New theater comes to Walt Disney World

[rer1972]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...oms-town-square-theater-to-get-an-update/amp/

Not sure how accurate, but this site listed it as the Town Square Theater getting a new look.

I'm sure Mickey & Tinker Bell can go in another location, but I liked the old one.

Hopefully new one will be cool. Too bad they couldn't put it somewhere else!

Wasn't there (maybe it's still there) a theater in the town square theater?? Seems it would not take much to move the characters to a different location, and just update the old theater (unless the theater was completely removed). Just wondering.

 

[joelkfla]

Wasn't there (maybe it's still there) a theater in the town square theater?? Seems it would not take much to move the characters to a different location, and just update the old theater (unless the theater was completely removed). Just wondering.

Yes, the Opera House had a theater, but it was small. I would guess it had a few hundred capacity. I think it was demolished for the M&G.

If the new theater is comparable to the Hyperion in CA, it will seat thousands.

 

[maverik85]

I think the announcement said something about it being around 2,000 seats.

 

[Keels]

This is one of the additions I'm MOST excited for. It looks (hopefully?) like it's going to be built in the vein of Hyperion Theater at DCA, which would be amazing. The "Aladdin" show that was at DCA was basically a light version of "Aladdin" that went to Broadway, and it's believed that "Frozen" is the same way as well.

Hyperion is a big help to capacity at DCA, so I know it will help alleviate the MK crowds if it's built to be similar.

 

[rteetz]

Hyperion is a big help to capacity at DCA, so I know it will help alleviate the MK crowds if it's built to be similar.

Definitely, this will be a huge help for capacity and crowds.

 

[Nancyg56]

I really hope they put a NEW stage show in here-not recycled from somewhere else!

I am looking forward to a show, and honestly have no problem if it is Aladdin. I was dark when I was DLR, so I was disappointed that time.

I do think that it is time to rethink the shows in WDW in general, and MK specifically. They can be a really good way to manage crowds if they seat enough guests, and if the quality is high enough that guests plan to visit on multile trips they will be well worth the investment.

Personally I think that BATB in DHS needs to be swapped out for something new. Or at least updated, it is pretty clear that nothing has been invested in that show for a long time.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I have to admit that we're not big on the shows. However, anything that pulls some people off the attractions sounds fantastic to me!

 

[rteetz]

According to Martin on WDWMagic this will open fall 2020.

 

[nkosiek]

According to Martin on WDWMagic this will open fall 2020.

Are they trying to get anything ready for 2019 to hopefully spread out the Star Wars crowds?

 

[mom2rtk]

Are they trying to get anything ready for 2019 to hopefully spread out the Star Wars crowds?

I look at Star Wars Land as trying to spread out the Magic Kingdom crowd.

 

[nkosiek]

I look at Star Wars Land as trying to spread out the Magic Kingdom crowd.

If my friends are any indication, 2019 is going to be a Star Wars year down there, and DHS is going to need some help relieving those crowds.

 

[rteetz]

Are they trying to get anything ready for 2019 to hopefully spread out the Star Wars crowds?

The gondolas and the mickey ride will open in 2019.

 

[cvaska]

The gondolas and the mickey ride will open in 2019.

I got the vibe that the gondolas would be ready for late 2018 from Disney, but I guess only the future will tell.

 

[rteetz]

I got the vibe that the gondolas would be ready for late 2018 from Disney, but I guess only the future will tell.

The permits go into 2019. Usually permits are pretty close to the opening time frames. Toy Story land permits expire in 2018, Star Wars permits in 2019 for example.

 

[cvaska]

The permits go into 2019. Usually permits are pretty close to the opening time frames. Toy Story land permits expire in 2018, Star Wars permits in 2019 for example.

Fair enough, we can still hope Disney manages to get something done earlier than planned though. We don't want another parking ramp situation (eye twitches)

 

[wareagle57]

If my friends are any indication, 2019 is going to be a Star Wars year down there, and DHS is going to need some help relieving those crowds.

It will be interesting to see how things play out. Obviously DHS will be a zoo. But will the crowds be property wide? Obviously there will be tons of people who have never had any interest in Disney who are coming just for Star Wars. What percentage of them will decide to check out the other parks while they are here? How much will these visitors boost Universal's attendance too? As for the rest, you'll still have all the usual crowds to deal with. There are the APs and the people who come once a year or more. But will we see a huge increase of once in a life timers who waited for this year? I think the people who go once every 3-10 years will certainly increase. Though maybe the 50th will hold off that demographic a bit. I could see the entire property being more crowded than any of us are used to. I really hope not though.

 

[cvaska]

It will be interesting to see how things play out. Obviously DHS will be a zoo. But will the crowds be property wide? Obviously there will be tons of people who have never had any interest in Disney who are coming just for Star Wars. What percentage of them will decide to check out the other parks while they are here? How much will these visitors boost Universal's attendance too? As for the rest, you'll still have all the usual crowds to deal with. There are the APs and the people who come once a year or more. But will we see a huge increase of once in a life timers who waited for this year? I think the people who go once every 3-10 years will certainly increase. Though maybe the 50th will hold off that demographic a bit. I could see the entire property being more crowded than any of us are used to. I really hope not though.

Disney really needs the gondola system to be done by then, or else MK is going to get the majority of the extra crowds. With the Skyliner, 3 out of 4 parks are connected with easy transportation, so Epcot and MK can help DHS, but I think AK might need to be connected in the future to help get it to the same crowds the other three will have post SWL.

 

[swarlock]

I would assume that this would become a permenantly opened route then to divert traffic off of Main Street? Much needed if so.

Agreed.

That's a great use of space. Hopefully they don't do anything to change Center Street. I love that area. On my last trip I really enjoyed sitting quietly there in the morning with my coffee and listening to a doctor on his smartphone at the table next to me swear at a nurse in his apparent attempt to save a man's life.

LOL!!!

Can't wait to see what show Disney puts there. I have often thought that the MK could use an indoor live theater venue. I love Disney live shows, and they create a nice, air conditioned place for a large number of people to be entertained.

I'd love to see The Aladdin Broadway show be the first one. It was a hit over in Disneyland.

 

[Thom72]

I did hear a rumor this was in the range of 8-9k seat theater, has anyone heard of the official capacity? If this is true this will take up a large area.

 

[rteetz]

I did hear a rumor this was in the range of 8-9k seat theater, has anyone heard of the official capacity? If this is true this will take up a large area.

Nothing official yet.