UPDATED: IT'S HAPPENING!! Star Wars, Toy Story officially coming to DHS! Plus new Soarin'!

[kbelle8995]

It all sounds fantastic but No opening date made my excitement die a bit.

 

[newdeal]

I hope part of their plans is to increase the number of booths at the entrance to the parking lot so people can actually get in at a reasonable rate

 

[OKW Lover]

I hope part of their plans is to increase the number of booths at the entrance to the parking lot so people can actually get in at a reasonable rate

Good point. I presume you are talking about DHS here. We always enter from Buena Vista Drive (near BW) and I'm amazed that there is only one booth there. I wonder how many folks come in that way as opposed to the World Drive entrance. Can't say I've ever come in that way so I don't know how many booths they have on that side.

ETA, just looked on Google Maps and it appears that there are 8 lanes available on the World Drive entrance so clearly this is where Disney expected most traffic to be coming from.

 

[kbelle8995]

Actually since Star Wars is coming to DHS, I think a bigger parking lot area should be on the docket. What are they going to do with the crowds?

 

[angierae]

We've got a 2016 trip planned and this will probably make me wait to go back until it's done, which will probably please DH, who doesn't get the appeal (and hasn't gone back since our first trip.)

I wish they'd say one thing or another about MuppetVision, though. I agree it needs to be updated but I'd hate to see the only Henson-themed attraction at WDW go away.

 

[rteetz]

Actually since Star Wars is coming to DHS, I think a bigger parking lot area should be on the docket. What are they going to do with the crowds?

There is a large amount of money set aside in the budget for DHS that will be used for infrastructure

 

[rteetz]

We've got a 2016 trip planned and this will probably make me wait to go back until it's done, which will probably please DH, who doesn't get the appeal (and hasn't gone back since our first trip.)

I wish they'd say one thing or another about MuppetVision, though. I agree it needs to be updated but I'd hate to see the only Henson-themed attraction at WDW go away.

I think it's safe for now. A lot of mock ups showing 14 acres of DHS don't include muppets in that. However things like Indiana jones stunt show are likely to go.

 

[rteetz]

It all sounds fantastic but No opening date made my excitement die a bit.

Expect it to be a while 2018 is likely for toy story while Star Wars likely won't be done until 2020-21.

 

[kbelle8995]

Expect it to be a while 2018 is likely for toy story while Star Wars likely won't be done until 2020-21.

That's what I figured. Considered excitement muffled. It's still there but muffled.

Five to six years is a long way off.

 

[MrInfinity]

I think the whole concept and idea of Avatar completely fits into what Animal Kingdom is all about. It's just fantasy based. If you've seen the movie then you know what I mean. It's all about protecting nature.

I think it is a great addition to the park and adds the fantasy element that is so prevelant with Disney as well.

Avatar is also the highest grossing movie of all time and there at 3 more movies on the way possibly 4 so Avatar is very much here to stay and I disagree with it being a "flash in the pan".

Agree! The overall theme of the movie being about protecting nature is perfect for the Animal Kingdom. And then there is the amazing imagery that they came up w for the movie. The exotic plant life, the make-believe animal life, etc. There is nothing that says the Animal Kingdom is about "real-world" animals. I can see that at the zoo. AK should be inspiring and imaginative, like the rest of Disney. Even the original concept of the Beastly Kingdom had set the stage that the AK was not meant to be purely a real-life park.

Pandora is a perfect scene to put here.

It was a huge selling movie. Just because some individuals didn't watch it or don't care about the movie is completely irrelevant because a lot of people did like it. And whether you liked it or not, you should be able to appreciate the fantasy world that will come to life as a result.

Expect it to be a while 2018 is likely for toy story while Star Wars likely won't be done until 2020-21.

No way this opens in 2021. I get the idea of pushing it so far out in your mind so even the most critical person could not be disappointed or falsely start hoping for it to be done for their next trip... but with 3 movies coming out starting this year, this will be rolled out to build on the anticipation of the films. I give it half the time (3 years) that you do (6 years). Nobody announces rides 6 years in advance with concept art. 2-3 years.

 

[Bay Max]

Im confused as to why the star wars expansion is to be based on an unknown fictional planet rather than tapping the many well known cannon locations alreadt established?

My guess is that it allows for more flexibility in the design while still preserving an immersive environment. For example, if they have a Mos Eisley Cantina, they're going to have to make it look just like it does in the movie. That might restrict them creatively and, probably more importantly, from a functional standpoint. One of the biggest complaints about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is that it is TOO close to the movies at the expense of proper space for crowds, etc.

Also, if it is a new planet, they don't have to worry about juxtaposing different types of settings, buildings, etc. in a way that's consistent with the movies. For example, if they made Tatooine, they'd be restricted to include only those elements that we've already seen on Tatooine and they'd all have to be placed together in a way that's geographically consistent with the film.

 

[Huggups]

Already filed permits in June to do all ground testing for road into DHS parking from Victory Dr. Open this and close the rarely used S Stage Rd entrance. Take it SWLand straight out. Plenty of space in Backlot for PixarLand. Leave LMA and Streets of America. Osborne Lights may be biggest single draw at holidays. They fit no where else. And someday maybe Marvel can call that area home. Fingers crossed. Hey it was just was announced Hulk going down for long rehab. New name maybe ?

