Virtual Imagineer (Florida): What would you do with DHS?

[rutgers1]

Play the role of an imagineer. Let's come up with a feasible plan for Hollywood Studios that would take the park where the idealists on this board would have it go. Let's hear it!

 

[YoHo]

Close it. It was a cheap idea and anything good about it has been gone for a decade.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Close it. It was a cheap idea and anything good about it has been gone for a decade.

I disagree. I think this park has come a long way in the past 10 years or so.

MG

 

[rutgers1]

For my family DHS, like AK, are 1 day parks max. Actually, they are places we go to for an evening twice during our trip, or places we go to after dinner to ride a particular ride or two (My kids LOVE Star Tours). To our family, it is all about adding more. I think it needs a good 10 more rides. Same with AK.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

For my family DHS, like AK, are 1 day parks max. Actually, they are places we go to for an evening twice during our trip, or places we go to after dinner to ride a particular ride or two (My kids LOVE Star Tours). To our family, it is all about adding more. I think it needs a good 10 more rides. Same with AK.

More QUALITY attractions are always welcome...

That said, we visit WDW often enough that all we ever do is hit a park (any park) for a few hours, do our favorite attractions, browse the shops, then leave. We don't rush, we stroll.
Of course Food & Wine at Epcot is the exception.

MG

 

[YoHo]

I disagree. I think this park has come a long way in the past 10 years or so.

MG

I can't possibly think of what good has come to it. The last decent attraction addition was ToT and the park has always been laid out stupid and been a poor concept to begin with.

They should have just kept it as an Epcot pavilion like the original plan.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I can't possibly think of what good has come to it. The last decent attraction addition was ToT and the park has always been laid out stupid and been a poor concept to begin with.

They should have just kept it as an Epcot pavilion like the original plan.

I'll give you the poor layout. It seems I can never get there from here.

Granted, ToT was a little more than 10 years ago, but RnRC, the stunt show, and Toy Story Mania are quality attractions IMO.

MG

 

[Padrepride]

I am a fan of DHS. I like the idea of the Monsters Inc. Coaster that has been rumored already. Also, a major expansion to Pixar Place would be great. Star Tours needs an update. And I would like to see a Lucas Land that would include Star Tours, Indy Stunt Show [one of my favorites], and an Indy ride that could either be a coaster or a clone of what they have at DLR. Also, DHS could use a new restaurant. I hope Disney doesn't stand pat on this park.

 

[goalie5hole]

Put in an attraction to rival Spiderman. I have no idea what though-if I did, I'd be an imagineer

 

[MJMcBride]

Blow up the Backlot and expand the Pixar Area, create a new area called the Theatre District and expand the Star Wars stuff

Like so
http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/07/05/what-disney-can-do-to-stem-the-potter-tide/#comments

http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/04/28/ideas-for-making-the-most-of-star-tours/#comments

 

[cheerforchelsea]

Expand the outer perimiter of the HS park to include additional large rides. There are a gazillion movies.....just base a ride on any of them. There are plenty of shows for young children - but with teenagers after Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster you might as well leave the park....

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

I was never a fan of MGM until recently, now I love it. Sure it's still my "easy day" as I like to call them but I always have such a blast and I actually enjoy relaxing there after going all out at MK and Epcot. Now I would recomend the following:

1. Add at least two new rides - an Indy roller coaster like the one in Disneyland Paris would be cool (just make it a bit longer and not as rough) and another one based on Monsters Inc or Ratoutille (did I even come close to spelling that right?)

2. Add a good table service meal - I love 50s Prime Time but I wouldn't mind having more choices. Also, add more CS - I love Pizza Planet because it's fun but we need more! Base it on whatever, just add more CS please!

3. Do something with the Streets of America....I love them but make them more interactive. That side of the park to me is a bit dead..

4. Update Star Tours and the Backlot Tour - the Backlot Tour has so much potential but it's not there yet

5. Get rid of Sounds Dangerous - please....it's torture!

6. The EMH Dance Party is awesome - they should do it every night not just on EMH - I had sooo much fun there and I dont even have kids!

 

[_Taco_]

Replace the chalkboard 'times' sign with a 'flip-board' style automated system.

It would fit with theme, and remove the need for a CM to stand there with a radio and a peice of chalk...

 

[Jessfrogger88]

I would #1 get rid of the hat... I used to like it, but after a while it seems tacky and doesn't fit in with the area at all...

#2. Restore and Refurb the great movie ride... Keep some of the classic scenes casablanca/wizard of oz, but update some of the others or at least refurb the animatronics... it seems a bit rough from time to time... Maybe change the spiel a bit.

