More Star Wars rumors...overkill?

[disneyworld1977]

This is from Screamscape. I know its all juicy rumors and who knows whats going on now since we are suppose to not hear anything from the D23 Expo but....

""2015-2018 - Star Wars Land - Rumor - (6/27/13) New rumors are flowing about what we might see added to the park with a possible mini Star Wars Land, and there is an interesting twist to it all now. It seems the plan to bring Star Wars Land to life may actually be divided into two phases.
Phase 1 would open rather quickly and see a Star Wars themed outdoor kiddie ride of some kind added, possibly the addition of a Cantina restaurant with Star Wars themed food items as a replacement for the Backlot Express restaurant which would be demolished for the new ride. Meanwhile an new and more impressive version of the Jedi Academy show (likely with a new name) would take up residence in a new indoor air-conditioned setting inside the old Sound Dangerous theater building.
Phase 2 is a little more tricky, as the rumors suggest that the main focus of this phase would be to add a very large E-Ticket Star Wars themed thrill ride to the park. It gets even more interesting when I’m hearing that this massive thrill ride may be set to replace The Great Movie Ride. I’ve heard it mentioned that the building could be reused and I’ve heard it may be torn down, but either way it also sounds like the old Mann’s Chinese Theater façade out front may be doomed either way as the park prepares to also remove the giant sorcerer’s hat as well.
The crazy thing is that there are even rumors about removing the nearby Echo Lake area as well, as it sounds like the park is ready to relaunch itself and may be in need of a new icon of some kind. If all those removal rumors are true, it seems almost strange that the American Idol show theater may sit untouched in the middle of it all… but we’re talking about long term plans over the next 5-7 years, and no one may care at all about American Idol by then. (As if they still do now…)
More on this as it leaks out… but the rumors are starting to get juicy. ""

OK...I have heard some of these things, maybe not the Great Movie Ride deal.

Let's suppose this was what was going to happen. Does that sound like a Star Wars overkill? I want a Star Wars Land just like most do. But that sounds like a big chunk into HS that would be just Star Wars. I can see getting a Cantina to replace the Backlot Express place. Another couple of rides, one E ticket and something smaller, and maybe replacing Indiana Jones but going into the Great Movie Ride and messing up what we see down the street as we enter the park (but I know the hat is there now).

I don't want to ramble on....so thoughts?

 

[bayla89]

I've just heard about the Backlot and Lights Motors Action being replaced. But THE HAT?!?!?!? If they really are doing this, they mig as well rename the park Star Wars Land!!

 

[johnGorski]

It makes sence. Phase 1 and 2. But to replace great movie ridr I doubt it. 2nd phase would extend to the employee parking lot

 

[rteetz]

I've just heard about the Backlot and Lights Motors Action being replaced. But THE HAT?!?!?!? If they really are doing this, they mig as well rename the park Star Wars Land!!

The hat has been rumored to leave for a while now even without a Star Wars expansion. The park didnt open with the hate either. I'm optimistic about this project. I want it to happen and I keep hearing a seeing things about the project but disney won't show any major signs that something is happening. I think that could be a good thing. The latest rumor I've heard was this new phase 1 phase 2 project. This project actually seems like a good idea. And I hope this happens. I've heard this rumor but I've heard it where it may happen in different spots. I think the best spot would be get rid of LMA and the backlot but I have a feeling something else may go there (Carsland) those two attractions are dragging and not used like they used to be. As for the hat I hope it goes it was great for a while but the old view of the theater was great it had a Main Street feel but now it doesn't. Whatever disney does disney needs to do something with DHS its getting to be a park that ill spend maybe a day no more on my 7 day vacation. I want a park that ill spend more than a day at. That's why I'm hoping greatly for Star Wars and cars to come.

disney lover at heart

 

[FiggieFan]

I agree. I have read the rumors about the hat going away for awhile, long before the Star Wars acquisition. I have also read that it may be relocated outside the park in the front. I am not a fan of the hat and like the earful tower better. In the beginning of the year, they had a shirt that had all four park icons and they used the earful tower instead of the hat for HS, which leads me to believe rumors may be true.
I used to LOVE HS and it was one of my favorite parks, but it has become stale and old. I really hope they make some positive changes soon. We hop there for a few good rides and dinner at 50's and Sci-Fi, but rarely spend a whole day there anymore.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

Love the idea of the Mos Eisley Cantina - but I hope they make it big because it is going to be popular.

