Just Close Hollywood Studios And Start Over

[Lesverts]

If you look at a map of Hollywood Studios you can clearly see where they can block off half of the park and expand outward in those areas.

From the entrance you redo Echo Lake and expand into Streets of America for the new Star Wars area. Once that stage is finished, star on Streets of America and the back area expansion of Pixar Place. Followed by redoing the central area and Animation Courtyard. Finish by touching up Sunset Boulevard and redo the entrance with a temporary entrance straight into the new Echo Lake area and puff done. If they take the same approach as they did with Disney California Adventure you could see a brand new Disney Florida Adventure by 2021. With various areas like Star Wars opened sooner.

 

[Buddyex]

I was only there a month ago, and it was my 4th trip in a 20 year span , but I still found plenty of ways to fill a day. Asides from the Studios related attractions like the backlot tour etc and some of the 'behind the scenes' attractions being gone. I'm struggling to think what is missing from the park, as most of what is left are some of my favourite attractions at WDW, sad to see the animation building go, but with the popularity of the drawing classes I'm sure they'll find a new home sooner rather than later. I would've thought they could close and redevelop the back half of the park, everything beyond Star Tours and The Great Movie ride, without effecting too much.

 

[Mouse of Mystery]

First of all... not going to happen.

Second, there's really no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. One half of the park is potentially unaffected by the plans, and in that half are some of the best rides in all of WDW, a few quality shows, and a terrific spectacular.

Work goes on in AK, so where's the need to shut down the entire HS?

 

[dprincessmom]

They are closing the drawing class??! Ugh, when is this happening? I'm gonna head over there over the weekend, probably Sunday...

July 12th is what is being announced. My DD is going to be sad but I guess that leaves us more time for RNR and TOT.

 

[jlwhitney]

I think all the closures wouldn't be so bad if they had announced plans for the park already. But right now to many it just looks like a bunch has closed an no real reason why.

 

[Jennasis]

I wish they would close it so the overhaul would take 2 years instead of 10. I cannot stand how slowly Disney construction moves.

 

[hopeful4fl]

Closing the park would not necessarily expedite any timelines. The parts that will be ripped out or refurbished would be blocked off with no access to the public and hence would work at the same speed if the park was closed. Technology and sheer logistics nowadays enables refurbishment at the same pace as a complete gutting.
Apart from losing revenue (would you like to deprive management from buying a 58 foot yacht rather than a 60 footer? Have some pity), closing any park would be a marketing nightmare . For people like us, it would increase crowds at other parks. I, for one, would not want that. I also enjoy ToT, RNR, Everything Star Wars, etc and would not want an option where I could not enjoy that.

I understand the sentiment behind close it to do it faster, but I think the premise it would be done faster may not hold and other things I mentioned above would be a variable against it.

 

[aretha30]

We will be there in August and are so disappointed with the fact that closures keep popping up at DHS but this is why we purchase hoppers! We love certain aspects of DHS and would hate to lose ToT, RnR, Toy Story, etc for a full closure to update the park. I do agree with what others have said; they could close off a large part of the park get the work complete and then open that up before beginning on the next phase. DHS is in desperate need of an update, hopefully they can move quicker than they have at AK!

 

[Eastern]

My kids refuse to go there.

 

[yulilin3]

I think all the closures wouldn't be so bad if they had announced plans for the park already. But right now to many it just looks like a bunch has closed an no real reason why.

I agree 100% with this and hopefully the rumors are true and they will announce at D23 in August.
If you think about it the only thing they have closed is the Backlot Tour and now the Animation Bldg. They can work without affecting any other areas all around the perimeter of Pixar Place (which would now include the old Backlot Tour area)
The move of the Frozen sing along to the new Hyperion Theater indicates that there are plans for remodeling/demolishing of that area of Streets of America, they can work on that area without affecting anything else.
Closing the park will do no good, in any way.
As to "is the park a half day park or not" depends on the families preference. We can stay there all day and just watch the Citizens of Hollywood sets without feeling the need to do anything else.

 

[JimmyV]

Once that stage is finished, star on Streets of America and the back area expansion of Pixar Place. Followed by redoing the central area and Animation Courtyard. Finish by touching up Sunset Boulevard and redo the entrance with a temporary entrance straight into the new Echo Lake area and puff done. If they take the same approach as they did with Disney California Adventure you could see a brand new Disney Florida Adventure by 2021..

This is the likely plan. However, unless they completely finish SW before moving on to Pixar Place, there will be a time when that entire side of the park is closed. The way TSMM is sandwiched in between areas marked for reconstruction, it is hard to imagine it staying open during the process. Same with Little Mermaid. So while that area is being addressed, people would be paying full price for Sunset Boulevard, Indiana Jones and the Muppets. When Tomorrowland closed, there were still 30+ other attractions in the park. The staged closures you predict will result in times when DHS has about 6. However, if they do finish the SW plans before moving on to Pixar Place, there would be more attractions to enjoy,but you'd be looking at a 2025 completion date, not 2021. Closing the park would cut that time in half. And time is money.

I was only there a month ago, and it was my 4th trip in a 20 year span , but I still found plenty of ways to fill a day. Asides from the Studios related attractions like the backlot tour etc and some of the 'behind the scenes' attractions being gone. I'm struggling to think what is missing from the park...

That's a bit like saying: "Well...other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?" DHS is supposed to be studio driven. So when you take away "the Studios related attractions like the backlot tour etc and the behind the scenes attractions" you have ripped out the heart of the park. It is hard to imagine losing the Backlot Tour, an attraction in the Millionaire/Idol theater, the Animation Academy, the AFI Museum, One Man's Dream, Sounds Dangerous/Superstar Television, a display in the 101 Dalmatians/Narnia walk through area and not notice what is missing. I just rattled off close to 4 or 5 hours worth of stuff to do.

First of all... not going to happen.

One half of the park is potentially unaffected by the plans, and in that half are some of the best rides in all of WDW, a few quality shows, and a terrific spectacular.

Work goes on in AK, so where's the need to shut down the entire HS?

I agree it's not going to happen. But where's the need? Speed. And the sense of magic and place. Imagine what it will look and feel like to walk to TSMM when everything else around it is under construction. Magical? What is in the half of the park that is unaffected? ToT, RnR, Beauty and the Beast, Star Tours, Indiana Jones and the Muppets. That's worth a full day's admission? Why risk guests being sorely disappointed with their "Was that it?" reaction? Seasoned veterans might be happy blowing in and out of the park in 3 hours. But what will first time visitors think?

 

[CaptHook34]

Out of all the parks, my gf and I think studios needs an update the most. We really enjoy Toy Story Mani, Rockn Roller Coaster, and TOT, but we feel after there's only food and shopping. I feel like the other parks are getting more crowded because guests are avoiding Studios, and makes the lines even longer at MK and Epcot

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

I'm a big lover of HS. Currently, with all the changes, I'm still able to have a full and enjoyable day there. Then again, I'm a "show" person.

I'm really interested to see all the changes that will come to the park over the next few years. I think change is a good thing

 

[JimmyV]

If you think about it the only thing they have closed is the Backlot Tour and now the Animation Bldg.

???
AFI
Narnia Building
One Man's Dream (rumored but likely)
Superstar Television
Sounds Dangerous
Millionaire /Idol
Hunchback Theater

That's quite a bit more than Backlot Tour and Animation.

 

[hsmamato2]

Now that the Animation building is closing it's time to just shut down the Studios and re-open when the (alleged) Star Wars and/or (also alleged) Cars Land expansion is done. This place is a sad shell of what it used to be and only has a couple of things worth doing at this point (Toy Story Mania, RNRC, and TOT). I know it's a time of transition, but to keep this place open and running while still calling it a "Disney" park is ridiculous.

It's so true!!! I was horrified when I read about yet another closing.... here's a note Disney, open some new attractions before you close all the current ones!!!! Let's see, 90.00 entrance fee to enter the park,to stand in line for a couple of rides.... NO THANK YOU. WHAT is happening???

 

[hsmamato2]

the Studios currently has 4 rides now- and a few shows that might be of interest to some. NOT ENOUGH for a premium park with a premium entrance fee. NOT ENOUGH to hold the average persons interest for more than a couple of hours.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's so true!!! I was horrified when I read about yet another closing.... here's a note Disney, open some new attractions before you close all the current ones!!!! Let's see, 90.00 entrance fee to enter the park,to stand in line for a couple of rides.... NO THANK YOU. WHAT is happening???

Totally agree here. They should only be closing attractions right now if they have been condemned. This is nutty.

Oh, and a one day ticket to DHS is $97.

 

[hsmamato2]

The ticket would be cheaper for those wanting to buy a day ticket. And, maybe they could figure out a way to allow park hopping for multi-day ticket holders that go to DHS for only part of a day.

exactly. Disney reduce the cost/or be upfront about the lack of good stuff? NEVER. I am guessing this, like so many other things will be advertised as 'pardon our pixie dust' nonsense while charging full (exorbitant) prices throughout.... A smart move might be to finish a few projects before closing a bunch more!

 

[yulilin3]

???
AFI
Narnia Building
One Man's Dream (rumored but likely)
Superstar Television
Sounds Dangerous
Millionaire /Idol
Hunchback Theater

That's quite a bit more than Backlot Tour and Animation.

I was referring to the newer closings
Narnia Bldg became the Jack Sparrow attraction that was not that great
Superstar Television location became a whole many things, most recently AIE (again not that popular)
Sounds Dangerous has been closed for years
I agree that just closing things and leaving them empty (Like the Sounds Dangerous bldg) is counter-productive. But I also think that filling spaces with lackluster attractions is bad.
Going back to the original point, there's no need to close the entire park to build what they are rumored to build.

 

[JimmyV]

I was referring to the newer closings.

Clearly. But past closures cannot be ignored and it is time to start thinking about changes in the aggregate, not just in terms of fixing what they closed last month. No one wants crappy attractions stuffed into existing buildings. What is needed is demolition and reconstruction. So no. No more makeshift show in Sounds Dangerous. Tear it down and start over. Put in the SW thrill ride that we want. But that type of construction in the middle of the park is harder to do while the park remains open. Impossible? No. But harder.