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

[stretchsje]

I am still a little skeptical of $1.4 - $1.6 billion going into infrastructure.

If I may posit another theory, perhaps Jim Hill is getting his figures from WDI rather than accounting/management. He's mentioned talking with "a friend in Imagineering" many times before. Perhaps his Imagineer friend(s) aren't in a position to know about the entirety of the project or are only quoting the cost for what is beginning construction soon. Jim Hill mentioned that Iger could still change things midway through development, plus we're hearing again that this will be done through five(!!!) phases, so it stands to reason that not all of that $2.8 billion is being irrevocably committed to specific projects today.

I've long had suspicions that the reason nobody knows what Muppets or Indy will look like after this redo is that Disney is deliberately hedging their bets to see what kind of success the new Muppets sitcom or Indy movie brings in for the company. There may be plans for attractions or lands for both but only pending renewed success of the respective franchises. This would show up in a $2.8 billion, "This is our estimated cost to redo the entire park," figure but not a $1.2-$1.4 billion, "This is what we know we're building now," figure.

Regardless, Jim Hill's track record is good enough that I certainly wouldn't write off his budget figure. Combining what's been said here, I believe what he's reporting is a subset of that $2.8 billion. I just wish we knew what subset or precisely where the figure came from. Then again, I'd equally like to know the breakdown of that alleged $2.8 billion budget!

 

[FettFan]

deeply themed area... thus forcing a rethink of animation courtyard and the current Pixar Place (which is too narrow)

Commissary Lane as the Star Wars entrance?

Because if they remove Dinosaur Gertie's and Min and Bill's, I will be most unhappy.




Also, BOOOO to Radiator Springs. Give us the Monsters Inc. Door-coaster instead.

 

[PhotoDave219]

If I may posit another theory, perhaps Jim Hill is getting his figures from WDI rather than accounting/management. He's mentioned talking with "a friend in Imagineering" many times before. Perhaps his Imagineer friend(s) aren't in a position to know about the entirety of the project or are only quoting the cost for what is beginning construction soon. Jim Hill mentioned that Iger could still change things midway through development, plus we're hearing again that this will be done through five(!!!) phases, so it stands to reason that not all of that $2.8 billion is being irrevocably committed to specific projects today.

I've long had suspicions that the reason nobody knows what Muppets or Indy will look like after this redo is that Disney is deliberately hedging their bets to see what kind of success the new Muppets sitcom or Indy movie brings in for the company. There may be plans for attractions or lands for both but only pending renewed success of the respective franchises. This would show up in a $2.8 billion, "This is our estimated cost to redo the entire park," figure but not a $1.2-$1.4 billion, "This is what we know we're building now," figure.

Regardless, Jim Hill's track record is good enough that I certainly wouldn't write off his budget figure. Combining what's been said here, I believe what he's reporting is a subset of that $2.8 billion. I just wish we knew what subset or precisely where the figure came from. Then again, I'd equally like to know the breakdown of that alleged $2.8 billion budget!

Look. I simply don't care what he puts out there. I don't.

If it matches with what my people tell me? Great. If it doesn't? So be it.

I'm solid on my sources.

 

[Brer Panther]

Why can't we have both Radiator Springs AND a Door Coaster? Surely there's enough room for both...

 

[Haymarket2008]

As much as I think Radiator Springs Racers is a masterpiece and that Cars Land itself is phenomenal in every way, there is no point to bringing it to the east coast. It is amazing out there, and should not be replicated. The ride is part of a whole experience. It goes hand in hand with the land it is housed in. If we just got a truncated version of the ride I would be...hesitant. What made the ride so great was being able to ride through that amazing scenery. I hope we get our own exclusive experience.

 

[FettFan]

Why can't we have both Radiator Springs AND a Door Coaster? Surely there's enough room for both...

Because some E-ticket attractions things should be exclusive to certain parks. To quote The Incredibles: "When EVERYONE'S super, no one will be." Once you start carbon-copying atttractions, there's no reason to visit anywhere else.
Same reason that there shouldn't be a Matterhorn at the Magic Kingdom, and there shouldn't be a Rockin' Roller Coaster on Buena Vista Street, and why I'm rather glad Hong Kong got Mystic Manor instead of the Haunted Mansion.

 

[Brer Panther]

I wouldn't mind if Disneyland got a copy of Test Track, for what it's worth...

