Disney-Carwardine Studios Minneapolis

Disney-Carwardine Studios Minneapolis is production studio and theme park owned in part by Disney and part by Carwardine Parks. It is one of the three Carwardine owned studios, the others are in Virginia (Dept. 2 Studios) and Japan (Dept. 2 International). The park opened in 1991.

The film is based mainly on Disney, Touchstone, Miramax, 20th Century Studios, and MGM films, and is one of the largest theme parks in Minnesota.

History/Development
Brad Bird, Chris Carwardine, Michael Eisner, Luis Beltré Altobelli, Tony Baxter and Roy E. Disney led the development.

Several design changes went through, some after construction started, to the point where overpasses and underpasses had to be built to connect lands.

In 2001, the park celebrated it's 10th anniversary.

In 2020, all the rides were closed due to COVID, but the walk-throughs were open with mask requirements and social distancing.

In 2021, the park had a full reopening and celebrated it's 30th anniversary.

Rides & Attractions

 * The Dapper Dans of Minnesota (1995; barbershop quartet performing around the area)
 * Disney Legends Tribute (1991; an old mill ride based on the Disney Legends)
 * The Great Movie Ride (1991; based on every film they have the rights too)
 * The World of Disney TV Animation (1995; based on every Disney animated TV show)
 * Wonder-Go-Round (1999; A 5 abreast 64-foot Huss-TechEruo Carousel with figures ranging from traditional horses and menagerie figures to notable cartoon characters, alongside many more (certain figures change every few years); its soundtrack consists of synthesized orchestral music)

Gift Shops

 * The Darkroom (1991-present)

Restaurants

 * VIP Cafe (1991-present)

Former Rides

 * Backlot Tour (1991-2002; closed due to the studio itself being moved to the other side of the park)

Rides & Attractions

 * The Simpsons Experience (1991-2007 & 2019; a motion simulator themed to the Simpsons)
 * Blazing Dragons: Quest for Camelhot... Maybe (2003; a Sally Corporation dark ride, based on Blazing Dragons)
 * Pink Panther Diamond Hunt (1991; a BHS/Schwarzkopf family roller coaster, based on the Pink Panther films)
 * Monsters Inc. The Door Chase (2002; a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster 342m)
 * Phineas & Ferb: The Coolest Coaster Ever (2008; a Vekoma Junior Coaster 247m synchronized to "Gitchee Gitchee Goo" by PFT)

Gift Shops

 * Kwik-E-Mart (2019)

Restaurants

 * Krusty Burger (2019)

Former Rides

 * Cars Racing Simulator (2008-2018; motion simulator themed to the Cars franchise, closed due to the Simpsons being bought by Disney, relocated to El Kadsre Disneyland, replaced with the Simpsons Experience)
 * DuckTales: The Quest For The Lucky Dime (1991-2007; An Arrow Mine Coaster, closed due to lack of foot traffic to offset the high maintenance cost, replaced with Phineas & Ferb: The Coolest Coaster Ever, coaster relocated to Mt. Olympus where it remained in storage until finally being scrapped in 2023, most of the theming, however, was thrown away)
 * Flintstones: Yabba Dabba Coaster (1991-2001; a TOGO Standup Coaster, closed due to licensing issues and TOGO going bankrupt, sold to Six Flags and relocated to Six Flags Winnipeg, replaced with Monsters Inc. The Door Chase)

Rides & Attractions

 * Splash Lagoon (1991; An indoor Hopkins log flume ride, based on the film Splash)

Gift Shops

 * Romcom Shop (1991)

Rides & Attractions

 * Gaston's Standup Slayer (1991; B&M Standup, based on Beauty and the Beast)
 * The Great Mouse Detective and The Secret of NIMH: An Adventure Together (2005-present; motion simulator ride, crossover between The Great Mouse Detective and The Secret of NIMH)
 * Redwall: Fight for Victory (2001; B&M Floorless coaster, based on Redwall)
 * Toad Patrol: Race to Toad Hollow (2019; RMC Raptor Track, clone of Wonder Woman Golden Lasso at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, based on Toad Patrol)
 * Xanadu Bolt (2013; Vekoma SLC, based on the Xanadu musical while taking some elements from the film)

Restaurants

 * Be Our Guest (1991)

Former Rides

 * ToonTown Trolley Coaster (1991-2003; An Arrow Steeplechase coaster, scrapped due to high maintenance costs, area replaced with a ToonTown Online exhibit, and once the game closed, was fenced off)

Rides & Attractions

 * Buzz Lightyear's AstroCoaster (2002; A B&M Hyper Coaster)
 * Mega Man X: The Ride
 * Power Rangers Live! (1995; live show, based on the Power Rangers franchise and currently featuring the Beast Morphers team)
 * Star Tours (1991; motion simulator, based on Star Wars)
 * The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror (1996; an OTIS/WED Elevator Drop ride, first of the "Lite" models with a shorter queue area to debut)

Restaurants

 * Pizza Planet (2002)

Rides & Attractions

 * Coasterblanca (1994; A B&M Family Inverted coaster, similar to Flight Deck at Kings Island but built by B&M, based on Casablanca)

Rides & Attractions

 * Bluey’s 4D Adventure (2022; A SimEx-Iwerks 4D film attraction)
 * Garfield's Pounce 'n Bounce (1999; A Zamperla Family Gravity 80STD coaster, considered the “prototype” of the model)
 * 3 Ninjas Rad Playground (1994; A PlayTech playground)
 * JoJo's Circus: The Big Fun Ride (2005; a MSC Incorporated Wild Mouse Coaster with Sally Corporation dark ride elements, based on JoJo's Circus)
 * PB&J Otter: A Day Out in Lake Hoohaw (2001; a live show with singing & dancing, based on PB&J Otter)
 * Pooh's Hunny Pots (1991; A Zamperla Teacups ride themed to honey pots, has an animatronic centerpiece of Winnie the Pooh popping out of the honey pot)

Rides & Attractions

 * The Magnificent Seven: The Ride (1996; a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster, based off The Magnificent Seven)

Gift Shops

 * Al's Toy Barn (2000)

Rides & Attractions

 * Armageddeon Space Force (2005; a Setpoint USA Suspended Coaster with laser tag and interactive game elements, based off Armageddeon)
 * Die Hard Tower (2019; a KMG Afterburner, based off Die Hard)

Rides & Attractions

 * The Secret of NIMH Experience (2013; a MSC Incorporated Sit-Down/Wild Mouse Hybrid Coaster with Sally Corporation dark ride elements, based on The Secret of NIMH)
 * Watership Down: Catch That Kehaar! (2003; a Vekoma Junior Coaster, custom layout, with Sally Corporation dark ride elements, based on Watership Down)

Studios

 * Studio Complex
 * Studio 1
 * Studio 2
 * Studio 3
 * Studio 4
 * Studio 5
 * Studio 6
 * Studio 7
 * KSPM-TV Studios (Studio 8)
 * Studio 9
 * Roy E. Disney Pavilion at Disney-Carwardine Studios Minneapolis (2000; an outdoor amphitheater with 5,103 seats (20,000 on lawn), one of Minneapolis' biggest outdoor music venues)

Trivia

 * There was originally going to be an animation land, but Brad Bird rejected it due to "animation not being a genre".
 * Readers of Coasters have voted the park to be "The Best Theme Park in Minnesota" seven times in the magazine's "Best U.S. Theme Parks by State/Territory" polls.
 * The RKO Network's Minneapolis affiliate KSPM-TV has it's studios located in the studio portion of the park.
 * Several movies are filmed there along with Mall of America.
 * This park is the only park to get a 10/10 on MovieThemeParks.com.