Liberty Square Riverboat Fate

[muppets3d]

Correct. Cars and Villains will be vastly more populated than the Rivers of America and TSI ever were. Both provide an expansion of accessible space for all guests as well as the obvious sales of merch, food, LLs.

For Launch bay it’s a question of what property they’re putting in that area. With that and some of the offices it’s a much larger expansion than Muppets Courtyard. Mv3D was given a death blow when they closed off additional thruway access by building Galaxy’s edge and now they need something bigger to draw guests into that segment.

Launch Bay probably has a plan in place or in the works as well, there’s just more logistics involved with work in that area.

Hindsight they probably should have closed Muppetvision then, during the Galaxy's Edge expansion, and tied Star Tours/Galaxy's Edge together more cohesively by eliminating the Muppets Courtyard area. Then they could have made Toy Story Land larger, maybe added a show or something. But that's water under the bridge now.

 

[Minnie1222]

Where is such a place in Hollywood Studios? We specifically asked a CM (it happened to be in Toy Storyland) where there was someplace in the park where we could take our DGD, who was 2 YO at the time to play, like a playground or splash pad , and they told us that Hollywood Studios wasn't really set up for toddlers. We were told we'd have better luck at another park!

There's a children dance party at the Animation Courtyard. Not a typical playground, but it’s a fun place for the kids to burn some energy.

 

[Simba's Mom]

There's a children dance party at the Animation Courtyard. Not a typical playground, but it’s a fun place for the kids to burn some energy.

Thanks! Wish the CM had told us, but both sides are to blame. Maybe we were a little too specific.

 

[muppets3d]

Thanks! Wish the CM had told us, but both sides are to blame. Maybe we were a little too specific.

Well the animation courtyard is not what you asked for, it's an alternative and might work - but what you were told by the CM is true. The playgrounds are slowly going extinct at WDW and I for one think it's a shame.

 

[HopperFan]

It would probably cost them more to ship it across the continent than it would to just build another boat in Anaheim if that's really what they want to do. It's going to be splintered because it has no use now that the Rivers of America are going away.

They don't need any part of the ship itself, it's not original. What they will would want is engine and all those parts that would be harder to replace or replicate.

 

[ParrotBill]

It amazes me how people go out of their way to post responses that criticize other posts, even in a "what if" topic like this where anyone should feel comfortable posting any great or crazy idea. And incorrect information is used to criticize too!

Post your own view, your own idea. Don't rain on everyone's parade.


It's perfectly large enough to be a fireworks viewing venue. Make a dock with a view in Seven Seas lagoon, put a rest room/catering support building on the shore, and a bus top. Tow it and stabilize it (Yes, it floats.) Add a power line, decommision the engine. Cater it as a dessert party, or not. Pretty inexpensive project, with a revenue of $100 x 100 guests per night. Do wedding events daytime. Sweet deal.

 

[LAS2AMS]

And if attractions weren't resonating with guests, Walt would have them removed or re-themed or whatever it took. Last year, a few weeks before they announced the new lands and closure of Tom Sawyer's Island, I went over and was one of perhaps a dozen people on the island in the middle of the day. And often had my choice of seating or viewpoint on the riverboat. I love the ambiance those attractions provided to Magic Kingdom, but in the world's most visited theme park - that amount of land has to be put to better use.

I cannot defend what they're doing to Muppets Courtyard however. Muppetvision 3D was never full but it was always well-attended when I was in the park, and yet Star Wars Launch Bay gets to live while it is removed. That one makes no sense.

Disney has oodles of data on its attractions. MV had a wonderful run. Jim Hill reported *20* years ago that Muppets Courtyard would be transformed into Monstropolis as part of the transformation of the park - a transformation that didn’t happen largely because of the Great Recession.

MV may have been well liked, but it had become stale and per reports, Disney had exhausted its supply of parts for the AA (including those harvested from the DCA version). CM who worked the attraction have reported that attendance continued to decline - pretty telling in a park with so few things to do.

Muppets Courtyard could be converted to Monstropolis at a low cost, and was adjacent to a large amount of land that had long been earmarked for development (of Muppet attractions). This, Disney finally decided it was time to pull the plug.

Sooner than later Star Wars Launch Bay and the adjacent offices will be transformed into something. A few years ago Disney acquired commercial property adjacent to the resort (near AKL) and converted it into offices, with the goal of moving them off DHS property. Reportedly many managers were not happy about moving off site and have resisted the move. I have no idea how staffed these offices are, or if Disney will have to wait until the Lake Nona campus is rebooted. But it will happen sooner than later.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Sooner than later Star Wars Launch Bay and the adjacent offices will be transformed into something. A few years ago Disney acquired commercial property adjacent to the resort (near AKL) and converted it into offices, with the goal of moving them off DHS property. Reportedly many managers were not happy about moving off site and have resisted the move. I have no idea how staffed these offices are, or if Disney will have to wait until the Lake Nona campus is rebooted. But it will happen sooner than later.

I’m hoping those offices adjacent to Launch Bay don’t get gutted, because those offices were once Disney Animation's Florida studio, where Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear were entirely made at, and Disney recently gave us a photo tour of the former studio recently.

 

[etherealcaitiff]

Sink it at Lighthouse Point like how Castaway Cay has the 20,000 Leagues sub and the Dumbo elephant. Maybe have half of it sticking out of the water since it's significantly bigger than both of those.

 

[BuffaloJim]

I’d like to see it used as the facade to a quick service restaurant for Tiana’s area. I think the Mississippi riverboat theme would be perfect. Not sure where they could shoehorn it in, but I’m sure Disney could work their magic.

 

[The Jackal]

Allegedly the riverboat will be dismantled where it sits today, behind Big Thunder Mountain. They will probably save the engine and that’s about it.

 

[BrianL]

Allegedly the riverboat will be dismantled where it sits today, behind Big Thunder Mountain. They will probably save the engine and that’s about it.

Yeah, unfortunately, despite everyone's nostalgic love for it, I just don't think it's practical to use the boat in any other capacity. It'd be far easier and less expensive to build a replica for another installation rather than move/refit the entire thing. I will miss it too, and that's okay, but sometimes change is needed, and that's okay too. We'll always have the memories. Let's look forward to what's coming next.

 

[Mommb]

All the more reason to have some sort of large playground somewhere.

Launch Bay probably has a plan in place or in the works as well, there’s just more logistics involved with work in that area.

Gosh, Disney worked fast after reading this thread to develop a plan for the Launch Bay area that includes a playground area. (See https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney...nimation-coming-to-disneys-hollywood-studios/)

Inside, guests will enjoy:

• An interactive short film experience
• The return of Animation Academy, where guests can learn to draw Disney characters
• A colorful new play area called Drawn to Wonderland, inspired by Mary Blair’s artwork for Alice in Wonderland featuring larger-than-life set pieces, including oversized flowers, a Mad Tea Party playset, and explorative zones themed to the Tulgey Wood
• Plenty of character greeting opportunities
• Outdoor shaded courtyard area designed for relaxation and surprise character appearances

 

[Scalemaster34]

Allegedly the riverboat will be dismantled where it sits today, behind Big Thunder Mountain. They will probably save the engine and that’s about it.

Oh I expect they'll pull a few other items off to be archived or used for decorations, or maybe a unique ebay item... say the whistle?

Liberty Belle's "sister" ship had it's engine taken to Tokyo Disneyland to be used in the Mark Twain riverboat, but I don't know if any the rest of it got saved.