Speculation: What's going on at Disney's Hollywood Studios?

[rburriel]

The Backlot Tour is closing. The Sorcerer's Hat is going away.

How long until we get Star Wars Land and Marvel Land? Looking at a map of the park, I can count 5 rides/shows that are worth keeping:

- MuppetVision
- Star Tours
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
- Tower of Terror
- Fantasmic

And the themed restaurants around Echo Lake are always a fun experience.

But 70% of the park is barren wasteland. The Backlot Tour needed to go away, and it will. Add to that all the filler studio space around animation Courtyard, Mickey Ave., etc. That's over half the park right there. And there's a huge expanse of land around Fantasmic. The Backlot Tour area can become a "Star Wars land" gated at Star Tours (it would be a miracle if MuppetVision 3D survived such a refurb, though). And the space around Fantasmic could become a "Marvel land". Alternately, the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster could be refurbed into a Marvel rollercoaster and the Animation Courtyard space could become "Marvel land".

The problem with any of this is that it takes away from the "old Hollywood" theme of Disney's Hollywood Studios. Already, very little remains of that theme. Except for the Tower of Terror and the Great Movie Ride, there are no other old Hollywood themed attractions, just restaurants and street names. Clearing away the Sorcerer's Hat to get a better view of the Chinese Theater entrance to the Great Movie Ride may help, but I doubt that's actually the goal of removing the Sorcerer's Hat. Frankly, I expect it to be replaced with something even bigger and more monumental, and for the Chinese Theater/Great Movie Ride to go away.

This may disappoint a lot of Disney's Hollywood Studios fans out there, but you *know* Disney is looking at the Harry Potter money Universal is making, and there's no way they're going to just turn their nose up at that.

Raul

 

[Fenway1970]

Alas, it won't be Marvel Land barring some moving of mountains by the Dis execs. East of the Mississippi, Universal has exclusive theme park rights to the Marvel characters.

 

[PEC]

Couple of caveats. TSMM may not be one of your favorites but it is in no danger of being closed (it is the hardest ride to get on at HS). I also believe Disney JR show is in no danger. It is not likely a favorite on this site but if you had a site that 3-5 year olds were on it would be near the top of the lists of must keeps.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Acutally, Universal only owns the licenses for the character and their "Families"/Villians currently in the Universal Park. They cannot add the ones that have no relation to the ones currently there... ie. Galaxy of the Guardians and Big 6.

Most likely at some point in the future Disney will incorporate some Marvel characters... Like Big 6 doing a M&E coming up here soon. However nothing will have the "Marvel" name on it, as its stated in contracts that the name cannot be used.

 

[kwelch10377]

Couple of caveats. TSMM may not be one of your favorites but it is in no danger of being closed (it is the hardest ride to get on at HS). I also believe Disney JR show is in no danger. It is not likely a favorite on this site but if you had a site that 3-5 year olds were on it would be near the top of the lists of must keeps.

I also don't see the Magic of Animation, One Man's Dream, Little Mermaid Show or the Beauty and the Beast show going anywhere.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm going with the speculation that its just going to be a third track for TSMM and that Toy Story Playland stuff like in Paris and I think Hong Kong which is basically carnival rides.

In other words, nothing that exciting which is why they aren't making announcements now.

Star Wars will be in California first.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Why can't we have Cars Land?????

If Disney wants to make $$$$ - build a huge Cars Land (as in CA)!!!

AND - please leave the Sorcerer's Hat alone- pleeeeeeze!!!!!!

Thank you!!!

Give the people what they want!!! Pleeeeeze!!!!!

 

[nfggirl5454]

I'm going with the speculation that its just going to be a third track for TSMM and that Toy Story Playland stuff like in Paris and I think Hong Kong which is basically carnival rides.

In other words, nothing that exciting which is why they aren't making announcements now.

Star Wars will be in California first.

If that's the case, then DHS will hardly be worth visiting. The Playland stuff looks cute but hardly an actual attraction.

What makes you think Star Wars will be in CA before FL? It doesn't sound like CA has a dearth of fun stuff, whereas, IMO, every park besides the MK needs help with DHS being particularly lame at the moment. And I hope this doesn't sound rude, as that's not my intention at all, just real curiosity

 

[kwelch10377]

Why can't we have Cars Land?????

If Disney wants to make $$$$ - build a huge Cars Land (as in CA)!!!

AND - please leave the Sorcerer's Hat alone- pleeeeeeze!!!!!!

Thank you!!!

Give the people what they want!!! Pleeeeeze!!!!!

They won't build a Cars Land in WDW. There needs to be some uniqueness and draw for people to want to go to each of the different parks (WDW, DL, DLP, etc).

 

[PEC]

I also don't see the Magic of Animation, One Man's Dream, Little Mermaid Show or the Beauty and the Beast show going anywhere.

Agree somewhat. Always rumors of the shows being converted to the next best newest Disney movie but I dare say that is more veteran Disney Board talk than first time Disney attendees. A big chunk of individuals at Disney are either first timers or rare visitors. Their opinions would possibly be different on what they want to see.

One thing I can say, of the 3 attractions closed at HS, 2 of them fell in my no interest to see category. Jack Sparrow and American Idol just never got my family interest or my interest. We did Backlot Tours but looking big picture it does provide the space for any expanision (Star Warss Land or Pixar Land) that Disney wants to do at HS. I do wish Disney would go ahead and announce what they intend on doing with this space.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I think with Backlot Tour and AI closing now the odds of anything else closing anytime soon is remote.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

What's Going on at Disney's Hollywood Studios?

