Personally my biggest complaint about MGM Studios was the fact that you could see everything in such a short time. It really wasn't worth spending an entire day there. Rockin' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror helped change that, but it's still more of a half day park rather than a full day.
With the additions of Lights, Motors, Action, Toy Story Midway Mania and American Idol Experience, as well as the name change, it seems to me as if Disney is trying to finally make this park an all day affair.
In terms of what needs to be changed or improved, there are several attractions that need to be looked at:
Sounds Dangerous needs to go. I was hoping it would be a fun new version of the classic sound effect shows that were in that theater, but instead you just sit in the dark and listen to a stupid skit. I'd like to see the classic sound effect show formula brought back into action, but another replacement idea could be an ESPN related show.
The Back Lot Tour needs some pretty hefty improvements. Since most of the backlot was demolished to build the Lights, Motors, Action arena, there isn't much left to it and the old pre-show is really dated. I'd like to see it done more like Disaster at Universal and really focus on audience participation. Maybe change up some of the tour aspects beside Catastrophe Canyon, which is fine the way it is.
I know I'm going to get some flack for this, but I think the Indiana Jones Stunt Show is really dated and should be replaced with a more advanced Indiana Jones attraction. I'd really like to see us get something similar to the DL one, only with a different storyline and different effects. Heck, making it a high tech water ride would be an interesting twist.
The Beauty and the Beast show has been there forever and should be replaced. The biggest problem is that there isn't any other attraction in any of the parks based on one most iconic of Disney animated films. If the plan to replace Snow White at MK with a Beauty and the Beast dark ride comes into play, I'd like to see the DHS show replaced with something different. Maybe a Princess and the Frog show would be a good idea...
If the new Little Mermaid dark ride is indeed coming to MK, then the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, which has been there forever, probably needs to go. It's not that amazing of a show to begin with and I think that location could be converted into a new attraction, possably a dark ride if the building is expanded a bit. In terms of what to replace it with, I'd say a ride based on Enchanted would be an interesting idea that could fit into the DHS scheme of things.
Last, but certainly not least, is the park's signature ride: The Great Movie Ride. My personal feeling is that if management is trying to change the park to get rid of all traces of what use to be MGM, then this ride needs to close for some serious downtime. The quick fix would be to change the ride and insert Disney movies instead films from other companies. What I would like to see would be to convert the building into a super E-ticket high tech interactive attraction where guests could journey into the world of Disney films and then be part of their own custom films.
Basically, the exterior would remain the same but line area would be converted into the Disney Film Institute. The giant theater room I would like to see made into smaller screening rooms ala Test Track. There, a pre-show would explain that the DFI was designed to showcase the magic of Disney films, both classic and modern. Their latest discovery is a way to literally travel into the movies. My original vehicle idea was basically a copy of the Spider-Man ride vehicle, but since I believe Universal owns that concept, I could see a modified version of the Dinosaur vehicle working too. The main portion of the ride would be a journey into the world of Disney movies ranging from classic to more modern, allowing riders to experience some really cool segments from Disney films with some intense motion. The second part, which would probably be the coolest, as well as the most complex, would allow riders to take part in the creation of a custom short film. There would be touch screens inserted similar to SSE that would ask each rider what language they speak and then a series of questions. These questions would help determine what kind of movie the riders would be making. Then, after the setting is explained (several possibles I came up with are pirate adventure, space and jungle exploration), the riders would be thrust into a custom "soundstage" where the vehicle would move around simulating whatever situation they get. Then, randomly during the ride, a camera would come on and a line would appear at random for a rider to say during the ride. The whole thing is recorded of course. After it's done and the riders exit, they enter a second mini theater where they can watch their finished film and then enter a gift shop where they can purchase a copy of their film.
So there you go, some of my suggestions for how to improve DHS.
