Blue-sky Hollywood Studios Build-out (part 1)

President Loki

New Member
Original Poster
Today, Hollywood Studios is a very polarizing park, either you like it or you don’t. Some people say it’s their favorite WDW park for its great rides, attractions, and thrills. Others say it’s their least favorite WDW park because it’s slowly losing its original theming and doesn’t offer much.

I am an enjoyer of the park, but even I have to admit that the park needs work. So today I am going to share my Idea for an ideal layout of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This means that this would be my personal blue sky build-out of the park. So this plan doesn’t have any specific timeline, no budget, just me and my ideas (with some restrictions such as no non-Disney-owned IP and zoning laws). I am by no means a theme park engineer, nor have ever worked in the theme park industry, I am a person who enjoys going to theme parks and coming up with ride and attraction ideas. So take my ideas and plans with a pinch of salt…

Screenshot 2024-12-07 162517.png


Before going into the actual build-out, I want to review the overall improvements that the whole park (not just singular lands) could see. 1 the park needs to see a wider variety of attractions. More rides in general, but also smaller rides as well. DHS seems to be focused more on exciting E-Ticket rides, we all love that but there are barely any smaller rides. Only has one flat ride meanwhile, Magic Kingdom has 4 aerial carousels. So I think more rides and a better variety of rides. 2 A major complaint about the park is that it’s losing its original theme. I love the idea of the Golden Age of Hollywood, but expecting the park to keep the theme for the whole park is silly. That’s like expecting Magic Kingdom to only be fairytales, that would make the park a little boring. I think maybe keeping areas that are inspired by Disney’s iconic movies and areas going for the sense of movie magic, is a recipe for success. 3 I want to strive to keep a thrilling and older audience in mind. Now I would include rides for the whole family, but this would probably be the park with the most coasters and thrill rides. Now with those out of the way, I could start my bluesky build-out of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.


Hollywood
We start the journey on the street of Hollywood, the 1920s idealized version of the boulevard. We walk through the Pan-Pacific gates and end up at the Crossroads stand. I decided to add the Hollywood Street Cars, an old-fashioned trolley rolling down Hollywood and going through Sunset BLVD. Besides the new “ride”, the front would go unchanged and still keep the classic storefronts and retails of the area. Toon Cinema would be a small theater showing 7 classic Mickey Mouse cartoons, on 7 separate screens. Taking inspiration from Disneyland’s Main Street cinema. Showing the same shorts as the Disneyland counterpart and even a new Oswald-centric short. Being a great little theater capturing the feel of the park and the land itself. At the end of the street is a new exhibit attraction called the Movie Magic Museum, taking you through the classic era of cinema. Telling guests about the history, culture, and milestones of Hollywood and the movie industry.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 163207.png


We soon enter the main hub, with new facades along the right side of the hub. The Brown Derby would still stay as the iconic Hollywood restaurant, with little to no changes. To the upper right of the hub is a new club based on “The Temple of Doom” club sequence. Club Obi-Wan (yes, it’s called that in the movie) would be a high-class luxury club and bar, with theming calling back to that very scene. At the center would still be the iconic Chinese Theater, still keeping its original headlining attraction, The Great Movie Ride. Bringing it back with new scenes and modern technology. Many of the scenes would stay the same and a tour guide would still accompany the vehicles. I could see maybe having smaller vehicles in order to make the ride path more narrow and squeeze in more scenes. I don’t necessarily want to add too much Disney IP, but adding Star Wars and maybe Aladdin just feels right.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 163333.png


Sunset BLVD.
As we leave Hollywood, we walk down Sunset BLVD. another land based on the celebration of Movies. We start off the street with facades of classic theaters, with retail stores inside. One would be changed however, the store for Cathay Circle would be gutted and expanded to fit Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. A clone of the new and improved Snow White ride at Disneyland. The queue starts inside the classic theater and then takes guests into the movie and onto their journey through Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Theater of the Stars would be taken out for an inside theater, being the Hyperion Theater, with Broadway-style shows playing regularly. Just next to it would be Twilight Delights, a quick-service restaurant being themed after the Twilight Zone show. Inside, props and music would call back to the show, with reruns being played on TVs. Across the road would be Rosie’s, Sunset BLVD.’s main quick-service restaurant.

