THE BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE

A war was starting to take place between two giant entertainment companies. 
In 1981, MCA, owners of Universal Studios, bought land in Florida for a movie studio and theme park. Michael Eisner decided he wanted Disney to beat them to the market. The Walt Disney Company announced in 1985 that it would build a $300-million studio tour in Orlando and it would open one year before Universal. In March, MCA decided to up the ante by announcing a major $75 million expansion at Universal City that would boost attendance by 50% to 6 million per year.  The expansion would include an E.T. ride, a Back to the Future ride, an attraction called Earthquake - San Francisco, and a stunt show based on the television show Miami Vice.  

Disney fired back with the announcement of an agreement with the city of Burbank to purchase 40-acres for $1 million to build the $611 Disney-MGM Backlot entertainment complex. The mixed-use development would feature a Disney-style attractions like a ride through famous movie scenes and a “Hollywood Fantasy Hotel.” There would be shops, restaurants, theaters, and clubs. The studio’s animation department would be moved into the complex as well as the Disney Channel studios.  
Michael Eisner had allegedly proposed to Jay Stein, a vice president at MCA that Disney would drop the plans to build the Burbank if MCA would drop plans to build theme parks in Florida. Stein complained that Disney was using “blackmail tactics” to get their way and the company sued Burbank claiming it had made a secret deal with his competitor. Southern California had become a skirmish in a much bigger war between entertainment giants.