DHS Disney Animation-Inspired Experience Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

[James Alucobond]

This is going to be primarily a M&G site, just like it is now.

Disney cares about “thematic consistency” only when it can be used as an excuse for budget-minded, lackluster additions. There is no reason something thematically consistent cannot also be substantial, especially in a park with enormous thematic flexibility like Studios.

Yes, it’s a vastly less interesting version of the original attraction reflecting decades of poor decisions.

Why does the park need play areas? Why does it need things for families to do? This is a particularly relevant question since they just killed a family attraction to build yet another coaster.

“Miles better” is a massive overstatement. It is, at best, a minor upgrade. And there is absolutely no reason to consider it outside of its larger context.

I was largely responding to your ask about why the response to this was more positive than PLAY! It is because PLAY! was an abysmal reuse of the existing WoL infrastructure that didn’t repurpose any of its many theater spaces. This, on the other hand, is pure enhancement of the existing infrastructure over the sad Launch Bay.

While the context of Muppets, Monsters, and the broader possibilities of the space is relevant to HS as a whole, I don’t see why it’s hard to understand the overall more favorable reaction relative to PLAY!

 

[Agent H]

Or at least temporarily make it a festival center again.

They could even run a summer festival then.

They already have 2 festival centers.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Wonder what this will do with the Mickey and Minnie M&G's on the opposite side? Will they close them and migrate them back to the animation building again?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The big wins -

Launch Bay needed to go a week after it opened. This fixes that.

The IP can’t be argued with by anyone - it’s classic to the company and to this part of the park. Any focus on Disney Animation is a win.

More indoor space with something that families can all enjoy together- a very accessible attraction.

I’ll take this over Simpsons any day!!!!

The loss -

If this is what they are doing with the space, it’s sad we had to lose muppets. If it was my park, I would have done this and added a Dr. Teeth family coaster where the door coaster is going.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

This is weird for me to evaluate. In a vacuum it is a positive because it takes a wasted space and uses it and fits DHS. But, it makes the loss of Muppet’s sting more, and makes me fear that this “temporary” change ends up lasting a decade or more.

A decade is temporary.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I was largely responding to your ask about why the response to this was more positive than PLAY! It is because PLAY! was an abysmal reuse of the existing WoL infrastructure that didn’t repurpose any of its many theater spaces. This, on the other hand, is pure enhancement of the existing infrastructure over the sad Launch Bay.

While the context of Muppets, Monsters, and the broader possibilities of the space is relevant to HS as a whole, I don’t see why it’s hard to understand the overall more favorable reaction relative to PLAY!

On those terms, I’d counter that Play was going to reopen a space that had been closed to guests and essentially wasted for many, many years while this is simply changing the theme of a space that has long held a similar attraction. It remains very unclear to me why this is more of a win then Play.

 

[Horizons '83]

On those terms, I’d counter that Play was going to reopen a space that had been closed to guests and essentially wasted for many, many years while this is simply changing the theme of a space that has long held a similar attraction. It remains very unclear to me why this is more of a win then Play.

For me, the win because of the animation piece and bringing it back.

 

[Casper Gutman]

For me, the win because of the animation piece and bringing it back.

The animation attraction was fascinating because of the live animators you could watch work. When that element was taken away, the attraction quickly became stale, empty, and uninteresting- so much so that it was replaced by a lame Star Wars showplace. Now we’re going back to animation minus the animators, an idea that didn’t work the first time.

 

[James Alucobond]

On those terms, I’d counter that Play was going to reopen a space that had been closed to guests and essentially wasted for many, many years while this is simply changing the theme of a space that has long held a similar attraction. It remains very unclear to me why this is more of a win then Play.

Fair, but again, you’re talking about one that hearkens back to the roots of the building (superficially, we know) with grounding in a short for 100 Years of Wonder that almost everyone liked versus … Edna Mode and Joy emojis on a generic cityscape screen?

 

[SoFloMagic]

They already have 2 festival centers.

The hallway with one food booth and a couple displays doesn't count.

WOL festival center was legit. And you could do an air conditioned summer fest with 5-10 food booths, displays, and shops in there.

Im not saying its the best use of space, but if its gonna be empty otherwise its a good temp option. Add some premium wine tastings and ROI would be easy

 

[Supernova]

On those terms, I’d counter that Play was going to reopen a space that had been closed to guests and essentially wasted for many, many years while this is simply changing the theme of a space that has long held a similar attraction. It remains very unclear to me why this is more of a win then Play.

For me it’s because Star Wars launch bay was kind of embarrassing. I’m actually glad it’ll be behind construction walls for my trip in November so I don’t have to look at it ever again.

 

[Robbiem]

I don’t like this. It looks worse than the current archway and art deco buildings IMO. I don’t think many people will even know what it is supposed to be.

I would much rather have seen a toontown type area to house the classic characters

 

[Casper Gutman]

For me it’s because Star Wars launch bay was kind of embarrassing. I’m actually glad it’ll be behind construction walls for my trip in November so I don’t have to look at it ever again.

It's pretty easy to avoid. I've been in it twice.

Because it was raining.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yes, there's a degree of whimsy to the design, but it's a functional building

This might be a stretch. The building was apparently quite hated by animators and underwent some significant renovations to make it work better.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I love the idea that for some reason they haven’t even considered plans to fix AC until this very moment. Why would the development of a new land take years? They don’t have plans for, say, a Monsters Inc land ready to go for this spot? Why is the only way to do something “quickly” to do it cheaply?

Most people here were happy when the Play Pavilion died but for some reason we’re all giggly about its second coming.

To the extent plans exist for any location they’re not anywhere near ready to go.

 

[SamusAranX]

A welcome change of pace that finally uses empty space instead of *ahem* closing something else.

 

[Casper Gutman]

To the extent plans exist for any location they’re not anywhere near ready to go.

Out of curiosity, at what point do you think they decided to put Monsters in Muppets rather than AC?

 

[rogerrabbitfan9]

This sounds nice, but I also thought the Play pavilion was a win.

The Star Wars thing has aged badly.

 

[Agent H]

The hallway with one food booth and a couple displays doesn't count.

WOL festival center was legit. And you could do an air conditioned summer fest with 5-10 food booths, displays, and shops in there.

Im not saying its the best use of space, but if its gonna be empty otherwise its a good temp option. Add some premium wine tastings and ROI would be easy

Now couple the hall with the world showplace in between the United Kingdom and Canada and you have the space for everything you could possibly need for food booths and special events like party for the senses.

 

[Supernova]

It's pretty easy to avoid. I've been in it twice.

Because it was raining.

Yeah but I want to watch The Little Mermaid show, now I don’t even have to side glance the area.