Disney to Reveal Ambitious Star Wars Plans

[LeRaposa]

Removing the backlot express would be unacceptable. It's the only good place to eat in DHS. They can just re theme the place...

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Removing the backlot express would be unacceptable. It's the only good place to eat in DHS. They can just re theme the place...

 

[lebeau]

This just in:

Disney to continue teasing Star Wars fans with promises of an announcement.

This is your typical SW fan every time Iger says anything at all about SW:

 

[lebeau]

They have real tomato ketchup. Nothing but the best.

 

[LeRaposa]

Yeah. DHS has overwhelmingly awful restaurants.

 

[Ignohippo]

Removing the backlot express would be unacceptable. It's the only good place to eat in DHS. They can just re theme the place...

Backlot Express can be easily converted to the cantina. If you look at the covered seating area out front, it's the perfect shape and size for the bar area. It's ironic how it almost looks as if it were planned that way.

Put two groups of the band at each end of the two indoor seating areas, close in that outside area, build the bar, and with some theming, you're done.

It's too easy of a conversion for them to not make that happen.

 

[DC0703]

Agreed, but a SW Land plus Pixar expansion could add <some of the rides> DHS so desperately needs.

Just because a park is lacking in rides, doesn't mean you take away other attractions/shows because of it.

WDW certainly has the land available and money to be able to ADD without taking away. The shows are a huge part of what makes Disney different than 'any park USA'. I'd hate to see any of them go.

I don't think they should gut then park of shows, but they if they were staying they would need updating. Especially Indiana Jones, that one is largely unchanged from the 80s.

Even if they do nix the stunt show, I would imagine Indiana Jones would be used in the park somewhere, especially with all the rumors circling about another movie in the franchise.

 

[NormC]

Where is the "they're filling in Echo Lake" thing coming from? Is there anything even remotely credible on the back end of this rumor, or was it a throwaway comment that picked up steam and became "the way things are"?

I do not think it is going anywhere. As has already been said it is a rumor and they already have the space needed without filling in the lake and destroying that area.

 

[wendysmom]

Any of our insiders hear anything recently about Gertie and Echo Lake? @PhotoDave219? You were right all along about GMR.....

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

I don't necessarily disagree on the principle. I hate it when attractions are replaced rather than expansion occurring on new land.

But IMHO the problem with Indy is the location -- I think it would make much more sense to use that plot as part of a Star Wars expansion. I think it would be difficult to build a truly impressive Star wars area around Star Tours while leaving IJ in its current place. At some point, you have to deal with different themes and transitions.

If the stunt show was relocated to another area of the park, then fine. I'm down with that.

But I don't think DHS would suffer if future development ends up causing a net loss of 1 or 2 of the shows.

I like the idea of moving the Indy show to another part of the park just they did with lion king at DAK. Close down LMA and move the stunt show there with a ride (log flume or roller coaster) along with retail and other interactive attractions. Then they can do what they want with the area where the stunt show is located right now.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

This just in:

Disney to continue teasing Star Wars fans with promises of an announcement.

This is your typical SW fan every time Iger says anything at all about SW:

I remember the Orange Harvest crates they had at the D23 saying they had big plans

 

[spacemt354]

But I don't think DHS would suffer if future development ends up causing a net loss of 1 or 2 of the shows.

I would say that losing LMA or BatB or Little Mermaid wouldn't impede further development because 1) Whatever replaces LMA will more than likely be Pixar and popular 2) BatB and Little Mermaid both are displayed very nicely in NFL. Guests who are fans of those films have a pretty elaborate display in the MK.

But Indy only has one representation in the parks, and that show still packs house every time I go.

For comparison sake, the perimeter of Diagon Alley including show buildings is approx 0.39 miles. (I used Google earth so if it's not exact, my apologies) If you left Indy where it stands, and used only the space around it (including Star Tours), the perimeter is approx 0.45 miles.

There is room for one big E-ticket and a restaurant if you take down Backlot Express and expand the service road. An E-ticket, D-ticket Star Tours, a restaurant, Jedi Training Academy, excellent detail, then you got a Star Wars Land worth celebrating. Plus you get to keep Indy.

