DHS to Get the DCA Treatment?

[Mike730]

WELL THEN
Back on topic here folks....

posted this article today entitled, "Major Changes Coming to Studio Tram Tour at Disney Hollywood Studios in 2013"

Is this preparation for the infamous Pixar place expansion??

Looking at the image, can anyone give a better explanation to exactly where this is?

edit: okay so I think I figured it out
Man in great with gimp....
At least it shows the location..

 

[MarkTwain]

Ranch = Land of Oz v Lone Ranger?

Seems the most likely.

 

[vinnya1726]

You are right on my friend.

The first step to addressing DHS would be for TDO to decide what that park is supposed to be about in the year 2012 and beyond when there is never going to be any sort of active filming there. That was supposed to be the point of DHS in the very beginning, that it would be a working studio for guests to learn how movies and TV shows were made. In my opinion the mission statement and guiding principles of DHS need to be reconcieved as "DHS is the park that celebrates great movies from Disney and other artists".

So much could be done with that concept. There could be a whole Star Wars Land, a land for Indiana Jones with lots of fun attractions, an area for Pixar Films, the Muppet Studios, etc. It would be the one place where it would feel totally appropriate to base a land off a movie franchise because that would be the point of the place.

Tear down all the studio buildings and evict the executive offices that are there now and really go wild with bringing the movies to life.

You want a Potter-Swatter? Well, how about a place where you can visit all sorts of films and not just the Potter ones? That would be amazing.

I'm really fascinated by the remaking of Tomorrowland though. That is another thing that needs its mission statement and guiding principles reexamined. They need to find a way to present Tomorrowland so that it does not need to be remade again for another 50 years. Don't set it in the near future...set it in a make-believe world based on science fiction. I kind of like the idea of it being done up in Steampunk to look like what the people who lived on Main Street at the turn of the 20th Century thought the future would look like. That would be a fun transition from Main Street into Tomorrowland...like you were leaping into the imaginations of those Main Street residents. Disney Imagineers could have a lot of fun with Steampunk.

I'm really excited for October to come. Al Lutz has hinted a few times that Disney would be deciding soon what it's going to do and we'd get an idea somewhat of what's to come for Tomorrowland and Frontierland. I am really crossing my fingers that exciting things are coming down the pipe and this is the beginning of a New Golden Age for Disney parks.

 

[ellie-badge]

I'd rather they invest some money into Epcot (Wonders of Life, Imagination, etc.), but I'll be happy with whatever they plan on doing over in Disney Hollywood Studios, too.

 

[doctornick]

I'd rather they invest some money into Epcot (Wonders of Life, Imagination, etc.), but I'll be happy with whatever they plan on doing over in Disney Hollywood Studios, too.

I would tend to disagree, but to each their own. While I would like some changes in Future World and/or more countries added, I don't think Epcot is lacking the way that DHS is. DAK needs more attractions and Pandora will hopefully answer that, but DHS is the park most in need of a re-imagining and expansion. DHS has some of the best all around attractions, but is just a mess thematically and has far too little to do.

 

[dreamscometrue]

1.) yes;
2.) yes;

Thanks...just as I suspected.

 

[JustInTime]

So many people knew about FLE before it was announced that Rasulo joked about the rumors in the lead up to his announcement.

The only reason people knew about the rumors is because TDO planted a leak. It had nothing to do with resident insiders having the scoop.

 

[JustInTime]

Fantasy Land Expansion was a horribly kept secret. It was known on these boards in June of '09 and announced at the Expo (I believe in September 09). Lee said he received an e-mail on Avatar shortly before the announcement but thought it was too far fetched so he didn't share it. Other than that there was nothing on it. Of course there's been nothing else since either so that might explain it.

As I already stated, FLE was leaked here. Disney planted the leak to get a feel about how the fanbase would react. It wasn't our regular insiders. Speaking of which, I wonder whatever happened to that member who originally posted the blueprints and thread here? That was an exciting time. I remember Steve took them down because he was worried about ramifications.

 

[Jim Handy]

DHS is what I'd call a priority for TDO. They recognize that the park is at...risk....and as far as they are concerned MK and DAK are all set with FL and Avatar. They really have no idea what to do with Epcot.

WDI definitely has plans for DHS. Some more extensive than others. There are some aspects that are close, but there have been many projects that have come close to being approved and were pulled at the very last moment. Hell, Hyperion Wharf showed us a project isn't even a sure thing once it is announced at construction begins!

 

[JustInTime]

So do DAK and MK...

Wait, that's all the parks.

Well, to be fair, AK is getting Avatar and MK is getting a new land. And rumored new nighttime entertainment and daytime parade are on slate for MK too. That leaves DHS and Epcot next to get something completely new.

 

[TalkingHead]

Well, to be fair, AK is getting Avatar and MK is getting a new land. And rumored new nighttime entertainment and daytime parade are on slate for MK too. That leaves DHS and Epcot next to get something completely new.

Umm...Avatar is, what, 5 years away?

DAK needed a couple of new attractions years ago.

