This is my first go at imagineering anything. And, honestly, it's way too high level for it to be considered real imagineering anyway. And, it's not like these ideas are incredibly revolutionary...just things that make sense to me. Nevertheless...please be kind.
I've been thinking about this for a long time and certainly the recent Star Wars news has me thinking about it once again. The question being: How can we add Star Wars to DHS, add even more fun to that park, and still retain (or even regain) some theming is in line with the name of the park?
The short answer: Rename the park to Disney Studios.
Think about it. Disney properties afford it several "studios": Pixar, Muppets, Lucas, Marvel, ABC...not to mention Disney's own brand.
At a very high level (without getting into too many details of what attractions/dining/shopping are in each themed land, the park could be divided fairly easily into distinct "studios" lands.
I've been thinking about this for a long time and certainly the recent Star Wars news has me thinking about it once again. The question being: How can we add Star Wars to DHS, add even more fun to that park, and still retain (or even regain) some theming is in line with the name of the park?
The short answer: Rename the park to Disney Studios.
Think about it. Disney properties afford it several "studios": Pixar, Muppets, Lucas, Marvel, ABC...not to mention Disney's own brand.
At a very high level (without getting into too many details of what attractions/dining/shopping are in each themed land, the park could be divided fairly easily into distinct "studios" lands.
- Pixar Studios could include the land currently occupied by TSMM and the TS meet-n-greet, but also expand back into the space occupied by the backstage tour, LMA and the HISTK playground. The new space could be used for all of the ideas already thrown around, including Monsters, Inc. door coaster, Radiator Springs Racers, etc. Also, while we're at it, relocate Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor and Space Ranger Spin to this new land and start thinking about fixing the theming in Tomorrowland. (Yeah, I struggle a bit with having both TSMM and SRS in the same land...but not that much.) Streets of America? I dunno...maybe that's where Incredibles stuff happens. I'm fuzzy on what to do with that space without completely removing it. Oh yeah...Pizza Planet gets moved over to this land.
- Muppets Studios would be a relatively small land and would include the space it's currently in plus perhaps a Swedish Chef themed restaurant in the space vacated by Pizza Planet. (I'm imagining an animatronic Swedish Chef in plain sight preparing meals while you eat...Sonny Eclipse-style but with food and unintelligible words.) Maybe that old Muppet-themed mockery of GMR could be added.
- Lucas Studios could take over most/all of the Echo Lake area and include all of the ideas already thrown around in this forum. But, not just Star Wars. I may be in the minority, but I like the Indiana Jones stunt show. That said, I'd be okay with it going away so long as there's still Indy presence. Maybe a clone of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye or something new and unique. (Sadly, 50's Prime-Time would need to move out of the way for this land. I'd hate to see it go completely, but I don't have thoughts on where it could move to.)
- I have nothing specific for ABC in mind, although I'm not sure what to do with Commissary Lane. I'm not recommending that the commissary remain (I'm not a fan of that place), but I'm not sure what to do with that space. And I'd hate to see Sci-Fi go away.
- The animation courtyard is reworked (slightly) to be Disney's Animation Studios. Not a whole lot of retheming here...just renaming. And it should include One Man's Dream...that just needs to stay as-is.
- The remainder of the existing area remains almost untouched and is themed as Tinseltown or Hollywood Land or some such thing. I'd like the park to retain some of it's existing theming and this part of the park is mostly fine as-is. Sure, the RnRC is a bit out of place...not much I can do about that (yet). And maybe the Beauty and the Beast show could be replaced with something fresh. But I'm a big fan of the CoH and would want a classic Hollywood area to remain for them.
- Needless to say, the BAH goes away so that we can see the Chinese Theater again. GMR gets an update to include some newer "classic" movies, but otherwise stays put.
- Eventually...someday...with any luck...Disney works it out so that they can have proper Marvel presence in Florida. When/if that happens, Marvel Studios can occupy space between RnRC and the animation building (currently backstage area) or space west of TSMM around the Earful Tower (currently backstage and part of the tour).
