Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2024 Edition

[soniam]

For instance, if stuff will only be available through the end of the year, that’s a very busy time. Josh said at least through the end of the year. Hotels and DVC are getting booked up. Someone may want to come down but wouldn’t be able to. ROA and TSI are very dear to me. It’s some of my favorite memories with my grandfather, who has passed. We weren’t told that he died by his wife and she didn’t have a funeral. Long story involving Alzheimer’s and a gold digger. Anyway, it’s probably not anyone else’s situation, but it’s probably one of the most emotional things about Disney for me. I was lucky to find a DVC place when our college-age son could go this year on school break. It wound just be a courtesy to fans at the Ultimate Fan Event

 

[Gusey]

I think the reason we haven't heard where Monstropolis is going is because they're still deciding. The two pieces of concept art for Monsters inc Land are for 2 different location: Animation Courtyard and Muppet Courtyard

 

[KNovacovschi]

It looks like the idea of replacing Muppets with Monsters, Inc. was a Bob Chapek era one. I’m pretty sure they’re going with Monsters taking over the Launch Bay now.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1823443824728850851

I agree. I think Animation Courtyard will be the location for it, as do a lot of hardcore Disney people. They can love launch Bay over to GE and change the entrance to LM. Also for the Disney Jr stuff it can be moved over to where the Cars stuff is and the Cars stuff moved to MK with the 2 new rides there. They just redid the Muppets courtyard, I doubt they will get rid of it now.

 

[zackiedawg]

As an outside-the-box idea, rather than fully replacing Muppets or Animation courtyard areas, what if Monstropolis will be placed just AFTER Muppets? There's space behind Mama Melrose if they reroute Cypress Drive, eat into a little of the parking lot, and use the space behind Galaxy's where they had the former starcruiser entrance and driveway - there's no backstage buildings there - just parking lot, so it would be fairly easy to take some of that parking lot for expansion and reroute Cypress drive around the new section.

 

[BrianL]

As an outside-the-box idea, rather than fully replacing Muppets or Animation courtyard areas, what if Monstropolis will be placed just AFTER Muppets? There's space behind Mama Melrose if they reroute Cypress Drive, eat into a little of the parking lot, and use the space behind Galaxy's where they had the former starcruiser entrance and driveway - there's no backstage buildings there - just parking lot, so it would be fairly easy to take some of that parking lot for expansion and reroute Cypress drive around the new section.

Yeah, but It hink the point of possibly using the Muppets Courtyard is that it already has restaurants that they can repurpose. If they were going to build new, they may as well use Animation Courtyard instead. I think that would be the better spot - the Monsters Inc. building would look great - visible from the center of the park - and it would be near Toy Stroy Land too.

 

[Naomeri]

Yeah, but It hink the point of possibly using the Muppets Courtyard is that it already has restaurants that they can repurpose. If they were going to build new, they may as well use Animation Courtyard instead. I think that would be the better spot - the Monsters Inc. building would look great - visible from the center of the park - and it would be near Toy Stroy Land too.

Plus, it would split the incoming crowds a bit at rope drop. If Monsters was the same direction as Galaxy’s Edge, it would be crazy at rope drop, but if all the Monsters people go towards Animation Courtyard and all the GE people go the other way, it’s easier to deal with them all

 

[Madteaparty001]

I do wonder if a lot of the half baked announcements had something to do with the hacking that happened to Disney not too long ago. A throw it all out there approach and then take their time implementing it so the hackers couldn't really get much out of their data harvesting.

 

[LKing]

I think the reason we haven't heard where Monstropolis is going is because they're still deciding. The two pieces of concept art for Monsters inc Land are for 2 different location: Animation Courtyard and Muppet Courtyard

But didn't he say dirt has been moved?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I think the reason we haven't heard where Monstropolis is going is because they're still deciding. The two pieces of concept art for Monsters inc Land are for 2 different location: Animation Courtyard and Muppet Courtyard

I've also heard that the only reason that there's speculation about Muppets is that a piece of art shows a brick wall, is that the case? If so, doesn't seem like strong enough evidence

 

[zackiedawg]

Yeah, but It hink the point of possibly using the Muppets Courtyard is that it already has restaurants that they can repurpose. If they were going to build new, they may as well use Animation Courtyard instead. I think that would be the better spot - the Monsters Inc. building would look great - visible from the center of the park - and it would be near Toy Stroy Land too.