Maybe they could do it like BOG in MK; QS during lunch, TS at night.

 

[MarkC71]

I am very excited about the possibility of a Stars Wars Land going in at HS. I do hope they do it in phases and get something up quickly so that people will not lose the excitement they seem to have or the idea. I,'m not sure if anyone ever saw the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton but it was great. They had a live action sequence where you actually walked through the Enterprise and stood on an exact replica of the Enterprise bridge. It was really cool, I hope they do something like that. Maybe a walkthrough of the Death Star or something. They also had a well themed restaurant named Quarks. I can see Disney doing something like that on a much bigger scale.

 

[skier_pete]

That story that Disney is circulating that we won't here any announcements at D23 is misdirection. There's no way they don't announce any park expansions at D23. They aren't stupid enough to do that again. They just want to be able to say "Well, we weren't going to show you this, BUT...."

 

[Kaykool101]

Love the idea of the Mos Eisley Cantina - but I hope they make it big because it is going to be popular.

Maybe they could do it like BOG in MK; QS during lunch, TS at night.

I don't know if Mos Eisley Cantina will be big, because the bar wasn't big in the movie. So if they want it to be authentic then they will probably go with something a bit smaller that serves drinks. That would be the direction I would take it. But I am just a fan.

I would then have another really well themed restaurant that was much larger and given the success of BoG do the same thing, with QS for Lunch and TS for dinner.

Another option is a lounge/bar area that is a faithful replica of Mos Eisley Cantina and then have that attached to a larger restaurant, that we just didn't see in the movies???

I personally think the Cantina is cool, but wouldn't want a full meal there. If they turn it into a sit down restaurant with servers I think that conflict with what it was in the movies. I think it is better as a bar or QS. I think it would be more fun to do full service dining elsewhere in the universe.

That story that Disney is circulating that we won't here any announcements at D23 is misdirection. There's no way they don't announce any park expansions at D23. They aren't stupid enough to do that again. They just want to be able to say "Well, we weren't going to show you this, BUT...."

I feel inclined to agree with this. I think at this time Disney has not made a decision on Star Wars land. They are putting together a promising proposal that will most likely get green lit. However, the second it is a GO, I think it will be announced at the Expo. And they need to make some decisions soon and get things underway.

I know I have said this before. But looking at Summer of 2014 Universal has a new resort and Land opening and I don't know if the one new coaster (7 dwarfs mine train), will hold up well enough. I am not saying every theme park goer is going to choose Universal over Disney or anything like that, but there is a market for what Universal is offering and a certain number of dollars that Disney is going to lose to it.

That being said, if Disney doesn't respond big, Summer 2015 could be even worse. So one of these new/rumored lands (Star Wars, Cars Land, Avatar Land) needs to start moving forward. And since Disney doesn't control the Avatar IP, it is most likely going to be one of the other two that goes forward first. Originally, Disney announced phased openings of Avatar across 2015 and 2016 and regardless of whats going on behind-the-sceens it is obvious that something has stalled because they are not likely to make that deadline. We don't even have concept art!

Lets face it, they have made more headway on Disney Springs than Avatar Land. And when Avatar Land was announced, Pleasure Island was still slated to become Hyperion Warf. Something is gumming up the works.

So either they are announcing Star Wars Land and/or Cars Land or we are getting some pretty impressive plan details for Avatar Land. But if Parks and Resorts doesn't have something to announce in Aug 2013, then they are not going to have anything to open in May/June 2015. And something big has to open.

 

[wiigirl]

Love the idea of the Mos Eisley Cantina - but I hope they make it big because it is going to be popular.

Maybe they could do it like BOG in MK; QS during lunch, TS at night.

 

[WDWsweetsixteengirl]

I would love to see Star Wars Land and Cars Land at DHS but I'm afraid that the park will lose it's main focus. Originally the park was supposed to be about movie making and I'm afraid that it will lose that. I know that maybe that's why the park is losing excitement but I hope they won't get rid of the parks original purpose entirely.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I would love to see Star Wars Land and Cars Land at DHS but I'm afraid that the park will lose it's main focus. Originally the park was supposed to be about movie making and I'm afraid that it will lose that. I know that maybe that's why the park is losing excitement but I hope they won't get rid of the parks original purpose entirely.

