DHS Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Casper Gutman]

Will the day the sun explodes be the first day this land doesn't have walls of some sort?!

These were not well designed lands. I like parts of SWL well enough, but large swathes of it are simply empty, the lack of kinetic energy makes it very dull, and it lacks the sense of adventure it should feature.

 

[Horizons '83]

These were not well designed lands. I like parts of SWL well enough, but large swathes of it are simply empty, the lack of kinetic energy makes it very dull, and it lacks the sense of adventure it should feature.

This is where I think the rumored 3rd attraction would have elevate this land.

 

[networkpro]

This is where I think the rumored 3rd attraction would have elevate this land.

Even a third ride would hardly elevate splashed concrete land. It lacks so much.

 

[mattpeto]

These were not well designed lands. I like parts of SWL well enough, but large swathes of it are simply empty, the lack of kinetic energy makes it very dull, and it lacks the sense of adventure it should feature.

There is so much potential for more in Galaxy's Edge. The little robots are a nice small step forward, but we need way more than that.

 

[flyerjab]

This is where I think the rumored 3rd attraction would have elevate this land.

Didn’t both TSL and SW:GE both suffer the axe under Chapek? Pretty certain he was in charge of Parks at that time. I mean, we know he cut the streetmosphere from Galaxy’s Edge. That move really negatively affected the overall vibe of this land. Iger, on stage, promised a living, breathing land, with roaming characters. It really could have been epic, and a next level of story telling. There is that walkway that goes over the one pathway. I had always envisioned a lightsaber fight happening up there. Instead, all of that was shipped to the failed Starcruiser that charged a disgraceful amount of money for people to access.

TSL, had it stuck to the creative version of the original concept art, works have been so much better. And you can’t tell me that it would have broken the bank to use that version. The Woody and Bullseye statue, Al’s Toybarn for merch, the saloon area, a coaster that was themed all the way through, and a better QS location. It would have been so much better. I will say though, to be fair, I certainly don’t hate the version we have, and we always enjoy our time on the rides in TSL. But Chapek definitely had a huge negative impact on TSL, as well as SW:GE. So glad he is no longer here.

 

[flyerjab]

Aerial photos from bioreconstruct of work behind construction walls at the edge of Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge:

View attachment 894875View attachment 894876

For those that know better, what are these areas? More seating for TSL?

 

[Bocabear]

There should have been an element to SWL that woould have had (for lack of a better name)Exploration trails that would reveal plot points from the films and be filled with lots of eye candy... Kind of like the animal trails in DAK or like the Adventure Isle trails at Disneyland Paris... If the land were more full of things to discover...it might feel much more engaging...there could be two that would explore parts of the Rebel alliance secret base and a second one for the Imperial Command...the trails wuld be both indoors and out... feature Animatronics and special effects.... It could be amazing and a lot of fun while making the land feel more alive.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Didn’t both TSL and SW:GE both suffer the axe under Chapek? Pretty certain he was in charge of Parks at that time. I mean, we know he cut the streetmosphere from Galaxy’s Edge. That move really negatively affected the overall vibe of this land. Iger, on stage, promised a living, breathing land, with roaming characters. It really could have been epic, and a next level of story telling. There is that walkway that goes over the one pathway. I had always envisioned a lightsaber fight happening up there. Instead, all of that was shipped to the failed Starcruiser that charged a disgraceful amount of money for people to access.

TSL, had it stuck to the creative version of the original concept art, works have been so much better. And you can’t tell me that it would have broken the bank to use that version. The Woody and Bullseye statue, Al’s Toybarn for merch, the saloon area, a coaster that was themed all the way through, and a better WS location. It would have been so much better. I will say though, to be fair, I certainly don’t hate the version we have, and we always enjoy our time on the rides in TSL. But Chapek definitely had a huge negative impact on TSL, as well as SW:GE. So glad he is no longer here.

Chapek was only responsible for the cuts to both lands in that he, like everyone else over the past 20 years, was unable to restructure Walt Disney Imagineering into a more efficient project management organization. Both lands had large budgets. The fundamental problem with both is not a lack of stuff but poor organization and subject matter.

 

[flyerjab]

Chapek was only responsible for the cuts to both lands in that he, like everyone else over the past 20 years, was unable to restructure Walt Disney Imagineering into a more efficient project management organization. Both lands had large budgets. The fundamental problem with both is not a lack of stuff but poor organization and subject matter.

Interesting response. For those not in the know, typically Iger and/or Chapek have routinely been hammered for cost cutting, de-theming, etc. This more so implies that Imagineering as an organization is a bloated organization and can be blamed for some of this. Am I reading your comment correctly?

I actually do laugh when posters say that Disney is cheap. They are hardly cheap.

 

[UNCgolf]

Interesting response. For those not in the know, typically Iger and/or Chapek have routinely been hammered for cost cutting, de-theming, etc. This more so implies that Imagineering as an organization is a bloated organization and can be blamed for some of this. Am I reading your comment correctly?

I actually do laugh when posters say that Disney is cheap. They are hardly cheap.

I'm far from in the know, but I think this is accurate based on what others have posted here.

Most (if not all) of the cuts have been due to Imagineering etc. going over budget, not because the budget was slashed. If they were allocated $200m to build something, but reach a point where they've already spent $180m and need to spend an additional $50m to finish the original plans, then they either have to cut $30m from those original plans or get additional money.

