Why is Disney Hollywood Studios the least favorite park?

[flyingcat2003]

I noticed a thread started by Joshua_me yesterday and people were rating the parks they like from best to worse. It seemed to me that Hollywood Studios commonly was rated the worse. I know this rings true with me. This is my least favorite park. I think the layout of the park is horrible. Disney should have never put Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller coaster so close to together. Indiana Jones Stunt show and Star tours both need a makeover and I think they need a lot more dinning choices. However, Disney has made some steps in the right direction. Light Motor Action is a good show and the new Toy Story Mania ride is a home run. I think Disney could do a lot more for this park. Before I forget what is up with the Narnia experience, man what an awful attraction.

If you had Bog Igers ear what would you tell him about Hollywood Studios.

 

[ADP]

Although I love all 4 parks DHS is my least favorite.

Here are a few reasons why.
The park lacks organization. The other 3 parks incorporate a hub-and-spoke design whereas DHS is very spotty in its design. Sections of the park lack flow and it just seems to me they were dropped in without any strategic thought.
As others have already mentioned when DHS lost it's working studio symbol a lot went with it. Part of the fun of visiting DHS was the chance to see actual film making or animation to be used in a real production. A big part of the parks spirit was removed when the animation division was consolidated to Burbank 5 years or so ago.
I've always found DHS to be a ride attraction poor park. Don't get me wrong...The attractions already in place are incredible, but more is needed. In reality there are only 5 rides in the entire park...Star Tours, Great Movie Ride, Coaster, ToT, and TSMM (I don't consider the Backlot Tour a ride). DHS has many show or walk through attractions. There needs to be more of a mix or balance between rides and shows.

So here's what I would tell Bob Iger.
- Give more defination to sections of the park...Remove the Backlot Tour and create a whole new section of the park. The Backlot Tour takes up waaaayyy too much space.
- Make DHS a working Studio again for film and animation
- Add more ride-based attractions
- Do more with George Lucas & Star Wars. Add another Star Wars ride-based attraction, update Star Tours, and add a Star Wars dining experience.

To be fare a couple things I love about the Studios.
- Streetmosphere...Watching the Citizens of Hollywood is one of my favorite things to do at DHS.
- Hollywood & Sunset Blvds....Disney did an incredible job of creating these streets. Some of the best attention to detail in all of WDW.

 

[ADP]

Sorry...Double Post.

 

[MenashaCorp]

So here's what I would tell Bob Iger.
- Give more defination to sections of the park...Remove the Backlot Tour and create a whole new section of the park. The Backlot Tour takes up waaaayyy too much space.
- Make DHS a working Studio again for film and animation
- Add more ride-based attractions
- Do more with George Lucas & Star Wars. Add another Star Wars ride-based attraction, update Star Tours, and add a Star Wars dining experience.

To be fare a couple things I love about the Studios.
- Streetmosphere...Watching the Citizens of Hollywood is one of my favorite things to do at DHS.
- Hollywood & Sunset Blvds....Disney did an incredible job of creating these streets. Some of the best attention to detail in all of WDW.

That'd be so cool!! Huttsicles and Force Fries!! Vader Tots!!

The Blue milk/KoolAid Luke's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru served at lunch...

Sith Steaks - Always two there are....
I wanna see them carve the Roast Beast with a light saber!!

Agree with you about the streets and streetmosphere, Aaron.

 

[wishspirit]

I personally put DHS above AK at the moment (but I haven't been since they put EE in, so it might change come September)

Although my favourite ride is at DHS (TOT) I agree that the way that the park is set out doesn't lend itself well to the whole idea. Too many big rides in one area, too little to do in others.

They need to balance it with some more rides, maybe more for small children, and rehab some of the shows.

 

[flyingcat2003]

Did Disney open Mgm aka ( Hollywood Sudios) before Universal Studios? I thought maybe they did and thats why Hollywood Studios seems thrown together so that they could open first.

 

[ADP]

Did Disney open Mgm aka ( Hollywood Sudios) before Universal Studios? I thought maybe they did and thats why Hollywood Studios seems thrown together so that they could open first.

From everything I read and seen DHS opened first. However, there was a race between both companies to open there theme park studio first. You could be right...It may have been a contributing factor.

 

[cathie1327]

Actually to be quite honest with you, Animal Kingdom is my least favorite, but that's just my personal opinion.

I do, however agree with a lot that has been said about Hollywood studios.

It's very pooryly organized and honestly, the streets of America.....is there a point to this? I know they do the Osbourne lights here during Christmas and the New York Street Scene is kinda cool, but it seems to be taking up SO much space of the park to have the facades smack dab in the middle of that area. We got lost every time we went to HS (last year was our first year in WDW, mind you, but we didn't really got lost at any other parks!).