As we walk towards the Rock n’ Roller coaster, it’s changed to become a mini-land of sorts. Rocketeer Plaza would be based on the Rocketeer movie. Although not the most popular film, it fits in with the theme of Sunset BLVD. and just seems cool as a mini-land idea. A Trolley barn for the previously mentioned “Hollywood Street Cars” would be tucked into the corner of the land. With new stores being added to the area. Rocketeer Packs would be a floor-less aerial spinner (dumbo attraction), being similar to the floorless spinner found at Shanghai Disney. Acting as both a more exciting version of the ride and adding a flat ride to the mini-land. Replacing Lightning Mcqueen Racing Academy is the South Seas Club, based off of the club found in the Rocketeer movie. With themed entertainment and singers, giving the restaurant its atmosphere. We end off the area with a re-theme to Rock n’ Roller Coaster, being The Rocketeer: Freedom Flight. Guests would join the Rocketeer after the movie’s events, with it set later during the 40s. Guests would be assigned to ride vehicles before the pre-show, and inside be informed about their mission (with the missions being randomized). You would board vehicles equipped with jet-packs and blast off to your mission. New sets and screens would be added to the ride, making each mission be randomized, creating a sense of re-rideability and thrill. A new soundtrack would be developed, with the feel of 1930s music, with the thrill and high stakes of your mission.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 162846.png


At the end of the street, I made it more of a circular shape with a sun in the middle. With 4 paths splitting off from the circle. One leading back to Hollywood, one taking you to the aforementioned Rocketeer Plaza. The one south leads to a new land, and the final path takes you to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. As for the ride… it would go unchanged, I love the atmosphere, thrill, and just everything about the ride. It’s a fan favorite and actually the highest-rated ride at WDW on Yelp somehow.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 163010.png


City Square
Going south of Sunset BLVD. we head to a typical American Big City, similar to Grand Avenue. We start with Tracy’s Dogs and Pizza Pandemonium, two quick-service restaurants, selling Chicago dogs and Pizza respectfully. The name of the Chicago dog restaurant being a nod to Dick Tracy.

A C-Ticket-style dark ride would be featured, being based on Roger Rabbit. Roger Rabbit’s Big City Case would see Roger Rabbit go on a case throughout the city. Taking him through the streets, fireworks factories, and more. All to find out who stole his jokes. Next to it, Maroon Studios would be a walk-through attraction, and see Roger Rabbit chase Baby Hermann throughout the studios. With interactives allowing guests to interact with Roger Rabbit and the surrounding area. I felt like I had to complete the Roger Rabbit section with a restaurant. Benny’s Cab Catering is a quick-service restaurant being themed after Benny the Cab. With wacky props and gags littering the interior.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 163914.png


As we continue the Touchstone Speakeasy would be a hidden bar, with themed entertainment just like you’re in an underground Speakeasy. Just next to it, a ride that was never built and lost to time, Dick Tracy’s Crimestoppers was going to be a part of a Chicago mini-land for Hollywood Studios. The movie wasn’t successful and thus never built, but the ride system would be used for the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. Ever since I tried to make a buildout of DHS, this ride has always been included. Crimestoppers! (not tied to Dick Tracy this time) would start at Smogworx, a company that has shady ties with the mob. During the pre-show, the mafia tries to take you for collateral, and guests are rushed to getaway cars. The EMV vehicles would wisk guests through the underbelly of Chicago, trying to avoid the mafia and escaping the city.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 163804.png


Fantasy Hills
As we leave the hustle and bustle of Rocketeer Plaza, we head through the magical forest of Fantasy Hills. A play on Beverly Hills, where famous fairytale characters live and prosper. We start by walking up an incline, through the forest. This is so there’s room for the service road to pass by underneath. This land also takes heavy inspiration from Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disney. Although not a copy, this land would have similar theming and the amount of detail put into it as Fantasy Springs.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 164246.png


We enter the land and start in the Enchanted Forest, in the center of the area is a lagoon. With the ship The Jolly Roger, Captain Hook’s ship which is now an explorable pirate ship. With playground activities and interactives on the ship. Also situated on the lagoon is a small cave entrance, leading to Skull Rock. Like the Jollyroger, Skull Rock would also feature activities and an exploration feel. Multiple rooms would be featured, with one containing a small stage for a Captain Hook and Peterpan fight. A room with a Tick Tock Croc animatronic, and a meet-and-greet space. The Lost Boys Terrace, a quick service restaurant hidden in the trees, with their treehouse at the center of the restaurant. We head to the first ride of the land, being a new take on the classic Peter Pan ride. Captain Hook’s Revenge, would be a boat ride where guests join Peter on a tour of Neverland. Captain Hook ambushes your boat, wanting revenge on Peter. You almost fall off a waterfall until Peter gives your boat Pixie dust and the boat starts flying?

