How about good rumor news? Carsland at DHS

[lugnut33]

OK, I know this is from Al Lutz over at Miceage, but I feel he is right more often than he is wrong. And this is good news (although the bad news is it's happening because the New Fantasyland is not generating the revenue it was supposed to) for a Hollywood Studios that needs some more updated attractions.

If only to prove how quickly things can change in the Disney empire, WDI execs returned from their Christmas break to quickly huddle and then directed their teams to figure out how to clone as much of Cars Land as possible so that it could open at Disneys Hollywood Studios park as quickly as possible, aiming for a late 2015 debut (nearly three years to the day after New Fantasyland officially opened). TDO execs were also told to stop value-engineering the project into a smaller footprint with fewer offerings and let WDI do their work. And since the James Cameron alliance that was supposed to bring Avatarland to WDW within the same timeframe is going nowhere fast, and may not even show up in a theme park at all at this point, WDI is thrilled to dig in and start real work on an accelerated plan to bring Cars Land to Florida.

The result will be a Cars Land that has just about everything the DCA version does, with a few filler buildings omitted and the very expensive Luigis Flying Tires ride missing entirely. The very deep basement beneath Luigis, needed for the giant fans and motors that resembles the generator room at Hoover Dam, would be extremely difficult to build in the swampy Orlando soil and raise the cost even higher. But even without Luigis, if the frenzied pace on this project continues in Glendale theres a good chance theyll make that Thanksgiving of 15 opening date, if not slip just a bit to the winter of 16. So long as WDWs numbers dont go from bad to worse this spring, the DHS Cars Land project should make the trip to Florida mostly intact.

http://micechat.com/21154-hello/

I should mention that the whole new Carsland area could get pulled if MyMagic+ is a failure because they have spent so much money on it.

 

[smj2610]

I hope they do something soon, the studios and animal kingdom need alot of help. If disney wants to keep attracting older kids they really need to step up what their doing. It seems like their major Orlando competiter is leaving them in the dust with updates unfortunately

 

[lugnut33]

I hope they do something soon, the studios and animal kingdom need alot of help. If disney wants to keep attracting older kids they really need to step up what their doing. It seems like their major Orlando competiter is leaving them in the dust with updates unfortunately

There are times I feel Disney World is more content to try and wring out every dollar they can from the guest instead of focusing on upgrading the product in order to draw more visitors.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Oh darn. I was hoping there would be more differences between the version at California and the version at Florida. If this is right they are talking about just cloning the entire thing.

 

[Albytaps]

That would be a mistake IMO. As said in another topic, they should make a Star Wars land instead of another Carsland.

 

[disneycat321]

This is kind of a disappointment to me. Carsland is amazing, but since we visit both parks, I would like to see something different at DHS like a Star Wars land as others have mentioned. Or if they must do Carsland at DHS, maybe add in some different rides in addition to RSR that DCA doesn't have...

 

[raidermatt]

Based on rumors, there seems to be a real battle going on with this one.

Orlando doesn't want to spend money and is not happy with the early results from the new Fantasyland. (Remember, they initially wanted an even smaller version)

They'd like Cars Land because it's cut and paste and has already proven successful in Anaheim. But there are others in corporate that think Star Wars is the way to go, even if it costs more. Yes, Iger has been saying captial spending will be reduced, but they didn't spend $4 billion on Lucasfilm just to make a few movies.

It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[lugnut33]

The truly frightening thing is how it all depends on the success of MyMagic+. They have spent more money on that than the entire DCA refurb.

 

[lugnut33]

Sorry, I didn't know this was going to be moved to the rumors board. If a mod wants to combine it with the other thread or delete this one it's OK.

 

[raidermatt]

I also wouldn't buy into the excuse for not including Luigi's Tires. Of the 3 attractions in CL, that's the one that has been the shakiest. They've tried a few things to spice it up, but according to Lutz, it remains an issue. Though he has said they are very committed to it in Anaheim, it wouldn't be a surprise if Orlando left it out, and not because of soil differences.

Cars Land is really a mini land in the first place, and if you cut out Luigi you have just 2 attractions. Granted, Radiator Racers is very popular, but WDW does already have Test Track, so it wouldn't be as unique for them as it was for DLR. Mater's is fine, and seems to be pretty popular, but it's a filler type attraction and not a huge draw unto itself.

 

[raidermatt]

The truly frightening thing is how it all depends on the success of MyMagic+. They have spent more money on that than the entire DCA refurb.

I can see them getting caught in the headlights if MyMagic+ doesn't meet expectations. But if it does end up failing to bring in more guests and/or create more spending, they won't be able to stay frozen for long. Attendance is already an issue, and they will have no choice but to do something if MyMagic+ doesn't come through.

I'd actually be more concerned if MyMagic+ does somehow manage to bring in lots of new $'s. It would validate the belief of some that they do not need to actually create new attractions to bring in customers.

 

[hollygolitely93]

Carsland would be a no brainer...but I feel they need more than Carsland...They need that plus Star Wars land as they are missing two things...

1. How will I keep appealing to young boys (and non-princess obsessed girls.)

2. How will I keep the 48" and above crowd coming to WDW for more days...and staying on OUR property versus staying off site or splitting stays with US in order to get early entrance and fast pass there!

ten years ago US was a teen place in many's eyes..but the world is changing. Soon as these kids are 48" and can ride the coasters they want them...younger kids want big thrills faster than they did generations ago...they are exposed to Star Wars, Transformers, SuperHeroes earlier than the Sesame STreet generation was...so I feel it isn't even an age group they have to go after anymore it is a height group...

 

[twebber55]

multiple sources from multiple sights have said any star wars related rides/lands are years away...maybe by 2020

 

[hollygolitely93]

multiple sources from multiple sights have said any star wars related rides/lands are years away...maybe by 2020

Dear me I'll be one of those that can't ride it because if heart conditions by then

 

[ChipnDale79]

multiple sources from multiple sights have said any star wars related rides/lands are years away...maybe by 2020

That seems logical actually. That's only 7 years from now, that would be in the heart of the time frame of when the new movies are being released. I'd hate to wait that long, but if it's done right, then I would have no problem with that.

 

[tjkraz]

Just to play devil's advocate, the entire crux of Lutz' piece is that Fantasyland isn't producing the numbers Disney anticipated.

But according to the financial results just released, WDW guest spending is up and park attendance increased by some unspecified amount. They also said bookings for the coming quarter are up compared to 2012 and average room rates are up "high single-digits" percents according to the Sentinel.

Be Our Guest has been booked solid since opening so Disney is maxing out revenues there. And the Snow White coaster is still a year away from opening.

Fantasyland was a big "meh" to me when I visited--mostly because I've been on the Little Mermaid dark ride 20+ times at DCA and our kids are too old for most of the other additions. But it was clearly popular among other guests.

Fantasyland was never going to be a hit on a Cars Land scale. (Whether Disney execs acknowledge that is another story entirely.) In Cars Land, we're talking about a park (DCA) that was only drawing 6 million guests per year located 300' away from a park that consistently draws 16 mil.

It's all about growth potential. Disney had an audience ready and waiting for DCA. All they had to do was convince them to walk across the plaza. Before Harry Potter, IOA was only drawing about 4 million per year. HUGE potential for growth. Cars Land would never have the same impact at DHS which already draws nearly 10 million per year.

Not saying that Lutz is wrong, of course. My fear for months has been that Disney would try to clone Cars Land. Many would love it...but Disney prying any more money out of my wallet with carbon copies. Been there...done that.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If only to prove how quickly things can change in the Disney empire, WDI execs returned from their Christmas break to quickly huddle and then directed their teams to figure out how to clone as much of Cars Land as possible so that it could open at Disneys Hollywood Studios park as quickly as possible, aiming for a late 2015 debut (nearly three years to the day after New Fantasyland officially opened). TDO execs were also told to stop value-engineering the project into a smaller footprint with fewer offerings and let WDI do their work.

I don't know...obviously i've made my views known on this...so i don't want to beat it...

But the tenor and language of this "substantiated, legitimate rumor" is just all wrong to me. I had to read it 4 times to make sure i wasn't reading too much into it...

"TDO execs were also told to stop value-engineering the project into a smaller footprint with fewer offerings and let WDI do their work"

that sentence in particular...
honestly, there are so many things about that sentence that are just way off to me...it seems like something that a jungle cruise skipper...or someone who flunked out of disney bus academy would say...

Throw the money out the window for a park that isn't struggling? stock price and dividend don't matter anymore huh? All recent renovations at WDW have been quoted at higher amounts up front and then whittled down to a lower figure in the end - so that practice has been reversed 180?

It just isn't right...semantically or in substance.

 

[ValpoCory]

I also wouldn't buy into the excuse for not including Luigi's Tires. Of the 3 attractions in CL, that's the one that has been the shakiest. They've tried a few things to spice it up, but according to Lutz, it remains an issue. Though he has said they are very committed to it in Anaheim, it wouldn't be a surprise if Orlando left it out, and not because of soil differences.

Cars Land is really a mini land in the first place, and if you cut out Luigi you have just 2 attractions. Granted, Radiator Racers is very popular, but WDW does already have Test Track, so it wouldn't be as unique for them as it was for DLR. Mater's is fine, and seems to be pretty popular, but it's a filler type attraction and not a huge draw unto itself.

Agreed on the Luigi's excuse. Just admit it's the weakest link to Cars Land and move on. I would think they would add a 3rd attraction in its place. DHS doesn't have a Dumbo-style ride. You could have one in Cars Land where each car is a different character, or maybe a whole bunch of Falcon Hawks/Mater Hawks/Lightning McQueen Hawks, etc.

 

[GoofyHusband]

I get the appeal that the New Fantasyland is something new and fresh but it just doesn't offer that much.
As far as copying Cars Land, that's not something new either. I mean, it's new for WDW but not new for Disney.

To me, Disney succeeds and generate exciting buzz when they are pushing the envelope. That's when they are at their best. I would love to see a Star Wars land. There is room at HS. And the possibilities are numerous.

As a want to be Imagineer, I think I will go home and start working on the plans myself.