Lights Motors Action

[khertz]

Personally, I'm not sad to see LMA go. But DS is a big fan of Cars the movie and cars in general, so we will probably make time to see this one last time in February before it goes away for good. We have seen it once with him, but since then always made excuses for why we had to miss it. lol Bad parents!

 

[HopperFan]

Thinking out loud with this announcement so apologize, correct me on any points, but lots of interesting coinciding dates...

- Star Wars Fireworks has not been given any end date, so we all keep hoping forever.
- Bunkers are being built over World Drive so we do know fireworks are in future plans.
- LMA and parts of SoA close April 2.
- Closing LMA means the existing fireworks launch site will be construction zone.
- SW Fireworks Dessert Party ends in March.
- Club Villain Party cancelled all March reservations.
- Saw rumor of SW Party being put in place of Club Villain.

Also ....

- Permit filed for the full building that houses Pizza Planet and Mama Melrose.
- Already know Pizza Planet is closing to reopen end of year as something.
- EVERYTHING around MuppetVision is being closed now.
- On one side of Muppet area is Star Tours and on other sides many are now saying its part of Star Wars Land.
- IF that prediction is correct, it would make no sense to leave Muppets in the middle.
- Sorry I digress, I love the Muppets property.
- Hoping the folks saying SW will go southwest of Muppets are wrong and it's just TS Land.
- Hoping SW land is the TRUE expansion promised aka outside the current boundaries.
- Park needs to grow bigger because (1) it is too small (2) with TSL and SWL, it will be packed to the gills.

If nothing else Disney is keeping all the WDW fans on their toes.

 

[KateP85]

My friend just text me this morning to tell me - my son LOVES this show, he'll be upset. I'm due with baby number 2 a week or two before it closes, so I think daddy will have to do the final trips to see that.

I also wonder what they mean by closing things around SoA? The playground, the QS location back there, the Muppets?

 

[lugnut33]

Thinking out loud with this announcement so apologize, correct me on any points, but lots of interesting coinciding dates...

- Star Wars Fireworks has not been given any end date, so we all keep hoping forever.
- Bunkers are being built over World Drive so we do know fireworks are in future plans.
- LMA and parts of SoA close April 2.
- Closing LMA means the existing fireworks launch site will be construction zone.
- SW Fireworks Dessert Party ends in March.
- Club Villain Party cancelled all March reservations.
- Saw rumor of SW Party being put in place of Club Villain.

Also ....

- Permit filed for the full building that houses Pizza Planet and Mama Melrose.
- Already know Pizza Planet is closing to reopen end of year as something.
- EVERYTHING around MuppetVision is being closed now.
- On one side of Muppet area is Star Tours and on other sides many are now saying its part of Star Wars Land.
- IF that prediction is correct, it would make no sense to leave Muppets in the middle.
- Sorry I digress, I love the Muppets property.
- Hoping the folks saying SW will go southwest of Muppets are wrong and it's just TS Land.
- Hoping SW land is the TRUE expansion promised aka outside the current boundaries.
- Park needs to grow bigger because (1) it is too small (2) with TSL and SWL, it will be packed to the gills.

If nothing else Disney is keeping all the WDW fans on their toes.

If you look at the photo Quellman posted it makes sense that the new Toy Storyland will take over the old Studio Tour area as well as the LMA area. That would push Star Warsland from Star Tours into the Echo Lake area, thus closing the Indiana Jones show. The whole Echo Lake area would need to be re-themed, including 50's Prime Time.

 

[rteetz]

I wonder what exactly "and nearby locations around Streets of America" means. Muppets, HISTKMSA? There is really not a whole lot back in that area once LMA closes.

Muppets is supposed to be safe. The playground is up in the air.

 

[Skywise]

Mama Melrose is still taking reservations out through July (not that it actually means anything... )

It's possible that they could have a "muppets pocket" between Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land. You need some sort of transitional area between the two lands anyway and that would be a good way to work both in.

