So torn about Hollywood Studios

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Hey everyone! I'm in WDW and spent the day at HS with my boyfriend. Growing up, HS was always my favorite park. It still is because of the nostalgia but some of it makes me so sad! So many parts are already closed off for the new construction and there is already a different feel to some parts. We still had an awesome day, but it was sad for me to see some of the changes. What really upset me is that One Man's Dream wasn't even showing the movie about Walt!! It was showing a preview for the new movie Zootopia. I know there's a chance this attraction might go with the new lands being built but it really is so upsetting for me because I love to hear about Walt and learn about him and the history of Disney. I really hope they don't close this attraction. Our waiter at Sci-Fi told us that they are also getting rid of the Streets of America and Lights, Motors, Action to make room for the new lands. I know change can be good but I long for the old days when you could hang out in the Animation Building and learn about the history of Disney!

All in all, I do still love HS and I'm sure these changes will be awesome but it's like seeing a part of my childhood end! I know HS isn't getting a ton of love on the boards lately, but I still feel loyal to it lol

When will all the new stuff be done anyway?

 

[bball15fan]

Sadly, I don't think the new stuff will be done for awhile. My guess is they will focus mostly on Avatar land, then Hollywood Studios.

 

[shanethesaint88]

I loved HS as a kid too. There was a certain feeling to that park. I can't explain it but it was great. I loved all the shows and the whole behind the movie aspect of the park

 

[disBEAST]

2020? Just a guess.

I'm sure the new lands will look great but I agree it is tough to see the park reduced to a shell for an extended period. I actually liked the ridiculously long Backlot Tour and when they started shortening and cutting portions of it the writing was on the wall. I'll also miss Lights, Motors, Action when it's gone.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I feel like DHS hasn't been the same for a long time - since it stopped being a functioning studio.

Taking the studio backlot tour and being able to do stuff like seeing MMC cast members (yeah, like I said, this was a LONG time ago) was super cool to me as a kid.

Don't get me wrong, I like DHS, but when it was a functioning studio, it was sooo cool.

 

[Emma1987]

I'm the same. HS was my favourite park when I was a kid but going back as an adult and seeing how run down it was in certain spaces made me want Disney to give it a good revamp.... But seeing reports that there's so many closed parts makes me sad too.

Where's the magic ? Isn't all of this supposed to happen without us seeing anything major ? Quite an eye sore

 

[bcrook]

I'm the same. HS was my favourite park when I was a kid but going back as an adult and seeing how run down it was in certain spaces made me want Disney to give it a good revamp.... But seeing reports that there's so many closed parts makes me sad too.

Where's the magic ? Isn't all of this supposed to happen without us seeing anything major ? Quite an eye sore

Change is good or bad. But expansion is great. I wish they would have expanded DHS instead of replacing other things. i think we deserve both the streets of America and Starwars Land.

 

[MomsOfDisney]

I agree! Loved DHS growing up, but with each trip its felt less magical..
Its such a shame to have it operating in its current state. Heres hoping these new lands bring back its original spark!

 

[c3h3a3r]

HS was our family's fave park when we visited in June 2011. I think we went on 4 days altogether on our 21 day trip. Going for 2 weeks this year at the end of July and have planned a day and a half at the studio's...am I going to be able to fill that time?

 

[disBEAST]

1.5 days would be tough, even if you did absolutely everything including MNGs. You could always pop out one night to Boardwalk and walk around there. Maybe have an ice cream at Beaches and Cream at Beach Club.

 

[c3h3a3r]

Have an ADR at beaches and cream on our half day that's fine, plenty of other things to do lol. Thanks

 

[tlmadden73]

MGM/DHS has been my favorite park since my first visit there.
I was a teenager when it was first built .. it was all about making of movies. It had Indiana Jones .. it had a Star Wars ride. As a child of the 80s, this was a dream come true. The look and feel of the old-time Hollywoodland and the neon lights at night was amazing. I fell in love with it before it even had half the attractions it had at its peak. Seeing the backlots where shows were actually filmed and props from shows and movies was neat (at least the first time).

The additions since then (MuppetVision, Beauty and the Beast show, Rock-N-Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania have been great ..), but I think the "making of movies" theme slowly lost its magic especially when the place stopped being an actual studio .. it lost its charm. There is something cool knowing that a show or movie you have seen was actually filmed RIGHT THERE. (I would know .. I live in city where we have a movie studio and it is fun to see them film things around town.

Then it was a downward spiral. As the "movie making" theme lost its magic, they started removing (or paring back) those attractions (like the backlot tour) .. which meant the park lost more of its theme . . which meant it lost more of its magic .. etc. etc.

I look forward to Toy Story and Star Wars Land and revitalizing my favorite park.. two things that should have been done about 10 years ago .. but the economic climate wasn't great for massive theme park expansions 10 years ago. I'll miss the fake building fronts, the stunt shows, and the feeling you were walking through a real Hollywood studio. But since that is long gone (and not coming back) .. I am happy them to see such a major renovation to the park. I am glad the old Hollywood part of the front of the park will remain though. That was always the coolest looking part of any of the theme parks.

Honestly, I'd prefer (a pipe dream) if they just shut the whole thing down and get it all done sooner than later rather than have this shell of a half park open for a few years. The park will struggle to hold the crowds in the summer with the LMA shut down and the entire back half of the park closed down.

 

[nilla]

Of all the changes this year, not having One Man's Dream or the Animation classes are two that upset me the most.

 

[JimmyV]

My prediction is that over the next five years, the term "our Studios day" is going to take on a whole new meaning. Bye-bye Woody. Hello Harry Potter.

 

[JWigs]

We are going in roughly 2 wks (whoo hoo) and we shaved HW to half a day since so much keeps closing before we can arrive.

We plan to see lights, camera, action before it permanently is gone. And I know they just trimmed back to 1 show of fantasmic so might be a lil crowded for that too.

It makes me sad to see it missing so many things since my first visit 5 years ago but I am hoping new lands will be worth the wait.

 

[Bobb_o]

It's nice to not have "all day parks" because I can got to DHS at RD and be out of there by 3pm and enjoy some pool/resort/DS time. I actually feel like I can do that at every park except Epcot (MK requires a return at night)

 

[JimmyV]

It's nice to not have "all day parks" because I can got to DHS at RD and be out of there by 3pm and enjoy some pool/resort/DS time. I actually feel like I can do that at every park except Epcot (MK requires a return at night)

Disney's new slogan:
More attraction closures means more free time!!

 

[Bobb_o]

And really "all day" means different things to different people. I spent about 8 hours at DHS, 7 hours at AK, 12 hours at MK and 11 hours at Epcot. Had I not gone at RD I could imagine adding at least and hour or so for lines. I also didn't stay for fireworks at DHS or Epcot (I left MK for about 2 hours to go to Trader Sam's)

 

[jreed]

I was there 15 years ago on my honeymoon and loved it...probably my favorite park. I returned this fall for the first time with my kids. We all enjoyed our time there, but to be honest, we were pretty much done with everything by early afternoon.

What I loved about DHS was the night time atmosphere. The area around the entrance and down towards the Tower of Terror really had a nice buzz about it. We returned two evenings just for that and to take in Fantasmic a couple of times.

 

[aretha30]

We love DHS and are sad about the the closings but are looking forward to the changes. We will continue to enjoy our favorites there and the new fireworks display.