Any reason not to make DHS Bigger?

[Elmo007]

I was looking at Google maps and it seems like there is space to expand DHS. If they were to eliminate the second road from world drive to the parking lot, it looks like they could expand into a now undeveloped area between the park and the art of animation resort. The best part of this is that the area I am thinking of is right behind star tours and that could become the gateway to the proposed star wars land.

Is there any reason they could not do it this way? I know they were talking about getting rid of the Muppets, but I think that will be an ongoing franchise for a while as they have a new movie coming out.

 

[doconeill]

I was looking at Google maps and it seems like there is space to expand DHS. If they were to eliminate the second road from world drive to the parking lot, it looks like they could expand into a now undeveloped area between the park and the art of animation resort. The best part of this is that the area I am thinking of is right behind star tours and that could become the gateway to the proposed star wars land.

Is there any reason they could not do it this way? I know they were talking about getting rid of the Muppets, but I think that will be an ongoing franchise for a while as they have a new movie coming out.

The "second road" as you call it is actually the primary entrance. The one off Buena Vista Drive is the "back" entrance.

But even if they re-routed the main entrance, it was mentioned in another thread that RCID may consider the land in that area unsuitable for building, so it is held as conservation land.

 

[DanBoris]

Here is the section of the RCID map showing DHS. The areas in dark green are considered un-suitable for construction, light green are marginally suitable and the red is suitable.

 

[ChrisnKim913]

I think the only expansion we could see would be behind Star Tours and behind Beauty and the Beast. Like the PP said, the land on that road leading through the main entrance to HS isn't ideal for an expansion.

 

[DanBoris]

I think the only expansion we could see would be behind Star Tours and behind Beauty and the Beast. Like the PP said, the land on that road leading through the main entrance to HS isn't ideal for an expansion.

There isn't a lot of space left behind Beauty and the Beast. A new back stage building was put up recently directly behind the theatre (for the show CM's I would guess), and a new entrance path for Fantasmic was also recently created in that area.

 

[Elmo007]

Looking at the map, lets go crazy then. Build a star wars land in the area across world drive and build some sort of star wars theme transport over the highway. Sound expensive but could be cool and will open up the park

 

[vandy]

Looking at the map, lets go crazy then. Build a star wars land in the area across world drive and build some sort of star wars theme transport over the highway. Sound expensive but could be cool and will open up the park

If we are going to think big and to heck with a budget, how about putting the parking lot across World Drive, put a bridge in and let the trams shuttle people back and forth over what is now the main entrance off of World Drive (S Studio Drive). Two lanes for trams going both directions and two lanes for WDW buses. This will free up the current parking lot for park expansion, which appears to be just as large as the current park. Plenty of room now for both Star Wars and Cars, plus now room for more dining options and gift shops.I would suspect people won't mind parking a little farther away and riding the shuttle, but some would have a problem with being shuttled between sections of the park.

 

[Reddog1134]

Someone over on WDWMagic is saying that the park is going to be "smaller" but hasn't clarified exactly what he meant.

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/why-hollywood-studios-is-being-rebuilt.867235/

 

[Spacedog1975]

I would expect any change that involves Star Wars/Cars/Pixar to both expand the park and replacing aging elements of the park. The trick in my mind would be to keep enough attractions open during the expansion so as not to diminish interest in a park that already has trouble attracting the full attention of WDW visitors.

 

[doconeill]

I actually wonder of re-routing World Drive - or even eliminating that section and routing traffic over Osceola to Buena Vista and/or Victory Way, might be cheaper than having to devise a way to go over/under...

 

[Spacedog1975]

I actually wonder of re-routing World Drive - or even eliminating that section and routing traffic over Osceola to Buena Vista and/or Victory Way, might be cheaper than having to devise a way to go over/under...

I've not been to Disneyland in CA, but my sister tells me that when they visited, there were certain attractions where they crossed the street while in line. I can't picture it myself, but I gather it might be necessary.

I could see maybe going under the road to get to a new section of the park, but if they don't have existing tunnels, perhaps having the road tunnel under and the park cross over might be a better idea.

 

[doconeill]

I've not been to Disneyland in CA, but my sister tells me that when they visited, there were certain attractions where they crossed the street while in line. I can't picture it myself, but I gather it might be necessary.

I could see maybe going under the road to get to a new section of the park, but if they don't have existing tunnels, perhaps having the road tunnel under and the park cross over might be a better idea.

I don't know of any case where someone has to cross a major, busy road at DL in an attraction line. The parks don't have public access roads passing through them. so I don't know what is meant by "crossed the street".

 

[boreas154]

I could see maybe going under the road to get to a new section of the park, but if they don't have existing tunnels, perhaps having the road tunnel under and the park cross over might be a better idea.

While a very good suggestion, it is not very feasible. The water table in much of Florida is very close to the surface. Keep in mind, the 'tunnels' under MK are actually at ground level. MK was built on top of it.

 

[Spacedog1975]

While a very good suggestion, it is not very feasible. The water table in much of Florida is very close to the surface. Keep in mind, the 'tunnels' under MK are actually at ground level. MK was built on top of it.

New Disney Trivia Every day!

I could see possibly rerouting the whole road, maybe... I just don't know that any type of bridging solution would work well for pedestrian traffic in the theme park without "breaking" the experience. Perhaps a pedestrian bridge to Carsland with signs saying "look - actual cars!".

 

[doconeill]

While a very good suggestion, it is not very feasible. The water table in much of Florida is very close to the surface. Keep in mind, the 'tunnels' under MK are actually at ground level. MK was built on top of it.

The existing tunnels they do have can flood easily as well.

Tunneling is also quite a bit more expensive than an overpass, especially when trying to do so under an active area.

Hmm...maybe make Star Tours a little more useful...board a Star Speeder, and have a virtual trip to Tatooine, while actually being moved across the road...

You know...kind of like the upcoming Hogwarts Express.

 

[quikah]

I am not sure why they would need to expand the park when they have so much wasted space already. The streets of america, the backlot tour, LMA. All of that could go and wouldn't be missed.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I am not sure why they would need to expand the park when they have so much wasted space already. The streets of america, the backlot tour, LMA. All of that could go and wouldn't be missed.

I would hate to see Streets of America go without a fallback plan for ODOL.

It does seem likely that LMA and Backlot will be replaced, but I would think that additional land would beneficial for additional attractions.

 

[Reddog1134]

I don't know of any case where someone has to cross a major, busy road at DL in an attraction line. The parks don't have public access roads passing through them. so I don't know what is meant by "crossed the street".

There's a walkway bridge going over the street to connect portions of DTD.

LINK

But nothing in the parks.

 

[DCTooTall]

The existing tunnels they do have can flood easily as well.

Tunneling is also quite a bit more expensive than an overpass, especially when trying to do so under an active area.

Hmm...maybe make Star Tours a little more useful...board a Star Speeder, and have a virtual trip to Tatooine, while actually being moved across the road...

You know...kind of like the upcoming Hogwarts Express.

How dare you mention "The Park that shall not be named"!! This is a DISNEY Board!

 

[doconeill]

How dare you mention "The Park that shall not be named"!! This is a DISNEY Board!

What, you mean it's not part of Disney?!?!?