The dining DEFINITELY needs an improvement. In fact, this year on our trip, we are looking to spend quite a bit less time in DHS simply because there isn't much for choices there to eat. I tried Hollywood and Vine last year and REALLY did not like it, but do not want to spend 2 table service credits on a meal. This leaves Mama Melrose's, 50's prime time and Sci-Fi dine in theatre. Sci Fi is cool (I'm actually a fan ) but 50's prime time intimidates me haha. I'm one of the people that doesn't want to be bothered too much while eating my food, so the tongue-in-cheek humor that goes on there seems like something that wouldn't be appealing to me. We are trying Mama Melrose's this year so I will hold off judgement there. They don't seem to have much there for counter service either, although I have to say that I do really love pizza planet. The food ain't bad for counter service, and I really like the theming they did in there.

Star Tours is by far one of my least favorite rides. Ever. This thing SERIOUSLY needs an update. It's so bumpy and jerky that I really can't stand to ride it much anymore. The only reason anyone rides it in my group is cuz DBF loves Star Wars and it's one of his mom's favorite rides simpy because she remembers it from so long ago at DL. I do agree they should do more with the Star Wars characters. Make a whole star wars area with a NEW ride, a character meet and greet, maybe their own little mini-parade? and a restaraunt

I don't want them to homogonize the parks, but I think they should seriously think about taking out the Indiana Jones show and putting in the Indiana Jones ride from DL. That ride is so insanely popular that it makes sense to me and it would fit in well at DHS I think.

Just my .02

 

[wilde_oscar]

Update Indiana Jones
Update Great Movie Ride
Update StarTours
Update the Animation Tour
Close Sounds Dangerous
Close Back Lot Tour (or make major updates that will involve adding land to the park)
Close Narnia
New Cars based attraction
New Incredibles based attraction
New Disney Archives walk though created by the company historians

There is no way they are going to turn it into working studios again, that ship has sailed. More attention to Sci-Fi movies, an attraction based on The Black Hole (a classic) or Tron. I also think they could come up with a tour, kinda like the backstage tour of Magic Kingdom... but have it be a made up story of a much older studio, with more elaborate back stories, that intertwine with the actual back stories.

Fantasmic! has to be getting close to needing a refresh as well, even though it is my favorite spectacular. And they might want to think about changing out beauty and the beast.

Wow, thats a lot... I like the DHS, but even with TSM most of the attractions seem dated.

 

[wilde_oscar]

From everything I read and seen DHS opened first. However, there was a race between both companies to open there theme park studio first. You could be right...It may have been a contributing factor.

As I recall, studios were announced after, but opened before Universal... mostly because Disney doesn't have nearly the problems of permits. It may not have been rushed, but there wasn't much there when it opened.

 

[cathie1327]

Update Indiana Jones
Update Great Movie Ride
Update StarTours
Update the Animation Tour
Close Sounds Dangerous
Close Back Lot Tour (or make major updates that will involve adding land to the park)
Close Narnia
New Cars based attraction
New Incredibles based attraction
New Disney Archives walk though created by the company historians

There is no way they are going to turn it into working studios again, that ship has sailed. More attention to Sci-Fi movies, an attraction based on The Black Hole (a classic) or Tron. I also think they could come up with a tour, kinda like the backstage tour of Magic Kingdom... but have it be a made up story of a much older studio, with more elaborate back stories, that intertwine with the actual back stories.

Fantasmic! has to be getting close to needing a refresh as well, even though it is my favorite spectacular. And they might want to think about changing out beauty and the beast.

Wow, thats a lot... I like the DHS, but even with TSM most of the attractions seem dated.

ITA agree with ya on the Cars and Incredibles thing!

That's one thing I forgot to point out. Bring in some new characters that kids today can relate to! Besides TSM alot of the attractions/rides are based off things that were before the time of the average aged child coming to WDW. New attractions with new characters (especially Pixar because they are such a huge base of Disney characters now) would def. be an improvement!

 

[AnninIowa]

In my 3 trips to WDW, I've only been to the Studios once. Other than the Muppets 3-D show, nothing there interested me. Backlot Tour and Great Movie Ride? SNORE!!! I'm also not a movie person, so the theming didn't interest me. On our next trip, we might pop in just to do Muppets and the new Toy Story Mania. Other than those two, I, personally, would rather spend my time at the other 3 parks.

 

[luke]

I personally put DHS above AK at the moment (but I haven't been since they put EE in, so it might change come September)
.

I'm with you on that, AK is my least favourite park (not to say that I don't like it, it just lacks the "magic" for me).

Oh and for EE, then you haven't been to DHS since TSM was put in, which is awesome, assuming you get a fast pass early enough

 

[WaltD4Me]

Update Indiana Jones
Update Great Movie Ride
Update StarTours
Update the Animation Tour
Close Sounds Dangerous
Close Back Lot Tour (or make major updates that will involve adding land to the park)
Close Narnia
New Cars based attraction
New Incredibles based attraction
New Disney Archives walk though created by the company historians

Fantasmic! has to be getting close to needing a refresh as well, even though it is my favorite spectacular. And they might want to think about changing out beauty and the beast.

I agree with all of this, plus add a Monsters Inc. based attraction. I say keep Beauty and the Beast...I love that show, but BRING BACK 4 for a Dollar!

Even with it's terrible layout, I really enjoy DHS. I like the old Hollywood feeling and the Streetsmosphere performers are one of my favorite things at Disney World, not just at DHS.

WAY back in the day when animation was still being done there, I took an animation tour that was awesome, they were making Tarzan I think at the time and we got to go into the actual animation building and paint an animation cell....very cool. I wish they would bring that back...I know that isn't going to happen though.

 

[shmedly123]

The backlot tour really aggravates me. I used to like the original and thought it gave you a different experience that you couldn't get at any of the other parks. I really wish they would have brought in some newer retired props and vehicles from more recent movies/shows. I loved seeing Walt's private plane and things like the vehicles used in Indiana Jones etc. but the problem IMO is 20 years later and the same things are still there. It would have been really cool to see some of the props used in POC and other more recent movies added instead of seeing the houses from golden girls and empty nest for the 100th time.

Also, I really don't like the LMA show at all which took up a lot of the tour's real estate. I got bored really quick and my 4 yo wanted to leave after about 5mins last March. When we went back in December we went for a 1/2 day, luckily snagged a FP for TSM, saw muppets, playhouse disney, baby swapped ToT and RnR went on the GMR and watched Fantasmic and felt like we did everything we wanted to see.

And honestly we just saw the GMR b/c we had time to kill. It is in dire need of a refurb.

so 4 rides, 2 shows and Fantasmic and we saw everything we wanted to see. That is about 1/4 of the "stuff" in MK or Epcot worth seeing and that's what I believe is wrong with the park.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Update Indiana Jones
Update Great Movie Ride
Update StarTours
Update the Animation Tour
Close Sounds Dangerous
Close Back Lot Tour (or make major updates that will involve adding land to the park)
Close Narnia
New Cars based attraction
New Incredibles based attraction
New Disney Archives walk though created by the company historians

There is no way they are going to turn it into working studios again, that ship has sailed. More attention to Sci-Fi movies, an attraction based on The Black Hole (a classic) or Tron. I also think they could come up with a tour, kinda like the backstage tour of Magic Kingdom... but have it be a made up story of a much older studio, with more elaborate back stories, that intertwine with the actual back stories.

Fantasmic! has to be getting close to needing a refresh as well, even though it is my favorite spectacular. And they might want to think about changing out beauty and the beast.

Wow, thats a lot... I like the DHS, but even with TSM most of the attractions seem dated.

The Cars ride at DLRP is excellent, I thought it would be more of a kiddie ride but we really enjoyed it. Also Crushes Coaster is fantastic! They seemed to have been able to squeeze those two into quite a small space so they could do it at DHS

 

[bonybroad]

After the mecca that is Magic Kingdom, DHS is our favorite park.
Actually, it's probably DH and the boys #1, but I'm the girl, so I am always right.
It's good to be queen.

 

[RFrank9504]

I'm in agreement with just about everyone. The last trip we made up we went for EMH in the a.m.-took our daughter str8 to RNRC & TOT, did a meet and greet, saw playhouse disney for my son 4,(which is kinda odd because if we sit on the floor we have a hard time seeing some of the puppets on the stage and oh no if your kid stands up and blocks someone's view (maybe thats just me ). We then left for the resort for the pool and relaxation. We were back at the resort in like 3 hours. Later that night we went back after dinner for Fanstamic since the choices are so few for restauarants. We made ADRs for the resort and were quite happy.

I dunno-I always feel like we just walk and walk there and go in circles. I think it needs a makeover-and Narnia-ugh....I felt like it was supposed to be more like hidden camera show-haha-we got you into this syke....

 

[flyingcat2003]

Update Indiana Jones
Update Great Movie Ride
Update StarTours
Update the Animation Tour
Close Sounds Dangerous
Close Back Lot Tour (or make major updates that will involve adding land to the park)
Close Narnia
New Cars based attraction
New Incredibles based attraction
New Disney Archives walk though created by the company historians

There is no way they are going to turn it into working studios again, that ship has sailed. More attention to Sci-Fi movies, an attraction based on The Black Hole (a classic) or Tron. I also think they could come up with a tour, kinda like the backstage tour of Magic Kingdom... but have it be a made up story of a much older studio, with more elaborate back stories, that intertwine with the actual back stories.

Fantasmic! has to be getting close to needing a refresh as well, even though it is my favorite spectacular. And they might want to think about changing out beauty and the beast.

Wow, thats a lot... I like the DHS, but even with TSM most of the attractions seem dated.

Wow, I love your suggestions. If we could get this to the powers to be. Is there any way someone from Disney might actually see this? I would love to see them do something with some of the newer Pixar movies.

 

[MM32830]

As I recall, studios were announced after, but opened before Universal... mostly because Disney doesn't have nearly the problems of permits. It may not have been rushed, but there wasn't much there when it opened.

Correct. DSH (fka Disney MGM Studios) opened in 1989 whereas Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990.

However, I don't believe any of this factored in as to why DHS isn't as popular as is should be. Universal Studios seems better organized with more to do. But, remember when both parks opened, DHS was much smaller and had far fewer attractions than Universal. I believe this perception hurt Disney ever since the park opened.



_________________
Armand