Could Star Wars fans be the ultimate winners...

[Festivus]

With the popularity of SW both old and new, it's very surprising that Disney doesn't have a larger/dedicated SW/Lucas area in DHS. The possibilities are endless really. I'm all for any ride/attraction that sticks the the 6 films, no Clone Wars and certainly none of that "Expanded Universe" cr*p...

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Here's the problem...there isn't much room to expand. All that can really be done is turn Sounds Dangerous into a THX Sound Show and that's about it. Maybe re-theme Backlot Express, but that's about it. The only way a Lucas Land would work is with a new E-ticket in addition to Star Tours 2. Demoing the Stunt Show and building a next gen Indy water ride would do the trick, but I doubt that would happen...

Without a substantial new attraction, a Lucas Land would not even come close to Potter.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

A Narnia 'land' would be an absolutely indescribable addition to a park. Really, done properly (and therein lies the real point) there would be no comparison. But Disney could do a "Potter Killer" over any number of concepts. Consider back in 1982 the creation of Epcot's original, awe-inspiring attractions based on normally mundane subjects like energy, communications, and transportation - and not a thrill ride in sight.

Star Wars or Narnia would make incredible additions to a theme park, or Disney could do something original. The key element is not so much the source material but what you do with it - and I have little confidence in what Disney today would do with Star Wars.

Disney abandoned ship from the Narnia franchise and handed it over to Fox, who is releasing the next film in the series. Because of this, a Narnia land will not happen. Period. I really wish this wasn't the case, because that could be excellent, but it won't happen.

 

[Exprcoofto]

Here's the problem...there isn't much room to expand. All that can really be done is turn Sounds Dangerous into a THX Sound Show and that's about it. Maybe re-theme Backlot Express, but that's about it. The only way a Lucas Land would work is with a new E-ticket in addition to Star Tours 2. Demoing the Stunt Show and building a next gen Indy water ride would do the trick, but I doubt that would happen...

Without a substantial new attraction, a Lucas Land would not even come close to Potter.

Judging by Google Earth, there is room for a smaller sized attraction to the left of the stunt show, where the gift shop is. Other than that, anything else would either have to take up backstage area (where the parade buildings are) or into the nearby parking lot.

 

[Festivus]

Why not tear down the Sounds Dangerous building and star new with something Star Wars themed? Retheme the backlot express to the cantina or even dexters diner. Maybe take out the stunt show, you could maybe fit 2 attractions in that space with the massive size of the theater and backstage area.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Judging by Google Earth, there is room for a smaller sized attraction to the left of the stunt show, where the gift shop is. Other than that, anything else would either have to take up backstage area (where the parade buildings are) or into the nearby parking lot.

Won't happen. The parade buildings are too important to tear down...

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Why not tear down the Sounds Dangerous building and star new with something Star Wars themed? Retheme the backlot express to the cantina or even dexters diner. Maybe take out the stunt show, you could maybe fit 2 attractions in that space with the massive size of the theater and backstage area.

Tearing down Sounds Dangerous is pointless because you still won't have enough room to build anything but another theater based show. The best option would be to bring back the old style sound show, but this time have it be hosted by George Lucas and demonstrating the THX System.

Other than that, tearing down the stunt show would be the only real way to add anything to that area of the park.

 

[CDavid]

Won't happen. The parade buildings are too important to tear down...

If someone cared to write a big enough check, there isn't much (and in theory, nothing) backstage in the park which cannot be relocated - the parade buildings, or even portions of the parking lot or the main parking entrance roads. Now, I agree it won't happen, but a Star Wars/Lucas Land isn't strictly impossible here (might be easier to just move Star Tours, and start from scratch, however).

Disney abandoned ship from the Narnia franchise and handed it over to Fox, who is releasing the next film in the series. Because of this, a Narnia land will not happen. Period. I really wish this wasn't the case, because that could be excellent, but it won't happen.

I know, but a guy can dream. More realistically, I can just see the next film in the franchise being a smash hit, since Disney in its infinite wisdom dumped the series. Does Disney not retain attraction rights to the first two films, however? Again, not that they'll ever do anything with it, but I don't suppose anyone in Disney's legal department had the foresight to retain theme-park rights to the remaining films, lest someone (like Universal) decide to do a killer Narnia attraction...

