DHS Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[GhostHost1000]

I think it's safe to say whether we like it or not, Muppets 3D will be going away at some point... I just hope they are planning an even better attraction (show or ride) for them and keep them in the parks somewhere

 

[SCOTLORR]

Part of the problem with wanting to save Animation Courtyard for something else in the future is that they’ve been doing that for how long now? Rarely does anything that isn’t happening now move forward as intended. Even the Door Coaster isn’t going where it was originally intended.

and then next thing we know, animation courtyard is the exact same as it is now 20 years from now because all the following “phases” got cancelled. Seen it way too much for this not to be the expectation.

 

[lazyboy97o]

A 3D movie is an easy format to bring back for limited time events. How hard would it be to just drop Muppetvision into the small theater next to the Frozen Sing a Long where they play the Mickey shorts with a simple themed entrance facade? Lower capacity, so it would actually fill that theater and maybe even get some takers for a LL

Unfortunately, we can’t get a ride like Splash back for limited time events

We’re not talking about a traditional movie. There’s more to the experience than just what is on the screen.

 

[bmr1591]

A 3D movie is an easy format to bring back for limited time events. How hard would it be to just drop Muppetvision into the small theater next to the Frozen Sing a Long where they play the Mickey shorts with a simple themed entrance facade? Lower capacity, so it would actually fill that theater and maybe even get some takers for a LL

Unfortunately, we can’t get a ride like Splash back for limited time events

Potentially, but you’d be missing many effects.


It is strange to me that Disney updates things to destroy them. MV just got new seats, new effects on the walls…what’s the point if you know what’s coming?

 

[LSLS]

Potentially, but you’d be missing many effects.


It is strange to me that Disney updates things to destroy them. MV just got new seats, new effects on the walls…what’s the point if you know what’s coming?

I've got 0 inside knowledge, but everything about this feels to me like this was supposed to be phase 2 or even phase 3 of the upgrades to the park, but because they spent budget elsewhere, this became phase 1 as it was the cheapest thing to change in DHS. As you said, it's weird they just upgraded the Muppets theater, and then it's also weird that they would leave such a dead space along AC. It could be the plans changed and it will go in AC, but it feels weird they wouldn't just announce that as I doubt it'd be missed by too many (especially because you could easily move those Meet and Greets outside of the walls that would go up).

 

[Surferboy567]

Really hoping they announce where this is going soon. I don’t think this is the discourse they are looking for they want us talking about the new additions, not what it may or may not replace.

 

[mikejs78]

Slinky is of good length but implemented poorly.

I know a number of people for whom Slinky is their favorite attraction. I think you may underestimate the sense of fun that the coaster provides, especially for young families.

But to the OP point 1-2 omnimover type attractions at DHS would be phenomenal for adding capacity.

100% agree with this point. DHS also needs a high capacity boat ride. The old rumored Indy Shanghai Pirates tech ride would have been a great addition.

 

[mikejs78]

Now, I love the Muppets. It's a great attraction, and I hate to see it go. But I am worndering - what are the expansion options left for DHS? We know Animation to Sunset is one. Muppets courtyard is (sadly) another. Echo lake? Where else can DHS expand into without closing other attractions?

 

[Purduevian]

I'm sure this won't happen... however if monsters does take over Muppets courtyard.
Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully to the rescue is ~25,000sq ft at DCA and is rumored to be on the chopping block for Avatar.

MV3D is ~23,000sqft with a small expansion pad behind it.

Not that that the DCA animatronics are amazing, but one could make a pitch to get a fairly cheap 0 height C ticket dark ride to go along with the door coaster.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The troughs don't connect, though I believe that lift pumps can evacuate water from the closed JC/hub moat system into the canals that connect ROA to SSL.

Hmmm. I had always thought they all connected like at DL. Guess I was wrong!

 

[Streetway]

and then next thing we know, animation courtyard is the exact same as it is now 20 years from now because all the following “phases” got cancelled. Seen it way too much for this not to be the expectation.

