A Theory on the Expansion of Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Kyle Higgins]

I appreciate you enthusiasm for this, but there are a lot of very knowledgeable users here some of which have access to inside information, so if you are going to propose a theory, make sure you have thouroughly done your home


I appreciate you enthusiasm for this, but there are a lot of very knowledgeable users here some of which have access to inside information, so if you are going to propose a theory, make sure you have thoroughly done your homework.

I did do research into this theory, I didnt just go into it just on instinct. I am aware and respect the people who can add insight into this, but I also like to insert my own knowledge.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I wasn't saying I was the first, just my own theory.

But at least you got people thinking. That's the important thing.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

No, but it might be for the rumored monorail expansion to Universal.

Maybe this is a comment for another thread or even another site altogether but...
I heard Universal is building a monorail that is going to connect all of their parks and hotels together.

In typical universal fashion. They are going to charge guests $3.00 per trip to use the train.

Size wise it is going to be about half of the size of MK's express monorail track length.

They are going to call it.... wait for it.... the UniRail. Tada....

Off to the side of the press event the President of Universal could be heard saying.

"If Disney can do it and not charge guests. We're going to do it but make the guests pay for it. I mean think about it. Disney has the what, Magical Express and guests get to ride it for free. They have buses, trains, boats. All free to the guests. They even have a Fast Pass thing for free. We can do all of those things but we make the guests pay for it. Muha ha ha ha ha ha."

Later that day there was a posting on Monster Jobs advertising for an open position for President of US Operations, Universal.

 

[POLY LOVER]

you guys s

Starting January of next year, Hollywood Studios will be going under a major renovation process. There hasn't been much theories on where the expansions will be, except for a early rendering model on WDW Magic. Now that construction permit maps have been released, I have a theory on where everything will be.
There is the permit map and google earth image below with the locations of everything I am talking about.

Let's start off with Toy Story Land. Looking at the map below, you will notice that an area is blocked off to the southwest corner of the park. This area includes the former backlot tour route, The Lights, Motors, Action! Show, Streets of America, and Muppet Vision 3D. Notice that the entrance of the backlot tour and Pixar studios (Toy Story Midway Mania) are not included in this area. Since it is close to toy story midway mania and the other area is probably being used for something else (more on that next), along with the fact that everything is closing/slated to close in that area, it leads me to believe that the Toy Story Land will be built there, not behind Toy Story Mania as originally thought. This could further be proven with the existence of a major road and employee buildings behind Toy Story Mania.

Next, let's talk about Star Wars Land. Looking at the permit map, you will notice that a good section of the southeast area of the park are blocked off for something else. Included in this area is echo lake, Indiana jones stunt spectacular, and Hyperion theater. Most importantly, included in this area is the Star Tours Ride, a almost obvious hint in what this area will turn into. I believe that this land will turn into star wars land, with echo lake being filled. This is close to the original rumor, and probably the most obvious prediction.

Finally, lets look at a potential garage and entrance ramp. Looking at the permit map, you will notice that a new entrance ramp on Osceola parkway, which looks like is leading to a bridge and another zone. I believe that this zone will be a parking garage, with a entrance ramp and bridge leading to a garage and another parking lot. I believe that the existing entrance will be turned into a bus entrance for the park and a employee entrance being relocated due to the Toy Story Land expansion.

That's my prediction so far with the expansion of Hollywood Studios. If you find something else out about the expansion, please comment! Also, don't badmouth if you disagree with this prediction. I know just about as much as anyone else about the expansion and this is just my interpretation.
View attachment 116647
View attachment 116645 View attachment 116646

you guys seem like the experts here so I will ask when its all said and done what areas /attractions go away?
LCA / Streets of America ?

 

[Andrew M]

Long time lurker, first post. Figured I'd jump in since I'm a Civil Engineer.

The only thing you can tell from this drawing is that some part of the park will be expanded out to the crescent shaped border. This is because they not only extended the drainage area over to that line, but also renamed with DHS-X instead of Wetland XX.XX. I apologize for not reading every post of the expansion thread in case this has already been talked about, but my educated guess is that the roadway snakes around the inside of the bottom crescent shape with the park expanded out to the roadway.

 

[danlb_2000]

Long time lurker, first post. Figured I'd jump in since I'm a Civil Engineer.

The only thing you can tell from this drawing is that some part of the park will be expanded out to the crescent shaped border. This is because they not only extended the drainage area over to that line, but also renamed with DHS-X instead of Wetland XX.XX. I apologize for not reading every post of the expansion thread in case this has already been talked about, but my educated guess is that the roadway snakes around the inside of the bottom crescent shape with the park expanded out to the roadway.

If you read the permit in detail, it does say that most of that crescent shaped area will become parking. It's just a mention of intended use, since the permit doesn't cover the construction of that parking.

 

[danlb_2000]

you guys s
you guys seem like the experts here so I will ask when its all said and done what areas /attractions go away?
LCA / Streets of America ?

It seems pretty clear the Streets of America is going away. I am drawing a blank on "LCA"?

 

[bjm72385]

Why is it incorrect?
Because things aren't going quite where you put them.

Kinda close on Star Wars, but Toy Story is going on the west side behind TSMM.
A bit off on the parking, too.

Would "kinda close" mean the latest rumor that Echo Lake is safe and staying? I don't guess you can elaborate anymore on that?

Also, @Kyle Higgins you get an E for effort for at least throwing your two cents out there. I lurked here for the longest before I started throwing mine in, but I'm slowly figuring out from reading different threads which guys on here tend to post what seems to be the most credible info. So now even if I stumble across a new thread with a lot of pages, I'll quickly scroll through looking for anything those guys have posted (don't tell my boss haha). I'm just not sure why this couldn't be added to one of the current threads about this instead of making a new one. I already have a hard enough time keeping up with all the others lol.

 

[bjm72385]

It's not in the picture, it's in the quote from the permits...

""Wetlands W12.22 and W12.2A comprise a crescent-shaped wetland located between the southeastern edge of the project area and Canal L-402. These two wetlands will be removed due to parking expansion; therefore, the SHWL and normal pool level (NPL) elevations of W12.22 and W12.2A are not applicable.""

I was going to ask if there was a trick to getting that info to pull up on the website as I wasn't having any luck, but I figured it out finally. User error of course haha!

@danlb_2000 I must thank you as well for the time you spend looking this stuff up. I didn't realize just how in depth and how much info is associated with a single permit until I took a quick look at this one.

 

[danlb_2000]

I was going to ask if there was a trick to getting that info to pull up on the website as I wasn't having any luck, but I figured it out finally. User error of course haha!

@danlb_2000 I must thank you as well for the time you spend looking this stuff up. I didn't realize just how in depth and how much info is associated with a single permit until I took a quick look at this one.

Yep, unlike the notices of commencement that are posted daily, SFWMD permits have a lot of details. 99.9% of the information in them isn't of any interest to us, so it takes some digging to get to those little nuggets of information we care about.

 

[Fox&Hound]

Yep, unlike the notices of commencement that are posted daily, SFWMD permits have a lot of details. 99.9% of the information in them isn't of any interest to us, so it takes some digging to get to those little nuggets of information we care about.

Well as others have said, your work is greatly appreciated! Love these forums and the discussions held!

 

[Kyle Higgins]

But at least you got people thinking. That's the important thing.

Amen to that

 

[Kyle Higgins]

Would "kinda close" mean the latest rumor that Echo Lake is safe and staying? I don't guess you can elaborate anymore on that?

Also, @Kyle Higgins you get an E for effort for at least throwing your two cents out there. I lurked here for the longest before I started throwing mine in, but I'm slowly figuring out from reading different threads which guys on here tend to post what seems to be the most credible info. So now even if I stumble across a new thread with a lot of pages, I'll quickly scroll through looking for anything those guys have posted (don't tell my boss haha). I'm just not sure why this couldn't be added to one of the current threads about this instead of making a new one. I already have a hard enough time keeping up with all the others lol.

Sorry, I wasn't aware of other threads

 

[Kyle Higgins]

you guys s
you guys seem like the experts here so I will ask when its all said and done what areas /attractions go away?
LCA / Streets of America ?

I think most people here are just theorists, so I don't think you will get the answers you want.

 

[Lee]

you guys s
you guys seem like the experts here so I will ask when its all said and done what areas /attractions go away?
LCA / Streets of America ?

I assume LCA is Lights Motors Action?
If so, yes. That and Streets of America will be leaving.

 

[Kyle Higgins]

Sorry, I wasn't aware of other threads

But I fully agree with you with the effort. I will admit I went solely on a hunch and didn't do a whole lot of research.

 

[StephK]

One of the bus drivers told us the entrance to the park will be on the opposite side to where it is now & the currant entrance will be the back of the park once all the work is complete...

 

[Kyle Higgins]

Maybe this is a comment for another thread or even another site altogether but...
I heard Universal is building a monorail that is going to connect all of their parks and hotels together.

In typical universal fashion. They are going to charge guests $3.00 per trip to use the train.

Size wise it is going to be about half of the size of MK's express monorail track length.

They are going to call it.... wait for it.... the UniRail. Tada....

Off to the side of the press event the President of Universal could be heard saying.

"If Disney can do it and not charge guests. We're going to do it but make the guests pay for it. I mean think about it. Disney has the what, Magical Express and guests get to ride it for free. They have buses, trains, boats. All free to the guests. They even have a Fast Pass thing for free. We can do all of those things but we make the guests pay for it. Muha ha ha ha ha ha."

Later that day there was a posting on Monster Jobs advertising for an open position for President of US Operations, Universal.

Thats definitely Universal

 

[Lee]

One of the bus drivers told us the entrance to the park will be on the opposite side to where it is now & the currant entrance will be the back of the park once all the work is complete...

Yeah....bus driver.
Highly suspect information.

 

[Kyle Higgins]

One of the bus drivers told us the entrance to the park will be on the opposite side to where it is now & the currant entrance will be the back of the park once all the work is complete...

I wonder if star wars land will take up the back side of the park then...