 

[flyerjab]

I'm far from in the know, but I think this is accurate based on what others have posted here.

Most (if not all) of the cuts have been due to Imagineering going over budget, not because the budget was slashed. If they were allocated $200m for something, but reach a point where you've spent $180m with an additional $50m needed to finish your original plans, you've got to cut $30m from those original plans.

I’m pretty certain that, on these very boards, it was posted that Chapek cut half a billion from some of the projects going at that time. I would venture to guess that the actual issues are not singularly focused to any one group. A company of this size would have multiple contributing factors to over spending and blowing up budgets.

 

[James Alucobond]

I’m pretty certain that, on these very boards, it was posted that Chapek cut half a billion from some of the projects going at that time. I would venture to guess that the actual issues are not singularly focused to any one group. A company of this size would have multiple contributing factors to over spending and blowing up budgets.

Pretty sure this was in reference to the COVID cuts. Under normal circumstances, once funds have been allocated and work has begun, it’s more or less a done deal and overages are the ultimate cause of subsequent cuts. The EPCOT and anniversary cuts of the COVID era were exceptional and akin to what you might otherwise only see in response to a massive economic downturn.

 

[Purduevian]

That’s exactly right.

I like it except that it continues the issue this land has with there being no consistent scale. This looks fun, nonetheless.

I think we are supposed to be the same size of the green army men... which throws all the other M&G completely out of scale outside of the M&G characters what else is out of scale with this?

 

[castlecake2.0]

For those that know better, what are these areas? More seating for TSL?

Thats the goal, looking at it though they could have done much more retaining walls with built in benches. They used to be so good at that. I can see areas where they’ve made a curb where it could have been more benches, but alas it’s a start. The whole land needs more places for people to sit or get off the main path, the guest flow is this area is awful.

 

[UNCgolf]

Thats the goal, looking at it though they could have done much more retaining walls with built in benches. They used to be so good at that. I can see areas where they’ve made a curb where it could have been more benches, but alas it’s a start. The whole land needs more places for people to sit or get off the main path, the guest flow is this area is awful.

It has to be one of the worst areas Disney has ever built worldwide from a fundamental design standpoint (personally I think it's awful basically across the board, but opinions vary wildly on that). It's quite large but it feels tiny because it's so poorly designed.

 

[Fox&Hound]

It has to be one of the worst areas Disney has ever built worldwide from a fundamental design standpoint (personally I think it's awful basically across the board, but opinions vary wildly on that). It's quite large but it feels tiny because it's so poorly designed.

Like someone just said, I hate that it is one main path and you are always in the way. Why does it feel so different from the main corridor of say something like SDMT/Pooh/shops?

 

[Casper Gutman]

It has to be one of the worst areas Disney has ever built worldwide from a fundamental design standpoint (personally I think it's awful basically across the board, but opinions vary wildly on that). It's quite large but it feels tiny because it's so poorly designed.

It’s a fundamentally terrible idea for a land that presents all sorts of issues for even the most skilled designers, and Disney’s team certainly didn’t rise to the challenge.

 

[James Alucobond]

Thats the goal, looking at it though they could have done much more retaining walls with built in benches. They used to be so good at that. I can see areas where they’ve made a curb where it could have been more benches, but alas it’s a start. The whole land needs more places for people to sit or get off the main path, the guest flow is this area is awful.

It feels a bit like the benches across from Sunshine Tree Terrace which, as you say, is a start, but they desperately need even more enclaves in this land. I'll put myself on repeat and continue to suggest a play area for this land with some surrounding seating.

I also think it might've been you the other day who floated the idea of connecting Pixar Place to both Galaxy's Edge and the new popcorn stand, which would definitely help cut down on foot traffic solely passing through to Batuu.

 

[HMF]

Didn’t both TSL and SW:GE both suffer the axe under Chapek? Pretty certain he was in charge of Parks at that time. I mean, we know he cut the streetmosphere from Galaxy’s Edge. That move really negatively affected the overall vibe of this land. Iger, on stage, promised a living, breathing land, with roaming characters. It really could have been epic, and a next level of story telling. There is that walkway that goes over the one pathway. I had always envisioned a lightsaber fight happening up there. Instead, all of that was shipped to the failed Starcruiser that charged a disgraceful amount of money for people to access.

TSL, had it stuck to the creative version of the original concept art, works have been so much better. And you can’t tell me that it would have broken the bank to use that version. The Woody and Bullseye statue, Al’s Toybarn for merch, the saloon area, a coaster that was themed all the way through, and a better WS location. It would have been so much better. I will say though, to be fair, I certainly don’t hate the version we have, and we always enjoy our time on the rides in TSL. But Chapek definitely had a huge negative impact on TSL, as well as SW:GE. So glad he is no longer here.

I really don't think there is a way that anyone was going to buy the Andy's Backyard concept as they bought Cars Land unless we are supposed to believe Andy lives in Graumanns Chinese theater.

 

[HMF]

It has to be one of the worst areas Disney has ever built worldwide from a fundamental design standpoint (personally I think it's awful basically across the board, but opinions vary wildly on that). It's quite large but it feels tiny because it's so poorly designed.

It is the best designed version of an awful concept if you ask me at least compared to the other two in Paris and Hong Kong.