Sounds like a near full park overhaul. If we're speculating, I'd say an expanded Pixar Place, including elements of Carsland at DL as well as some Star Wars attractions, but not a full land like Avatar is getting.

 

[saskdw]

I'm definately not in the know, but I would be shocked if something to do with Star Wars wasn't first on the agenda. They just spent $4 Billion for the Star Wars franchise, they will want to cash in on every angle there.

 

[hakepb]

Why can't we have Cars Land?????

If Disney wants to make $$$$ - build a huge Cars Land (as in CA)!!!

AND - please leave the Sorcerer's Hat alone- pleeeeeeze!!!!!!

Thank you!!!

Give the people what they want!!! Pleeeeeze!!!!!

Cars Land is awesome, and I made the trip out to CA this summer because of it...and I still don't want Cars Land in FL. The real Route 66 ends in So-Cal...Cars Land works there in ways that wouldn't work in FL


And this "people" wants to get rid of the hat!

 

[wisblue]

I'm definately not in the know, but I would be shocked if something to do with Star Wars wasn't first on the agenda. They just spent $4 Billion for the Star Wars franchise, they will want to cash in on every angle there.

Not to mention that, unless I dreamed this, Iger said at some recent investors meeting that Star Wars was going to have a significantly expanded presence at DHS and that they would be announcing something in conjunction with the release of the Star Wars Episode 7 movie next year.

I could see something like the Pixar expansion first to add some family friendly attractions to DHS and then a significant Star Wars land coming in the next few years after that.

Between that and the opening of Avatar Land at DAK, I think that all of the gloom and doom predictions about WDW losing substantial attendance over the next few years will prove to be unfounded. Even if there is some small erosion in the next couple of years that will be more than overcome by the people wanting to see the new areas.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Not to mention that, unless I dreamed this, Iger said at some recent investors meeting that Star Wars was going to have a significantly expanded presence at DHS and that they would be announcing something in conjunction with the release of the Star Wars Episode 7 movie next year.
.

He actually never referred to DHS or Florida at all in the quote I saw (Might have missed a follow up)

Disney is "developing designs for a far greater 'Star Wars' presence in the parks," Iger said on a conference call after the company released its quarterly results.

This is what gives me pause. While I think there will be some additional Star Wars related stuff at DHS, I think a full Star Wars land would be given to one of the international parks if there is no room in California.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I picture Hollywood Blvd and Sunset staying basically the same - the "old Hollywood" type area with of course the Chinese Theater or whatever it will be called.

The Animation courtyard, Little Mermaid and One Man's Dream will stay the same too.

Where Jack Sparrow Was I would think they would put in something Pixar - I think they should block off the park after TSM and do major construction (tear out / down that area (rip off the Band-Aid)

Keep Indiana Jones and Star Tours for now and block off the park after Star Tours (again major renovation into Star Wars area)

Make DHS the ONE park you can park hop to or from to another park without Park Hoppers - so even if there isn't all that much left to do during the construction period - people will go to the park because they can hop to another one in the afternoon at no extra charge (or hop to DHS from somewhere else)

 

[ArwenMarie]

If that's the case, then DHS will hardly be worth visiting. The Playland stuff looks cute but hardly an actual attraction.

What makes you think Star Wars will be in CA before FL? It doesn't sound like CA has a dearth of fun stuff, whereas, IMO, every park besides the MK needs help with DHS being particularly lame at the moment. And I hope this doesn't sound rude, as that's not my intention at all, just real curiosity

Just speculation that I've read elsewhere.

I think that the Pixar stuff will end being Playland stuff because they haven't made a big announcement about it. On the flip side, I also think they haven't made a big announcement about it because it's the Playland stuff

From what I've read around the internet, CA will be first for Star Wars.

 

[GatorChris]

Why can't we have Cars Land?????

If Disney wants to make $$$$ - build a huge Cars Land (as in CA)!!!

AND - please leave the Sorcerer's Hat alone- pleeeeeeze!!!!!!

Thank you!!!

Give the people what they want!!! Pleeeeeze!!!!!

Finally, someone who get's it! This is it exactly. I know there are people here who think each resort should have something different, but not all of us can afford to fly across the world, much less the US. Cars Land is such a success, it would make sense to re-create it on an even bigger scale in FL. And this is a WDW vet from California speaking. I've started going to DL, even bought an AP for the next year, because my family loves Cars Land. This land has made it worth skipping WDW. And I thought that day would never come. But when WDW just takes away live acts at Epcot, removes my favorite Icons, adds a FP+ that I don't want, and takes 5 years to build a set from a movie that was good-not-great, the short trip to Anaheim makes a lot more sense.

 

[wisblue]

He actually never referred to DHS or Florida at all in the quote I saw (Might have missed a follow up)

This is what gives me pause. While I think there will be some additional Star Wars related stuff at DHS, I think a full Star Wars land would be given to one of the international parks if there is no room in California.

OK, then I guess I extrapolated from that to conclude that there would be more Star Wars stuff in DHS.

That would still be my prediction given all of the things being taken out of DHS and the fact that the park could use more than just some kiddie rides in a new Pixar Land. We'll see how that plays out.