Sadly, the original purpose is already gone. They no longer create television or film there. This said, I would hate to have them lose the Hollywood theming entirely.

I do feel like the idea of the Great Movie Ride going away seems rather silly. I wish they had more capacity to switch it up sometimes. Phase in new elements, and phase out old elements.

 

[DanBoris]

That story that Disney is circulating that we won't here any announcements at D23 is misdirection. There's no way they don't announce any park expansions at D23. They aren't stupid enough to do that again. They just want to be able to say "Well, we weren't going to show you this, BUT...."

The problem with this is if the "no accouncements" prevents park fans from attending D23, and they do end up making announcements, then they end up with an even worse PR problem then not announcing anything at all.

 

[skier_pete]

I would love to see Star Wars Land and Cars Land at DHS but I'm afraid that the park will lose it's main focus. Originally the park was supposed to be about movie making and I'm afraid that it will lose that. I know that maybe that's why the park is losing excitement but I hope they won't get rid of the parks original purpose entirely.

Already said, but that ship has long-since sailed. They've closed almost everything to do with moviemaking in that park. The backlot tour is a graveyard (literally) and the animation studios been closed for almost 15 years.

 

[bcrook]

The problem with this is if the "no accouncements" pervents park fans from attending D23, and they do end up making announcements, then they end up with an even worse PR problem then not announcing anything at all.

That is an interesting dilemma.

 

[bcrook]

I would love to see Star Wars Land and Cars Land at DHS but I'm afraid that the park will lose it's main focus. Originally the park was supposed to be about movie making and I'm afraid that it will lose that. I know that maybe that's why the park is losing excitement but I hope they won't get rid of the parks original purpose entirely.

I understand what you are saying, but I still enjoy the Golden Age of Hollywood feel, and nearly everything has a Hollywood connection or movie tie in.

I hope dinosaur Gertie stays though, the connection to the early animation that Walt loved is smart and significant.

 

[agavegirl1]

I am very excited about the possibility of a Stars Wars Land going in at HS. I do hope they do it in phases and get something up quickly so that people will not lose the excitement they seem to have or the idea. I,'m not sure if anyone ever saw the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton but it was great. They had a live action sequence where you actually walked through the Enterprise and stood on an exact replica of the Enterprise bridge. It was really cool, I hope they do something like that. Maybe a walkthrough of the Death Star or something. They also had a well themed restaurant named Quarks. I can see Disney doing something like that on a much bigger scale.

I actually made a detour to LV on my way back from Lake Tahoe just to see it. We ate at Quarks and there were some Klingons that came in. My some had the "flaming ribs of Tarr" and they were served on fire. The Star Trek Experience is something the kids (now in their 20s) still talk about.

 

[dwheaton]

I feel like DHS is a mess and needs serious help. While I also like the connection to Hollywood, I don't feel that at Lights Motors Action or with the giant hat. That still bugs me, so I'd be thrilled if that went away. I also think that at least having a big Star Wars (or Pixar/Cars) land would at least create something exciting for DHS beyond me just riding the big headliners repeatedly.

That said, I do really like The Great Movie Ride and would be sad to see it go. It hearkens back to what DHS was at the start, and I don't like seeing attractions with lots of animatronics go away. Still, I'm curious to see how it evolves!

 

[jdcthree]

In my opinion, an entire Star Wars park wouldn't be overkill. Of course I wouldn't want them to destroy DHS for it, but DHS does need some serious work.

 

[GrandAdmiralStrife]

As someone who went to DHS in 1990 and then again in 2007, the difference is night and day. just about everything outside of Star Tours and Indy is completely different from what it originally was. And that is not a good thing. Best way to put it, DHS has been the red-headed stepchild of the four parks. Something has to give. Wasn't there talk a few years back of rebranding as Disney Pixar? Maybe now they could rebrand as Pixar/LFL lol

As to the cantina: I'd like to see a Battle of the Bands, the Modal Nodes versus Sy Snootles and the Max Rebo Band