Is Toy Story Land really needed?

[butterfly71076]

While I agree, HS really needs help, I would have preferred using the area for Pixar themed rides/attractions and not just focusing on Toy Story. Maybe do something with Monsters, Inc or The Incredibles. There are so many great movies, it would have been cool to have a Pixar Land.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Yup it's mind boggling Josh. I have this sneaking suspicion that the folks so against a few extra thrill rides are the types of people who need a barf bag after riding Big Thunder.

I go to Cedar Point and ride everything, so think again.

Your condescension makes you look bad, not the people that you scorn. When you have to resort to insults in a debate, you have lost.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

The lines for 7dmt disagree with you

The lines disagree that she wants rides like Mystic Manor?

 

[Jennasis]

The lines disagree that she wants rides like Mystic Manor?

Thanks Josh....i was stymied.

 

[PurpleKomodo]

Those that are comparing WDW and US/IOA: The difference for me is this... I took my almost 3, under 38 inches tall kiddo to Disney and we had 6 action packed park days. I chose not to pay the price of admission for him to go to US/IOA with us. Why? Because I would have had to pay for a non-rider to come along to babysit all day or my DH and I would have had to rider swap almost everything. There is hardly anything there for him and the few things that are have astronomical lines (Minions). What makes WDW special is that we can all have a great time together and even the "thrill" rides are mild enough and with short enough height requirements that parents and children will be able to enjoy them together a lot sooner. By the next time we go, DS will be tall enough for most of Disney's thrill rides and we can do them together. How cool is that?

I agree that DHS needs more family rides. As others have said TSMM is the only ride for kids and adults to do together at DHS. That is why the lines are so insane. So insane that it is also very difficult to ride it multiple times in the day. Luckily, my kid likes shows so he was entertained there, but it would be much more attractive if there was more to do there. I hate to even bring it up, but they even took away the Baymax and Incredibles M&G. More strikes against kid friendly. I hope Toy Story Land brings back the family feel to that park.

 

[EvieBug]

Those that are comparing WDW and US/IOA: The difference for me is this... I took my almost 3, under 38 inches tall kiddo to Disney and we had 6 action packed park days. I chose not to pay the price of admission for him to go to US/IOA with us. Why? Because I would have had to pay for a non-rider to come along to babysit all day or my DH and I would have had to rider swap almost everything. There is hardly anything there for him and the few things that are have astronomical lines (Minions). What makes WDW special is that we can all have a great time together and even the "thrill" rides are mild enough and with short enough height requirements that parents and children will be able to enjoy them together a lot sooner. By the next time we go, DS will be tall enough for most of Disney's thrill rides and we can do them together. How cool is that?

I agree that DHS needs more family rides. As others have said TSMM is the only ride for kids and adults to do together at DHS. That is why the lines are so insane. So insane that it is also very difficult to ride it multiple times in the day. Luckily, my kid likes shows so he was entertained there, but it would be much more attractive if there was more to do there. I hate to even bring it up, but they even took away the Baymax and Incredibles M&G. More strikes against kid friendly. I hope Toy Story Land brings back the family feel to that park.

Agreeing on this - despite my desperate wish to see the Harry Potter area at Universal, I see so little there for my kids that it is just not worth the effort. We figure in a few years when they are older/bigger/taller, we will give that a shot.

 

[Pemeberly]

I just like having a variety of everything. If we are getting, say, three new rides at a time, make one a Disneyfied thrill ride (think: BTM, SM, etc), one a dark ride (think: TLM), and one a unique family experience (think: TSMM).

Is that where the disagreement on this thread is happening? It seems like a lot of pro-thrill ride folks here are asking for more of Disney's version of a thrill, not a crazy mega coaster a la Six Flags. Right? Or am I reading it wrong? I don't see why Disney needs to be one or the other - that's always been the magic of WDW for my family. There's something for everyone, and a lot of it. Tame rides aren't just isolated to one area, and neither are thrill riders. I'd hate to see Disney become JUST thrill rides or JUST family rides.

As to the original question: a more family-geared experience is definitely needed at HS as it stands now. I would have preferred a Pixar land versus a Toy Story land, but if you think about it, it would have been very hard to make a Pixar-themed land "immersive." Their films are so different, I don't see how you could make the transition from movie to movie seamless. If they had to keep it to one movie, Toy Story makes the most sense - it's had the most sequels, the biggest following, and the one of the most unique settings.

 

[nat8199]

I think that the problem with Pixar land, rather than Toy Story, is that Pixar means almost nothing to most kids. If I told my kids we were going to Pixar land, they would be super confused or not care at all. If I tell them we are going to Toy Story Land, they will jump for joy. The brand of Pixar just doesn't carry any weight with kids until at least the teens, if not older.

 

[KJMAX1]

The difference with a lot of these parks mentioned is that Disney is in the entertainment business, and the millennial age group wants total emersion. That's why restaurants now have open kitchens, and people can choose what they want and see it being made. Wendy's is changing the entire way their franchises are set up for this exact reason. Carsland in DL is a great example of the success with themed areas. Kids love seeing that everything looks just like the movie. Its not like a Fantasyland, or Adventureland, its all one movie.

Places like Knotts, US/IOA, etc offer very minimal total emersion experiences. They are more of your thrill rides, park adventures. I personally enjoy both. I like going to US/IOA for a day or two, and enjoy all the thrills, but I also enjoy going to Disney and be able to enjoy the theming, wonder, and even the small kiddie rides with my entire family. I think if you look at them as two different types of experiences, you wouldn't be disappointed.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

I just like having a variety of everything. If we are getting, say, three new rides at a time, make one a Disneyfied thrill ride (think: BTM, SM, etc), one a dark ride (think: TLM), and one a unique family experience (think: TSMM).

Is that where the disagreement on this thread is happening? It seems like a lot of pro-thrill ride folks here are asking for more of Disney's version of a thrill, not a crazy mega coaster a la Six Flags. Right? Or am I reading it wrong? I don't see why Disney needs to be one or the other - that's always been the magic of WDW for my family. There's something for everyone, and a lot of it. Tame rides aren't just isolated to one area, and neither are thrill riders. I'd hate to see Disney become JUST thrill rides or JUST family rides.

As to the original question: a more family-geared experience is definitely needed at HS as it stands now. I would have preferred a Pixar land versus a Toy Story land, but if you think about it, it would have been very hard to make a Pixar-themed land "immersive." Their films are so different, I don't see how you could make the transition from movie to movie seamless. If they had to keep it to one movie, Toy Story makes the most sense - it's had the most sequels, the biggest following, and the one of the most unique settings.

I am intrigued by your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[quandrea]

Everyone asking for Disney to build more thrilling rides at Walt Disney World are unlikely to get their wish anytime soon. Disney has always been about "family thrills". The difference between Disney and Universal in this regard can be summed up in one single distinction:

Universal has no problem with building rides where you have to walk through metal detectors to make sure you don't have anything in your pockets which can fly out and injure bystanders.
Disney, on the other hand, does not build rides where you can't take your whole backpack on the ride with you.

This is actually why my dh has no interest in universal. He can't imagine being bother with the hassle of that. When and if we ever get to universal to see Harry potter, it will be without him. Disney has the sort of entertainment we are looking for.

 

[quandrea]

Agreeing on this - despite my desperate wish to see the Harry Potter area at Universal, I see so little there for my kids that it is just not worth the effort. We figure in a few years when they are older/bigger/taller, we will give that a shot.

Exactly our approach. It's probably five years away. My littlest ones are almost six now.

 

[Pigletpal40]

DHS started as MGM to be a fully functional studio/theme park paying homage to "Old Hollywood". There would be "hot" areas where people could see the movie making process, backstage wardrobe and set construction shops and an animation studio where you could see those movies being created(Mulan, Lilo & Stitch) as well as movie/television based attractions. Then the budget cuts came after 9/11. Animation moved back to California. Backlot streets (Ernest Saves Christmas, Golden Girls) turned into a car stunt show. The rest is history and where we are today. I think it's great they're finally giving this park some attention even if we're looking at 5 or more years out.

 

[bbjunkie]

Would you feel better if I brought up Cedar Point or Busch Gardens? It's the same sort of comparison, but feel free to insert whichever park it makes you happier to compare to in that equation.

The point I'm making, and that you're missing, is this; Disney is seeking to do something different. You don't have to like it, but if you've visited those other theme parks, you obviously see the difference between the rides at Disney and <theme park of your choice here>. We spent summers going to Cedar Point. Cedar Point has some AMAZING rides. Seriously. They're great, but they're not the rides at Disney. The attention to detail and immersion into theme just isn't there. I think they're doing better with this at Universal because they have to if they want to compete.

The truth is, Disney already has rides and attractions that DO appeal to all of the age categories you pointed out. Maybe they're not the rides YOU want, but that doesn't mean they don't have things to do for all age groups. If they didn't people wouldn't go. However, the people who go around the country riding the best roller coasters aren't going to Disney because that's not what Disney does.

This, exactly. ^^^. Walt Disney World isn't an amusement park, it is a theme park. There is a big difference. Disney isn't tying to be an amusement park; if that's the kind of experience you want, you go to Universal, or Cedar Point, or Six Flags. Ride the rides; get the thrills. Walk around from ride to ride with your goal being to get a thrill from the next ride. Disney is a theme park with details that create an immersive experience. You go to meet characters, to participate in Disney. You can meet Snoopy at Cedar Point, but that isn't why people visit. So, yeah, you can meet characters, such as they are, at amusement parks, and you can ride thrill rides,such as they are, at Disney, but the main function is different.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Yup it's mind boggling Josh. I have this sneaking suspicion that the folks so against a few extra thrill rides are the types of people who need a barf bag after riding Big Thunder.

Actually, I just have realistic expectations for Disney - and FYI there's nothing wrong with people who don't ride anything more intense than Big Thunder. But, since I have APs for Universal and Busch Gardens and ride all their coasters with glee, I can't possibly be who you're talking about.

 

[KeroKero]

In my opinion you just can't compare THEME parks to AMUSEMENT parks, they just aren't the same. While I do think that US/IOA is much better than the average Theme Park (Six Flags etc), I don't it's a themed park the way WDW is a themed park (maybe except for the WWoHP). All the WDW parks are themed areas helping you escape reality and becoming immersed in where ever you happen to be, Adventureland, World Showcase, Africa and Toy Story Land will only help to add to the themed areas that we as park visitors can visit.

I'm excited that there's anything new and exciting happening at HS, this was my favourite park as a kid and now it's just a mess. I pretty much only go there for TSMM, which is my absolute favourite ride in any of the parks. I do enjoy RnR and ToT as well, but not as much as I do TSMM.

There is a small version of a Toy Story Land at Disneyland Paris which I had the chance of visiting earlier this year. This land in their Hollywood Studios Park is small, and I assume the rides coming to HS will be like the ones there. A slinky dog ride, the alien parachutes ... they're not the greatest rides, for me anyway. But they're great for kids and it's important that a place like Disney World maintain entertainment, attractions etc for people of all ages. The Toy Story Land at DLP is super cute and has amazing photo opportunities and I'm excited to see what the Imagineers can convenience for Toy Story Land in HS as well as Star Wars Land.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I will go with the opposite argument:
DHS DOES have thrill rides. TOT and the rock and roll coaster. Not to mention Star Tours. Why shouldn't small children have a few rides they can ride? That's why toy story mania always has a crazy line!

Sorry, but Star Tours is NOT a thrill ride.

Even Universal's IOA, a park primarily based on thrills, has a childrens themed area. There is a place for both, and right now DHS does not have much for the little ones. I'm for Toy Story Land, and as a big fan of Toy Story growing up I will look forward to exploring it once it's finished.

You grew up with toy story? Lord, that shows how old I am.

I am a grown woman and I don't like thrill rides. I like fun immersive rides. If I wanted thrill I'll go to cedar point or kings island. I go to disney for disney. The way they do things is just perfect for me.

I agree!

 

[ttintagel]

There are so many people who won't or can't ride thrill rides. I can go to any park and find excellent ones. But I can travel to Disney with my whole family and everyone will enjoy their day. I took my kids, parents and grandfather to Busch gardens. There wasnt a single ride we could all do together. Disney is the only park we've been to where we can stay together 75% or more of the time.

I think hs is lacking for entertainment for the under 40" set, so I'm thrilled with the direction of their renovations. Family rides is a huge part of what sets Disney apart for us

Yes! And that's the niche that the original Disneyland was designed to fill in the first place - a park where the whole family would enjoy playing together.

 

[ttintagel]

DHS has four big headliner attractions, all with long wait times - and not much else that most families want to do in between. I think if Disney announced that instead of a themed land with two moderate attractions, they were putting all that money into building another headliner with another long queue, some folks would be really happy but it wouldn't solve the main problem they've got over there.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Sorry, but Star Tours is NOT a thrill ride.

I would disagree, and this is probably where a lot of the "Disney should/shouldn't build thrill rides" arguments begin, a lack of common definition for what constitutes a thrill ride.