian bridge was built over the street. It's blue and is a funny wavy design, so directions all over the lot point to the wavy blue line as the ABC overcrossing.

Answer: True

Across from the commissary is the Employee Center. In the same building is a Disney Store. There is some unique merchandise that is only found on the studio lot, but most of the items are standard Disney Store items. I always found it odd that the Employee Center is about the only place where you can find the word Employee used anywhere at Disney. It's always Cast Member.

Answer: The Magical Holiday Faire in November

On the Saturday before Thankgsiving, Disney hosts the Annual Magical Holiday Faire on the studio lot. It's a very large craft fair, and is really nice. A photo op with Mickey and Minnie, seasonal snacks and cookies, fun things for the kids to do, and lots and lots of shopping make this a really fun event.

In the morning it's cast members and friends only, but at about 11:00 they open the gates to the public. It's a great event if you're in Burbank in November!

Answer: The Seven Dwarfs

Six of the Dwarfs hold up the lower level of the roof, and Dopey holds up the top! Dopey has a tendency to dress up, and for Christmas you'll always see him with a giant Santa hat! In 2002 though, Dopey disappeared, and the sneaky little blue guy from outer space, Stitch, from "Lilo and Stitch" took his place. Actually Stitch not only took over lots of classic cartoons in the previews, he was seen in at least three spots on the lot. One on the Team Disney Building, one on the Water Tower, and one above the guard shack at the "Buena Vista" gate.

Answer: All of these

Many people belive that lenders did require the design of the building so that it could be used as a hospital in case the studio failed, which almost happened in the early 1940's! It's been a long told story of why the design is so unusual, but I personally believe the story that it provided natural sunlight so that artists could see the colors correctly. I think all of the reasons are correct and true, but at least all three answers are regularly given for the zig-zagged design.

It's a unique building, but I'm glad it was never needed for a hospital.

Answer: There is an underground tunnel that connects the animation to the ink & paint building.

The underground tunnel is still there, and it can be used, but it's a bit narrow and dark. I'd rather go the outside way! But it was handy during the occasional rainstorm. Animators drew the outlines of the characters on the cells, they were taken to Ink & Paint for the artists there to paint in the colors on the back side of the cell, then on to the Camera Building to be filmed, etc.

It was a very convenient setup. If you visit the studio, the first floor walkway of the original Animation building is an interesting learning experience on the methods of animation. Walt had two offices on the lot, a working office, and the top NorthEast corner office in the Animation Building was his "Formal Office" where he entertained visitors.

This office is used by Walt's nephew, Roy.

Answer: Plaques on the pillars with the Name, Area, and Handprints, if possible, of the honorees.

Legends Plaza used to have a fountain and a reflecting pool, but leakage problems forced the studio to abandon the water some years ago. It's home to the plaques that honor cast memebers who have been selected Disney Legends. In all areas of the company from Attractions, to Artists, to Musicians, to TV and Movie Stars, to Voice Actors, and many, many more are there. Cast Members who were still alive when they were honored can put their handprints on the plaques that honor them.

When I go through the Legends Plaza I always put my hands on the handprints of my favorite, Annette, but no guy my age doesn't still have a crush on Annette Funnicello!

Answer: Profits from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

Since "Snow White" was such a big hit, and it looked like Feature Animation was going to be around for a while ("Pinocchio," #2 was already done.) Walt needed a bigger home. So he plowed the profits back into the new studio in Burbank.

Answer: The US Army moved in

The US Army moved on the lot on December 8, 1941. Though the studio also made numerous army propaganda films, one of the cartoons, Donald's "Der Fuehrer's Face" was released Jan 1, 1943 and went on to win an academy award. If not for the military, The Walt Disney Company might not have survived the war years.

Answer: Disney does cartoons and does not need them.

Over the years more sound stages were added, but the Disney Studios still has the fewest of it's neighbors in the area. They are very busy with TV shows and feature films. But in the 50's the sound stages served a very different purpose. Most of the rides and attractions were built inside the sound stages and moved to Disneyland later. Disneyland was originally planned in a vacant area across the river from the studio in Burbank, but fortunately the Anaheim location was chosen and it was much larger and better that it would have been in Burbank.

Answer: To record the sound track for "Fantasia"

Planes taking off and landing at the nearby Burbank Airport would ruin the orchestral soundtrack for "Fantasia" (released in 1940). A small soundproof sound stage was built on the lot to allow the orchestra to play without the noise of the planes.

Answer: Kingswell Avenue

This studio was in the back half of a real estate office in Hollywood. There was also a whole store next door that was used for a little while before the company moved to the Hyperion Studios.

Answer: Hyperion

"Steamboat Willie," Mickey's third cartoon, but the first one released (Walt couldn't sell the first two because they were silent) was released to rave reviews on Novenber 18, 1928. It was at the Hyperion Studios that the Silly Symphonies were born. The highlight of the studios was the production and release of "Snow White" ("Disney's Folly" as it was called by the naysayers). There is a lot of excellent footage showing the Hyperion Studios on the "Snow White" Special Edition DVD extra features.

Answer: May 6, 1940

The move to the new studio must have been an exciting time. However war broke out a year later, and the studio really suffered. Fortunately the studio was saved and turned into a very successful venture to say the least, but it was touch and go in the beginning years. So many great movies and TV shows were made here.

It turned out to be a lot more than a bunch of old men drawing cartoons!

Answer: True

This was originally a water tower, but for many years has not been used for anything more than an icon for the studio. It's visible from the 101 freeway. It's humorous to hear guides on the Universal Studios Tour point out the Disney Lot by referencing the Mickey Water Tower off in the distance.

However, at one point, Mickey was missing from the water tower. He was replaced for a year by a playful blue alien named Stitch! Finally, though, Mickey came back to his rightful place atop the water tower.

Answer: The Disney Studio

It was Roy himself who suggested (insisted?) in changing the name the first time from The Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, to Walt Disney Studio. Roy felt it was important for consumers to identify the studio with an individual person, and Walt was the creative partner. Later the name was changed to Walt Disney Productions, mostly because of Disneyland, but mostly because the company was branching out beyond a simple movie studio.

The final name change was to "The Walt Disney Company."