DHS Disney Confirms Muppets Take Over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios

[WorldExplorer]

While I would usually agree, it does make some amount of sense in this case due to a few factors. First, a new coaster, which they obviously wanted to build for Monsters, works best on the south side of the park, hence the retheme of the existing area. Second, Aerosmith was due to go sooner or later, and Muppets Mayhem is a super easy vehicle for that. Third, there seems to be some desire to revive MuppetVision in another form, and the Villains venue could eventually work for a similar or related experience. That said, I think that it would remain on a very small scale and never subsume additional land from the Animation Courtyard plot, but I could see RNRC plus the theater becoming a new microland. Just rebuild the fountain in the rear courtyard and you're back with practically zero space wasted on what I assume must've been unpopular Muppets dining and retail considering how long the shop was shuttered.

They want to build a Monsters rollercoaster: no part of that requires retheming the entire place, especially as they continue to show they don't care about theme any more. They could build the rollercoaster and keep Muppets, but they're not. It's not just a matter of whether or not it's technically possible to pull off; an important aspect is whether or not they WANT to. They clearly do not.

Rock 'n Rollercoaster -> Muppets being cheap and easy sounds like the exact opposite of solid reasoning for people to come to the conclusion that they want to invest MORE in Muppets.

They've made vague noises about discussing maybe doing something preservation-y with Muppets, which could be anything from prop reuse to slapping a video on Disney Plus. It's only fans who have come to the conclusion that means they'll go through the time and effort of completely rebuilding it somewhere else. And yes, retrofitting a building that does not have the infrastructure to house Muppet Vision to house Muppet Vision is essentially rebuilding the entire thing regardless of there technically being a shell there already.

Zero SPACE wasted: many millions of dollars, lots of time, and a lot of ugly walls and logistics issues for zero gain, though.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

What I can think that could be BIG is the first FOX IPs that isn’t Avatar (APES, Aliens, or Simpsons)

Well, there is a theme park already Called Genting Skyworld's and has land and rides themed to 20th Century & Blue Sky Studios..

 

[Andrew25]

I'm sure Fox properties will trickle down into the parks over time, but I don't think there is a mandate to do so. A lot of classic Disney IPs are far more successful and easier to translate into a park experience

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Maybe they mean Big literally

 

[Gusey]

If Disney did announce something major for Animation Courtyard the week Epic Universe opens, iI don't think it would look good. It almost comes across as a petty and a little desperate to announce something the week that the US opens the first new large-scale theme park in over 25 years.

 

[Ayla]

If Disney did announce something major for Animation Courtyard the week Epic Universe opens, iI don't think it would look good. It almost comes across as a petty and a little desperate to announce something the week that the US opens the first new large-scale theme park in over 25 years.

I was thinking the exact same thing. It reeks of desperation.

 

[James Alucobond]

They want to build a Monsters rollercoaster: no part of that requires retheming the entire place, especially as they continue to show they don't care about theme any more ...

The theme of the park is in transition to stepping into worlds from film. An isolated Monsters coaster doesn't further that, but a Monsters miniland does. I expect they'll leave the park core along Hollywood and Sunset alone, but with this change and a possible Animation Courtyard update, they'll be four worlds in on the path to a full transformation. The Muppets, luckily, work pretty well with the existing theming of the core, like Tower of Terror and Runaway Railway. I assume the goal is that Echo Lake or just beyond eventually becomes a fifth film destination.

 

[Andrew25]

The theme of the park is in transition to stepping into worlds from film. An isolated Monsters coaster doesn't further that, but a Monsters miniland does. I expect they'll leave the park core along Hollywood and Sunset alone, but with this change and a possible Animation Courtyard update, they'll be four worlds in on the path to a full transformation. The Muppets, luckily, work pretty well with the existing theming of the core, like Tower of Terror and Runaway Railway. I assume the goal is that Echo Lake or just beyond eventually becomes a fifth film destination.

Yeah, Echo Lake is going to be interesting later on in this decade of investment. No need for Indiana Jones (dated and will "move" to DAK) Star Tours isn't as popular anymore and the dining options are a bit lackluster.

I just wonder what happens to ABC Commissary, Sci-Fi Drive In and Baseline. They're out of the way of major projects, so I have to imagine it stays like it is now.

 

[WaluigiTime]

The theme of the park is in transition to stepping into worlds from film. An isolated Monsters coaster doesn't further that, but a Monsters miniland does. I expect they'll leave the park core along Hollywood and Sunset alone, but with this change and a possible Animation Courtyard update, they'll be four worlds in on the path to a full transformation. The Muppets, luckily, work pretty well with the existing theming of the core, like Tower of Terror and Runaway Railway. I assume the goal is that Echo Lake or just beyond eventually becomes a fifth film destination.

Runaway Railway only fits (not well) because they shoehorned it into the existing building. That is what Hollywood Studios is now, shoehorning things into the "stepping into the movies theme."

 

[Streetway Again]

What are we even talking about anymore?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I'm sure Fox properties will trickle down into the parks over time, but I don't think there is a mandate to do so. A lot of classic Disney IPs are far more successful and easier to translate into a park experience

An interesting one at that park I mention is a ride based around the more recent Planet of the Apes movies ...It's basically a Spiderman-esque ride.

 

[WorldExplorer]

The theme of the park is in transition to stepping into worlds from film. An isolated Monsters coaster doesn't further that, but a Monsters miniland does. I expect they'll leave the park core along Hollywood and Sunset alone, but with this change and a possible Animation Courtyard update, they'll be four worlds in on the path to a full transformation. The Muppets, luckily, work pretty well with the existing theming of the core, like Tower of Terror and Runaway Railway. I assume the goal is that Echo Lake or just beyond eventually becomes a fifth film destination.

That's the post hoc thing they came up with after they started completely disregarding the original theme and going with the movie lands. The important thing is this: no one is holding them to anything, everything they do is their choice, and they do not care. All you need to see is any other replacement to reinforce that. Cars is going in Frontierland, but Monsters getting a single ride on its own is completely unacceptable? No. If they wanted Muppet Vision around they could keep Muppet Vision around.

So while Disney couldn't be bothered to reopen their store for five years, is taking away their quick service, sells almost no merchandise for them, and is taking away the show made by their creator with some vague claims that they're discussing doing something maybe that might make fans less upset possibly (again, DISCUSSING, they have said nothing about actually doing anything), they are totally going to spend a ton of money making a brand new Muppet mini land on the opposite end of the park from where they already had one, all for thematic integrity, which they suddenly care about despite spitting on it in every other park? And the evidence is that they're using them for a cheapo retheme on something that'll draw a crowd no matter what because it's a rollercoaster?

That is not going to happen. I would bet anything on it.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

That's the post hoc thing they came up with after they started completely disregarding the original theme and going with the movie lands. The important thing is this: no one is holding them to anything, everything they do is their choice, and they do not care. All you need to see is any other replacement to reinforce that. Cars is going in Frontierland, but Monsters getting a single ride on its own is completely unacceptable? No. If they wanted Muppet Vision around they could keep Muppet Vision around.

Disney couldn't be bothered to reopen their store for five years, is taking away their quick service, sells almost merchandise for them, and is taking away the show made by their creator without some vague claims that they're discussing doing something maybe that might make fans less upset possibly, but is totally going to spend a ton of money making a brand new Muppet mini land on the opposite end of the park from where they already had one, all for thematic integrity, which they suddenly care about despite spitting on it in every other park.


This is not going to happen. I would bet anything on it.

Besides there is a Muppet Mini land already in Sea World..They should go along with that as an idea...

 

[James Alucobond]

The important thing is this: no one is holding them to anything, everything they do is their choice, and they do not care. All you need to see is any other replacement to reinforce that. Cars is going in Frontierland, but Monsters getting a single ride on its own is completely unacceptable? No. If they wanted Muppet Vision around they could keep Muppet Vision around.

You’re talking about two different parks. Hollywood Studios is going in the direction of single-IP lands everywhere that isn’t along the entry-to-Fantasmic corridor. Magic Kingdom is not. The comparison is irrelevant.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Someone on Inside Universal thinks the thing that will be announced for Animation Courtyard will be Simpsons.

 

[James Alucobond]

Someone on Inside Universal thinks the thing that will be announced for Animation Courtyard will be Simpsons.

Would they even be able to announce that so soon? I thought Universal's Simpsons theme park rights still had 3 or so years left, and I feel like there would be weirdness there if the rightsholder-to-be tanked interest in the existing land by prematurely announcing the replacement.

Also, please don't be Simpsons.

 

[lentesta]

@wdwmagic Seemed to imply that an IP had already been selected. Have you heard the same?

I’ll ask @wdwmagic!

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Would they even be able to announce that so soon? I thought Universal's Simpsons theme park rights still had 3 or so years left, and I feel like there would be weirdness there if the rightsholder-to-be tanked interest in the existing land by prematurely announcing the replacement.

Also, please don't be Simpsons.

I don't want it to either, but if Disney is so keen on getting Simpsons into the parks ASAP, why not force your competitors hand to close it early.

 

[Moth]

I don't want it to either, but if Disney is so keen on getting Simpsons into the parks ASAP, why not force your competitors hand to close it early.

Because the thing lined up to replace Simpsons is going to be the biggest weapon Universal is bringing to this theme park war.

 

[UNCgolf]

Because the thing lined up to replace Simpsons is going to be the biggest weapon Universal is bringing to this theme park war.

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Universal already used their biggest weapon, but Pokemon may be the next best thing. I'm not 100% sure on that because I don't know if Pokemon will translate well into a theme park land/attractions, or if it's something that will actually be a major draw to the more casual Pokemon fans, but it should be successful no matter what.

The Simpsons would be a laughably terrible and short-sighted move by Disney (and I like the Simpsons!).