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

There isn't really any way to make space for a Star Wars themed "land" without doing some major infrastructure moving. Retheming Backlot Express or Sounds Dangerous are simple enough but really don't go far enough toward a Star Wars themed area.

To really expand, something would have to be done with MuppetVison. At the very least, re-route the entrance and exit so that you enter/exit onto San Francisco Street. This would open up the current Pizza Planet/Mama Melrose area for a Star Wars overlay. However, that area is probably still a bit small for a new attraction. The more drastic option is to physically move MuppetVision into a new facility in the former Hunchback of Notre Dame theater, thus allowing the old Muppet theater and the front half of the Streets of America to be incorporated into a new Star Wars "land" with enough room for another attraction.

Yet another option (assuming the land is suitable) is to move the DHS entrance road and toll plaza to the south closer to the drainage canal. This would open up brand new acreage to expand for both Star Wars and perhaps even another franchise in the future.

Of course, all these things require money and two of them regquire significant changes to the current layout of roads/buildings. But I don't think it is really possible to create an emersive Star Wars area with the current DHS layout of attractions.

 

[Disneyfan1981]

As many have posted before me its most likely not going to happen. Not only for the Lucas ideas or economics but sheer continuity. A Star Wars Land would be a bit of a mismatch that in theory sounds good but in practice would be a bit cheesy. Can you imagine a Star Wars land where one ride represents Tatooine while another Hoth? Not a quick jaunt like they could with Star Tours but the whole actual planet? I could see a Star Wars theme park like IOA for example where each portion represents a different film or planet but all of that jammed into one area seems like an "arcade" design with so many different things slammed into one small space. It'd take a lot of magic to make it work and look right. Personally I'd cringe a bit to see Podracing with Anakin dark rides butted up against Chewbacca's Kashyyyk Treehouse adventure next to Escape from the Wampa cloning the Matterhorn.

 

[_Scar]

I think Pixar fans would be the ultimate winners- perhaps, Radiator Springs Racers? Sounds cool to me.

 

[Studios Fan]

entrance road and toll plaza to the south closer to the drainage canal. This would open up brand new acreage to expand for both Star Wars and perhaps even another franchise in the future.

I've wondered why they don't move the entrance road. It would certainly help expand the park. I figure they will expand on the backlot (taking out costuming and the bungalows) before they did anything else though.

 

[Auburnjobu]

Not rides...

Why does it have to be rides? Wouldn't we all love MGM to be as richly themed as MK or AK? Isn't that really the complaint about the park?

I for one would be very happy with an immersive environment of Star Wars and just keeping Star Tours as the only "ride" attraction. What if they turned the Indy Show into a Star Wars show? To transition from the American Idol / Eco Lake area you could enter the jungles of Endor, or Kashyyyk (Chewy's world). The foliage could be used to mark the transition and as a backdrop the plants would be pefectly fine when viewed from a distance.

The rest of the area could just be like walking through a part of the Star Wars Universe, it doesn't need to have track rides or big buildings. A cool restaurant is possible on a small footprint... think vertically...

I can't imagine that Disney hasn't at least explored the idea. It would make that side of the park wildly popular and a good balance to the thrill ride crowds of Sunset Blvd.

 

[Ignohippo]

They could expand easily if they moved the entrance road over or went over it. I really don't think it would be too much of a problem if Disney were committed to making this a reality.

I'm sure it's conservation land, but land swaps are pretty common with Disney.

 

[WishIwasThere]

I find is amusing how many posters here think that WWoHP could be brushed aside and 'forgotten' because of a SW land. HP is the biggest movie franchise of all time (I know it is not inflation adjusted but it still has the record. It is extremely current and will remain so for atleast the next 2 years as 2 more films are due out plus all the subsequent DVD releases. The books are here to stay for kids to grow up with in the same way that kids have grown up with Disney for many years.

Worst of all I find it strange how Disney fans want to 'laugh at Universal.' The quality that Universal is creating is excellent, and the success of HP drawing crowds away from Disney is probably the major driving force behind some major creative thinking and action from Disney in the near future. Whether you hate Universal or not you should be hoping WWoHP is a major success for the state of the Disney Parks.

