DHS Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Casper Gutman]

It’s a fair assumption but flawed. I think Nemo hours is the perfect example of Disney cutting operational expenses. And I’m sure there will be more. This happens to be a new project where they are actually spending money.

I mean they are shutting it all down. Grand Avenue, the whole thing!

Both of these places generate revenue:

Mama Melrose
PizzeRizzo
Maybe the new snack/soda shop stays open?

So they are shutting the whole land down just to save some operational costs at Muppets or maybe because the they have a project timeline?

Disney values a dollar saved through cutting staffing or services much more then one earned through increased capacity and offerings. This seems mad, but its well documented and has been demonstrated again and again. It's the fundamental difference between the Iger era and the Eisner era.

I mean closing Mama Melrose in May and the whole land in June is a pretty clear signal where they think they will be. Just might not be a safe area while they bulldoze down the store. I guess we can see what unfolds in the summer to see if they are truly working on the site.

Not trying to throw shade, but it’s also probably a project you predicted Disney would get cold feet and not do anything.

"Probably." You can check, you know, or actually pay attention to what I'm saying. Let me help - I never doubted Disney would close a beloved attraction. I also believed the Door Coaster, Cars mess, and AK changes would very likely be completed in some form, albeit with significant cuts. I am more skeptical of the Muppets replacement and RnR overhaul, but the most likely outcome for those is the completion of cheap, underwhelming replacements. Villains Land is essentially a pipe dream.

 

[Agent H]

Disney values a dollar saved through cutting staffing or services much more then one earned through increased capacity and offerings. This seems mad, but its well documented and has been demonstrated again and again. It's the fundamental difference between the Iger era and the Eisner era.

"Probably." You can check, you know, or actually pay attention to what I'm saying. Let me help - I never doubted Disney would close a beloved attraction. I also believed the Door Coaster, Cars mess, and AK changes would very likely be completed in some form, albeit with significant cuts. I am more skeptical of the Muppets replacement and RnR overhaul, but the most likely outcome for those is the completion of cheap, underwhelming replacements. Villains Land is essentially a pipe dream.

Yes because Eisner never cut costs

 

[Agent H]

Disney values a dollar saved through cutting staffing or services much more then one earned through increased capacity and offerings. This seems mad, but its well documented and has been demonstrated again and again. It's the fundamental difference between the Iger era and the Eisner era.

"Probably." You can check, you know, or actually pay attention to what I'm saying. Let me help - I never doubted Disney would close a beloved attraction. I also believed the Door Coaster, Cars mess, and AK changes would very likely be completed in some form, albeit with significant cuts. I am more skeptical of the Muppets replacement and RnR overhaul, but the most likely outcome for those is the completion of cheap, underwhelming replacements. Villains Land is essentially a pipe dream.

But yes I don’t understand why muppets is closing now it should have lasted till 2026

 

[Casper Gutman]

Yes because Eisner never cut costs

Not what I said.

And the problem with Superstar Limo wasn't cost cuts.

 

[Agent H]

Not what I said.

And the problem with Superstar Limo wasn't cost cuts.

Disney has always valued a dollar saved it may be more obvious now (especially with chapek from 2015 to 2022) in your opinion but that was always the case also I’m curious what was the problem with superstar limo then? I really am asking Because from what I understand the project before the budget got cut and princess daina died sounded like a rock’n’roller coaster type attraction which I don’t like but a lot of people do

 

[James Alucobond]

It’s a fair assumption but flawed. I think Nemo hours is the perfect example of Disney cutting operational expenses. And I’m sure there will be more. This happens to be a new project where they are actually spending money.

I mean they are shutting it all down. Grand Avenue, the whole thing!

Both of these places generate revenue:

Mama Melrose
PizzeRizzo
Maybe the new snack/soda shop stays open?

So they are shutting the whole land down just to save some operational costs at Muppets or maybe because the they have a project timeline?

I mean closing Mama Melrose in May and the whole land in June is a pretty clear signal where they think they will be. Just might not be a safe area while they bulldoze down the store. I guess we can see what unfolds in the summer to see if they are truly working on the site.

Not trying to throw shade, but it’s also probably a project you predicted Disney would get cold feet and not do anything.

It's important to remember that all of these things are reported independently and represent metrics for different people/areas. If you're the person directly responsible for cutting operational expenses, ceding an entire zone to construction allows you to easily do that with pretty straightforward justification.

 

[GoofGoof]

They’ll also save money on the project by being able to do a chunk of it more slowly.

I think this is probably the primary driver. We also all talked earlier in the thread on the logistics needed to start demo work (especially of the gift shop building) and still keep MV3D open. I assume they decided they don’t want to spend the extra money and create the extra inconvenience of construction in an active part of the park for that particular attraction. As fans of MV3D it’s obviously disappointing but the attraction doesn’t move the needle on LL sales and I assume they feel the other dining options are going to be sufficient to cover the park’s demand. Cutting operating costs is obviously another benefit too.

At least we know the timeline for starting now. The only mystery left is why they painted those red supports blue if they planned to shut it all down 6 months later. Paint test seems more and more likely.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think this is probably the primary driver. We also all talked earlier in the thread on the logistics needed to start demo work (especially of the gift shop building) and still keep MV3D open. I assume they decided they don’t want to spend the extra money and create the extra inconvenience of construction in an active part of the park for that particular attraction. As fans of MV3D it’s obviously disappointing but the attraction doesn’t move the needle on LL sales and I assume they feel the other dining options are going to be sufficient to cover the park’s demand. Cutting operating costs is obviously another benefit too.

At least we know the timeline for starting now. The only mystery left is why they painted those red supports blue if they planned to shut it all down 6 months later. Paint test seems more and more likely.

There is no reason for the demolition of a larger lot unused building to take longer than the new construction. The part of the project that will take the longest is situated outside of the current guest areas. There is no actual need to close park areas to start ripping up the parking lot.

 

[GoofGoof]

There is no reason for the demolition of a larger lot unused building to take longer than the new construction. The part of the project that will take the longest is situated outside of the current guest areas. There is no actual need to close park areas to start ripping up the parking lot.

I agree 100%. That’s what we all thought would happen giving MV3D a longer life. If the construction walls go up and then there’s no meaningful construction on the front half of the land (the current active part) then this was purely a way to reduce operating costs by closing the attraction earlier than needed. If they actually start the construction from the front I think it could be a desire to either spread costs out or defer more of the more expensive part until later in the timeline. Maybe AK will ramp up quicker and that is why they are looking to defer costs for the main Monsters ride. They are juggling 3 projects so it’s possible just desired timing on spend is the driver. The MK projects have a lot of land work needed before any rides or building go up and a bunch of rock work for Cars.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

You've wanted a Monster's Inc coaster since you were 4 years old? It was released the year you were born.

Yes. I have. I don’t think I can put into words the depth of my love for this film. I’ve wanted a land and a ride like this ever since my Dad told me around that age that he heard Disney wanted to make one (he used to read Disney forums). I had no concept of the fact that I wouldn’t be able to ride it (though I rode my first roller coaster at 6 so I wasn’t far off).

I used to watch Monsters Inc at least once a day nearly every day from the time I could speak to the time I was around 4. I don’t remember the first time I saw it since it was the first movie I was ever shown, but I’ve got photos of me as young as two meeting Mike and Sully so it’s always been there.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Would of rather them announce a refurb closing date for Rock 1st, so that at least they can market to get people to go see The Muppets show when Rock is closed..

But now we got a whole area shut down prior to the Rock replacement.. not too smart.

I did think Rock would go first but from a park operations standpoint, it makes more sense to do Muppet Vision first. It would hurt HS a lot more for RnRC to go offline this summer than it does for MV to. Closing RnRC only when they have a shiny new land and coaster almost ready makes more sense.

 

[Moth]

They're probably preparing all the new set work, footage and other stuff for Rock off-site.

 

[GoofGoof]

I did think Rock would go first but from a park operations standpoint, it makes more sense to do Muppet Vision first. It would hurt HS a lot more for RnRC to go offline this summer than it does for MV to. Closing RnRC only when they have a shiny new land and coaster almost ready makes more sense.

If Rockin Muppet Coaster is more like a 4-6 month project they could just wait until Jan to get through Summer and holiday peak time and have it reopen by end of June for Summer 2026. If it’s a year+ project then it could go offline any time really because it would cross all seasons anyway.

I don’t think they will wait until Monsters opens to do it either way. They took Great Movie Ride down in 2017 while Toy Story Land and Star Wars Galaxy Edge were still under construction. They left the park with just TT, RNRC, TSMM and Star Tours plus the shows. Today closing RNRC would leave TT, Star Tours, Great Mickey Ride plus 3 Toy Story and 2 SW rides so double the rides they had in 2017.

 

[JD80]

I think Casper's right. Disney is going to cancel everything and shut down every park. Disney probably thinks they can operate the hotels just as a place for people to stay as they visit Epic.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I think Casper's right. Disney is going to cancel everything and shut down every park. Disney probably thinks they can operate the hotels just as a place for people to stay as they visit Epic.

It's telling that you don't engage with what I actually say.

 

[Gusey]

I agree with your overall point but want to mention Beauty and the Beast has the weird interactive show thing and that whole area is supposed to be for her. With a sitdown restaurant, quick service restaurant, said kinda-sorta-attraction-maybe thing, then the live show, then the stupid sing-along, it's in three parks and doing waaaaaay better than most movies.

(Give it a year and I'm sure they can shove it in Animal Kingdom somewhere. It's got a horse in it, afterall.)

Ironically, they're removing the only reference to Beauty and the Beast from AK, when It's Tough to be a Bug closes. One of the songs you can hear in the queue is "Beauty and the Bees"

 

[Gusey]

At least we know what Disney's response to Epic in 2025 is: close things so people come and say goodbye for the last time and use 2025 as a farewell tour, saying goodbye to Muppet Vision, Rivers of America, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster, It's Yough to be a Bug and what's left of Dinoland.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Is this any indication when VOTLM is reopening to help offset some capacity loss? Also pray for backlot express trying to handle the QSR loss on that side of the park

 

[ToTBellHop]

Is this any indication when VOTLM is reopening to help offset some capacity loss? Also pray for backlot express trying to handle the QSR loss on that side of the park

By June 7.

 

[mattpeto]

It's telling that you don't engage with what I actually say.

Muppets is a bad fit for a coaster. Monsters is a bad fit for a land and a stage show. Neither plan plays to the properties’ strengths.

But none of that matters much, since the coaster (and Villains Land, and a lot of other announced projects) will be “delayed indefinitely” in late 2025 and 2026 by rising construction material costs, a widespread labor shortage, and new management at the top of Disney.