Hollywood Studios’ Sorcerer’s Hat to be removed soon?

[rteetz]

Why a Cars attraction? Why not one based on Planes? That would seem to be the next logical step Cheers, --Lee

Planes was not nearly as big as cars and a third cars movie is on it's way...

 

[DanBoris]

Not looking forward to Avatar Land at all. It just is not Disney and does not fit (and was basically a short term fad that most children have no clue about).

Just like Song of the South, that's why Splash Mountain is always walk on.

 

[DanBoris]

Why a Cars attraction? Why not one based on Planes? That would seem to be the next logical step

Cheers,
--Lee

Simple, Merchandising. Cars merch is still a big seller.

 

[cranbiz]

Move the hat to the Animation courtyard. That is a more fitting location for the hat.

Of course, I have been pushing for this since my bus driving days.

 

[Minnesota!]

Just like Song of the South, that's why Splash Mountain is always walk on.

Love it!!

I would LOVE to see a major expansion at DHS. There just is not much there these days.. It is definitely a half day park for us.

Question - when do you think official announcements would start to spring up? Is there a conference or something coming up where things will start to leak?

 

[DISNEYD14]

Not looking forward to Avatar Land at all. It just is not Disney and does not fit (and was basically a short term fad that most children have no clue about).

***This is where I am ***

Was Avatar a disney film ???

If not, they should have expanded the DinoLand area. If you are going with non disney any way they should have stuck with animal theme and prehistoric animals or ocean creatures. Something.

AK is my favorite park and 2 of my childrens. We are extreme animal lovers and I just am stunned at what I've been hearing

 

[DISNEYD14]

Move the hat to the Animation courtyard. That is a more fitting location for the hat.

Of course, I have been pushing for this since my bus driving days.

**Can't they move the HAT near Fantasmic ** That would make the most sense and should have been where it started

 

[ThurlFan]

***This is where I am ***

Was Avatar a disney film ???

Was Star Wars a Disney film? Nope, but it worked out OK for the studios. I am waiting til I see what Pandora looks like before judging. It fits the original theme of the area where it is being built - the Beastly Kingdom (imaginary and legendary animals) that was whacked by the budget trimmers during the park's development. Ever notice the dragon on the AK signage? Represents Beastly Kingdom. So with avatar you've got imaginary animals, and a conservation message. Both of which fit the theme of Disney's Animal Kingdom as originally conceived.

Pandora might be awesome. It might suck. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Kimosabe]

Was Star Wars a Disney film? Nope, but it worked out OK for the studios. I am waiting til I see what Pandora looks like before judging. It fits the original theme of the area where it is being built - the Beastly Kingdom (imaginary and legendary animals) that was whacked by the budget trimmers during the park's development. Ever notice the dragon on the AK signage? Represents Beastly Kingdom. So with avatar you've got imaginary animals, and a conservation message. Both of which fit the theme of Disney's Animal Kingdom as originally conceived.

Pandora might be awesome. It might suck. We'll just have to wait and see.

Bingo. While original and/or "Disney" content would be great in theory, outside IP such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Twilight Zone (ToT), Aerosmith (RnR) all seem to have done OK. At least three of those are what keep many people coming back to DHS over and over again even with its faults in other areas. I'm just glad to see that they are sinking some real cash into DAK and presumably DHS, regardless of the original source of the content.

As for the suggestion of a Planes-focused attraction/land...uh, pretty sure that was a joke.

As for the hat, I'm OK keeping it but am fully in favor of moving it out of its current location....Fantasmic, Animation Plaza or maybe a nice shady spot for the bag-checking security.

 

[anthony2k7]

The tower of terror ten miler rundisney event has been cancelled for next year. The run takes place at DHS, the race was cancelled due to upcoming projects coming up at DHS. Tower of terror is going nowhere.

A bus driver told me its getting a refurb with a new Frozen theme

 

[DISNEYD14]

Was Star Wars a Disney film? Nope, but it worked out OK for the studios. I am waiting til I see what Pandora looks like before judging. It fits the original theme of the area where it is being built - the Beastly Kingdom (imaginary and legendary animals) that was whacked by the budget trimmers during the park's development. Ever notice the dragon on the AK signage? Represents Beastly Kingdom. So with avatar you've got imaginary animals, and a conservation message. Both of which fit the theme of Disney's Animal Kingdom as originally conceived.

Pandora might be awesome. It might suck. We'll just have to wait and see.

** I was actually asking a legit question ** I don't know anything about the film or the message of the film.

I'm not thrilled with it. The movie doesn't interest me in the slightest.

But I was trying to figure out if it wasn't a disney film, what is the connection.

If your answer is "conservation' then I get it.
Thanks!

