DHS Makeover - What we know so far.....

[JWG]

More than just Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land need to be coming. That's not $2b (I don't think) in renovation and add another $500m for a parking garage, you have some room. I appreciate that eveyone things this will all be done by 2020/2021 but I see DHS as a 10 year plan of which they're not going to reveal everything now. I think a lot will be done by 2021 to have a complete resort for MK's 50th, but I don't think DHS will be completely done.

As a side note, interesting to see that they're essentially giving up on the Pixar Place concept by moving to lands. I'd be fine if Carsland doesn't come to DHS if we get a really good Monstropolis. People seem to think Slinky means no Door coaster, but the true Family Park as 3 coasters (4 with Barnstormer). Why can't DHS have 3?

 

[BrianLo]

Nope. LMA is going away. Judging from the building featured in the concept art LMA is the future home of the Slinky Dog coaster.

I'll grant you those buildings look similar, but the new entrance is from the backside of TSMM, not through the old catwalks, that would be kind of cool though.

You can see the TSMM building behind it and that's far too big to be the side profile.

LMA isn't long for this world, but one needs only look to the recent closures to know exactly which land they need first for Toy Story.

 

[Capsin4]

Nope. LMA is going away. Judging from the building featured in the concept art LMA is the future home of the Slinky Dog coaster.

Don't think so. The large grey area to the lower left is the lenght of TSMM. If what you're saying is true, then it's the width of TSMM and TSL is a couple hundred feet wide and the main entrance on the lower right leads backstage. The entrance on the lower right is mermaid area...they're moving the entrance of DJL to Sunset BLVD to get it away from Pixar.

 

[ULPO46]

Yeah...... they don't want any leaks. I don't fear god. But I fear Kathleen Kennedy.

Amen, she makes emperor palpatine look like mother Teresa comoared to her. I cant recall that George was so secretive with his star wars films. I hope that if they ever make another indiana jones, it wont be so secretive. I hope that this secrecy is worth the wait. Not even the highest disney employees have clearance to know whats going on. I have faith in JJ as a director after all the rebooted star trek was ok. As for this land yes say goodbye to LMA and Streets of America. This is where the next two lamds will be going and yes the 2020-2021 dates are what is being projected. First dig may take place next year but rumors are circulating that parks and resorts alongside the Board, want to wait for Pandora to open as well as to see crowd flow ect. But construction may start even before the pandora area opens if what i hear is right. TWDC wants to use the next five years to build up and remodel their domestic parks. The amounts of record breaking crowds has had its effect on the resorts. Your prayers for fixed attractions will be answered but it does mean rides may get shut down for refurb for up to a year. All of this should be completed by 2023-2025 so expect construction during the MK/ WDWR 50th birdthday

 

[FettFan]

I'll grant you those buildings look similar, but the new entrance is from the backside of TSMM, not through the old catwalks, that would be kind of cool though.

You can see the TSMM building behind it and that's far too big to be the side profile.

LMA isn't long for this world, but one needs only look to the recent closures to know exactly which land they need first for Toy Story.

I would argue three things against that though....

1. There's much less to demolish with LMA. The land offers practically a blank slate.
2. The warehouses behind TSMM are still used by support personnel, especially the costuming department which makes and repairs costumes for cast members and animatronics alike.
3. The Earful Tower. The story of Toy Story Land is that the guest is being shrunk down to toy-sized and plopped in Andy's backyard....and since Andy doesn't live on a Hollywood movie studio, the presence of the Earful Tower would be more jarring to the show than seeing the big blue Soarin' building popping up behind Canada. It would either have to be hidden completely behind a building (extra $) or removed entirely (lol not happening).

Remember this is Disney Orlando we're talking about....the guys who decided they needed a Frozen ride, so they repurposed Maelstrom for it instead of building something brand new. They also decided that demo costs were too high so they let the Sorcerer's Hat and Severed Mickey Arm up for YEARS because they didn't want to pay for removal. They're going to cut costs whenever and wherever they can, and that includes spending as little on demo as possible.

Which is why I'm hoping that the area direclty behind TSMM is turned into Buena Vista Street. It would be a transition area looping from behind Sunset to Toy Lights Action Storyland and would be the place to put Oswald. Many buildings can stay and be converted into new dark rides, making outright demolition unnecessary, and it would blend well with the Earful Tower.