I agree the Animation location itself would be better - both for crowd control / traffic, and because it's an almost dead part of the park already with Dis Jr and Launch Bay taking up lots of space. The only problem there is that they'd have to stay in that footprint as there's quite a lot of backstage buildings packed in behind...moving those might be logistically more difficult. That's the only reason I thought of extending beyond Muppets - it's basically dirt/parking lot, so expansion is almost unlimited there. But yes, it would be more costly than just repurposing existing buildings.

 

[Suger Mag]

I've also heard that the only reason that there's speculation about Muppets is that a piece of art shows a brick wall, is that the case? If so, doesn't seem like strong enough evidence

well besides that speculation is a requirement of DISmenbership

I think Muppets Theater has been showing its age, and the closing of the gift shop makes people think it might get replaced

It has seemed like there has been an increase in the Muppets, and is that in part the Henson film or utilizing the IPs they own

it could come about that both could be true... Monsters going into Launch Bay and something happens with the Muppets. I hope hope hope that Muppets stays and the gift shop reopens. I think that would be a hard area to do construction in without affecting the park.

I think Launch bay... it seems like a huge space that is not fully utilized,, as much as I love meeting CHewbacca and Vader there... it seems to be the most logical, it does not close an existing attraction..... . is easily closed off without impacting the flow of traffic in the park, Meet and Greets can be moved and the building already kinda looks like the drawings

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

and the building already kinda looks like the drawings

View attachment 886304

I thought so, too.

 

[Dznefreek]

But didn't he say dirt has been moved?

Yes. It is moving in France

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

And the set up area of AK

 

[bryaalre]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1824124583970328635

 

[fatmanatee]

Annual TEA/AECOM attendance report is out:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1824124583970328635

EDIT: @bryaalre beat me to it lol

 

[bryaalre]

Annual TEA/AECOM attendance report is out:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1824124583970328635

EDIT: @bryaalre beat me to it lol

Lol just barely.

I'll be interested in reading some more of the report but most things look to be normal and what I expected besides a large jump for EPCOT. Were people waiting for Journey of Water or waiting for the walls to finally come down?

 

[rangerxenos]

well besides that speculation is a requirement of DISmenbership

I think Muppets Theater has been showing its age, and the closing of the gift shop makes people think it might get replaced

It has seemed like there has been an increase in the Muppets, and is that in part the Henson film or utilizing the IPs they own

it could come about that both could be true... Monsters going into Launch Bay and something happens with the Muppets. I hope hope hope that Muppets stays and the gift shop reopens. I think that would be a hard area to do construction in without affecting the park.

I think Launch bay... it seems like a huge space that is not fully utilized,, as much as I love meeting CHewbacca and Vader there... it seems to be the most logical, it does not close an existing attraction..... . is easily closed off without impacting the flow of traffic in the park, Meet and Greets can be moved and the building already kinda looks like the drawings

View attachment 886304

IMO Disney is WAY underutilizing the Muppets in their parks, other than DHS, they're almost nowhere to be found. It's sad.

 

[fatmanatee]

Lol just barely.

I'll be interested in reading some more of the report but most things look to be normal and what I expected besides a large jump for EPCOT. Were people waiting for Journey of Water or waiting for the walls to finally come down?

That surprised me along with the decrease in HS. I'm not even sure we can contribute it to JoW or walls, those were later in the year and can't possibly have had a big impact. Maybe the restart of AP sales? Happened in April, could see Epcot particularly benefitting with the festivals. Still seems like a lot.

 

[StarCruzer]

I checked Google maps, and noticed that part of the backstage area near Animation Courtyard apparently has a Subway?? I'm guessing for cast members. There's also a large, unlabeled building at 200 W Showbiz Blvd behind the Launch Bay, which may be a problem for expansion in that area.