DHS Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[easyrowrdw]

Has anyone discuss that TWDC has a "10 year plan" and all we've seen is the next 5 years? Monsters may go here because it's saving the space in Animation Courtyard for the back half of the 10 years of building?

I don't think this is the end all be all of turbocharged parks for a decade.

Any 10 year plan for any corporation is blue skybasically. Why would you trust it, so much could change for any company.

Heck did anyone in 2002 have a 10 year plan for what would they do once the iphone came out in 2007?

Sure. I guess I interpreted your post as saying, Monsters will replace Muppets, but something bigger will go in Animation Courtyard. I just don't trust that they're going to put something bigger or better in AC. Fixing AC should be the priority, not replacing a functional attraction.

 

[rd805]

I'm so excited about the possibility of the Monsters Coaster -- it looks family friendly, a great concept, and an IP that has tested the time.

It is absolutely infuriating to hear that Star Wars Launch Bay hasn't closed and is not the placement for the next expansion.

The lack of foresight when even bringing back the Little Mermaid Show (which like...barely anyone wanted), and keeping it in an area that needs one of the biggest overhauls in any section of any Disney Park astounds me.

 

[mastromjm]

Forgive a little soapboxing, but I think a lot of this worry/hurt comes from the fact that Disney has all but given up on the Muppets. This is the second longest drought without a Muppet movie and there has been no major TV special or theme park project to back them up. Muppet Haunted Mansion & Mayhem were both great but barely anyone knew about their existence. California's MuppetVision disappeared in 2014, there is barely any merch produced by Disney themselves, and as mentioned before they can't even be bothered to get Muppets Take Manhattan on Disney Plus. Little things like third-party produced action figures & board games and Waldos getting replaced by projections are the biggest news we Muppet fans have. The fact that operations are so keen to cut entertainment these days and additions have been extremely few and far between (barring next year's Electrical Parade!!) means a live show is all but unthinkable.

In 2009, there was a large Muppets presentation at D23 in which various major projects were announced. Despite the fact that the majority did not come to fruition, this was a great time of hope for us. This year, we got a huge Avatar pavilion - even though Disney does not fully own the rights to the property - and Eric Jacobson wasn't even at the Miss Piggy panel.

Maybe most of the public has moved on - there are certainly folks on this forum who are not fans of the Muppets. But it is rather disheartening and difficult to accept that Iger & co. just don't want to throw the same amount of effort behind the Muppets as they do Star Wars, Marvel, Cars, Encanto, Moana, Monsters etc. because they weren't grand slams at the box office/Disney+. At least for their first 30 years of existence and that brief blip around the Jason Segel movie, the Muppets left an indelible, unique mark on the public. Monsters Inc. has always deserved better than just Laugh Floor and a Sulley meet, but the Muppets deserve better than nothing.

 

[UNCgolf]

Let’s hope there is an all-ages show or playground or something to help ultimately absorb what’s being lost, though I feel they would have announced that already.

I’m not as fundamentally opposed to this as others because IP comes and goes, but their insistence on doing everything but the patently obvious is infuriating. Animation Courtyard, Wonders of Life, Stitch, and numerous WS pavilions sit attractionless while other things needlessly turn over.

That's my problem with it. I'm not up in arms about removing the Muppets in general -- I'm just annoyed that they keep spending money on things that aren't going to make a park day better for the average guest.

This particular move could actually make the park worse. It'll get long lines, but it's probably not going to have any major effect on long lines at other attractions because the park is already underbuilt.

 

[mikejs78]

That's my problem with it. I'm not up in arms about removing the Muppets in general -- I'm just annoyed that they keep spending money on things that aren't going to make a park day better for the average guest.

This particular move could actually make the park worse. It'll get long lines, but it's probably not going to have any major effect on long lines at other attractions because the park is already underbuilt.

I'm not sure how it won't. If the rumors are true and they replace MV with another show, add the coaster, and add a playground area, how is that not a net improvement? Is it the best improvement they could make? No, but it's certainly an improvement.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Anyone looking for a positive? If the Muppets leave, so will quite possibly the worst pizza in all of WDW.

 

[LSLS]

I'm not sure how it won't. If the rumors are true and they replace MV with another show, add the coaster, and add a playground area, how is that not a net improvement? Is it the best improvement they could make? No, but it's certainly an improvement.

The show part is VERY rumor right now though. All we know for sure is a coaster. I question if there is enough room in that area for a show unless it's significantly smaller (or there is a ton of reworking of the behind the scenes things). Also, just going to throw it out there, I'm not sure I believe the playground ends up there either. I think it'd be a good addition, but I could see someone stepping in on that for the insurance reasons.

 

[mikejs78]

Anyone looking for a positive? If the Muppets leave, so will quite possibly the worst pizza in all of WDW.

Pinocchio Village House would like a word with you.

 

[Andrew C]

Pinocchio Village House would like a word with you.

I am honestly okay with both places. Not the best. But fine enough.