 

[LuckyOswald]

This year? 71 days or 30%.

Sorry I meant is there a specific reason they lead in off peak crowds, i.e Force Weekends? I guess I just assumed MK would le

Which is why I'm hoping that the area direclty behind TSMM is turned into Buena Vista Street. It would be a transition area looping from behind Sunset to Toy Lights Action Storyland and would be the place to put Oswald. Many buildings can stay and be converted into new dark rides, making outright demolition unnecessary, and it would blend well with the Earful Tower.

Oswald!!! Please WDW I want Oswald on the East side of the country

 

[Sue_Vongello]

But that's cyclical logic. Didn't the press only ramp up pressure and expectations once they caught wind of rumors of the reveal?

I think the reason there's been so little leaked is that there seems to be wrath-of-God-style NDAs in force on anyone who touches anything related to the new Star Wars movies, Imagineering included.

Or maybe they still have only a small idea of what they are actually doing.

That Star Wars "announcement" was essentially the same announcement we have heard before except this time with concept art that probably won't resemble what we end up getting. It's telling that they gave zero indication of when this would start construction or open ... after my excitement my logic took over and broke it down ... That was bittersweet.

Concept art is fine but for me to get excited about DHS again I need dates, concrete dates about when things are coming ... And even that doesn't make it a sure thing, sadly ...

Did I miss anything? Did they say when Toy Story Land or SW or anything would open? Or even start construction?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Sorry I meant is there a specific reason they lead in off peak crowds, i.e Force Weekends? I guess I just assumed MK would le

Oswald!!! Please WDW I want Oswald on the East side of the country

They have for the past two years as well. 34% of their days were off-peak last year and 40% in 2013.

The resort as a whole last year was only off-peak 20% of the time and 32% in 2013 for the sake of comparison.

 

[FettFan]

Sorry I meant is there a specific reason they lead in off peak crowds, i.e Force Weekends? I guess I just assumed MK would le

Oswald!!! Please WDW I want Oswald on the East side of the country

Also, you know how Disney doesn't throw out any ideas at all? Things planned years ago tend to pop up every now and again?
Well, back in the early 90s, DHS was planning to have a Toontown Trolley ride featuring Roger Rabbit.

But, between the falling out with Spielberg and the rise of Sunset Boulevard, the plan was scrapped and Tower of Terror was built instead.


Well, Roger may be right out....but....Oswald has trolley troubles of his own....

I firmly believe that we're going to get a Buena Vista Street area in the park at some point, and that it will finally have a version of Toontown Trolley, starring Oswald.

 

[Haymarket2008]

I don't understand why people are blind to the fact that it is obvious Toy Story Land is going behind Midway Mania. That's all but confirmed. Why are people fiercely denying this?

 

[LuckyOswald]

I firmly believe that we're going to get a Buena Vista Street area in the park at some point, and that it will finally have a version of Toontown Trolley, starring Oswald.

That sounds nuts but dang it I like the way you think!

 

[Sam Magic]

I don't understand why people are blind to the fact that it is obvious Toy Story Land is going behind Midway Mania. That's all but confirmed. Why are people fiercely denying this?

Same reason people fiercely deny the Moon Landings...

 

[Sue_Vongello]

word around here is SW may break ground in 2017 i think
havnt seen any time line for TSL

There was a time I was not cynical about WDW ... And I honestly wish I wasn't now, I don't want to be.

That being said if they aren't breaking ground until 2017 (ridiculous if true) then what that means it's not opening until 2020?

And why not break ground early next year? (Probably because they just announced something they don't have a plan for ... Dang stop it Sue ... Enough with the cynicism.)

I so want DHS to be good again ... And business wise if it languishs for another 5-6 years before anything opens that sounds like a big problem. It might be better to close it up for 1-2 years and let the contractors actually work and finish this.

 

[ULPO46]

word around here is SW may break ground in 2017 i think
havnt seen any time line for TSL

Give or take just about. Probably around February or March of 16 all depends on what happens in the next twelve months. And yes ideas are still going around. Its kind of really difficult to make a ride off of Star Wars when the best thing possible is star tours. At best another coaster is being thrown around the tables. How ever it will be more meet and greet and touring an alien world/ restaurant than anything else. But the new Droids, wait until you look at them. Some will be cast members dressed up in 3po style suits talking to guest and others will be R2,R3,and R4 units that will have autonomity and be capable of interacting with guest. It wont disappoint. How ever this will take a longer time than toy story because all aloen world tech has alrwady gone to Pandora. So noe imagineers have to re invent the wheel with this one because sadly the best ride is Star Tours.

