$500 million being invested in the Studios?

[PeterAlt]

There isn't 500mil in the 2013 budget for it. However, I'd look for it to be a part of the fiscal 2014 budget, which would take effect October 1.


They discarded that idea years ago.

Do you have a copy of he 2013 budget?

 

[PeterAlt]

Well I guess Star Wars is mostly fantasy... But there's some science involved, and it's purely fictitious.

It is?

 

[John]

I guess some are missing my point. I want the ride gutted and the building repurposed.

And you say you tend to side with the purist.....Hmmmmmm

 

[SJFPKT]

Didn't RSR's alone cost 400-500 million? Granted R&D was within that budget but still it doesn't seem like enough.

According to Wiki, RSR cost 200 mil. (Yes, I know it's wiki but it's all I could find)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiator_Springs_Racers

 

[luv]

I'm going to go out on a limb here... Blasphemous, I know... But I find DHS my least favorite park, by far.

My least favorite park in all of Orlando. Completely mystified when people rank it above other parks.

But it is good that there is something for everyone.

 

[PeterAlt]

I get what's going on. Each park will eventually get a $500 million makeover or expansion. First, MK got FLE. Second, DAK will get Avatar. DHS and EPCOT are due for their $500 million. I guess DHS is next.

 

[Ignohippo]

Quoting myself to make a point because this is lost on a lot of people in these conversations. "TDO isn't investing in WDW" is usually a pretty major complaint around here and is often one of the favorite battle cries of the fanboys. There are a couple problems with this argument.

1. TDO doesn't set its own budget. They get x dollars and choose where to spend it, but they don't get to decide x itself.
2. The TP&R segment is spending. Big. If you think DCA and Fantasyland and the Dream and the Fantasy and NGE are stupid, make that your argument. "TDO is cheap" is not the same as "Parks is spending a considerable sum on major improvements but they're not in the areas that most interest me personally." Question where money is spent, sure, but it's dishonest to argue that it's NOT being spent, period.

All true except TDO can also not lobby for funds because the executives want to look more fiscally responsible by not spending money on new expenditures that don't directly improve the bottom line. This was absolutely the case during the Rasulo years.

It sounds as though there is a feeling within the company now (probably since Potter has shown them that you have to spend money to make money and their recently dismal fiscal performance) that that approach is a mistake. It sounds like they are now getting a hand-picked regime in place at TDO that isn't afraid to ask for and spend money. There's a lot that needs to be fixed thanks to the underspending of the last 15 years and I think they know it.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

My least favorite park in all of Orlando. Completely mystified when people rank it above other parks.

But it is good that there is something for everyone.

Exactly. I'm glad it's there. It's very much a Disney park. But it's just not for me. I think it can be so much better.

It's also the one park that competes directly with US in premise (i.e. "movie studio and franchise tie-in"). Now that Star Wars is part of the family and that little ol' Pixar company... C'mon. DHS should blow the doors off of SimpsonsWorld and PotterTown.

 

[PeterAlt]

That would be $2 billion total between the four parks. $500 million more than what Disney spent in CA. It's also $500 million more than Comcast will spend on USO, or $200 million less per park.

 

[Ignohippo]

My least favorite park in all of Orlando. Completely mystified when people rank it above other parks.

But it is good that there is something for everyone.

The sad thing is though, if they did the things that they could and should do (CarsLand, expanded Pixar Place, Star Wars land, ToonTown + more thrill rides), it could easily be the second biggest gate in WDW. Just look at the example IOA has set. WDW needs that type of park, and DHS could be it.

 

[SJFPKT]

Wow I totally agree with this. Honestly there is really nothing to do with kids here. Kids find the shows and the other attractions boring, heck I even find it boring. DHS is probably the most uninteresting park at WDW. GMR gets old when you go on it multiple times... The Backlot Tour is a shell of its former self, IJSS is showing its age. Honestly the only thing that's keeping the visitors coming is TOT and Rockin' Roller Coaster. TSMM too I suppose. I think it's going to take a lot more than 500 Million to reimagine this park because right now it's in bad shape.

I agree. My 4 year old loved TSMM but that was it. He didn't like that park. Fantasmic, in my opinion, is a horrible show. So other than the fact that they, once again in my opinion, have the best Character Dining Buffet we don't spend a lot of time there.

 

[TubaGeek]

Just of the humble opinion that GMR moves too slow for todays audience. And the moving seats have mostly lost their novelty. The same emotional effect could be achieved with a wrap around theater screen with classic movie clips (possibly updated in 3-D) Presented in a similar theater style to that found in France in WS.

I'm actually gonna disagree with you on that. I mean, logically, yeah, the movement isn't an appeal. But the general public will always choose to go on something that moves over something stationary, no matter how straightforward it is.

 

[Ignohippo]

That would be $2 billion total between the four parks. $500 million more than what Disney spent in CA. It's also $500 million more than Comcast will spend on USO, or $200 million less per park.

Sadly, it also seems like UNI can get twice as much for half the budget. $500 mil at UNI goes a heck of a lot farther than $500 mil does with Imagineering.

 

[Marc Gil]

I think a ToonTown tie in with Who Framed Roger Rabbit would be an excellent addition to the studios, but that's not in demand now... Like I said before... RSR would probably be located inside Pixar Place without Cars Land. That's a realistic plan.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

A reduced Cars Land and Monster Inc. Coaster to me fixes up one issue for $500 million, but that park still has a lot of issues. There could another issue show up once reduced Cars Land and Monster Inc. Coaster is completed.

That issue is American Idol Experience. I am saying that because the show probably be done by the time a reduced Cars land is completed and a Monster Inc. Coaster for that matter if takes 2016/2017 for both of the attractions to open . American Idol waiting now is losing popularity and by 2016/2017, American Idol Experience could have the amount of shows in a day to be cut or be seasonal.

That area already has an issues with Sounds Dangerous building being abandoned for most of the year, but American Idol Experience having attendance issues to the point of cutting down shows or make it season would make that area stick out like a sore thumb.

When American Idol Experience becomes an Abandoned building by 2020, it would force Disney to spend an additional 500 million to 750 million dollars on DHS. What an additional 500 to 750 million dollars would do is create something of a Stars Wars land, and fix other stuff with the park like updating Fantasmic.

 

[Ignohippo]

Wow I totally agree with this. Honestly there is really nothing to do with kids here. Kids find the shows and the other attractions boring, heck I even find it boring. DHS is probably the most uninteresting park at WDW. GMR gets old when you go on it multiple times... The Backlot Tour is a shell of its former self, IJSS is showing its age. Honestly the only thing that's keeping the visitors coming is TOT and Rockin' Roller Coaster. TSMM too I suppose. I think it's going to take a lot more than 500 Million to reimagine this park because right now it's in bad shape.

I could not disagree with this more. My 7 year old loves DHS - much more than the other parks. So much so that my wife and I are sick to death of it.

At DHS, you have:
- Toy Story Midway Mania
- Pixar meet and greets
- HISTK play area
- Star Tours
- Indy Stunt Show
- Lights Motor Action
- Disney Junior On Stage
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Pirates of the Carribbean (new show)

(and that doesn't include Backlot Tour or American Idol)

Yes, there needs to be much, much more, but there's a lot more at DHS for kids than there is at EPCOT or AK.

 

[Ignohippo]

I think a ToonTown tie in with Who Framed Roger Rabbit would be an excellent addition to the studios, but that's not in demand now... Like I said before... RSR would probably be located inside Pixar Place without Cars Land. That's a realistic plan.

It's a must IMO. Especially since the closing of ToonTown Fair at MK. It's a complete shame that there isn't any kind of ToonTown on WDW property anymore.

I really wish they would have skipped CircusLand and saved Dumbo as part of a new ToonTown as well. It would have been a much better fit than putting the circus in with Fantasyland. That land could have been used so much better as a continuation of the FLE.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I could not disagree with this more. My 7 year old loves DHS - much more than the other parks. So much so that my wife and I are sick to death of it...

Exactly... But take it in context and consider my post that Marc's reply was to. That being "DHS is mostly a kid's park." As an adult, it's not as cool I'm afraid. (I'm agreeing with you, but in a roundabout way, LOL).

 

[Stu bailey]

Quite a lucky duck.

 

[Marc Gil]

I could not disagree with this more. My 7 year old loves DHS - much more than the other parks. So much so that my wife and I are sick to death of it.

At DHS, you have:
- Toy Story Midway Mania
- Pixar meet and greets
- HISTK play area
- Star Tours
- Indy Stunt Show
- Lights Motor Action
- Disney Junior On Stage
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Pirates of the Carribbean (new show)

(and that doesn't include Backlot Tour or American Idol)

Yes, there needs to be much, much more, but there's a lot more at DHS for kids than there is at EPCOT or AK.

I can see what you're going with this. But honestly if you've seen it once, there really isn't a point of seeing again. But hey everyone's entitled to their own opinion.