Hollywood Studios Expansion

[RooRach0906]

I agree with many other on here and I will copy my comment from their site.....

I think that DHS needs to be updated but I think another Cars Land is overkill... A few of the rides or even a Pixar Land would be a little better in my opinion. I also am sad about Beauty and the Beast as I love the show and movie... it is the other full length movie my 2 year will watch (well and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh). I do prefer a redo of this park over the rumor of Avatarland in DAK.(Yes I am not thrilled at all about Avatarland )


I also agree that I am not thrilled about changes to ToT(unless they make the drop sequence the original), or RnR.

Small changes to Fantasmic! but nothing major I love that show!

 

[Maleficent53]

DHS has so many areas that are ripe for redevelopment! We walk past more buildings without a thought going to/from the few attractions worth visiting. I would love to spend a full day at DHS again - bring on the updates

 

[andyman8]

I like DHS a lot. I also think any improvement would be great, but I'm hesitant to believe some of that. I don't think Disney would gut the hat to put Carthay Circle Theater there.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I have mixed feelings (if, in fact, any of this turns out to be true).

On the one hand, wow, that's a lot of cool new stuff! We would certainly spend more time in Hollywood Studios if this were to happen...and that, obviously, would be Disney's goal. Some of the rides and experience have a ton of potential, and it would be great to see some life breathed into the park.

On the other hand, 1) I do wish they would do more totally original experiences rather than copying those already added to DL/DCA and 2) I feel that this hodge-podge of stuff further dilutes any theme HS clings to.

I totally understand Disney's thinking--hey, Cars Land is WILDLY popular, and it DOES look amazing. They did a fantastic job with it at DCA, from what I can tell in pics. And it will draw the crowds. But we're planning a big trip out to CA in the next couple of years to see the West Coast parks because they are unique...if I felt I could get the same experiences in both places, I wouldn't bother with paying for a more expensive trip out to CA. It's disappointing to me because, as a fan, I like the fact that each park is distinct. But, again, I understand Disney's POV--most visitors will only ever visit one resort, and they want all the awesome stuff they've heard about to be available at that one resort.

What I don't understand is the lack of any cohesive theme. HS has been this way for a long time now, of course, but this just goes even further down the road. None of this is about "movie magic" or the golden era of Hollywood...it's just a random assortment of cool stuff. Kind of like a regular amusement park...

So, I don't know. I'll reserve judgment until something actually happens with it. I *do* think it will make for a much improved park experience if it happens.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

I think this would be awesome!!!!!!

 

[monorailmom]

We are in the World right now! And in fact was at the Studios yesterday. There actually were some construction walls up, not sure what that was about. Does anyone know?

Personally, I think all of this is long overdue. We had a great time at the Studios, but so much of it is outdated now. The Great Movie Ride hasn't been great in a long time...even I don't know what half of those movies are, my kids have no clue! The Backlot Tour is just old. We didn't go on either of these. Lights Motor Action we also skipped, because like everyone else, we don't like it!

I also get nervous to see change coming to *my* Parks, but Walt did always say it was never meant to be a museum. My kids...and I... love and can appreciate Cars, Monsters Inc, and Tangled. I think if true, it's all a good thing.

 

[larryz]

All sounds good to me! Can't believe they would really get rid of the sorcerer hat though. Surely they could find a way to reimagine it into something new!

Maybe, with any luck, they'll cut it into 12,000 pieces and sell them off as souvenirs...

I won't miss it.

I look forward to ANYthing they do to DHS except raising the ticket price.

 

[BlovesC]

I'd love for DHS to get massive improvements. I dislike the park as it is so much it might as well be at Universal. But some of these rumors are bordering on ridiculous. Especially the "Mama Melrose will be re-themed as a Swedish Chef restaurant." Uhhh? The suspended Monster's Inc. rollercoaster also sounds way too good to be true.

If some of these rumors wind up being legitimate and some of them not, I really hope the "Star Wars Land" is one of the fake ideas. Not a SW fan by any means, and I don't understand why George Lucas doesn't just build his own park somewhere.

 

[dacky041208]

I am loving the ideas and hope many of them come to fruitation! Especially the Muppet restaurants- The Muppets don't get enough love in the parks and they deserve it for sure!

I just wish the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area would be updated...even if it's just to to A Bug's Life (meet and greet for Flik? Or SLIM!)- something more relevant. I know most people wouldn't want another meet and greet but I am a major character nerd so I say bring on the characters!

 

[minnie mum]

Interesting.

From what I'm reading here almost everyone seems to want a new and expanded and updated DHS. But nobody wants their favourite attraction touched or changed.

When Carsland opened in DLR all I saw was complaints and moans that there wasn't one in WDW- now it appears that it's coming and I'm seeing complaints and moans that we're getting a duplicate of something already at another park. Seems like there is nothing that Disney can do that will please everyone. Hopefully they can do something to please the majority, anyway.

I've noticed that very few are questioning the likelihood of this rumour becoming reality. Or the timeframe. I do have doubts that Disney will spend the hundreds of millions of dollars required to do this (not to mention the disruption in the parks as attractions are closed) AT THE SAME TIME as they are spending a similar amount on the new expansion of AK.

As for Kathy Mangum's arrival at WDW, Mouseplanet has a completely different spin:

Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Vice President and Producer Kathy Mangum has been transferred from the Disneyland Resort to a new position at the Walt Disney World Resort. The WDI executive, who most recently led the Cars Land project at Disney California Adventure park, is the new Executive Producer for Walt Disney World, which essentially puts her in charge of all projects at the resort. The WDI Senior Vice Presidents in charge of the parks, Joe Rohde (Disney's Animal Kingdom) and Eric Jacobson (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios), will report to Mangum. She arrives as major projects come to fruition in the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland and Epcot's re-imagined Test Track.

Speculation has already begun on what the next major project might be at Walt Disney World, and it looks like it will be the Avatar-based land at Disney's Animal Kingdom announced last September. Mangum's success in translating the animated world of Cars to the theme parks would seem to fit well with the project's requirements to bring the fantastic world of Pandora to life.

Confirmation that the Avatar project is next up comes straight from the mouth of Bob Iger in an interview with Business Week, in which Iger said, "We’re building out Fantasyland now in the Magic Kingdom, then we’ll add Avatar Land." But that's not the only indicator.

While I completely agree that DHS needs some loving care, I don't see this major overhaul happening until the new land in AK is completed.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I'm on for everything EXCEPT Tangled The Musical. The songs weren't memorable and I don't think it deserves a show, especially replacing a classic movie like Beauty and the Beast.

I was thinking the same thing. Don't get me wrong I do love Tangled, the Movie, but I'm not sure I would like it in a Broadway Musical format. I LOVE B&B and would be heartbroken if it went away for good. That was my only problem with any of this rumored project, everything else sounds awesome. We really enjoy DHS now, and if they do go ahead and make these changes....well, I think we will really enjoy DHS .

 

[Dziactor]

Sounds like good news to me. There needs to be more added for me to want to spend more time there.

 

[dacky041208]

I love the idea of getting Tangled in the parks- especially since Beauty and the Beast will soon have it's own themed area in MK.

Of course, I'd prefer a dark ride for it bc I just think that lantern scene would be amazing....but a show will do just fine for me!

 

[DisneyDre]

I have mixed feelings after reading about the changes/expansion at HS. I am pumped about the hat maybe going bye bye. It was neat at first, but then I was over it. I remember walking in the park and having the giant Chinese Theater as a center piece. It was neat.

Great movie ride restaurant sounds interesting. Would it be character dining like the castle? hmm who would they have. Would be neat if it was old school HollyWood style. Great movie ride also could use a little update. I still go on it every trip and find the hidden mickeys!

I havent watched the Beauty & Beast show in a few years, but it was great. Loved to sing all the songs during it, not to sure about Tangled.... was not too thrilled about movie.

I might be the only one who likes the back lot tour and stunt motor action show. I loved the back lot tour when they had the residential street, but thats a whole other.... Anywhoo I really like the cars stunt show. I am surprised they have cut the show times down. To me its crazy they spend all this time and money on that venue and will rip it all down to build again. Dont get me wrong im sure the whole cars land will/would be cool as i have seen a lot of it online, but im not good with change. lol.

I do like the idea of the trolley. I love how you get transported back to the old HollyWood days when you walk down those streets. I too miss the actors they had all over the streets, i have only seen a few in my past trips. They made ya laugh!!
I also love the talks about more muppets. I love the 3D show!! It could use a little pick me up. It would be a little sad to see pizza planet go tho for a new restaurant.


Ahhhhh My thoughts are all over the place!!! Just needed to vent a little!!

 

[Reddy]

I hope for more rides not removing them - this park could really use more family style ones

 

[rachel09985]

I'm on for everything EXCEPT Tangled The Musical. The songs weren't memorable and I don't think it deserves a show, especially replacing a classic movie like Beauty and the Beast.

Oh my, I love the music in Tangled!!! It is so beautiful.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

When Carsland opened in DLR all I saw was complaints and moans that there wasn't one in WDW- now it appears that it's coming and I'm seeing complaints and moans that we're getting a duplicate of something already at another park. Seems like there is nothing that Disney can do that will please everyone. Hopefully they can do something to please the majority, anyway.

It's true that nothing Disney (or anyone else) does will ever please everyone! But I think we all tend to look at "Dis opinions" as almost a single person--I'm guilty of this, too. So, we look at a discussion and say, "How can you all be whining about Disney doing XYZ when you were just moaning and groaning about them *not* doing XYZ?" When, in reality, we could probably look back at individual posts and see these are not actually the same people expressing different opinions.

Of course, I also agree with you that all of this sounds highly improbable and, if it ever does happen, won't be seen for many, many years.

 

[Yubbie]

I've heard they're getting rid of Mickey's Sorcerer Hat and replacing it with....

http://www.themeparkshopper.com/catalog/auction090618018.jpg

 

[katiemely]

This almost sounds too good to be true. I would love dhs to get some fresh attractions. IMO sw is a huge hit and I would love to see another ride and a restaurant. The monsters inc coaster sounds too good to be true but I think it's a great idea. I wouldn't mind seeing cars land in dhs no matter if it's the same as dlr. cars is just too huge of a money maker for Disney not to use.

 

[KristiKat]

If all these changes are made it might actually be worth spending a day in that park. It's my DH's fav and he wants to spend as much as a day and a half there. I just don't get it, but in exchange I get my MK days.