Disney Announces New Toy Story Land for DHS

[rteetz]

I've seen "possible" layouts that would expand beyond current park boundaries, but I would have to imagine Disney would avoid that if at all possible because of the additional costs. If they were to close Muppets & Lights, Motors then that area plus Backlot would easily give them more than 14 acres.

Well Disney is throwing 2.8 billion at DHS so the money is there.

 

[DDLand]

It seems like this land is going the way of Avatar in way of excitement on the net.

Why do you say light version of a land? Carsland has one more ride and I would never call it a version of a Land. The detail in the shops and restaurants coupled with the ambiance (music, lights, and meet and greets) the place is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! If they are able to duplicate that in anyway it should be very fun.

I will admit I am a big critic of Disney so I get your skepticism but I must admit for once I feel like one of those lone wolves who were excited about Avatar!
I think it will be great!

Don't worry, I'm with you on the excitement! Toy Story Land should be excellent!

What he means by "light version" of Cars Land for example, is it does have an immersive theme with extensive attention to detail. It has great rides themed to the land.

But... Toy Story Land lacks a major E Ticket anchor like RSRs, and while the themeing is going to be great, it lacks the grandiose nature of the mountain range.

It's a less expensive land, based on the Cars Land formula. Not a ding to the land, but it's not quite on the "Cars Land Level."

With all that said, I'm excited!

 

[rteetz]

Good point. I hadn't thought about the staging of expansions in the various parks -- Frozen (and Soarin') at Epcot in 2016, Avatar at AK in 2017, TSL at DHS in 2018, SWL in 2019-2020. Makes sense.

And the 50th anniversary in 2021

 

[Eoghann]

Well Disney is throwing 2.8 billion at DHS so the money is there.

Yeah but they won't spend it if they don't have to.

A lot of this depends on whether they're looking at closing other attractions or not. Which is more expensive, moving Muppets or expanding the park outwards?

 

[bcrook]

No Star Wars itself is 14 acres.

Do you think the 14 acre area will include the existing Star Tours, sound stage areas for jedi academy, and the backlot express? You think backlot express will be converted to the Cantina?

 

[DDLand]

I was looking at this too, and I expect you're right. From the concept art, the current TSMM must be in the lower left corner. The question is which side faces the rest of the TS Land. If it's the current entrance, then the new land would require the demolition of GMR and a good deal of the area around and including Echo Lake. That's unlikely since it would shut down even more of the park than is (or has been announced) already. If instead it's the back of the current TSMM building, then the new land would cover areas that are occupied by LMA, the former Backlot Tour, some work facilities, and employee parking areas. This also makes sense when considering the work to add a second track to TSMM -- the construction can also include a new queue area entering from what is now the back. Also, the entrance to TSL shown in the lower right of the concept drawing would be around where OMD is now.

In thinking about how Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land will be phased in, it seems like things are further along for TSL -- already expanding TSMM and already have concept art for what the land will look like (as opposed to the much more conceptual drawings accompanying the SWL announcement). According to Wikipedia, Cars Land at DCA was announced in concept in October 2007 as part of a larger expansion, with Cars Land being the final phase of that expansion. Final concept art and rides were announced in September 2009, and Cars Land opened officially in June 2012. It appears that today's announcement may be more closely aligned with the 2009 Cars Land announcement than the initial 2007 announcement of the full DCA expansion. Assuming it takes the same amount of time to complete (3 years), this would have TSL opening in 2018. Toy Story 4 is slated to be released in 2017, so maybe they will try to accelerate completion to match (or maybe they'll keep it separate to generate more buzz, who knows).

My guess is that they will wait to complete the SWL expansion until after TSL is done so they have some attractions for small kids open before closing down Muppets and the HIStK playground. Since those areas may well be at the entrance area to the new SWL, it would probably be another year or two before SWL opens, putting it in 2019-2020. I'm basing this on another guess that the expansion will include land currently south of S. Studio Dr.

Of course this is all just speculation on my part. I'm curious to hear other theories.

It will be located essentially behind TSMM.

 

[rteetz]

Yeah but they won't spend it if they don't have to.

A lot of this depends on whether they're looking at closing other attractions or not. Which is more expensive, moving Muppets or expanding the park outwards?

Again like I pointed out before DHS has a lot of backstage areas. It's possible they can do this without taking muppets and without expanding the borders. I do have a feeling that with one of these lands the borders will be a expanded a little bit maybe even only for backstage areas.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It seems like this land is going the way of Avatar in way of excitement on the net.

Why do you say light version of a land? Carsland has one more ride and I would never call it a version of a Land. The detail in the shops and restaurants coupled with the ambiance (music, lights, and meet and greets) the place is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! If they are able to duplicate that in anyway it should be very fun.

I will admit I am a big critic of Disney so I get your skepticism but I must admit for once I feel like one of those lone wolves who were excited about Avatar!
I think it will be great!