 

[doctornick]

Why can't we have both Radiator Springs AND a Door Coaster? Surely there's enough room for both...

Agreed. I mean, I don't care if DHS gets RSR per se -- a different ride would be fine -- but I see no reason why there can't be rides from multiple Pixar franchises. In fact, there should be given the reported budget for this expansion, especially considering the needs of DHS for (a lot of) new rides.

 

[misterID]

Agreed. I mean, I don't care if DHS gets RSR per se -- a different ride would be fine -- but I see no reason why there can't be rides from multiple Pixar franchises. In fact, there should be given the reported budget for this expansion, especially considering the needs of DHS for (a lot of) new rides.

And I would still take the jttcote/beastly hybrid in ak hybrid also.

 

[Kamikaze]

The entire "Carsland to DHS" rumor has been out there for quite some time.

I would not be a fan of another test track.

It isn't. Test Track is awful. Radiator Springs Racers is not.
It isn't a thrill ride, but it is a well done attraction.

 

[Matt_Black]

To quote The Incredibles: "When EVERYONE'S super, no one will be."

You know, quoting the VILLAIN of the film isn't probably the best way to sway people.

 

[Kamikaze]

Latest rumors from Jim Hill (I think the episode was misnamed, so this link may not continue to work): https://disneydish.bandcamp.com/track/disney-springs-rumors-and-shanghai-disney-update

• At the end of Hollywood Blvd, there will be grand entrances for Star Wars to the left, Pixar to the right to each deeply themed area... thus forcing a rethink of animation courtyard and the current Pixar Place (which is too narrow).
  
• Disney Jr. entrance will probably be switched to Sunset Blvd, thus keeping it out of the Pixar area.
  
• Radiator Springs definitely coming as the major draw at the rear of the Pixar area where the Backlot tour is now. (Jim Hill has said on previous podcasts that it will be a different, indoor version due to Florida's rain.)
  
• DHS redo is $1.2-$1.4 billion "depending who you talk to." (My thought: this might be excluding infrastructure, hence why insiders here have so heavily stressed the $2.8 billion rumor includes infrastructure. Could there really be nearly $1.5 billion in infrastructure though?!)
• Construction done in five phases in about as many years, but we're already in phase one.
• Disney will try to keep staff levels the same until "full build-out"
• Indy ride from Disneyland NOT coming, but don't discount something new from Indiana Jones since Disney acquired the rights.
• The infrastructure improvements are so vast that they're having to redo the drainage plan for the park. (Example: permit for south of S Studio Dr.)

Great episode to listen to, as usual.

So I just listened to this episode, and it didn't cover anything you mentioned.

 

[PhotoDave219]

It isn't. Test Track is awful. Radiator Springs Racers is not.
It isn't a thrill ride, but it is a well done attraction.

Then lets tear out test track and put something better in?

 

[JohnD]

66 pages on this thread. Can someone briefly recap what we know so far?

 

[Goofyernmost]

Am I the only one that got this?

Or willing to acknowledge it. Groaning, isn't as powerful written as heard. (groan)

 

[Kamikaze]

Then lets tear out test track and put something better in?

They can start today. Estimated completion date: Spring 2032.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The entire "Carsland to DHS" rumor has been out there for quite some time.

I would not be a fan of another test track.

It wouldn't bother me because Test Track sucks big time. I would like to have the experience that I have seen on You Tube without having to travel across the country to do it. There is nothing new about Disney using like ride vehicles for different themes. As far as I am concerned they could take the entire Star Wars franchise and flush it if they could replace it with Carsland, like the one in California. Sorry, that's the way I feel about it.

 

[ford91exploder]

Because some E-ticket attractions things should be exclusive to certain parks. To quote The Incredibles: "When EVERYONE'S super, no one will be." Once you start carbon-copying atttractions, there's no reason to visit anywhere else.
Same reason that there shouldn't be a Matterhorn at the Magic Kingdom, and there shouldn't be a Rockin' Roller Coaster on Buena Vista Street, and why I'm rather glad Hong Kong got Mystic Manor instead of the Haunted Mansion.

Exactly so!

 

[Hakunamatata]

66 pages on this thread. Can someone briefly recap what we know so far?

What we know? Disney is spending some money.

 

[Kamikaze]

What we know? Disney is possibly spending some money.

FTFY