Disney's Hollywood Studios is becoming party central at WDW

[crazy4wdw]

Disney World shifts more events to 'The Studios'
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
June 5, 2008

Disney's Hollywood Studios is becoming party central at Walt Disney World.

As it undergoes a change in theme during its 20th year, "The Studios," as the theme park is nicknamed, is adding performance venues and drawing events away from the resort's other three parks, becoming the site for most official Disney parties aimed at teens and young adults.

That party mission went largely unspoken last August, when Disney announced a slew of theme, attraction, entertainment and name changes for what had always been the giant resort's third-most-popular park, known until then as Disney-MGM Studios.

Yet Hollywood Studios -- which already possessed the most concert and show venues in Disney World, not to mention several attractions popular among youth, such as Tower of Terror -- now has a broader entertainment theme and is getting even more venues. It also is quietly grabbing a larger share of the after-hours party crowd.

Epcot appeals to older revelers with its shopping, dining, wines and flowers, and oldies acts such as Herman's Hermits. Magic Kingdom's parties offer visitors an array of princesses and pirates, as well as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Hollywood Studios is ready for those who want to rock.

"Now, with the new venues coming on board . . . and with our major attractions, that kind of resonates with these age groups, with the teens coming in," said Rilous Carter, Disney World vice president for Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Already home to three major annual bashes -- including this month's Star Wars Weekends -- and a number of annual after-hours private parties, The Studios also is taking over Disney World's annual high school "grad nights" and its annual "Night of Joy" Christian music festivals. Both grad nights and Night of Joy had until now taken place in Magic Kingdom. Disney's eighth-grade grad nights made the move to The Studios this year from Animal Kingdom. Last year, The Studios grabbed the High School Musical Pep Rally from Magic Kingdom.

"We think this is probably a better fit for these age groups," Carter said. "Magic Kingdom is a great venue -- they've loved it over the years. But this gives it [a youth-oriented event] more concert venues to stage musical shows or dance floors.

For most of its history, The Studios has been a solid third in popularity behind Magic Kingdom and Epcot in terms of general-admission attendance. But last year it narrowly missed being overtaken by Disney's Animal Kingdom, the resort's newest theme park, where attendance has been growing at faster rates in recent years.

This year, The Studios is getting:

*The only major Disney World ride to open this year, Toy Story Midway Mania.

*The resort's only major new show, American Idol Experience.

*Two new parades, Block Party Bash and the revised High School Musical 2: School's Out rally.

"I think this is our year," said Carter, the park's chief executive.

In addition, a new indoor concert venue to be called the Premiere Theater is being fashioned from an unused open-air theater. The air-conditioned venue will soon be joined by the American Idol Experience theater and two other stadiums that can each hold thousands of people. Large temporary stages and dance floors are also easily erected in front of the park's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and its giant Sorcerer's Hat.

Ronald Logan, a former Disney park-entertainment executive who now is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, said Disney World designs its show venues to be available for alternative uses, provided those uses fit the surrounding park's overall theme. With the added venues and other changes, The Studios is now much more flexible in that regard, he said.

"There has been a broadening of the whole mission and theme, where you can address anything you want," Logan said.

Still, unlike Universal Studios' signature events -- Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights -- after-hours events in Disney's Hollywood Studios might never feature such edgy entertainment as Kid Rock or the Bill & Ted shows. Not the official events, anyway. But like all theme parks, Hollywood Studios is available for rent, and under private control, the various show facilities could take on a different tone.

Festival promoter One Mighty Weekend chose The Studios several years ago for its annual gay-and-lesbian party. Last year's One Mighty Weekend party featured disco queen Donna Summer and the often-coarse comedian Kathy Griffin there. This weekend's party in The Studios will include ribald comedian/singer Mo'Nique and pop diva Taylor Dayne.

"It's just the way it's laid out," One Mighty Weekend producer Johnny Chisholm said of the park's appeal. "They have two or three really great attractions that everybody likes. The layout is successful for putting dance floors in. And everything flows really well."

Scott Powers can be reached at spower@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.

 

[MJMcBride]

So when is the scary halloween event coming?

 

[ChrisFL]

So if MK is for younger children/families, Epcot is for adults and DHS is for teens/twentysomethings...who's AK for?

 

[MJMcBride]

So if MK is for younger children/families, Epcot is for adults and DHS is for teens/twentysomethings...who's AK for?

the cool people

 

[TDC Nala]

So if MK is for younger children/families, Epcot is for adults and DHS is for teens/twentysomethings...who's AK for?

The party animals.

 

[melly]

...who's AK for?

people who like being hot, sweaty and cramped amongst thousands of people all wanting to travel down a 4 foot wide path

 

[SandraVB79]

the cool people

people who like being hot, sweaty and cramped amongst thousands of people all wanting to travel down a 4 foot wide path

I don't get why people don't like AK and say it's hot. If one park is hot, it's Epcot. No shade, almost no benches (and certainly not in the shade), ...

But I guess that's good, that way, less people in front of me in a queue in AK

 

[ChrisFL]

I don't get why people don't like AK and say it's hot. If one park is hot, it's Epcot. No shade, almost no benches (and certainly not in the shade), ...

But I guess that's good, that way, less people in front of me in a queue in AK

AK has very few indoor attractions, plus I think it actually was proven to be hotter than the other parks, with the trees and humidity

 

[MJMcBride]

I don't get why people don't like AK and say it's hot. If one park is hot, it's Epcot. No shade, almost no benches (and certainly not in the shade), ...

But I guess that's good, that way, less people in front of me in a queue in AK

well. there were plenty of people there in early May

 

[Jimmy712]

I don't get why people don't like AK and say it's hot. If one park is hot, it's Epcot. No shade, almost no benches (and certainly not in the shade), ...

But I guess that's good, that way, less people in front of me in a queue in AK

AK is definitely the hottest park. I dont know if it is because of all the plant life but it is extremely humid there. Epcot has got better over the years, back in the 90's it was horrible but the trees have grown a bit.

 

[mitros]

Oh well, now we will have to avoid the Studios......

 

[Jimmy712]

Oh well, now we will have to avoid the Studios......

Im not big on the Studios anyway. Other than Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster, theres really not much there. When my wife and I go we usually hit those 2 rides a couple times each then head over to MK

 

[suzimar57]

we avoid AK ourselves anyway.....

(more room for those hot & sweaty folks!)

 

[Villainess]

I wasn't impressed with the Block Party Bash as I thought the floats flew by to get into their next position. We were in between the floats (Monsters Inc and Bug's Life) so DD found it a bit boring as she doesn't really know those characters. I know where Buzz and Woody's float stops so I will get a better position next time and hopefully we can enjoy it more.

We missed the AP preview of Toy Story Mania by 2 days so we'll be checking that out next time; I'm sure DD and DS will enjoy it though since they like Toy Story!

We saw CMs working on the old Hunchback theater (I miss that show). I guess that's the theater they were referring to in the article.

I am not an American Idol fan - I have never sat through an entire show so I'll be skipping that one when it opens.

We didn't see the HSM show - just caught the parade as it went down the street. It seemed like it would be fun.

DHS has become my 4th favorite park. IMO, I think it still needs work to be done - bring in the broadway-style stage shows!

I wish they would bring back Superstar Television - they could update it with newer shows and use a mix of classic and new. It was great guest interaction.

 

[MegaPrime33]

AK does seem hotter than the other parks. I personally don't enjoy it as much, sans Everest. That's basically the only reason I go to AK.

 

[Hillbeans]

I completely agree with this - Disney Studios was packed to the gills this weekend and i'd only been there once before back in 2003 and really had no desire to go back.

To my surprise, I enjoyed all of the rides and attractions including the new TSM and Car stunt show, and found the atmosphere a lot more electric and exciting than it was 5 years ago. It's now a must-do on my next trip where in the past we'd skip that park to do other things.

 

[swilphil]

When does the American Idol attraction open? Are they doing previews?