 

[rteetz]

TSMM was supposed to open sooner than later so maybe this is a sign of approximately when the new track will open by.

The new track is finished as far as I know they are just working on the queue reroute hence why Mr. Potato Head is behind walls and the TSMM vehicles are on site and being stored in the old costuming area where the Backlot tour went through.

 

[rteetz]

No surprise. Once the Backlot tour closed and they announced the new lands .. it should be no surprise that the entire back part of the park (that used to be devoted to the "Making of Movies") .. was going to be gutted.
I just wonder what will become of the other things in the middle of the park? The Sci-Fi diner, the ABC Commisary, Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground.

I mean . .the last time we were at DHS .. if it wasn't for the playground we never would have ventured past Muppets or Pixar Place. That backlot area used to be one of my favorite parts of the park, but it needed to go a long time ago once they abandoned the whole "Movie studio" theme at the park.

It's a shame, we were going to hit LMA on my last trip in August, but my son was napping and it downpoured during the late afternoon show and couldn't make it.

It appears that DHS will be a 3-4 themed area park now (with that new name that we aren't sure of yet)
1) Old Hollywood (the two main streets and the chinese theatre and restaurants)
2) Star Wars (on the "left" side of the park)
3) Toy Story (on the "right" side of the park)
4) and maybe Muppets (in the back side of the park)

There is strong rumors for even more themed areas. Star Wars will be on the left side near echo lake. Toy Story will kind of be at the back but kind of to the right as it will be behind the TSMM building.
Muppets is supposed to be more of a mini-land right where it currently is.
A third land would be where LMA/Catastrophe Canyon sits.

 

[rteetz]

construction permits have been filed for that entire area already (behind LMA what used to be Backlot Tour) and they are valid until October 31st 2018, walls are up in the area that used to be the meet and greet for Phineas, Ferb, Lighntning McQueen and it also includes the Premiere Theater

True but also kind of False. Walls were not up yet when I was there last week but the meet and greets were closed.

 

[tlmadden73]

Mama Melrose is still taking reservations out through July (not that it actually means anything... )

It's possible that they could have a "muppets pocket" between Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land. You need some sort of transitional area between the two lands anyway and that would be a good way to work both in.

DHS has an interesting challenge of trying to keep a lot open (and thus keep people wanting to come to the park) while also trying to construct two lands.

So either:
1) Muppets and Mama Melrose are going to be stay open as long as possible to help park capacity, but eventually close due to Star Wars construction.
OR
2) They will build a Muppets land around Streets of America between Star Wars and Toy Story.

Eventually they are going to have to shut down Indiana Jones (another huge show that sucks up a lot of the crowds).

 

[rteetz]

I hope they are closing Streets of America and LMA to expand the Muppets area..... I think i'll be disappointed that is not in the plans (but I can wish).

Muppets isn't really supposed to be expanded into that except for the rumored new theme for Pizza Planet.

 

[rteetz]

Hmmm... I wonder if that means Mama Melrose's is on the chopping block too...

It does have a permit filed for it to receive work but it seems like it will just be a refurb not demo as that restaurant is connected to Pizza Planet.

 

[Skywise]

If you look at the photo Quellman posted it makes sense that the new Toy Storyland will take over the old Studio Tour area as well as the LMA area. That would push Star Warsland from Star Tours into the Echo Lake area, thus closing the Indiana Jones show. The whole Echo Lake area would need to be re-themed, including 50's Prime Time.

I'd almost see them keeping echo lake but putting the Star Wars land entrance at the Indiana Jones ride or maybe over by the sound stage - But if they get rid of the sound stage they'll "expose" the sci-fi Dine in and ABC Commissary which are both staying AFAIK. If they keep the soundstage then they're going to have to keep the boat too and, at that point you might as well just keep echo lake. Also, if they push up the entrance of Star Wars land into Echo lake it puts the entrance right off of main street and messes up the themeing as well as gets rid of one of the more popular restaurants at WDW (50's prime time).

Not that my rational thoughts have any basis in reality!

I'm sure Backlot Express is toast though.

 

[JimmyV]

Muppets is supposed to be more of a mini-land right where it currently is.

"Mini" being the key. Don't shoot the messenger, as I really dig the Muppets. But I don't know how Disney can invest time and money in a Muppets expansion when the TV show likely won't be around at the time of completion. The prime time show probably has one year at most left in its run, and there is actually no guarantee that it will live to see a second season. Any expansion that opens up in 2018 will likely open after ABC axes the show.

 

[rteetz]

They will build a Muppets land around Streets of America between Star Wars and Toy Story.

This is very likely based on everything I have heard but it won't be a full land more like a mini-land.

 

[rteetz]

"Mini" being the key. Don't shoot the messenger, as I really dig the Muppets. But I don't know how Disney can invest time and money in a Muppets expansion when the TV show likely won't be around at the time of completion. The prime time show probably has one year at most left in its run, and there is actually no guarantee that it will live to see a second season. Any expansion that opens up in 2018 will likely open after ABC axes the show.

Correct. There will be no new Muppet ride or show. They will just likely be retheming Pizza Planet and mama melrose as part of this.

 

[Skywise]

Eventually they are going to have to shut down Indiana Jones (another huge show that sucks up a lot of the crowds).

Yeah, I'm really thinking they're going to "stagger" the development and open Toy Story Land first THEN shut down Indiana Jones and the surrounding areas -

Here's how I think it goes - They do the muppets refurb now and leave access to it open via Star Tours but shut down SoA and everything "above" muppet land.
Build Toy Story land and open it which contains a new path to "muppet land" and Star Tours. Now start work on Star Wars land, shutting down Indiana Jones and a few other areas there but now the load is balanced by the new TS land AND Star Tours is still accessible although everything "below" it will be blocked off.

 

[Musicman20]

Are we expecting Indiana Jones to shut fairly soon? I'd like to see it one more time in Oct 2016, but I've seen it a lot!

 

[HopperFan]

There is strong rumors for even more themed areas. Star Wars will be on the left side near echo lake. Toy Story will kind of be at the back but kind of to the right as it will be behind the TSMM building.
Muppets is supposed to be more of a mini-land right where it currently is.
A third land would be where LMA/Catastrophe Canyon sits.

But that is all rumor, prediction, conjecture. Disney has announced two lands only. They have not shared their plans on where. They have not announced land 3 or 4.

If there is an "unknown" land years down the road, why bulldoze LMA now? Makes more sense it's for TS or SW.

While it's fun for us all to talk about, create scenarios and what ifs .... none is fact until it's done.

DHS has an interesting challenge of trying to keep a lot open (and thus keep people wanting to come to the park) while also trying to construct two lands.

So either:
1) Muppets and Mama Melrose are going to be stay open as long as possible to help park capacity, but eventually close due to Star Wars construction.
OR
2) They will build a Muppets land around Streets of America between Star Wars and Toy Story.

3) Eventually they are going to have to shut down Indiana Jones (another huge show that sucks up a lot of the crowds).

1) We don't know whether they will close for SW construction. It all depends on where SW is really going. If it goes SE and out the park, a small pocket Muppet area can stay. Muppets does pull in lots of guests.

2) I see no Muppets land being built, only the small area it's in being re-themed. The permit filed for the area is the entire building Pizza Planet and Mama Melrose is in, with an architect that does bigger projects. Sounds like the building itself will get major change ..... but theme unknown.

3) Indiana pulls in crowds and if they are going forward with making these new Indiana movies I don't see it going anywhere for awhile. Maybe Phase VIII.

 

[lovethattink]

True but also kind of False. Walls were not up yet when I was there last week but the meet and greets were closed.

Walls were up yesterday. But not last week when I was there.