 

[ThurlFan]

** I was actually asking a legit question ** I don't know anything about the film or the message of the film.

I'm not thrilled with it. The movie doesn't interest me in the slightest.

But I was trying to figure out if it wasn't a disney film, what is the connection.

If your answer is "conservation' then I get it.
Thanks!

Sorry if I misunderstood. The answer is no, it is not a Disney film. The show elements will be used in partnership in the same way Star Wars and Indiana Jones were before the purchase of LucasFilm.

 

[rteetz]

Sorry if I misunderstood. The answer is no, it is not a Disney film. The show elements will be used in partnership in the same way Star Wars and Indiana Jones were before the purchase of LucasFilm.

Disney and George Lucas have had a long partnership with Star Wars and Indiana Jones. George wanted to retire so Disney bought Lucasfilm for the cheap price of 4 billion dollars. Star Wars episodes 7-9 will come put in the next few years and those will be disney produced films under the lucasfilms division of Disney just like marvel is a division of Disney. Bob Iger for a long time now has said Star Wars will be getting a bigger presence in Disney parks. I am not a Star Wars fan but still enjoy the star tour attraction and the characters.

 

[truck1]

Maybe its me, but something is seriously wrong at DHS. I understand updates and progress etc. But looking at this logically, nothing adds up. Talking to a friend of ours that works at AK, mentioned that the Main Entrance to DHS, (the one off of World Drive, not BVD) was supposed to be moved north, and the land that LMA and the Back Lot tour (or what was left of it) was supposed to be leveled plus the additional land where the toll plaza was, was/is supposed to become Carsland. Ok. Kinda Makes sense. What doesn't make sense, is why would you rehab a ride, including all of the ride vehicles, only to close it less then a month later? (The tour trams were rehabbed in 2 places. 1 was ABC busses on hwy 50 near the Tpke, and the other was off 561 near Tavares. We saw one of the trams on a semi the other day. Today its sitting in ABC busses waiting on something)Then close AFI, only to reopen it as part of Frozen? Why only the 1 week warning that BLT was closing? Why reopen something that is supposed to be leveled?
If Carsland or even for arguments sake Star Wars was going into that real estate, why close something in its entirety, only to keep part of it open?
Even if the toll plaza isn't moving, or at least not yet, why the sudden rush to close? AI only got a few days warning.

Something is just not right and it seems like a lot of money is being wasted.

 

[rteetz]

Maybe its me, but something is seriously wrong at DHS. I understand updates and progress etc. But looking at this logically, nothing adds up. Talking to a friend of ours that works at AK, mentioned that the Main Entrance to DHS, (the one off of World Drive, not BVD) was supposed to be moved north, and the land that LMA and the Back Lot tour (or what was left of it) was supposed to be leveled plus the additional land where the toll plaza was, was/is supposed to become Carsland. Ok. Kinda Makes sense. What doesn't make sense, is why would you rehab a ride, including all of the ride vehicles, only to close it less then a month later? (The tour trams were rehabbed in 2 places. 1 was ABC busses on hwy 50 near the Tpke, and the other was off 561 near Tavares. We saw one of the trams on a semi the other day. Today its sitting in ABC busses waiting on something)Then close AFI, only to reopen it as part of Frozen? Why only the 1 week warning that BLT was closing? Why reopen something that is supposed to be leveled? If Carsland or even for arguments sake Star Wars was going into that real estate, why close something in its entirety, only to keep part of it open? Even if the toll plaza isn't moving, or at least not yet, why the sudden rush to close? AI only got a few days warning. Something is just not right and it seems like a lot of money is being wasted.

refurbs aren't approved by the big guns that being Staggs and Iger. Refurbs are done by the local guys kalogridis and such. The big guns can come in anytime and say we're going to close this and this to make room for this. Carsland was supposed to happen but things changed and it's unlikely now. AFI is only frozen temporarily because they needed the sound stage for the TSMM expansion. Once frozen leaves AFI will be just like the backlot and most likely eventually a pile of rubble.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Maybe its me, but something is seriously wrong at DHS. I understand updates and progress etc. But looking at this logically, nothing adds up. Talking to a friend of ours that works at AK, mentioned that the Main Entrance to DHS, (the one off of World Drive, not BVD) was supposed to be moved north, and the land that LMA and the Back Lot tour (or what was left of it) was supposed to be leveled plus the additional land where the toll plaza was, was/is supposed to become Carsland. Ok. Kinda Makes sense. What doesn't make sense, is why would you rehab a ride, including all of the ride vehicles, only to close it less then a month later? (The tour trams were rehabbed in 2 places. 1 was ABC busses on hwy 50 near the Tpke, and the other was off 561 near Tavares. We saw one of the trams on a semi the other day. Today its sitting in ABC busses waiting on something)Then close AFI, only to reopen it as part of Frozen? Why only the 1 week warning that BLT was closing? Why reopen something that is supposed to be leveled?
If Carsland or even for arguments sake Star Wars was going into that real estate, why close something in its entirety, only to keep part of it open?
Even if the toll plaza isn't moving, or at least not yet, why the sudden rush to close? AI only got a few days warning.

