Ewok Village to be removed for Jedi stage?

[Rob562]

I know that there was talk of them building a stage for a permanent Jedi Academy show near Star Tours, but I missed whether any details were known.
Paperwork was filed today to build the stage (and its tech booth) in the area where the Ewok Village is outside of Star Tours.

http://officialrecords.occompt.com/wb_or1/details.asp?doc_id=29066304

From the paperwork:
"To design, engineer, construct and install an outdoor stage reminiscent of the Imperial Bunker on Endor from Star Wars."

Hmmm... Re-reading that, perhaps a couple of the trees might remain... They'd still fit the theming. They might even find a way to keep this stage and seating area underneath so that it's in the shade. If that's the case, it might be the best of both worlds. (And we wouldn't lose the firelight and cute Ewok sounds coming from up in the trees at night)

-Rob

 

[Enigma]

Well they were going to have to get rid of the endor outdoor queue anyway for the new Star Tours.

 

[darthjohnny]

Wait. It doesn't make sense.

They already have a stage for the Jedi Training Academy. (They use it during Star Wars Weekend).

Why would they remove the Ewok set for the show.

And if Star Tours does get a new film, that doesn't necesarily mean the set Endor set will be removed.

 

[fyn]

This might actually be a cool addition. Now all they need to do is return the shop to Endor Vendors and we'd be all set.

 

[unkadug]

Why would they need a permit to "Design and engineer" ?

If they needed a permit for every time they wanted to design something they would run the Comptroller's office crazy.

I understand having to have the permit for "construction and installation".

 

[Master Yoda]

Why would they need a permit to "Design and engineer" ?

If they needed a permit for every time they wanted to design something they would run the Comptroller's office crazy.

I understand having to have the permit for "construction and installation".

The only reason I could think that it might be added to the permit is if some of the designing and engineering will be happening during the construction. Kind of legal way to say "We are not to sure how this is going to work so we are going to figure it out as we go along". For pretty much any construction in the state of Florida you are required to provide structural drawings. This might be a way for them to get around that and produce structural drawings as they go. I could be wrong though.

 

[Master Yoda]

Wait. It doesn't make sense.

They already have a stage for the Jedi Training Academy. (They use it during Star Wars Weekend).

Why would they remove the Ewok set for the show.

And if Star Tours does get a new film, that doesn't necesarily mean the set Endor set will be removed.

The stage they are using is a temporary one and it looks it. The new stage will be themed to the area and look like it belongs there

 

[unkadug]

The only reason I could think that it might be added to the permit is if some of the designing and engineering will be happening during the construction. Kind of legal way to say "We are not to sure how this is going to work so we are going to figure it out as we go along". For pretty much any construction in the state of Florida you are required to provide structural drawings. This might be a way for them to get around that and produce structural drawings as they go. I could be wrong though.

I'll buy that, it makes sense to me. Thanks. :wave:

 

[erasure fan1]

I hope they don’t get rid of the ewok village, Its one of my favorite things in Disney. I don’t see why they cant just make a permanent stage in the same spot the temp stage is. It’s a perfect spot for what the show is. I do like the show and it will be a good permanent addition to MGM. We just got back and my daughter(5yrs) got to do it. The video I have of her fighting Darth Vader is one of my favorite moments in all of my Disney vacations. So unless they add something like cloud city or a sand crawler don’t get rid of the Ewok village.

 

[Mecha Figment]

yes if the ewok village goes i'll miss hearing them party late at night.

 

[WeLComeHomE OKW]

No, the Ewok village is not going anywhere.

The show is going to be where it is now, just bigger and in a really cool indoor bunker. The Ewok village is to the right of the entrance to the ride, and the new/redone stage/mini-theater will go to the left of the entrance.

ive seen a concept drawing, so dont worry.

 

[Mecha Figment]

well i't can't be to big or it will block the parade entrance.

 

[Rob562]

No, the Ewok village is not going anywhere.

The show is going to be where it is now, just bigger and in a really cool indoor bunker. The Ewok village is to the right of the entrance to the ride, and the new/redone stage/mini-theater will go to the left of the entrance.

ive seen a concept drawing, so dont worry.

I'm not doubting you, but the plans on Page 2 of the filing seem to disagree. The outline of the area to be worked on includes the entore Ewok tree village, and part of the walkway in front. Admittedly it does also extend across the walkway to the edge of Backlot Express, but this is the parade route. They can't do much in that area.

Part of the problem of where the temporary stage is now is that there's absolutely no shade for the viewers. They're also looking into the sun much of the day.

Here's an aerial view:
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?...t=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=8175886&encType=1
(It's interesting, if you play around with the views, sometimes the temp stage is there, other times it's not)

I think the best location in this area would be at the very back of where the outdoor queue is under the Ewok treehouses. A little queue modification would be required, as well as a plan for an overflow queue on very busy days, but I don't see where else they could put a permanent stage, especially one that's "indoors" as you mention. (Could you have misinterpreted the concept art to looking like it's indoors, but it's really underneath the Ewok trees?) Also, getting Guests out of the main walkway would relieve the bottleneck that forms in the area when the show is going on. I'd say the show would be akin to the Storytime with Belle at the MK. Look at the stage and seating area they were able to shoehorn into a small plot of land .

-Rob

 

[jmvd20]

Originally Posted by Master Yoda

The only reason I could think that it might be added to the permit is if some of the designing and engineering will be happening during the construction. Kind of legal way to say "We are not to sure how this is going to work so we are going to figure it out as we go along". For pretty much any construction in the state of Florida you are required to provide structural drawings. This might be a way for them to get around that and produce structural drawings as they go. I could be wrong though.

I have used something similar to this before on a few projects. Basically called "As Built" for the permit/plans/inspection process. Not very common but it does happen in certain circumstances.

 

[UltimtMickeyFan]

Just my .02, but could they be planning on not using that gate anymore for the parade stepoff? As they are trying to plan a longer route for the parade for when Block Party Bash arrives in March... Just an idea.

 

[Master Yoda]

I have used something similar to this before on a few projects. Basically called "As Built" for the permit/plans/inspection process. Not very common but it does happen in certain circumstances.

You are right it is not that common. Typically you do structural drawings that are close to what you think is going to happen to get the permit then you revise and resubmit before inspection.

 

[jmvd20]

You are right it is not that common. Typically you do structural drawings that are close to what you think is going to happen to get the permit then you revise and resubmit before inspection.

Exactly. The one situation where we used "As Built" was on a food processing facility. The main reason they went that was is because they wanted things laid out to see how it would work for them once everything was in place. Things were installed, moved, sent back and new ones ordered... Just a mess, a 3 month project took 5 to complete.

 

[jedimaster1227]

Well they were going to have to get rid of the endor outdoor queue anyway for the new Star Tours.

Nope... Not really... The facade isn't going anywhere anytime soon...

 

[Enigma]

Nope... Not really... The facade isn't going anywhere anytime soon...

Explain how an Endor facade makes sense if you are no longer boarding the endor express with nonstop service to endor? It's the same reason they got rid of the Endor store at the end of the ride and replaced it.

 

[fyn]

Explain how an Endor facade makes sense if you are no longer boarding the endor express with nonstop service to endor? It's the same reason they got rid of the Endor store at the end of the ride and replaced it.

They got rid of Endor Vendors to tie in merchandise to Lucas' new movies. The change over happened right around Episode 1's release.