The only problem I have with HP and Universal is the expected height requirement for the ride is thought to be 54". My 7 yr old son, who loves HP and has cruised through most of the books, will probably not be able to ride that ride for another three years. My 10yr old daughter, who loves SW as much as HP, can go on the HP rides but we won't be heading over in that direction of I-4 until everyone can enjoy the rides Uni. offers.

Meanwhile, my kids are eagerly awaiting the ST2 upgrade and are just now getting into Indy and those movies.

 

[devoy1701]

Let's assume SW won't happen. Too much money, no agreement with Lucas whatever...

Would Disney ever consider an area or ride themed around Narnia? Or were they displeased with the impact of the movies (moderate hits but not world beaters)?

How about the rights to LOTR? Certainly that would be a slam dunk.

Of course, I've read about so many blue sky idea over the years that sound fantastic (Fire Mountain, Villians Mountain, Mt. Fuji, etc.) that they could just dust off a couple of those.

JTTCOTE to DAK (an on again, off again rumor) would have a massive impact.

Really, they just need to spend the cash on something.

Disney abandoned ship from the Narnia franchise and handed it over to Fox, who is releasing the next film in the series. Because of this, a Narnia land will not happen. Period. I really wish this wasn't the case, because that could be excellent, but it won't happen.

Beat me too it...with Disney dumping the Narnia franchise I think that sealed the deal for no more presence in the parks. It was a shame too because it was one Fantasy franchise that I actually enjoyed watching. I don't have any interest in Potter or Lord of the Rings.

No!!!! Death to Star Wars and I'll take Rodenburry land a Star Trek themed land :lookaroun

Star Trek Theme would be so much fun. We could have one ride for encountering the Borg, one for the Klingons, maybe guided by Q???

Anyway, finally something we agree on Figgy! DS9 is my favorite series...I think they really reached a high point with story-telling on this one. I grew up with Voyager so I also hold that in high regard... However, personally I'd rank them as DS9, TNG, VOY, TOS, ENT.

Abrams definitely brought new life to the franchise, but for anyone who thinks he finally made the series interesting is missing the point of the show...its not all about Sci-Fi thrills and explosions (or atleast not originally)!!!!

Everyone knows I don't give any regard to Uni's HP Land... But if we were getting the Battlestar Galactica attraction(s) that are going into Universal Studios Singapore...than I would definitely be whooping and hollering and cheering all the way AND I would be at the gates of the studios on opening day! Talk about a franchise reborn and done right! Not to mention they wouldn't need a licensing agreement since that is already owned by them. So for all of you who say I have Disney blinders on yada yada yada....my distaste for Potter has alot to do with personal taste for the actual franchise.

Anyway...to conclude. Star Trek to WDW and Battlestar to Uni Orlando would make me a very happy Central Florida Resident!! :sohappy:

 

[MCC1]

No!!!! Death to Star Wars and I'll take Rodenburry land a Star Trek themed land :lookaroun

Can't we all get along? Here's Shatner with Lucas...:lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDIBchVxSmE

 

[Todd L]

I am a Star wars addict if ther ever was one and I can tell you............This could go either way.

This could be the biggest draw in Orlando or the Biggest flop.

Lucas is famous for being stubborn. He was REMOVED from the directors guild for running the credits after A new hope as opposed to before.

This caused him to lose Speilberg as Director of Empire and a ton of other issues with his movies down the road.

Hes also the man who was smart enough to hold onto the franchising rights to Star wars In a time before anybody ever thought of these things.

Im sure he would want complete control and Keep It from getting too Disney ....

I dont think Disney will be willing to put up hundreds of millions of dollars and not have a say as to where its being spent and I dont think Lucas is gonna take orders from Disney.

Id love to see the end result and would Love to drink in the Mos eisley Cantina....................

 

[IWant2GoNow]

I think Pixar fans would be the ultimate winners- perhaps, Radiator Springs Racers? Sounds cool to me.

Isn't Radiator Springs Racers mostly outside? I'm not sure how that would hold up with the Florida downpours.

 

[devoy1701]

Isn't Radiator Springs Racers mostly outside? I'm not sure how that would hold up with the Florida downpours.

yeah...that's something the California parks will always have on our Florida parks.... The ability to use outdoor space! :brick: