Miceage Update: New Soarin film by 2015, DHS refurb on the way.

[Pixiedustmaker]

Why bother having a backlot tour of a studio that doesn't exist?

I'm not saying there aren't problems with the Backlot tour. When DHS opened it was one of the big draws, and its acreage has been eroded. I wouldn't be surprised if WDI had a plethora of ideas for changing the attraction, when you look at the bones you've got a tram and a serpentine path, and catastrophe canyon. They could really change the attraction to boost guest interest, BUT you've also go tourists from different countries who find the whole Hollywood concept fascinating, and get more out of the backlot than regulars to the parks.

Sure, if DHS was in the red, and pulling 6 million guests . . . maybe they'd do something drastic, quick and expensive . . . but even then I'd see them putting Carsland in the parking lot. Since DHS isn't a failure, and since it is getting 10 million guests a year . . . the issue is ride/restaurant/guest capacity and that means addressing it by a fifth gate or a de novo land first and foremost.

 

[Skywalker]

It would be awesome if there was at least one working studio or even a series of studios. Now that's Hollywood.

Why bother having a backlot tour of a studio that doesn't exist?

 

[Californian Elitist]

It would be awesome if there was at least one working studio or even a series of studios. Now that's Hollywood.

What do you mean by a series of studios?

 

[unkadug]

What do you mean by a series of studios?

Perhaps like the Hollywood that only exists in everybody's mind. Warner Brothers Studio is next door to Walt Disney Studios which is next to Paramount Studios which is next door to 20th Century Fox...etc.

 

[Skywalker]

What do you mean by a series of studios?

Just areas that are actually used for real sets or real sets. I'm not criticizing what is there, just saying it would be neat if there was actual working studio somewhere in DHS.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Perhaps like the Hollywood that only exists in everybody's mind. Warner Brothers Studio is next door to Walt Disney Studios which is next to Paramount Studios which is next door to 20th Century Fox...etc.

That's kind of what I was thinking they meant.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Just areas that are actually used for real sets or real sets. I'm not criticizing what is there, just saying it would be neat if there was actual working studio somewhere in DHS.

Okay, I see what you mean. You mean a series of sets, soundstages, etc. I really think Disney should quit trying with the studio thing, since they just can't seem to get it right.

 

[unkadug]

Just areas that are actually used for real sets or real sets. I'm not criticizing what is there, just saying it would be neat if there was actual working studio somewhere in DHS.

They tried that...it was not economically feasible to have a working studio so far away from the home of most of the talent.

And the sets that were there was nothing that you really cared about anyway.

 

[Skywalker]

I was simply meaning a real set, but what they have now is fine.

 

[unkadug]

I was simply meaning a real set, but what they have now is fine.

Like @raven24 said, they should get away from pretending to be a real studio and just focus on entertainment.

 

[Skywalker]

I can see both of those points.
Of course they could go the "reality show" route, endless possibilities there on site. But then I don't like most of those which goes to your second point. lol.

They tried that...it was not economically feasible to have a working studio so far away from the home of most of the talent.

And the sets that were there was nothing that you really cared about anyway.

 

[Skywalker]

I do enjoy the Indiana Jones stunt show for the most part. Never been to American Idol.
I also enjoy lights, camera for the most part.

 

[PeterAlt]

Do hope this is all true, Soarin' particularly is in desperate need of an update!

I love the bias the author has against WDW! He says how DCA's Soaring will have a new film, a new finalè unique to DLR, a new digital projector system, a new re-themed show building, etc. He then mentions EC's Soaring will get the new film (minus the DL grand finalè) and everything else will stay the same...

Okay, I have no problem with keeping the current theming of the show building, but AT THE VERY LEAST update the projector to digital! It was bad enough not to include the clean room for the EC version! Updating it to digital and I will forgive them for not including the projector clean room!

Has it been confirmed that this is the "mystery project" expected in 2015 for EC? Or is this something else in addition? I'm assuming this is in addition to that because this is a clone of something being worked on for DCA. The mystery project is being designed specifically for EC.

 

[TP2000]

I love the bias the author has against WDW! He says how DCA's Soaring will have a new film, a new finalè unique to DLR, a new digital projector system, a new re-themed show building, etc. He then mentions EC's Soaring will get the new film (minus the DL grand finalè) and everything else will stay the same...

I think it's pretty well accepted from this info on Miceage that each property that has a Soarin' attraction would get the HD treatment and an ending specific to the property; a finale' for Anaheim, a different finale' for Shanghai, and a different finale' for Epcot.

The difference for Epcot is that they won't change the pre-show and queue from its current contemporary airport theme. It's just the destinations on the ride that would change at Epcot.

 

[PeterAlt]

I think it's pretty well accepted from this info on Miceage that each property that has a Soarin' attraction would get the HD treatment and an ending specific to the property; a finale' for Anaheim, a different finale' for Shanghai, and a different finale' for Epcot.

The difference for Epcot is that they won't change the pre-show and queue from its current contemporary airport theme. It's just the destinations on the ride that would change at Epcot.

By "HD treatment", do you mean digital?

 

[PeterAlt]

How would you spend $1.5 billion on a DHS makeover?

I would...

- Build a themed people mover system connecting International Gateway at WS to DHS.

- Build parking structures on the current DHS parking lot to free up land on the current parking lot for expansion of the park.

- Build new on and off ramps from World Drive to the parking structures.

- Build an elevated moving sidewalk from Disney's Boardwalk Resort to cross over LBV Boulevard to the DHS entrance.

- Build an Indiana Jones mini-land. The existing stunt show and gift shop would be incorporated and the area would be expanded into the current parking area with a clone of the DL ride.

- Build Monsters Inc. Roller Coaster at Pixar Place, next to TSMM.

- Build Radiator Springs Racers as part of a new version of Cars Land at reclaimed parking lot land.

- Build the once-planned Muppet Studios land that would incorporate the Muppet 3D movie and include the Great Muppet Movie Ride and Gonzo's Pizzeria.

- The final phase of the project would create a new Star Wars land, incorporating Star Tours. A new big budget E-ticket would be included and created from scratch and would not be expected to open until way after the rest of the project has opened.

Did I go over my budget?

 

[Taylor]

How would you spend $1.5 billion on a DHS makeover?

I would...

- Build a themed people mover system connecting International Gateway at WS to DHS.

- Build parking structures on the current DHS parking lot to free up land on the current parking lot for expansion of the park.

- Build new on and off ramps from World Drive to the parking structures.

- Build an elevated moving sidewalk from Disney's Boardwalk Resort to cross over LBV Boulevard to the DHS entrance.

- Build an Indiana Jones mini-land. The existing stunt show and gift shop would be incorporated and the area would be expanded into the current parking area with a clone of the DL ride.

- Build Monsters Inc. Roller Coaster at Pixar Place, next to TSMM.

- Build Radiator Springs Racers as part of a new version of Cars Land at reclaimed parking lot land.

- Build the once-planned Muppet Studios land that would incorporate the Muppet 3D movie and include the Great Muppet Movie Ride and Gonzo's Pizzeria.

- The final phase of the project would create a new Star Wars land, incorporating Star Tours. A new big budget E-ticket would be included and created from scratch and would not be expected to open until way after the rest of the project has opened.

Did I go over my budget?

A little over budget

 

[PeterAlt]

A little over budget

If I had to make cuts, I would cut from Cars Land and try to leave RSR intact.

EDIT -

Other possible cuts -

Star Wars Land could be cut out entirely and included in a future follow-on project.

Muppet Studios can be cut entirely if there were no money left over after everything on my list got built.

The rest (the people mover, elevated walkway, parking structures, World Drive on and off ramps, Indiana Jones mini-land with DL ride clone, and Monsters Inc. Roller Coaster) would stay on the list and not get cut or cheapened no matter what!

Oh, I forgot to include a major update to the Great Movie Ride as part of the project too... Also not to get cut no matter what!

 

[TP2000]

By "HD treatment", do you mean digital?

Yes, digital HD.

 

[PeterAlt]

Yes, digital HD.

That's very good news! So, we should expect two new things in 2015 for EC - the Soaring update and the "mystery project" (Imagination?)...