Yeah, I get your concerns, they’re valid. But closing muppetvision 3D so animation courtyard is “saved” for the future is actually the mystery box scene from family guy.
”Hold on Lois, Monsters inc in animation courtyard is an expansion is just an expansion, but the mystery box could be anything! Even an expansion in animation courtyard!”
Just you wait until bob iger starts to sell volcano insurance to us.

 

[mikejs78]

Yeah, I get your concerns, they’re valid. But closing muppetvision 3D so animation courtyard is “saved” for the future is actually the mystery box scene from family guy.
”Hold on Lois, Monsters inc in animation courtyard is an expansion is just an expansion, but the mystery box could be anything! Even an expansion in animation courtyard!”
Just you wait until bob iger starts to sell volcano insurance to us.

The thing that gets me on this though is that Monsters is relatively small in footprint, and the space behind AC is pretty large. If they put Monsters on AC, won't that preclude them from being able to add a bigger land somewhere later?

 

[castlecake2.0]

Here are more mockups and break downs of each area for comparison:
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Still thinking and hoping for Animation Courtyard. It still leaves the Sunset expansion pad behind Sunset Ranch. It gives them more room to play with. They don't have to worry about the service road behind Muppets. If Zootopia is truely another thing coming, the Grand Ave/Muppets area could also house that with a dark ride where Muppets is now.

Just here to say the soundstages looked so much better before they painted them all blue

 

[Streetway]

The thing that gets me on this though is that Monsters is relatively small in footprint, and the space behind AC is pretty large. If they put Monsters on AC, won't that preclude them from being able to add a bigger land somewhere later?

They could use Sunset.

 

[Horizonsfan]

Now, I love the Muppets. It's a great attraction, and I hate to see it go. But I am worndering - what are the expansion options left for DHS? We know Animation to Sunset is one. Muppets courtyard is (sadly) another. Echo lake? Where else can DHS expand into without closing other attractions?

There are expansion pads between ToT & Fantasmic that could squeeze in a C/D-ticket or two.

They could also conceivably reconstruct the Fantasmic Amphitheater into something that has day & night utilization, be it new shows, or a complete replacement. Martin said that was the spot considered for Tron at one point, IIRC. Just adding a daytime show to the arena would arguably be an expansion in my book.

 

[Streetway]

I have a pitch. I know muppetvision 3D will probably need to go eventually for expansion, so here’s my pitch:
1. Build monsters in animation courtyard, with pathways setting up for a sunset boulevard expansion
2. Build a new high capacity Walk in sort of attraction somewhere else (maybe in the BATB plot?) to pick up the slack of muppetvision when it eventually goes
3. Get the muppets set up somewhere else (maybe HOP) for the long term. Preferably bring in the Henson company, though that’s unlikely.
4. When the time comes, professionally record muppetvision and put it in the Disney parks YouTube channel

 

[mattpeto]

At this point, I feel pretty convinced this is not going into Animation Courtyard. Otherwise, they would have told us.

 

[Streetway]

There are expansion pads between ToT & Fantasmic that could squeeze in a C/D-ticket or two.

They could also conceivably reconstruct the Fantasmic Amphitheater into something that has day & night utilization, be it new shows, or a complete replacement. Martin said that was the spot considered for Tron at one point, IIRC. Just adding a daytime show to the arena would arguably be an expansion in my book.

Where exactly are the expansion pads?

 

[lazyboy97o]

The thing that gets me on this though is that Monsters is relatively small in footprint, and the space behind AC is pretty large. If they put Monsters on AC, won't that preclude them from being able to add a bigger land somewhere later?

If they design it poorly, which has a high likelihood given the rest of the park.

 

[James Alucobond]

The thing that gets me on this though is that Monsters is relatively small in footprint, and the space behind AC is pretty large. If they put Monsters on AC, won't that preclude them from being able to add a bigger land somewhere later?

There’s an existing path between Launch Bay and Disney Jr. that they could always connect both to the RRC courtyard and the intersection across from the B&B entrance that would allow access to an additional pad.