Hollywood Studios Expansion

[TinkerShy]

Just a disclaimer to start, everything has been taken with a grain of salt.

I would personally love to see pretty much all of these changes made.

HS is a great park (though I constantly have to stop myself in the middle of calling it MGM Studios) but it needs a major face lift. Everyone is right in their comments that it lacks a consistent and cohesive theming throughout the park, but I think that even if they split the park up into Cars Land and Star Wars land and the like that they could easily manage a theme of finding yourself in your favorite movies, akin to how you felt the first time you rode TGMR.

As far as the Beauty and the Beast stage show goes, I would not be disappointed if it left. When I was a kid and my family visited the park (and I grew up in south FL so I went a LOT) that show was a must do for me EVERY time, along with The Little Mermaid. Having seen the show more recently, it has lost some of its luster. I haven't actually seen the b'way version, but I would imagine that many people would enjoy seeing a touring company of that just as much, if not more than the one act which you find at the park. And really, it's been playing for nigh on 20 years at this point, so a change would be nice. I also LOVE the music in Tangled. I find it very dynamic and if the stage show does go up I would totally audition!

I would also be happy for the sorcerer's hat to go away. I miss when the symbol for the park was the ear-full tower! ^_^

On the Cars Land debate, I think it would be a fun addition. Yes an all-Pixar-movie themed land would be great too, but I don't agree with the point that it would be better than Cars Land purely since it isn't anywhere else, because I'm pretty sure there is a already a section of DIsneyland/DCA themed around the Pixar movies (other than Cars). I don't know how extensive it is, having never visited parks before, but I've seen a fair amount online about it. I'd also love the previously mentioned Monster's Inc coaster.

We do need to see more Muppet areas too! The park was originally supposed to have more, but there were issues between Jim Henson's family and the Disney company that kept the plans from going forward. Also, Sam the Eagle in 2016! Amirite? ; )

My last point would be that a Star Wars themed land could be freaking AWESOME! I know the George Lucas/Star Wars partnership can be a sore spot for people, but it's such an iconic part of our culture and how adorable would it be to see young kids and all grown up kids alike light up at the prospect of having lunch at the Mos Eisley Cantina?! I for one would probably start squeaking with joy even upon entering! Of course with the clientele they see, at least I wouldn't be getting the strangest looks in the place. : D

Anyway, hopefully that wasn't too tl;dr for everyone. Just had to jump in with my two cents.

<3

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Pretty interesting article here:

http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/9719


Consider the rumor mill open for business!

Wow! This is great info. Thanks for sharing.

The only problems I have with this rumor is them changing Beauty and the Beast to Tangled. I would love a Tangled show but maybe put it into MK or somewhere else in HS. And I hope they keep the hat. I really like the hat. If they added the Carthway Circle w/ the hat that would be fine.

I LOVE the idea of the Monsters Inc. ride! That would be great!!!

Lets see if any of this rumor comes true....???

-FantasiaMagic

 

[FantasiaMagic]

It's a shame that they can't come up with something original.

I'd be much more interested in an entire Pixar land than a clone of Cars land. Was hoping for something different. If they are going to retheme the current Pizza Planet, they could put in a new restaurant or two based on the Pixar movies and include a Pixar Character meal, put in the Monster's Inc coaster, move the laugh floor over to DHS, put in an UP or Incredibles motion ride, retheme the HISTK play area to Bug's Life, and still add the racers or something from Carsland, without the whole land.

Oh well, I guess they know what they are doing. I'm sure people will like ANYTHING new at DHS.

I like your idea! and I agree they should do more PIXAR attractions...

 

[Violet Parr]

I'm on for everything EXCEPT Tangled The Musical. The songs weren't memorable and I don't think it deserves a show, especially replacing a classic movie like Beauty and the Beast.

I'm thinking though that with so much of the FLE being focused on Belle, maybe they are looking to balance things out a bit? There's a lot of Beauty and the Beast at MK...

VP

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I'm thinking though that with so much of the FLE being focused on Belle, maybe they are looking to balance things out a bit? There's a lot of Beauty and the Beast at MK...

VP

True, but TLM also has a show in DHS which I'd rather see go then BATB.

 

[Buffalo2Disney]

When I started reading through the article I just couldn't help but think with every new paragraph that they are just putting together every rumor that has been said on boards much like this one over the past number of years all into one article.

There just seems to be wayyy to much work going on here for one park, especially since Avatar is the next project in line and won't be done until 2016. Also I'm sure cars land would be cool, but the main attraction in that land is basically already at Epcot in Test Track. No reason to have the same type of ride in two different parks with a different theme. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[dtum]

Since the lead Immagineer for Carsland in Disneyland has now been reassigned to DW, it makes one wonder if he will be doing the same thing at the studios. They really do need some type of overhaul of that park.

 

[Phatoomch]

When I started reading through the article I just couldn't help but think with every new paragraph that they are just putting together every rumor that has been said on boards much like this one over the past number of years all into one article.

There just seems to be wayyy to much work going on here for one park, especially since Avatar is the next project in line and won't be done until 2016. Also I'm sure cars land would be cool, but the main attraction in that land is basically already at Epcot in Test Track. No reason to have the same type of ride in two different parks with a different theme. Just doesn't make sense to me.

You make a good point, I think because the lead Immagineer has been transferred over to DW everyone is assuming it will be Cars ..... poor guy, he's done something great but now he's being labelled a one-trick pony. Maybe he is going to work on something new.

Either way, whatever they decide, an overhaul would be great

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

When I started reading through the article I just couldn't help but think with every new paragraph that they are just putting together every rumor that has been said on boards much like this one over the past number of years all into one article.

There just seems to be wayyy to much work going on here for one park, especially since Avatar is the next project in line and won't be done until 2016. Also I'm sure cars land would be cool, but the main attraction in that land is basically already at Epcot in Test Track. No reason to have the same type of ride in two different parks with a different theme. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Yep, these are good points.

Anyone know if that web site usually provides reputable Disney news? Or is this more of a Jim Hill type thing?

 

[chicagoshannon]

I just don't believe that they'll it that Racers ride in at DHS. They already have Test Track in Epcot.

I'd love a Star Wars character meal.

 

[Cafeen]

is it safe to assume you don't like the hat?

Well, to be fair, I don't really mind the hat. I just don't like where it's located and what it's used for. It destroys a great sightline down Hollywood Blvd and it's used as... a pin store. Every other icon has some sort of use, but this is... a pin store. A pin store, that blocks the classic theater look.

If it were placed as a centerpiece in the Animation Courtyard, I'd not mind it nearly as much.

When I started reading through the article I just couldn't help but think with every new paragraph that they are just putting together every rumor that has been said on boards much like this one over the past number of years all into one article.

There just seems to be wayyy to much work going on here for one park, especially since Avatar is the next project in line and won't be done until 2016. Also I'm sure cars land would be cool, but the main attraction in that land is basically already at Epcot in Test Track. No reason to have the same type of ride in two different parks with a different theme. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Yup. It's likely just a lot of combined fluff with one or two possible truths

 

[PoohsFan1]

When I started reading through the article I just couldn't help but think with every new paragraph that they are just putting together every rumor that has been said on boards much like this one over the past number of years all into one article.

There just seems to be wayyy to much work going on here for one park, especially since Avatar is the next project in line and won't be done until 2016. Also I'm sure cars land would be cool, but the main attraction in that land is basically already at Epcot in Test Track. No reason to have the same type of ride in two different parks with a different theme. Just doesn't make sense to me.

When I read the article, I had to see what date it was written...it sounded like an April Fool's Day joke . I am taking all of this with a grain of salt. Until Disney actually announces something, I am just going to think it would be cool but not put too much into it. Don't get me wrong, I think DHS should get the much desired TLC that it so needs, and some of the rumors listed I could see possibly happening, but I really don't see some of the other ones getting the o.k., however you never know.

 

[UConnFan]

I've noticed that very few are questioning the likelihood of this rumour becoming reality. Or the timeframe. I do have doubts that Disney will spend the hundreds of millions of dollars required to do this (not to mention the disruption in the parks as attractions are closed) AT THE SAME TIME as they are spending a similar amount on the new expansion of AK.

As for Kathy Mangum's arrival at WDW, Mouseplanet has a completely different spin:


While I completely agree that DHS needs some loving care, I don't see this major overhaul happening until the new land in AK is completed.

I agree. I think they'll focus on AK now. I also think there's no way they'll upgrade everything the article discusses. It's just too much! I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[aznshents]

There is no way we'll be able to see anything this large in scale until AT LEAST after Avatarland is done or in the stages FLE is in now... They have so much to worry about with FLE and then Avatarland, there's no way this can be in more than just speculation and planning.

EDIT: The article says 2018 completion. When you look at a 2015 completion for Avatarland, it does make sense... I would really like to see some of these 'various sources' as this sounds like nothing more than

 

[molitva]

Since the lead Immagineer for Carsland in Disneyland has now been reassigned to DW, it makes one wonder if he will be doing the same thing at the studios. They really do need some type of overhaul of that park.

Kathy Mangum. So it's a she. Sorry for nit picking, but well...

 

[Victoria3]

Sounds like a lot of blue sky and fanboy dreaming.

 

[JetsetJAK]

I agree with the person who posted that they felt like this was some kind of April Fool's Joke while reading that article. It does seem all too good to be true, but I suppose we'll see. I really can't believe that they'd do something this major at the same time as Avatarland over at Animal Kingdom.

If it DOES happen, what I would be most excited about is the Star Wars and Muppet additions. Especially with Star Wars, it seems like such a no-brainer, I'm surprised they haven't expanded on both those properties already. And glad to hear that The Great Movie Ride could be getting some attention. I love that ride, but when I rode it in 2010 it just felt so amazingly dated. Has that film at the end of the ride ever been updated since the park opened in '89?

As far as Cars Land is concerned, I could take it or leave it. But if it's as big a hit at California Adventure as they're saying, then by all means go for it. But is that speculation just based on the fact that imagineers who worked on Cars Land are now at WDW? If Cars Land is such a hit, couldn't it be possible that they were brought in to work on creating something new? Does it HAVE to be Cars Land?

In regards to the Tower of Terror: According to wikipedia, when that attraction was added to California Adventure, the entire ride system was redesigned to make it more efficient and to "conserve space and money". The new system also apparently allows them to repair individual sections of the attraction without the entire ride having to go down. This saved them money and resulted in fewer breakdowns, so they went with this design when the attraction was added to Walt Disney Studios Park and TokyoSea. Maybe they're finally going to upgrade the Hollywood Studios version to the better ride system?

Ultimately, I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish Disney would give this kind of money and attention to EPCOT. Oh well.

.

 

[disneychic]

I agree. I think they'll focus on AK now. I also think there's no way they'll upgrade everything the article discusses. It's just too much! I'll believe it when I see it.

I know, but one can only hope.

 

[ttintagel]

I dunno. I tend to think that if there were any plans to duplicate Carsland, they would have been making two of everything from the beginning, the way they did for the Little Mermaid rides. It's far cheaper to do it that way, isn't it?

 

[rlduvall]

Trust me, I would love it and it sounds exciting, but I'll believe it when I see it. Remember, the David Copperfield restaurant/magic shop?