Disneys Hollywood Studios about to change forever

[bellyrunnersix]

Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Frozen Funland

So I know the rumors are that this is either a Star Wars or Pixar expansion. I just can't imagine that Disney is going to be rid of Frozen from HS permanently. I imagine if they could find a way to put it in AK it'd be in every park somehow.

What are the chances that this expansion is going to be a year round Arendelle? I know Norway is pretty much gone but I doubt it's ever going to be officially acknowledged as a "Frozen-land."

Could this actually be for Frozen?

Whatever it is, it's going to be highly visible from World Drive so I'm hoping for a showstopper.

 

[rteetz]

So I know the rumors are that this is either a Star Wars or Pixar expansion. I just can't imagine that Disney is going to be rid of Frozen from HS permanently. I imagine if they could find a way to put it in AK it'd be in every park somehow. What are the chances that this expansion is going to be a year round Arendelle? I know Norway is pretty much gone but I doubt it's ever going to be officially acknowledged as a "Frozen-land." Could this actually be for Frozen? Whatever it is, it's going to be highly visible from World Drive so I'm hoping for a showstopper.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...-executives-at-disney's-hollywood-studios.htm

Big time execs are in WDW and along with them is John Lasseter. This leads me to believe Pixar is happening in this area of the park. This would also lead me to believe this is something new not a clone. Permits have been filed for sound stage 1 with the permits ending in 2016.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Listen...frozen is going to flameout...

Trust me, it's gonna.

What is likely is that it falls
Back into the "princess pack" with Ariel, belle, and Cindy.

That is the best case
Scenario.

And if you notice...no single
Princess franchise has a presence in all parks beyond giftshops, meet and greets, and bibbiddi.

Yes, yes...I know...
"My DD is big into it...like nothing before"

This too... Will pass.

 

[skier_pete]

Yeah, I don't think Disney is quite willing to saturate the park with Frozen stuff. They want its presence, and they want it quickly, but I think

I would still think, even dumb executives that the IP that they have that would most likely be able to compete with Harry Potter is Marvel and Star Wars, and with Marvel unable to make its presence felt in Florida, I think Star Wars will be the main brunt of any changes, though an expansion of Pixar Place is not impossible. (A Incredibles dark ride a la Universals Spiderman attraction would be genius on Disney's part.)

I try not to get overexcited at the prospects since I would be shocked if it really goes forward, but a MAJOR overhaul of this park would be fantastic. I don't know why you would shudder at the idea of a new park icon, the earful tower, while cute, as always been a marginal icon in the back of the park, and the BAH is hated more than it is loved. (Actually its a great icon just in a terrible locale.)

 

[surferdave]

Listen...frozen is going to flameout...

Trust me, it's gonna.

What is likely is that it falls
Back into the "princess pack" with Ariel, belle, and Cindy.

That is the best case
Scenario.

That's quite a pack to fall back in though. I think Disney can easily plan on the Frozen sisters remaining as popular as Belle or Ariel, and plan on their permanent park presence being similar. They each have multiple attractions in multiple parks.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That's quite a pack to fall back in though. I think Disney can easily plan on the Frozen sisters remaining as popular as Belle or Ariel, and plan on their permanent park presence being similar. They each have multiple attractions in multiple parks.

Yeah...didnt I say that?

That's what I was going for. Not to lump them with mulan...but more in the stale merchandise moving category like the 50's "classics" and the 80's "classics"

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If they didn't locals would uproar

Which makes then more more intelligent/better consumers

A plank in my longstanding platform

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The reason I hate BAH is the context at the time...

It was built:
1. With a pin stand under it...proving how clueless they were at the time (many ways still are)
2. At the exact same time they attempted to
"extend" the EPCOT wand and had the audacity to put "EPCOT" on top of the ball
3. The budget was squeezed off
Due to the foundering of animal kingdom... And that was a bad park at the time.
4. They had made bank on the millenium... And "rewarded" the customers by doing almost zero reinvestment for five years.
5. The EPCOT renovations were a fairly big failure then... And they pulled back and abandoned them. But they got back to them...well...never really actually. A little nemo and a clone.
6. The start of ridiculous price escalation that has not ceased...so much so that they have a rooms problem it appears (when you looked at the inventory screens at the time...they all ran about 97% and above...except animal kingdom which was overpriced...apparently a lesson not learned)

It was just a bad time to be a Disney lover...
And no... 9/11
Wasn't the cause of any of that...just the excuse.

 

[rteetz]

Yeah, I don't think Disney is quite willing to saturate the park with Frozen stuff. They want its presence, and they want it quickly, but I think I would still think, even dumb executives that the IP that they have that would most likely be able to compete with Harry Potter is Marvel and Star Wars, and with Marvel unable to make its presence felt in Florida, I think Star Wars will be the main brunt of any changes, though an expansion of Pixar Place is not impossible. (A Incredibles dark ride a la Universals Spiderman attraction would be genius on Disney's part.) I try not to get overexcited at the prospects since I would be shocked if it really goes forward, but a MAJOR overhaul of this park would be fantastic. I don't know why you would shudder at the idea of a new park icon, the earful tower, while cute, as always been a marginal icon in the back of the park, and the BAH is hated more than it is loved. (Actually its a great icon just in a terrible locale.)

I have actually just heard from a credible source on wdwmagic.com that the hat being moved is in discussion with the higher ups at Disney. And with several big time execs in DHS today especially John Lasseter I have a feeling a bigger Pixar presence is coming.

 

[bellyrunnersix]

Listen...frozen is going to flameout...

Trust me, it's gonna.

What is likely is that it falls
Back into the "princess pack" with Ariel, belle, and Cindy.

That is the best case
Scenario.

And if you notice...no single
Princess franchise has a presence in all parks beyond giftshops, meet and greets, and bibbiddi.

Yes, yes...I know...
"My DD is big into it...like nothing before"

This too... Will pass.

While I totally agree, right now it's beyond huge and I wouldn't put it past the execs at the moment. Granted it isn't a whole land but Ariel and several other properties have attractions in two parks not counting meet and greets. So were we NOT counting M&Gs, this plus the ride in Epcot is not outside of reality.

I'd much prefer a Star Wars land or Pixar Place expansion and hope that the rumors are true. I can just imagine the overwhelming response to Frozen Summer Fun is tugging suggestively at wallets. There are people literally begging Disney to extend the event or even make it a permanent fixture.

Meanwhile Tangled gets a bathroom

It's interesting that they've been so tightlipped about it. I guess we'll know in the near future. Fingers crossed.

 

[skier_pete]

While I totally agree, right now it's beyond huge and I wouldn't put it past the execs at the moment. Granted it isn't a whole land but Ariel and several other properties have attractions in two parks not counting meet and greets.

Hmmm, what characters have actually rated attractions in multiple parks (not including M&G). This is the list I can think of:

1) Ariel (MK and DHS)
2) Belle (MK and DHS)
3) Nemo & Friends (Epcot and AK)
4) Simba & Friends (Epcot and AK - this one for a short time had THREE)
5) Captain Jack Sparrow (MK and DHS)
6) Mickey (MK and DHS - I'm giving him Philharmagic since his names in the title and Fantasmic! because he's the lead)
7) Buzz Lightyear (MK and DHS)
8) Donald (MK and Epcot - also giving him Philharmagic as lead)

These are all pretty big-time Disney characters. The most recent of these characters is from 2003 (Nemo/Captain Jack - tied).

I could see that it would be possible they would put a second Frozen attraction in place, but I think that is unlikely, unless you count them keeping the singalong as a permanent addition, which I think they more or less will until the popularity fades a bit.

 

[Jake]

Sorry that I am a little behind in this discussion but with the back lot tour closing what is going to happen to Catastrophe Canyon. Going to somehow make it its own attraction or going to tear it down? Just hate to lose something else. Disney has the land to add thing. Why keep taking things away when they can keep things and add to what there already ?

 

[rteetz]

Sorry that I am a little behind in this discussion but with the back lot tour closing what is going to happen to Catastrophe Canyon. Going to somehow make it its own attraction or going to tear it down? Just hate to lose something else. Disney has the land to add thing. Why keep taking things away when they can keep things and add to what there already ?

That is not known at this time. There were rumors that they would use it for some sort of cars attraction but we really don't know. The Backlot tour has seen better days there isnt much purpose to it anymore nor has it had long waits in the last five years probably longer. It is expected that DHS will see a massive overhaul within the next few years this is just the beginning.

 

[aristocatz]

The latest Jim Hill podcast discusses the changes to DHS in great detail.

I know peoples' opinions of Jim's info are mixed, I personally enjoy listening to him.

He says:

-They are toying with changing the name to "Disney's Hollywood Adventure". Just a name they are considering, nothing finalized.

-The park will be more of a theme park with E-tickets that bring movies to life, rather than teaching you about movies themselves (a theme I really have not seen since the early 90's)

-Pixar Land (with a mini version of Carsland) and Star Wars Land will be the starring attractions of the park. Some Pixar related rides that are similar to those in Hong Kong Disney & DLP.

-RIP Muppets 3-D

-They are looking at many years of renovations to this park.

Aside from no more Muppets (yes, I know its outdated, but I'm a lifelong Jim Henson/Muppets fan & I wish they would continue to pay tribute to Jim Henson), I for one am excited about these changes. I've been going to DHS since it first opened (Disney MGM) & DHS has been a ghost of the great park it once was for quite a while now. Aside from some great themed restaurants (50's PTC & Sci-Fi), TSM, and the Osbourne Family Lights, I have a hard time even justifying spending more than a few hours there. I'm excited to see a fresh start here.

 

[rteetz]

The latest Jim Hill podcast discusses the changes to DHS in great detail. I know peoples' opinions of Jim's info are mixed, I personally enjoy listening to him. He says: -They are toying with changing the name to "Disney's Hollywood Adventure". Just a name they are considering, nothing finalized. -The park will be more of a theme park with E-tickets that bring movies to life, rather than teaching you about movies themselves (a theme I really have not seen since the early 90's) -Pixar Land (with a mini version of Carsland) and Star Wars Land will be the starring attractions of the park. Some Pixar related rides that are similar to those in Hong Kong Disney & DLP. -RIP Muppets 3-D -They are looking at many years of renovations to this park. Aside from no more Muppets (yes, I know its outdated, but I'm a lifelong Jim Henson/Muppets fan & I wish they would continue to pay tribute to Jim Henson), I for one am excited about these changes. I've been going to DHS since it first opened (Disney MGM) & DHS has been a ghost of the great park it once was for quite a while now. Aside from some great themed restaurants (50's PTC & Sci-Fi), TSM, and the Osbourne Family Lights, I have a hard time even justifying spending more than a few hours there. I'm excited to see a fresh start here.

I listen to Jim as well. I just find that sometimes he's a bit full of himself. Also I have been finding in his last few episodes its stuff I've already heard from other sources. Jim likes to put pretty much every rumor he knows out there and as we know a lot of things change and a lot of the things he says often don't happen that's why he doesn't have the greatest track record and people are mixed about him.

 

[anthony2k7]

You won't get argument from me that Epcot needs some TLC. IMHO, they should renew Wonders of Life/Horizons/Imagination, or develop something better to replace them.

It looks like DHS goes first though. I'm under the impression that the original plan was for these to be consecutive projects: Fantasyland --> Avatar --> DHS--> Epcot. Something seems to have expedited this plan in a big way.

What if Avatar land turned out to be another Hyperion Wharf. Lots of initial publicity, lots of initial prep work... then it all went quiet, and eventually cancelled.

I'm hearing Avatar 2 film may get pushed back yet again to 2017 and production still hasn't really started.

Maybe this is what has expedited the DHS plan?

 

[mdsouth]

What if Avatar land turned out to be another Hyperion Wharf. Lots of initial publicity, lots of initial prep work... then it all went quiet, and eventually cancelled. I'm hearing Avatar 2 film may get pushed back yet again to 2017 and production still hasn't really started. Maybe this is what has expedited the DHS plan?

I think you are on the right target. Why would Disney go ahead with Avatarland when they is nothing new to get people reinterested in it? I mean how old is that film anyway? It really didn't hold the majority of people's interest over the years like Star Wars or Cars.

Carsland or Star Warsland would be huge draws for years and years to come and exactly what Hollywood studios needs

 

[tcherjen]

I hope they make the changes. I love Pixar and Star Wars. I am not an Avatar fan and hope they scrape that idea.

 

[Suger Mag]

-RIP Muppets 3-D

-They are looking at many years of renovations to this park.

Aside from no more Muppets (yes, I know its outdated, but I'm a lifelong Jim Henson/Muppets fan & I wish they would continue to pay tribute to Jim Henson)....

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I love the Muppet Theater. That was one of my favorite shows growing up, and going to the mock up of the actual Muppet theater is a highlight of Studios for us. is right.

I got to visit the Music Experience in Seattle and I loved the Muppet exhibit that was there, it was a beaitiful tribute to Henson and all his work, it was neat seeing the charcter development sketches and early mockups of Muppets. My bench mascot during grad school was a large Beaker doll... always considered him was the symbol of science grunts everywhere.

 

[rteetz]

What if Avatar land turned out to be another Hyperion Wharf. Lots of initial publicity, lots of initial prep work... then it all went quiet, and eventually cancelled. I'm hearing Avatar 2 film may get pushed back yet again to 2017 and production still hasn't really started. Maybe this is what has expedited the DHS plan?

Highly doubtful on avatar. Hyperion wharf didn't get as far in as this is. Yes it had concept art and was announced but avatar has leveled an entire area of AK. I haven't heard anything about avatar 2 being pushed back. But AK needs this transformation and disney knows it they aren't going to stop right now.