DHS Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[monothingie]

I'm a bit late to this discussion, but 16-y/o here with my take on Monsters Inc not being popular. Sitting in school right now, it's finals week, and I've talked to some of my friends about this. If you unironically believe Monsters Inc isn't popular with Gen Z, you're insane. Every single one of my friends I've talked to are fans of the movie. One of my friends got onto the bus this morning (before I even asked him) wearing a Sully shirt. And this isn't a Disney town, this isn't a theme park town. But all the kids in my school like Monsters Inc and the ones I talked to about it are excited for the ride.
It's a VERY popular movie, this ride will be a smash hit. Yes, it hurts to lose the muppets - as a Parks fan. But for the general public, and even for us, this ride will be well-recieved by my age group. I promise y'all.

How much Monsters Inc. merch have your friends purchased in the last 5 years? How many times have they seen the movies in the past 5 years?

There is a difference between being a "liked" IP and being a popular IP. No question that Monsters Inc. is universally liked, but that doesn't make it popular or relevant.

RNR is super popular, not because there are so many Aerosmith fans out there, but because it is E-Ticket. This will be the same thing. They could have themed this to Darkwing Duck and it still would generate the same excitement, not because people love the IP, but because people want a thrill ride and something new.

It's just silly to say that because it's Monsters Inc. this is new land is going to be wildly popular. It's going to be popular, because it's in a park that desperately needs attractions.

 

[monothingie]

And if they didn't care about the Muppets at all, they would have put another IP in.

The muppets were the most easy IP to slot in without having to spend a ton of money to do it.

If it were cheaper and easier to fit in Marry Poppins to this, they would have instead.

Don't think for a second that this is because of any love of the Muppets, otherwise MV3D would still be operating today.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

How much Monsters Inc. merch have your friends purchased in the last 5 years? How many times have they seen the movies in the past 5 years?

There is a difference between being a "liked" IP and being a popular IP. No question that Monsters Inc. is universally liked, but that doesn't make it popular or relevant.

RNR is super popular, not because there are so many Aerosmith fans out there, but because it is E-Ticket. This will be the same thing. They could have themed this to Darkwing Duck and it still would generate the same excitement, not because people love the IP, but because people want a thrill ride and something new.

It's just silly to say that because it's Monsters Inc. this is new land is going to be wildly popular. It's going to be popular, because it's in a park that desperately needs attractions.

Well, I personally have seen Monsters Inc at least three times in the last 5 years. I can ask around tomorrow if you want for my friends. For merch, again, someone got on the bus today wearing a Sulley t-shirt. The general consensus I gathered was that among us high schoolers, it's just a movie that exists in the back of your mind. It's not necessarily everyone's favorite movie, but everyone loves it and everyone can name characters and quotes and stuff. The "put that thing back where it came from" scene was mentioned by two separate friends.

And yes, you have a point it'll be popular because the park needs attractions, and in the beginning because it's new, but also, it is a popular IP that a lot of people love, with a ride based on a scene that people have said should be a roller coaster since the movie came out. So it'll also be popular because of that aspect, and I expect it will be an immensely popular attraction for quite a long time

 

[mattpeto]

The muppets were the most easy IP to slot in without having to spend a ton of money to do it.

If it were cheaper and easier to fit in Marry Poppins to this, they would have instead.

Don't think for a second that this is because of any love of the Muppets, otherwise MV3D would still be operating today.

Hard disagree.

They could have rethemed RnR in the last 5 years with anything.

They wanted to keep Muppets around to appease the fans.

It was going to be inexpensive to put anything in RnR.

 

[monothingie]

Hard disagree.

They could have rethemed RnR in the last 5 years with anything.

But they didn't, because there was no requirement to do so. I would suspect that this retheme coincides with some type of contractual obligation to renew use rights for Aerosmith.

They wanted to keep Muppets around to appease the fans.

What IP would work with the existing building, ride vehicles, and rock and roll theme and not require substantial and expensive work to be done? To think that this was solely done to preserve a muppets presence in the parks is naive.

It was going to be inexpensive to put anything in RnR.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Why? Is it not making money?

More with regards to its theme. It didn't mater so much near the watered down Muppets area but it might in proximity to a more fully-realized Monstropolis land. Do they simply ignore it, tone it down so as not to call attention to itself, create some transitional theme/aesthetic or go all-in on a Monsters Inc. retheme? It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, they do to it.

 

[LSLS]

Well, I personally have seen Monsters Inc at least three times in the last 5 years. I can ask around tomorrow if you want for my friends. For merch, again, someone got on the bus today wearing a Sulley t-shirt. The general consensus I gathered was that among us high schoolers, it's just a movie that exists in the back of your mind. It's not necessarily everyone's favorite movie, but everyone loves it and everyone can name characters and quotes and stuff. The "put that thing back where it came from" scene was mentioned by two separate friends.

And yes, you have a point it'll be popular because the park needs attractions, and in the beginning because it's new, but also, it is a popular IP that a lot of people love, with a ride based on a scene that people have said should be a roller coaster since the movie came out. So it'll also be popular because of that aspect, and I expect it will be an immensely popular attraction for quite a long time

But again, you are one person posting about the people you know as a person posting on a Disney forum. I have no idea the reach of Monsters, but we can't draw conclusions based on antidotal evidence. I mean, antidotally, my 6 year old and his older sister have both said they don't really care about it (now, if it looks super cool, that will change them). That doesn't mean it's not a popular franchise with a lot of others, but I'd need to see streaming numbers and actual merch sales to reach that conclusion. Hockey was the biggest sport at my high school, and still is the only sport I consistently talk to people about. It doesn't mean it's some super popular sport.

 

[JohnD]

More with regards to its theme. It didn't mater so much near the watered down Muppets area but it might in proximity to a more fully-realized Monstropolis land. Do they simply ignore it, tone it down so as not to call attention to itself, create some transitional theme/aesthetic or go all-in on a Monsters Inc. retheme? It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, they do to it.

I don't see it as an issue. Everything is covered in brick. As you walk into "Monsters Courtyard", for lack of a better term, sure Monsters will be everyone but so are brick buildings. Disney isn't regretting anything.

 

[Ayla]

How much Monsters Inc. merch have your friends purchased in the last 5 years? How many times have they seen the movies in the past 5 years?

There is a difference between being a "liked" IP and being a popular IP. No question that Monsters Inc. is universally liked, but that doesn't make it popular or relevant.

RNR is super popular, not because there are so many Aerosmith fans out there, but because it is E-Ticket. This will be the same thing. They could have themed this to Darkwing Duck and it still would generate the same excitement, not because people love the IP, but because people want a thrill ride and something new.

It's just silly to say that because it's Monsters Inc. this is new land is going to be wildly popular. It's going to be popular, because it's in a park that desperately needs attractions.

Sixteen year olds are also not putting out the money for Disney vacations - at least not in my middle-upper class world.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

I really doubt it. There will definitely be a show. Plus the only words I could make it says "MEET MONSTROPOLIS" and I would assume because this is a show by the monsters for the monsters. Plus you can see areas for meet and greets in the art however I have a feeling they'll be out the StarWars Galaxys edge way of being out and about

Let's hope there's plenty of shade, I can't imagine being in the Sully costume during the Florida summer (or the Florida winter at this point)

Semi-related, but my sister asked me if the costumed characters have fans inside to keep them cool and I realized I didn't know- I know it's not fans, cause you'd hear them, but surely they have like ice packs or something? Or maybe not? The Country Bears were only out for like 10 minutes at a time on Sunday, I missed every chance to meet them cause we'd get back over to Frontierland at the :25 of the hour when they came out at :15 and they'd already be gone.

 

[ToTBellHop]

But again, you are one person posting about the people you know as a person posting on a Disney forum. I have no idea the reach of Monsters, but we can't draw conclusions based on antidotal evidence. I mean, antidotally, my 6 year old and his older sister have both said they don't really care about it (now, if it looks super cool, that will change them). That doesn't mean it's not a popular franchise with a lot of others, but I'd need to see streaming numbers and actual merch sales to reach that conclusion. Hockey was the biggest sport at my high school, and still is the only sport I consistently talk to people about. It doesn't mean it's some super popular sport.

Anecdotally, everyone I know thinks great rides are great. So, if they build a great ride, it'll be great. If they build a crappy ride, it'll be crap. I love Stitch but hated his show. I hate Song of the South but loved its ride. Anecdotally.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I don't see it as an issue. Everything is covered in brick. As you walk into "Monsters Courtyard", for lack of a better term, sure Monsters will be everyone but so are brick buildings. Disney isn't regretting anything.

To put this back into your context of making money... Do you think they'll be more like to sell them tied to an IP or left as-is?

 

[JohnD]

Anecdotally, everyone I know thinks great rides are great. So, if they build a great ride, it'll be great. If they build a crappy ride, it'll be crap. I love Stitch but hated his show. I hate Song of the South but loved its ride. Anecdotally.

Anecdotally, I liked the PATF movie. I hate the Tiana ride. I'll ride it during the summer because it's a boat ride to keep cool so why not? But the theme sucks.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Anecdotally, I liked the PATF movie. I hate the Tiana ride. I'll ride it during the summer because it's a boat ride to keep cool so why not? But the theme sucks.

That's fair. It wasn't a great retheme to many of us. Ride system still rocks. If you close your eyes, it's an awesome flume ride!

 

[doctornick]

How was it sentimental? I can understand finding it funny and clever, and yeah, it was educational, but I don't recall any sentimental parts...

It inspires the audience to empathize with insects, who are often the subject of disgust and a desire to eliminate them from humans.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It inspires the audience to empathize with insects, who are often the subject of disgust and a desire to eliminate them from humans.

It terrified people by reminding them that insects are disgusting and dangerous. Hornets and black widows won no allies.

 

[mergatroid]

Hey, remember how people said no one really cared about Avatar any more as proved by no one remembering the names of the characters and it was just a one-time phenomenon 15 years ago fueled by a handful of people mesmerized by the CGI and kept going back for repeated viewings while every single person in the world moved on and would have no care to go to an Avatar-themed land?

Yeah, fun time.

That went on for about 3 years didn't it (if not longer) and how awful it was going to be.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

That's fair. It wasn't a great retheme to many of us. Ride system still rocks. If you close your eyes, it's an awesome flume ride!

I swear it gets you more soaked than Splash. Rode it for the first time on Sunday and got drenched (although I was in the front of the log). Though it was so hot outside that by the time we got off the ride and walked to Peter Pan, we were almost completely dry. Flordia summers are insane, no wonder my family only went in the spring or winter growing up.

 

[mergatroid]

Let's hope there's plenty of shade, I can't imagine being in the Sully costume during the Florida summer (or the Florida winter at this point)

Semi-related, but my sister asked me if the costumed characters have fans inside to keep them cool and I realized I didn't know- I know it's not fans, cause you'd hear them, but surely they have like ice packs or something? Or maybe not? The Country Bears were only out for like 10 minutes at a time on Sunday, I missed every chance to meet them cause we'd get back over to Frontierland at the :25 of the hour when they came out at :15 and they'd already be gone.

An old CM told me they could wear ice vests offered to them however the heat would melt the ice quickly and they'd end up with warm water swishing around them so many decided to just tolerate the heat instead. They'd lose quite a bit of weight also in the first week or so.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

An old CM told me they could wear ice vests offered to them however the heat would melt the ice quickly and they'd end up with warm water swishing around them so many decided to just tolerate the heat instead. They'd lose quite a bit of weight also in the first week or so.

Oh jeez, that sounds unbearable. I could barely handle the heat and humidity in shorts and a button up, I couldn't imagine wearing a huge suit. No wonder the walking characters are only out for like, 5-10 minutes at a time.