 

[spacemt354]

I'm sure it's been said before, but I truly hope someone in upper management realizes that they are sitting on a goldmine with Lucasfilm and Pixar. These purchases, if properly invested into DHS, would be major hits with guests of all ages. All it takes is a little investment.

Don't they see what happened in DCA?

Not selling ourselves short, but if we can come up with these ideas why can't someone who gets paid to come up with these ideas do the same thing?

 

[Ron Swanson]

Is the star wars land open yet. If not I assume the plans have been revealed.

 

[Progress.City]

Well we said that two years ago. And we said that last year.

So I guess that if you keep trying, eventually you'll be right

It's because Iger keeps stretching out development.

 

[Progress.City]

Iger has nothing to do with Fire Mountain.

Fire Mountain was a canceled project under Eisner in the mid 1990's.

Iger being with Disney when Fire Mountain was a mid 1990's project before being canceled is very questionable since Disney Bought ABC in 1996.

Iger would none or little knowledge of Fire Mountain in the mid 1990's anyway since Iger was President and chief operating officer of Capital Cities/ABC aka ABC. Inc at the time. The positions he had I mentioned is as far away from theme parks as you get when Disney bought ABC and Iger had no say at all.

Proof of Fire Mountain being a mid 1990's project: http://web.archive.org/web/20110704...andfiles.com/tnf/disneyworld/firemountain.php

I haven't checked out your link yet, but I thought Fire Mountain was a pet project of Eisner's and was cancelled right before construction was set to begin, which was was Iger became CEO.

EDIT - I just read your link. That's not proof. That's just a converation from here.

The truth is Fire Mountain and Bald Mountain were being developed. Fire Moubtain was going into Adventureland and had a subelement of the project that would have transformed Jungle Cruise into mostly an indoor dark ride. Fire Moubtain would have been built right on top of Jungle Cruise and the WDW Railroad, adding another indoor scene as well to the WDWRR similar to Splash Mountain.

Bald Mountain would have been built where FLE is. Between the two projects, being developed in parallel, Fire Mountain was gaining more momentum and probably would have been constructed first.

It is said that Eisner originally was going to build just one new mountain for the MK. He set up both development teams to compete for the project but just one was to get built. Eisner loved how both projects were coming along, so he changed his mind and decided that both will be built. Hence, both were equally funded during the next round of development cycles. These were Eisner's pet projects. Eisner intended that both were going to get built.

It wasn't until 2003, the year Iger became CEO that both were cancelled. FLE replaced Bald Mountain and nothing replaced Fire Mountain. And Fire Mountain was all ready to go!

 

[Progress.City]

Is the star wars land open yet. If not I assume the plans have been revealed.

You must be new here!

But, to answer your question. It hasn't even yet been announced, thus construction hasn't even been started. We all know that they have been planning something for years. Rumor is they keep changing their mind of what they want to do exactly.

 

[Progress.City]

I can't find the post, but one of the insiders yesterday seemed to confirm that nothing is getting destroyed, closed, or filled in (including Echo Lake). The footprint he/she/they outlined involved demolition of Backlot Express and expansion into the parking lot.

This makes sense!

 

[Bocabear]

Idk, maybe it's because I have small kids, but I'd rather have the Stunt Show than the ride.

IMO, you can't have enough things for ALL audiences. I've seen the show probably a dozen times and it's still fun every time and keeps packing them in. Especially if LMA leaves (which I'm sure it will), I'm hoping the Indy show will be kept, although I'm not optimistic.

DHS only has 5 rides in the entire park. Even DAK has more rides... I am sure we will see an expanded Jedi Training Academy as part of the Star Wars Presence, but this park desperately needs new rides....actual rides... No more shows.... I think DHS has the lowest ride roster of any Disney Park in the world... lol

 

[LeRaposa]

Backlot Express can be easily converted to the cantina. If you look at the covered seating area out front, it's the perfect shape and size for the bar area. It's ironic how it almost looks as if it were planned that way.

Put two groups of the band at each end of the two indoor seating areas, close in that outside area, build the bar, and with some theming, you're done.

It's too easy of a conversion for them to not make that happen.

I'd be thrilled if they did. I'm also glad to see that I'm not the only one who noticed it suspiciously has the layout for the Mos Eisley Cantina. I just hope they build maybe a small stage for an animatronic cantina band.