#3. Make it a working Studio again.. Imagine how cool the backlot tour would be if you could see animators or possibly even a show being filmed from the tram.

#4.... Expand... It's by far the smallest park and I think they have quite a bit of room to expand... so make it bigger...

#5... Streets of America is dead... that area of the park need an attraction and how... The Mummy Coaster at Universal is in a similarly themed area and it looks great from the outside... maybe they could put a National Treasure ride there... or even an Indy Rollar coaster and make the outer facade like a meuseum... ( I know that is such a copy cat move, but it looks good).

#6. I think this is the thing I would emphasize the most... stay true to the theme... The park should be themed around hollywood... movies/tv/music... etc... Don't put in a raft ride just because.. unless you can theme it around one of the above mentioned mediums...

#7. Update Muppets 3d and try to make them a more prominent feature of the park... <3 the muppets... I think they fit in great at the studios.

 

[Padrepride]

Yes, I agree that the giant hat and Sounds Dangerous needs to go. I don't think they'll take out the hat because it has become an icon and is on merchandise. DHS definitely needs an E-ticket attraction. They don't have to be roller coasters. Maybe an Monsters Coaster and an Indy ride like at DLR.

 

[wezee]

I think DHS needs a western backlot thene. Like walking into to the old west (like we have all seen in the old John Wayne movies), with Saloons, stagecoaches, rides etc. I realize they have something like this in MK but I mean on a grander scale. Like at Universal in Calf. where they have a complete movie set erected.

And since I am already showing my age.......why not have an area based on the old beach blanket teeny bopper movies.....I think our kids would love to see how we were in the 50s and early 60s. Gotta love Annette and Frankie and of course Elvis!!!

 

[rutgers1]

I like the idea of the western backlot theme. I am picturing something like a much nicer version of Wild West City in New Jersey, where perhaps the streets would close down every so often as a "show" is performed in the streets...horses, gunfights, etc. That might be a bit much for Disney, but it would be cool.

Part of me doesn't mind that some parks are 1/2 day parks, as I always break my day into thirds (park in the morning, swimming mid-day, and park at night), but the bigger problem is that there isn't enough there to bring me back a second time during the trip. If there were five GREAT rides, I would want to hit the park a few times during the trip, but there isn't.

I think that a major appeal to Magic Kingdom is the mix of thrill rides (Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain) and rides that you just sit in and passively go through (Small World, Pirates, etc.). That ensures that it is not only fun for the whole family, but also that you can come back multiple times and basically "theme" your visit (all thrill rides, all laid back rides, etc.). On top of that, the parents and kids can separate, with each group tailoring the day to their own interests....You can't really do that at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Simply stated, there aren't enough rides. And with Epcot, there are enough of the passive rides, and not enough of the thrill rides.

From my seat, it seems like DHS, Animal Kingdom and Epcot are all about 6-8 rides away from being perfect, not only for the entire family, but for an entire day trip. In each park, I'd put in three rides that would appeal to teens, and three Small World (or better yet, Pirates of the Caribbean) type rides that would appeal to everyone.

They are close, but not there yet. I know it costs money, but they would get it back quickly if they would bite the bullet and give the people what they want.

 

[SandraVB79]

1. Add at least two new rides - an Indy roller coaster like the one in Disneyland Paris would be cool (just make it a bit longer and not as rough) and another one based on Monsters Inc or Ratoutille (did I even come close to spelling that right?)

It's Ratatouille and trust me, you don't want the Indy Rollercoaster from paris. While it looks great, it is not a great ride. Especially not when you compare it with the Indy ride in California, now that's a good one.

Maybe they could add a water-ride based on the POTC movies? Enough water and storms in there to create some thrill ride.

Update the backlot or get rid of it, it's pretty lame imo.
There are so many movies, it shouldn't be too hard to find some and have rides based on it.

Oh, and some sort of transportation would be cool too, since the park is hard to get around.

 

[Padrepride]

It's Ratatouille and trust me, you don't want the Indy Rollercoaster from paris. While it looks great, it is not a great ride. Especially not when you compare it with the Indy ride in California, now that's a good one.

Maybe they could add a water-ride based on the POTC movies? Enough water and storms in there to create some thrill ride.

Update the backlot or get rid of it, it's pretty lame imo.
There are so many movies, it shouldn't be too hard to find some and have rides based on it.

Oh, and some sort of transportation would be cool too, since the park is hard to get around.

Isn't there another ride in the MK that the POTC movies are based on? I agree that the Indy coaster shouldn't be brought over. I would like a different version like the one in CA.

 

[YoHo]

I was going to say, I know what the poster meant, but the comment on a POTC attraction is still priceless.