New Stage for Central Hub at Hollywood Studios

[circus4u]

A new, permanent stage is being built in the space formerly occupied by the Sorcerer's Hat.
http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/03/hollywood-studios-getting-new-name.html#more

 

[rteetz]

No surprise of course. I have heard the walls where the hat was are supposed to be down sometime in April.

 

[DanBoris]

No surprise of course. I have heard the walls where the hat was are supposed to be down sometime in April.

The OTPN article talks about a large stage with re-tractable lights. I am skeptical that they could have the built by April. So either the April date is wrong, or they are waiting longer to start the stage.

 

[rteetz]

The OTPN article talks about a large stage with re-tractable lights. I am skeptical that they could have the built by April. So either the April date is wrong, or they are waiting longer to start the stage.

I'm skeptical about the retractable lights

 

[sachilles]

Lights could be done at a different time, or may not be in physical contact with the new stage. Temporary rigging for lights is also a pretty quick solution if it's needed. Really no need for lights until you know what show/event will be on the stage, and that dictates your needs.
My guess, is the electrical infrastructure is installed with the stage, then rigging/lights installed as needed. Essentially eliminating the need for "extension cords" and such for any short run event. So rather than retractable, they'd something easy to put up and take down as needed.

 

[anthony2k7]

Hmm could be a kind of awesome place for a Mad T Party type thing. Of course its far more likely they have some kind of Frozen thing planned for this instead!

 

[rteetz]

Hmm could be a kind of awesome place for a Mad T Party type thing. Of course its far more likely they have some kind of Frozen thing planned for this instead!

Well it will be multipurpose just like the prior stage. Star Wars weekends, frozen summer fun and who knows what else.

 

[old lady]

I read somewhere they are going make a new theme park.

 

[DiscoYeti]

I know it's not going to happen but I still want this giant Hidden Mickey back.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Is one of the purposes of the stage to continue to block the Chinese Theatre? Supposedly the owners of the original theater, err, theatre, objected to its likeness being used as a "weenie" in the park (unless they get paid a lot more money).

 

[SnackCredit]

Maybe the stage won't have much of a background and/ or won't be high enough to block the Chinese Theater.

 

[HopperFan]

Hmm could be a kind of awesome place for a Mad T Party type thing. Of course its far more likely they have some kind of Frozen thing planned for this instead!

Would LOVE a Mad T Party, especially if they bring in the Mad T Party band! It could work very well with a "organized and well planned" Unleash the Villains party.

 

[Polydweller]

I'm skeptical about the retractable lights

Why? They already use them in Epcot. Walk by the Canada Pavillion in the early afternoon and look at the large rock on the lagoon side. Nice rock looking like a bit of oversized scenery. But then just before Illuminations walk by again and notice the lighting pole protruding from the same rock. The rock has a retractable top and the lighting pole raises up through it. Retractable lights are very possible.

 

[rteetz]

Why? They already use them in Epcot. Walk by the Canada Pavillion in the early afternoon and look at the large rock on the lagoon side. Nice rock looking like a bit of oversized scenery. But then just before Illuminations walk by again and notice the lighting pole protruding from the same rock. The rock has a retractable top and the lighting pole raises up through it. Retractable lights are very possible.

Yes but this is a short time period if they are going to be opening this within a month. Disney and construction like to take their time. The stage will have to be done in April to get ready for Star Wars weekends in May.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Make sense for a stage to be there but they better not block the theatre again.

 

[anthony2k7]

Would LOVE a Mad T Party, especially if they bring in the Mad T Party band! It could work very well with a "organized and well planned" Unleash the Villains party.

Exactly! and it would fit in with the more teenage/young adult target visitors that DHS seemed to be aiming at for a while. But I still think it will end up being a Frozen themed thing instead.

 

[HopperFan]

Exactly! and it would fit in with the more teenage/young adult target visitors that DHS seemed to be aiming at for a while. But I still think it will end up being a Frozen themed thing instead.

But that's the beauty of that park; it can host Frozen events, Star Wars events, Mad T or Villains events and they can add old Hollywood, or Pixar events once that area is done. But they need to be events like SWW not parties unless they figure out how to make it work. Events will keep the park full even during construction.

 

[figmentvinny]

Maybe the stage can have a new smaller hat on the top of it. Would people on all these boards really go crazy over that. It would be years of I can't stand that darn stage... With some great acronym... Hours and hours of amusement ahead. Seriously though, permanent stage makes sense for so many of the reasons stated above. It will be interesting to see what it looks like and how they are going to do this without blocking the theatre. I personally don't care about blocking the theatre, because I am just not a huge fan of it as the center of this park. I am in the minority though and maybe I will grow to like the view, but it is no Cinderellas Castle, Tree of Life, or Spaceship Earth.

 

[Josh Hendy]

I don't think I ever heard that a deal had been reached with the owners of the original theatre, to allow Disney to use the theatre's likeness as a weenie.

My memory isn't always the greatest nor is my knowledge of all things theme park encyclopedic ... it could be that either the story about the weenie-licensing conflict has been exposed as a hoax, or perhaps a deal actually has been reached. But if the story still stands and a deal hasn't been reached, then the stage will pretty much HAVE TO hide the theatre.

I do know that in the field of photography, there is a growing legal chill against ever using ANYBODY'S identifiable building, structure, or any of their property as the main subject of any commercial photo without the written permission of the building/structure/property owner. Photo agencies therefore state that they will reject artists' submissions of commercial stock photos if there appears to be anyone's identifiable property in the photo.

 

[circus4u]

New Disney's Hollywood Studios guide map updated with Center Stage addition
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...de-map-updated-with-center-stage-addition.htm