 

[TalkingHead]

As I already stated, FLE was leaked here. Disney planted the leak to get a feel about how the fanbase would react. It wasn't our regular insiders. Speaking of which, I wonder whatever happened to that member who originally posted the blueprints and thread here? That was an exciting time. I remember Steve took them down because he was worried about ramifications.

So what you're saying is Disney planted the leak and got *presumably* positive feedback...

...only to revise the plans after they were announced and criticized as being too girly and having too many meet-and-greets?

 

[doctornick]

How disappointing! So Lee, is TDO to blame or is it just that the powers to be at Disney value DL more?

Can someone explain this to me... there seems to be a lot of griping about TDO and how they are "cheap" and keep trying to cut costs on planned things. What is the benefit for them? I'm sure that that division is given a certain budget to "do things", but what do they do with the money that is cut from projects. Why is there an impetus to save money and cut costs when they could be investing and expanding?

I guess the feeling is that WDW is profitable and doesn't need to invest to keep it's current level of visitors (as many have said, if someone stops going, there are plenty of others to take that place) but since the the upper folks at Disney have shown a willingness to invest in the parks (Iike Carsland or the DL Tomorrowland E-ticket talked about here) why would TDO not willingly and eagerly accept such investment if it is offered to them? Why wouldn't they spend that money?

 

[JustInTime]

Umm...Avatar is, what, 5 years away?

DAK needed a couple of new attractions years ago.

Well, since we are talking about upcoming attractions, I think we can assume anything new would be at least three years away or so. It does no good to talk about what attractions should have been built in a thread about attractions that could be built. We all know it's past time.

 

[unkadug]

Can someone explain this to me... there seems to be a lot of griping about TDO and how they are "cheap" and keep trying to cut costs on planned things. What is the benefit for them? I'm sure that that division is given a certain budget to "do things", but what do they do with the money that is cut from projects. Why is there an impetus to save money and cut costs when they could be investing and expanding?

I guess the feeling is that WDW is profitable and doesn't need to invest to keep it's current level of visitors (as many have said, if someone stops going, there are plenty of others to take that place) but since the the upper folks at Disney have shown a willingness to invest in the parks (Iike Carsland or the DL Tomorrowland E-ticket talked about here) why would TDO not willingly and eagerly accept such investment if it is offered to them? Why wouldn't they spend that money?

Bonuses in their pockets.

 

[JustInTime]

So what you're saying is Disney planted the leak and got *presumably* positive feedback...

...only to revise the plans after they were announced and criticized as being too girly and having too many meet-and-greets?

Yep. Everyone knows when Staggs took over the plans were too far advanced to change completley. He came in just in time to change the middle of the expansion. I thought this was all general knowledge...

 

[awhit066]

As long as the one we get isn't the dang door coaster, I'm all for it.

I think this is the first time I've heard any one say they DONT want to door coaster... any particular reasons why?

 

[doctornick]

Of course. It doesn't take a rocket scientist (get it? Tomorrowland?) to figure out that the new E Ticket coming to Anaheim will be showing up around 2015 in two Tomorrowland's; in Anaheim and in Shanghai.

There's more going on with Disney theme parks beyond just Florida. TDA has likely tapped in to the development of major new attractions for Shanghai Disneyland, for both the new Tomorrowland E TIcket in 2015 and whatever arrives on the backside of Frontierland shortly after that.

Ok, it makes sense to duplicate attractions between parks. As is often mentioned, it spreads the developmental budget between different resorts which helps multiple bottom lines. That said, if they wanted to upgrade DHS they could do so easily by just copying rides from other parks. Quoting a previous post in this thread...

DHS really needs the DCA treatment - remove the hat, cohesive theming, build new rides, upgrade Fantasmic, etc.!
Even if not brand new, there are various attractions at other Disney resorts that would fit in DHS...

• Animagique,
• Armageddon– The Special Effects,
• CinéMagique,
• Crush’s Coaster,
• GlowFest/ElecTRONica/Mad T Party Inspired Nightime Event,
• Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye,
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!,
• Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek,
• Radiator Springs Racers ,
• Ratatouille Ride,
• Stitch Encounter/Stitch Live

I'd add stuff like Journey to the Center of the Earth and Raging Spirits for possibilities for an "Action/Adventure" area. There's also a bunch of Toy Story (from Paris and Hong Kong) or Bug's Like (from DCA) attractions that could be considered for a Pixar area, plus any of the Carland stuff.

I mean TDO could "on the cheap" do some pretty significant upgrades using already existing blueprints. So, I just don't get the underlying premise: Why would WDO not want to update the parks with new attractions? Especially in light of the impact out in California.

 

[Kuhio]

I think this is the first time I've heard any one say they DONT want to door coaster... any particular reasons why?

Traumatized by scary closet monsters as a child, perhaps?

 

[doctornick]

I think this is the first time I've heard any one say they DONT want to door coaster... any particular reasons why?

Yeah, seems odd to me too. The door coaster seems like a pretty fun idea to me, though who knows how the execution would end up. Since it's already largely been developed from what I hear, it doesn't seem like Disney would have to invest much in that aspect and it would pretty much just be the coast to build. I think.

That said, I'd be fine with Monsters Inc Ride & Go Seek as an alternative just to get some more attractions in DHS.