 

[UNCgolf]

I'm not sure how it won't. If the rumors are true and they replace MV with another show, add the coaster, and add a playground area, how is that not a net improvement? Is it the best improvement they could make? No, but it's certainly an improvement.

If they do all that, then yes, it will be an improvement.

They haven't actually announced anything other than the coaster, though. If it's just the coaster, that's not great.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Pinocchio Village House would like a word with you.

Haven't tried their pie. Not the greatest eh?

 

[UNCgolf]

Anyone looking for a positive? If the Muppets leave, so will quite possibly the worst pizza in all of WDW.

Will it?

It was a pizza place serving essentially the same thing (if not exactly the same thing) for 15-20 years before the Muppets moved in. It's more likely they'll just rename/retheme it and keep the same pizza than anything else.

 

[Streetway]

Beloved attraction closes with much backlash, only small touch will remain, already have our first potential revival rumors. Gentleman, I think we have our next “imagination 4.0”: bring back the muppets. Better start buying merch, maybe it’ll be less than 30 years this time!

 

[Coaster Lover]

For those it may concern.

Please see Kermit at his home in Hollywood Studios sooner rather than later.

Unless a huge upset happens, which would be unprecedented this close to construction, I've been informed by all those that I talk to that Muppets Courtyard is the definitive development space for Monsters Inc.

Any indication that Muppets will retain a presence at all (in DHS or elsewhere on property)? And if so, something ambitious (like a new permanent attraction), a stop gap option (like bringing back a street show like Great Moments), or just relegated to "appearances" as appropriate at festivals and seasonal events?

 

[Coaster Lover]

Beloved attraction closes with much backlash, only small touch will remain, already have our first potential revival rumors. Gentleman, I think we have our next “imagination 4.0”: bring back the muppets. Better start buying merch, maybe it’ll be less than 30 years this time!

They could literally reuse this trailer (with minimal changes)... (Hopefully with much less Ricky Gervais)

 

[Streetway]

Any indication that Muppets will retain a presence at all (in DHS or elsewhere on property)? And if so, something ambitious (like a new permanent attraction), a stop gap option (like bringing back a street show like Great Moments), or just relegated to "appearances" as appropriate at festivals and seasonal events?

Rumors of hall of presidents replacement are kinda iffy right now. Could happen, could not. That’s what I get from what people are saying. Not an insider tho, just what people sayin in here. I personally maybe advocate for a laugh floor replacement. Make it an interactive muppet show in muppet labs!

 

[jannerUK]

If Muppets has to go, what scale of time (based on previous developments for other things at Disney) have we got to go and see it?
Would it be realistic that it will be there for our August 2025 trip?

 

[sedati]

Who decided that Muppets and AC were the options? I could see at least five possible options with neither of those being the most obvious or even easiest.
Wherever it goes, Disney usually utilizes some sort of transition elements. If it were in Animation Courtyard, I don't expect it would just be sitting off the hub, we'd pass through something to get there. Same with Muppets, I think the realistic city would morph into a monsterfied one. This would enable keeping Muppets, with everything past the entrance becoming Monsters which would still require a lot of demo and new construction. I still think the easiest currently available plots are behind Sunset Ranch and Backlot Express. The place I want them to put it personally would be just next to Toy Story Land, ripping out the garage and One Man's Dream. Then just keep expanding north to Rock'n'Roller in the future to create a whole cohesive World's of Pixar Land.

 

[seabreezept813]

Love Monsters and door coaster, but Disney needs to send some of their people to tour with real families. HS needs omnimovers and boat rides. It’s already big ride heavy with not enough filler. Currently here and if it weren’t for Fantasmic, Mickey, and TSM we’d skip HS because our kids are young.

 

[FiestaFunKid]

Maybe most of the public has moved on - there are certainly folks on this forum who are not fans of the Muppets. But it is rather disheartening and difficult to accept that Iger & co. just don't want to throw the same amount of effort behind the Muppets as they do Star Wars, Marvel, Cars, Encanto, Moana, Monsters etc. because they weren't grand slams at the box office/Disney+. At least for their first 30 years of existence and that brief blip around the Jason Segel movie, the Muppets left an indelible, unique mark on the public. Monsters Inc. has always deserved better than just Laugh Floor and a Sulley meet, but the Muppets deserve better than nothing.

The biggest miss for me was not doing The Great Muppet Ride or something similar. Disney has sporadically tried a few things, some better than others (Haunted Mansion good, 2015 ABC Series not so good). However, an exciting kids ride leaning into the fun personalities of Fozzie, Gonzo, etc, etc could have helped matters IMO. There are great songs both from the classic (Paul Williams) and newer (Bret Mckenzie) movie soundtracks. Just seeing an animatronic Kermit singing 'The Rainbow Connection' on a log could be a magical scene.

Unfortunatley, it's more likely Disney believes interest has waned enough not to justify this type of investment at this point.