It seems as though they are preserving "budget flexibility" a bit and hedging on toy story land...using midway mania and the existing architecture to build around instead of having to Integrate more Pixar...

We'll see how it goes...I'll grant a full credit until we hear news of bloated timelines and/or budget cuts

It's impossible to use the "these things take time" song and dance with family rides themed to an 20 year old in house property.

As far as a "light" land...
New fantasyland is a light land...

Not because it wasnt a large undertaking...it was...because it basically gobbled up the entire reinvestment budget and efforts for 5 years in the flagship... Largest by a nautical mile... Disney property.

The result doesn't match the logistics.
Just a thought.

 

[rteetz]

Do you think the 14 acre area will include the existing Star Tours, sound stage areas for jedi academy, and the backlot express? You think backlot express will be converted to the Cantina?

That's up on the air right now. I'd assume yes for star tours but I don't know about the rest.

 

[bcrook]

Well Disney is throwing 2.8 billion at DHS so the money is there.

If New Fantasyland cost around 455 million and Diagonal Alley cost about $400 million, I can't see these two lands costing more than twice of either of those.

So the other 2 billion going to parking garages and infrastructure? That is a disappointing list for 2.8 Billion.

 

[Eoghann]

Again like I pointed out before DHS has a lot of backstage areas. It's possible they can do this without taking muppets and without expanding the borders. I do have a feeling that with one of these lands the borders will be a expanded a little bit maybe even only for backstage areas.

I wonder if they might take the opportunity to address traffic flow in the Studios? It's by far the worst layout of any of the parks (because of it's origins as a working studio). There are far too many dead ends. Muppets is in the way if we assume the current street structure stays in place, but if it doesn't then everything is up for grabs.

 

[bcrook]

That's up on the air right now. I'd assume yes for star tours but I don't know about the rest.

My point would be, that if those existing structures are included in the land, there isn't really 14 being added.

 

[PghPixie]

I've always been a huge Toy Story fan, so I'm excited about this. While a "Pixar Land" with the likes of Up, Monsters Inc, etc. would be awesome, Toy Story really blows the rest of them out of the water in terms of last-ability and appeal to all age groups. As others have said, if the theming is done right, it could be really great.

 

[bcrook]

cool map from Screamscape that shows the possible areas of expansion.

 

[aprincessatlast]

It's impossible to use the "these things take time" song and dance with family rides themed to an 20 year old in house property.

As far as a "light" land...
New fantasyland is a light land...

Not because it wasnt a large undertaking...it was...because it basically gobbled up the entire reinvestment budget and efforts for 5 years in the flagship... Largest by a nautical mile... Disney property.

The result doesn't match the logistics.
Just a thought.

Got ya.

I will agree about the "these things take time" approach. I watched the D23 panel on periscope and as soon as he said that I was rolling my eyes. Yeah lets stretch this out for another 10 years. Did I mention I get your skepticism? lol

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If New Fantasyland cost around 455 million and Diagonal Alley cost about $400 million, I can't see these two lands costing more than twice of either of those.

So the other 2 billion going to parking garages and infrastructure? That is a disappointing list for 2.8 Billion.

I agree...this is the now tired routine of them throwing around bloated Numbers to awe analysts and sell packages...it's now apparent standard fare...

Do they have a couple of cruiseships stuffed in there somewhere?

I got it...they wire that 2.8 to my account tomorrow...and I'll make sure it gets "spent the right way"

I'm trustworthy...might even feel moved to pay for an extra hand or two and an early completion bonus here or there...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Got ya.

I will agree about the "these things take time" approach. I watched the D23 panel on periscope and as soon as he said that I was rolling my eyes. Yeah lets stretch this out for another 10 years. Did I mention I get your skepticism? lol

Oh god...they actually said that?

Guess who's being made the fool...again?

Bet it won't "take time" to get all that Chinese crap to get stuffed into walmarts on 9/4...will it?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I've always been a huge Toy Story fan, so I'm excited about this. While a "Pixar Land" with the likes of Up, Monsters Inc, etc. would be awesome, Toy Story really blows the rest of them out of the water in terms of last-ability and appeal to all age groups. As others have said, if the theming is done right, it could be really great.

Yep...guess I'm gonna have to throw the "it's about the giftshops" dart today...

I was almost gonna make it to after midnight

 

[rteetz]

If New Fantasyland cost around 455 million and Diagonal Alley cost about $400 million, I can't see these two lands costing more than twice of either of those.

So the other 2 billion going to parking garages and infrastructure? That is a disappointing list for 2.8 Billion.

I'd expect Star Wars to cost more around what carsland or avatar is costing. Toy story is probably close to 400 million. 1.5ish for park additions 1.3 for infrastructure.

 

[rteetz]

My point would be, that if those existing structures are included in the land, there isn't really 14 being added.

Well maybe it's 14 acres and star tours. We don't know obviously.