Picture. Yellow is where permits show new potential road. All that pink would now be available.

Hark, did I just read the word Marvel? Be still my beating heart! I hope I live long enough to see that!

Nice to see Toy Story Land but I'm still hoping to see more of other Pixar and Disney animation in this park.

 

[dizfan]

Excited by the new announcements. Are they planning for Star Wars expansions at DL and WDW to be completely different? If they are unique experiences, Star Wars fans will want to visit both WDW and DL. If they are very similar, people will tend to visit only one.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Expect it to be a while 2018 is likely for toy story while Star Wars likely won't be done until 2020-21.

WDW and I are just about the same age. I sure hope all of this is done by the time we both turn 50 in October 2021!

 

[Eoghann]

Excited by the new announcements. Are they planning for Star Wars expansions at DL and WDW to be completely different? If they are unique experiences, Star Wars fans will want to visit both WDW and DL. If they are very similar, people will tend to visit only one.

The impression the presentation gave is that the two Star Wars Lands would essentially be the same. The layout might be different I guess, but they were both described as 14 acres with the two "signature rides" and the cantina.

 

[HopperFan]

Hark, did I just read the word Marvel? Be still my beating heart! I hope I live long enough to see that!

Nice to see Toy Story Land but I'm still hoping to see more of other Pixar and Disney animation in this park.

I do hope that at some point they get them to WDW, hate that they are at all the others but not there. Universal slapping a name on some rides without really developing anything is a waste. Lots of ways to make Universal miserable.... DHS would be a perfect fit! By time Toy Story Land and Star Wars are opening, maybe they will have more good news.

EDIT: But ... likely not. Just heard from some IOA people and indication not good for WDW.

I agree, they need more than Toy Story. Pixar is a treasure chest and to ignore the rest is not cool.

 

[Huggups]

We've got a 2016 trip planned and this will probably make me wait to go back until it's done, which will probably please DH, who doesn't get the appeal (and hasn't gone back since our first trip.)

I wish they'd say one thing or another about MuppetVision, though. I agree it needs to be updated but I'd hate to see the only Henson-themed attraction at WDW go away.

I totally agree on MV 3D! Unfortunately with some of the map projections it does look like the attraction may be disappearing so we'll see.

 

[Huggups]

I think it's safe for now. A lot of mock ups showing 14 acres of DHS don't include muppets in that. However things like Indiana jones stunt show are likely to go.

I hope you're right, I really do!

 

[rteetz]

Excited by the new announcements. Are they planning for Star Wars expansions at DL and WDW to be completely different? If they are unique experiences, Star Wars fans will want to visit both WDW and DL. If they are very similar, people will tend to visit only one.

They are supposed to similar. DHS will have the Star Wars fireworks as well. There's probably will be some differences but not a lot.

 

[AThrillingChase]

I'm a bit disappointed tho that there will be a cantina, it won't be THE Mos Isley cantina (even though it will probably have the same band, aliens, etc).

The more I think about it, having it be Tatooine would have actually been kinda cool.
It has he spaceport....home of Luke...etc

Maybe it will be franchised??

Agree! The overall theme of the movie being about protecting nature is perfect for the Animal Kingdom. And then there is the amazing imagery that they came up w for the movie. The exotic plant life, the make-believe animal life, etc. There is nothing that says the Animal Kingdom is about "real-world" animals. I can see that at the zoo. AK should be inspiring and imaginative, like the rest of Disney. Even the original concept of the Beastly Kingdom had set the stage that the AK was not meant to be purely a real-life park.

Pandora is a perfect scene to put here.

It was a huge selling movie. Just because some individuals didn't watch it or don't care about the movie is completely irrelevant because a lot of people did like it. And whether you liked it or not, you should be able to appreciate the fantasy world that will come to life as a result.



No way this opens in 2021. I get the idea of pushing it so far out in your mind so even the most critical person could not be disappointed or falsely start hoping for it to be done for their next trip... but with 3 movies coming out starting this year, this will be rolled out to build on the anticipation of the films. I give it half the time (3 years) that you do (6 years). Nobody announces rides 6 years in advance with concept art. 2-3 years.

I agree with all of this. Literally all. haha. I never saw Avatar (does watching Ferngully 50x as a kid count?) but I still think this new land will be amazing. When disney puts their minds to it, they can do anything. So while I don't "get" Avatar, I appreciate how much source material it gives them with the landscapes and ride ideas. I don't particularly like dinosaurs or yetis either, but damned if I don't have a ton of fun and appreciate the touches on those rides too.

I am also leaning to a quicker production time for SW land. It scares me because I don't want to get excited! But I think the pieces are in place for it. They will throw up the preview area into the art of animation building real quick to time with the new movie. And placement wise, there is a lot of open service area back there and both SW and Toy Story are in areas easy enough to wall off from guests so they can really just jump in. But given the state of the park - they did just announce not one but two huge developments - I think they are aware how badly it needs something and this will be ushered along more quickly than some of the others. And of course there are the movies coming out to try and hype. I am really not sure if they will open in phases like new fantasyland, or just wait and have a big reveal all at once. Maybe I am being optimistic (read: definitly) but for now I'm sticking to it. They threw rebel lounge together very quickly, and it was one of my favorite parts of SWW. So, I have faith.