Echo Lake Refurbishment

Kamikaze

Kamikaze

Well-Known Member
rocketraccoon said:
Star Tours is supposed to close before then, right? I can't imagine anything opening but whatever replaces it should be announced.
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I would say it closes at the end of the 50th celebration. My logic:

They won't close it while the SW:GE crowds are insane. Obviously, that gives them another SW attraction open. Thats end of 2019 and 2020.
Then they won't want it closed during the 50th, and since we're probably looking at a 16-18 month celebration, thats April or June start. Closing it early 2021 wouldn't make much sense if they want as much as possible open for the 50th.
That leaves the end of the 50th celebration as the closing period, which would be Oct 2022.
Thats my prediction. Star Tours closes in October 2022, a three year overlap with SW:GE. Seems reasonable and cost effective. Would also allow them to put in an Episode 9 scene that would get over 2.5 3 years of run time.

Edit: Forgot that Episode 9 is back to customary Star Wars May release. Makes adding an Episode 9 scene even a better idea.
 
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deWild

deWild

Well-Known Member
GoofGoof said:
Indy water ride. It's hot in FL and there's nowhere to get wet in that park.
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Anyone else thinking something similar to a mix of SDL’s Roaring Rapids and Pirates attractions, with a touch of Indy? Shut up and take my money!

MisterPenguin said:
Where are all the proponents of adding rather than replacing?

Everything from TSL to Launch Bay to RnRC is back lot that needs to be replaced to make DHS a true hub and spoke park. Get that built before completely redoing everything from Hollywood Boulevard to Muppet Courtyard.
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I get the feeling the suits will attempt to repurpose the RnRc and Launch Bay buildings before adding anything. I’m all for a hub-and-spoke-esque park, but it would be difficult to do that, at the very least, with Launch Bay standing in the way of potential expansion room.

I don’t understand how the backstage areas behind Launch Bay have survived given the park stopped functioning as a working studio years ago. I realize you can’t do everything all at once, but Jiminy Christmas, the park will need breathing room after SWL opens!
 
jmuboy

jmuboy

Well-Known Member
doctornick said:
The area of the lake itself and the immediate buildings (the theater where Frozen is and the restaurants on the other side) could easily IMHO be switched to be "part of" Hollywood Blvd. This would leave the more peripheral parts of current Echo Lake (Indy, Backlot Express, Star Tours) and theoretical expansion space to be separated into a new land of their own.
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Exactly. Do the Hollywood boulevard theme around the lake. Tear down ST, Indy and Backlot express. Replace these buildings with the Lost River Delta from Disney Sea.
 
Movielover

Movielover

Well-Known Member
deWild said:
I don’t understand how the backstage areas behind Launch Bay have survived given the park stopped functioning as a working studio years ago. I realize you can’t do everything all at once, but Jiminy Christmas, the park will need breathing room after SWL opens!
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That's because most of those backstage areas are services required to run a theme park, and the buildings and areas that were left over from the production studio have all been converted to addition park services and offices for awhile now.
 
deWild

deWild

Well-Known Member
Movielover said:
That's because most of those backstage areas are services required to run a theme park, and the buildings and areas that were left over from the production studio have all been converted to addition park services and offices for awhile now.
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I forget who stated it previously, probably several, but offices can always be moved. What services are housed back there nowadays? It’s been a couple years since I worked there.
 
Meeko77

Meeko77

Well-Known Member
I am thrilled that the area is being tidied up. The past couple of visits, Gertie has had some rusty areas forming where she sits in the water.

My entire family LOVES Gertie, but it is so frustrating how often she is closed. She closes far too early on the days she is even open. To me, it is much more fun to get ice cream from a dinosaur than it is to get ice cream from the kiosk up by Indy.

Really looking forward to her Santa hat at Christmastime; hopefully, they will extend her hours then into the evenings.

One of my favorite memories was seeing the 4th of July fireworks years ago; the line to get ice cream from Gertie was extensive, but the past few years, she has not even been open late on the 4th of July - just doesn't make sense to me.
 
hokielutz

hokielutz

Well-Known Member
I saw the lake on 9/2, and 9/5 and it was still full of water... then when we returned on 9/7, it was drained. Thought at the time it was drained in preparation for Hurricane Irma's arrival, along with all of the scaffolding and fencing scrims that were pulled down. Good times seeing all the pixie dust, but I am sure all the construction crews were scrambling to secure all loose items
 
Movielover

Movielover

Well-Known Member
Corey P said:
I just picture a Griswold incident happening.
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"They don't close Florida..."

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