Something is just not right and it seems like a lot of money is being wasted.

Excellent points Truck1, it does make one wonder!

AKK

 

[truck1]

refurbs aren't approved by the big guns that being Staggs and Iger. Refurbs are done by the local guys kalogridis and such. The big guns can come in anytime and say we're going to close this and this to make room for this. Carsland was supposed to happen but things changed and it's unlikely now. AFI is only frozen temporarily because they needed the sound stage for the TSMM expansion. Once frozen leaves AFI will be just like the backlot and most likely eventually a pile of rubble.

True. But-Disney is all about input from others. I cant see California sending an email to the DHS president saying close AI, BLT. Were leveling it for something new. Something like that usually comes from an idea from the parks, goes to Cali, then comes back. Or at least, theres a meeting in which a timetable is shared since money potentially could be spent for a big party for arguments sake. Or a major overhaul. Something like, were putting in Carsland in the this area. This is the time table. This way things like rehabbing equipment literally within a month of the closing date doesn't occur. That message gets added to the overall budget, and someone goes to California or Team Disney and says, We need X amount of money for general operating and xyz. We also need D amount of money to rehab ride X ride Y and paint this that and the other thing. That budget gets debated 3 ways to Sunday, and either modified or denied or approved. Its not like Cali didn't know that the ride they were panning on closing was going thru a rehab. The money had to come from somewhere.


Not sure what it cost, but the trams were stripped to their frames, all of the doors and other equipment was off, and redone. Then trailered back to the park. It was probably close to 1500 bucks alone just for the semi trips. Per full unit.

 

[gljvd]

Here is what I hope/envision

The hat ( I love fantasia ) moves to the front of the park before the entrance.

The main street stays the same and the movie thearter is still there. But the ride is updated and it takes you through more modern movies with starwars and Pixar stuff in it.

The left side of the park imo will get the indy ride from cali , the eatery between star tours and indy will become a cantina , star tours will stay. We will also get another star wars ride . American idol will get redone as the jedi academy .

I'm not sure whats going to happen to the Muppets. I love it and don't want it go.

On the other side of course toy story will expand with another track. I think we will see 2-3 Pixar rides. Toy story is already represented well, I think we might get a wall-e ride along with a brave ride and a big hero 6 ride.

I don't think the Disney junior section will change, its allways busy during the day the character great could become another ride however

I also think Rocking and Tower will stay the same , the beauty and the best show might change however

 

[rteetz]

True. But-Disney is all about input from others. I cant see California sending an email to the DHS president saying close AI, BLT. Were leveling it for something new. Something like that usually comes from an idea from the parks, goes to Cali, then comes back. Or at least, theres a meeting in which a timetable is shared since money potentially could be spent for a big party for arguments sake. Or a major overhaul. Something like, were putting in Carsland in the this area. This is the time table. This way things like rehabbing equipment literally within a month of the closing date doesn't occur. That message gets added to the overall budget, and someone goes to California or Team Disney and says, We need X amount of money for general operating and xyz. We also need D amount of money to rehab ride X ride Y and paint this that and the other thing. That budget gets debated 3 ways to Sunday, and either modified or denied or approved. Its not like Cali didn't know that the ride they were panning on closing was going thru a rehab. The money had to come from somewhere. Not sure what it cost, but the trams were stripped to their frames, all of the doors and other equipment was off, and redone. Then trailered back to the park. It was probably close to 1500 bucks alone just for the semi trips. Per full unit.

The money comes from Bob in Cali and he'll pay for the refurbs no problem usaully. Something big is coming we all know this. Disneys fiscal year started in October that is when new things are approved and budgeted for so therefore you see closures. When this stuff gets approved who cares about spending the money on the refurb that was in the last budget this is a new year and new budget. I'd much rather have something new and exciting than refurbed trams but that's just me we aren't the ones deciding should we spend money to refurb the trams or not. Disney has enough money to do something like that and not care that much about it.

 

[old lady]

A bus driver told me its getting a refurb with a new Frozen theme

I hope since Frozen isn't everything. They should keep Toy story, the Muppets, STARs Tours, Aerosmith ride, Tower of Terror, and chinese theatre ride. They should keep the good like Indiana Jones show and some others. The hat could have been used for a Michey Show or entrance to a Mickey mouse ride or animation show. Mickey mouse is a Hollywood star.