 

[FettFan]

I don't understand why people are blind to the fact that it is obvious Toy Story Land is going behind Midway Mania. That's all but confirmed. Why are people fiercely denying this?

1. Because we know Team Disney Orlando has a habit of cheaping out when it comes to demolition.
2. "All but confirmed" = "We have a big hunch"
Which is what they said for Toontown being demo'd for Star Wars....but Inside the Magic just announced via Facebook that Star Wars will be built atop the former Big Thunder Ranch instead.

 

[Sue_Vongello]

1. Because we know Team Disney Orlando has a habit of cheaping out when it comes to demolition.
2. "All but confirmed" = "We have a big hunch"
Which is what they said for Toontown being demo'd for Star Wars....but Inside the Magic just announced via Facebook that Star Wars will be built atop the former Big Thunder Ranch instead.

With TDO nothing is "all but confirmed" until your standing in a completed phase ...

 

[ULPO46]

There was a time I was not cynical about WDW ... And I honestly wish I wasn't now, I don't want to be.

That being said if they aren't breaking ground until 2017 (ridiculous if true) then what that means it's not opening until 2020?

And why not break ground early next year? (Probably because they just announced something they don't have a plan for ... Dang stop it Sue ... Enough with the cynicism.)

I so want DHS to be good again ... And business wise if it languishs for another 5-6 years before anything opens that sounds like a big problem. It might be better to close it up for 1-2 years and let the contractors actually work and finish this.

The sad part is they dont want to close it there are still a very select few rides still working even if it does mean half the park is open. Disney is onky about making money now a days. They forgot the reason why disney even built a theme park, PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAILS AND THE GUEST'S WANTS AND DISLIKES. But hey business is business and they must keep shareholders happy.

 

[NoChesterHester]

Or maybe they still have only a small idea of what they are actually doing.

That Star Wars "announcement" was essentially the same announcement we have heard before except this time with concept art that probably won't resemble what we end up getting. It's telling that they gave zero indication of when this would start construction or open ... after my excitement my logic took over and broke it down ... That was bittersweet.

Concept art is fine but for me to get excited about DHS again I need dates, concrete dates about when things are coming ... And even that doesn't make it a sure thing, sadly ...

Did I miss anything? Did they say when Toy Story Land or SW or anything would open? Or even start construction?

The Board of Directors approves specific projects. It doesn't go to them before there are real plans.

The art was very detailed and specific. Not generic, no matter if the edges were blurred.

 

[Sue_Vongello]

The Board of Directors approves specific projects. It doesn't go to them before there are real plans.

The art was very detailed and specific. Not generic, no matter if the edges were blurred.

Well in the panel they said they are still "designing" and no construction timeline at all ... And they kept mentioning "planets" plural and they only showed one ... So my question is are you sure the board has approved this yet because it sure sounds like it isn't ready to go. And yes the concept art looked kinda detailed but concept art always looks that way and it's just a concept so forgive me for saying I can't take the concept art as proof of them having a plan ready.

 

[ULPO46]

Well in the panel they said they are still "designing" and no construction timeline at all ... And they kept mentioning "planets" plural and they only showed one ... So my question is are you sure the board has approved this yet because it sure sounds like it isn't ready to go. And yes the concept art looked kinda detailed but concept art always looks that way and it's just a concept so forgive me for saying I can't take the concept art as proof of them having a plan ready.

The board gave a go ahead to announce the project. How ever the board has not agreed with parks and resorts on timelines and or designs. They dont want SW taking up future real estate at DHS. Plus if it seemed like there was no agreement exoect dip on DIS market shares. How ever expect gamblers who believe Force Unleashed will crush Avatar Record, to invest on DIS with all these announcements. Its just a doggy dog world and corporate talk annoys the hell out of people on this forum. Sadly i can admit the boards gone nuts with this project. They want Pandora finished before ground work takes place at DHS. Toystory can be started at any moment now. My theory is one or the latter will begin construction first so half the park isnt shut down. Just like new fantasy lamd as one attraction is opened, the other attractions will get finished in the meantime