This ride wouldn’t be a regular boat ride, it uses Universal’s forgotten innovative system for a hybrid water/suspended dark ride. About halfway through the ride, an overhead contraption would come behind and lock to your vehicle. It leaves the water section and becomes a suspended ride, giving the element of flying.

This Peterpan ride would use the same idea, and see an overhead view of the Neverland island. A little bit further is the Nottingham Tavern, based on Robin Hood. A quick service restaurant/bar with kid friendly beverages and maybe a band stand inside the restaurant too. The Merry Men Hideout would be a ropes course, taking you low to the ground and high up. Featured would be the Nottingham castle, complete with a moat and boats going under the bridge. Robin Hood’s Grand Heist, riders would join Robin Hood and his greatest heist yet. The first part of the ride would start outside, and have a Jungle Cruise feel to it. Then the second part would go back inside the castle on the actual heist.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 164109.png


We leave the Enchanted Forest and head to a subsection based off of Medieval Europe. A small French village, with shops and restaurants dotted around the street. Monsieur Louis would specialize in French cuisine, such as steak frites and croque monsieur. The land would see its own mini parade based on the festival from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Festival of Fools would happen around noontime and have street performers put on a play, dance, and seem to have fun. The end of the street would end with Notre Dame towering over the rest of the town, using forced perspective to make it seem even bigger. Notre Dame would contain Quest for Notre Dame, where guests would join Quasimodo and his quest for the bell tower. The ride vehicles would be styled to look like wagons, and the ride would use a trackless style of track. With the ride using this to its advantage, with multiple varying scenes and large rooms where the ride vehicles dance. Imagine this as a ride that could match the Beauty and the Beast ride at Tokyo Disney. With intricate detail, advanced animatronics, singing, and large theatrics.

We continue into the dark woods, a dark and desolate place. Home to the villains of fairytale and fantasy. We start at a village at the foots of the ruins of a castle. Walking down the village we see the Hunter’s Hideout, a quick service restaurant themed after Disney villains who are hunters and adventurers. Such as Captain Hook, Geastaun, and others. The Blackpot Brewery, a table-service restaurant where all the villains eat and socialize at. Continuing, an abandoned castle that seems to be forgotten. Inside a new version of the Castle Mystery Tour would reside. The Dark Castle Mystery Tour, would have guided you through the hallways of the castle. Ending with a finale with the black demon from the Black Cauldron. A new bar called Friends on the Other Side, would be themed to Dr. Facilie. A voodoo themed bar and singing tiki’s. Tucked in the center of the village is the town hall, inside the village is holding an event for future henchmen and henchwomen. GoonFest is a shooting dark ride where guests try to get their way into working for a villain. Depending on your score, you could get different various villains. As we leave the town, we head to the area where the wasteland has affected it more. With Oogie Boogie’s Nighttime Game Show, an interactive guest guided game show with an animatronic Oggie Boogie running the show. Villain’s Lair, a meet-and-greet/mini-show that would walk through the caverns of Maleficent's lair. With a dragon animatronic like the one found at Disneyland Paris.



The major structure of the land itself would be Bald Mountain. A 125 ft. mountain utilizing forced perspective, I wished this could’ve been the icon for the land in Magic Kingdom, but it could make sense for a land more focused on older audiences. Night on Bald Mountain: Villains Unite! would have a pre-show where Chernabog would call for all the villains to unite at Bald Mountain. The ride system would be the koka arm, used for Forbidden Journey. I decided on this because, it would be cool if Hollywood Studios had a koka arm dark ride. But mainly because Forbidden Journey has a lot of bone chilling, close-up moments, and that sort of feel would be great for the dark kingdom. (For the actual ride) The ride would start with the villains talking at a table until they notice you. They identify you as an intruder and each villain tries to attack you. With close-ups with characters like Hades, Maleficent (dragon form), and Chernabog himself.

Screenshot 2024-12-07 163946.png


I hope you enjoyed this part 1 of my Ideal Hollywood Studios layout. If this goes well, I'll post part 2 and 3. This has been a dream project of mine for a while and I feel greatful that I'm able to share it with other people. If there's any feedback or critism, I'd greatly appreciate it. Have a nice day. :)
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom