News Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Disney Analyst]

Maybe I'm biased, but to me Muppets is perhaps dated, but in a charming, nostalgic way, and still draws people. It's not like I have ever been sitting in the theater alone watching it, not even close. Usually at least half full or more.

Not everything has to be flashy, fancy and new. It's fine as is, it's not broken, why fix it? Why rip it out to put in another thrill ride? Muppets is something the whole family can enjoy. HS already is short on things like that, especially if you do not want to wait for an hour or more in the hot sun (Slinky Dog Dash).

Here's a question to ponder. If DHS is finally filled with a decent capacity of attractions, does Muppets become less attended?

I always thought part of the higher popularity out east was simply due to DHS being so under built and grossly lacking in things to do, people are kinda just forced to do it.

Meanwhile out west, where between two parks there is SOOO much to do, Muppets could only survive ... 13 years? Is the audience that different, or is Muppets helped by the problem that is DHS?

 

[doctornick]

Let's say it does go to animation courtyard is there enough room to make a significant land back there without tearing down RnR and Mermaid?

There's a ton of land depending, including some some parking, that can easily be used for a substantial build.

 

[Sectorkeeper71]

Honestly, I enjoy the Muppets film, but it doesn't have the sort of "untouchable" status to me that other things do. Would I mind it remaining as a tribute to Henson? Sure, that's cool. But I don't feel it is sacrosanct and cannot be removed, especially if the Muppets have some other presence in the parks.

I too feel it is kinda dated and I actually find Waldo kind of annoying. Most of the rest of the show is good including the stuff in the theater itself. I lament the potential loss because I think as a continuous available high capacity show, it feels a big need for DHS. But if they replaced it with a similar caliber show, I'd be fine.

I actually will miss ITTBAB more than MuppetVision.

I love the in theater things and that’s really groundbreaking especially for when it debuted.

I’d be disappointed for it to go away entirely but I wish they’d plus it up and as someone else suggested maybe add seasonal shows. A lot of potential here, but the only thing we’re likely to get is it being cut from the parks entirely

 

[gorillaball]

I gotta be honest I'm not even mad if Muppets and Star Tours is replaced, but I'm mad if its replaced before the Animation Courtyard/Rockin, an area none of us care about.

Rockin? Speak for yourself not all of us.

 

[doctornick]

Here's a question to ponder. If DHS is finally filled with a decent capacity of attractions, does Muppets become less attended?

I always thought part of the higher popularity out east was simply due to DHS being so under built and grossly lacking in things to do, people are kinda just forced to do it.

Meanwhile out west, where between two parks there is SOOO much to do, Muppets could only survive ... 13 years? Is the audience that different, or is Muppets helped by the problem that is DHS?

While the feature of how much there is to do might play a role, audiences are much different. a lot of shows last a lot longer at WDW than at DLR - witness also the Frozen Singalong and CBJ and so on. A big part of that IMHO is the ratio of first time/infrequent visitors compared to regulars at the resorts.

 

[Sectorkeeper71]

Let's say it does go to animation courtyard is there enough room to make a significant land back there without tearing down RnR and Mermaid?

RnR is pretty far off to the side compared to AC, I don’t see that affected at all.

Mermaid would depend if they plan on redoing the whole courtyard over or making the animation building the entrance to the land and building out into backstage. You could probably also reroute the entrance/exit to the mermaid show to keep it from being in the new land

 

[jason976]

Here's a question to ponder. If DHS is finally filled with a decent capacity of attractions, does Muppets become less attended?

I always thought part of the higher popularity out east was simply due to DHS being so under built and grossly lacking in things to do, people are kinda just forced to do it.

Meanwhile out west, where between two parks there is SOOO much to do, Muppets could only survive ... 13 years? Is the audience that different, or is Muppets helped by the problem that is DHS?

This is a great point. I enjoy the show but I believe you are onto something here. Most of the time when I go sit down to watch, it’s because I’m waiting on something else to do or I’m hot.

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

Are you combining Zootopia and Muppets here?

Autocorrect thinks Muppets should be Nippers!

No I'd assume it would be one or the other. If they really wanted to do both I guess you could keep Muppets courtyard and eventually use the roughly 6-7 acres from Indy to (a rethemed) Star Tours for Zootopia or whatever flavor of IP they want.

 

[JohnD]

I don't think it's unreasonable to re-work Cypress Drive and expand beyond the existing boarder of the park? Does anyone have a recent photo of that area? Google Maps is from like 5 years ago.

The areas under debate.

 

[Sectorkeeper71]

Here's a question to ponder. If DHS is finally filled with a decent capacity of attractions, does Muppets become less attended?

I always thought part of the higher popularity out east was simply due to DHS being so under built and grossly lacking in things to do, people are kinda just forced to do it.

Meanwhile out west, where between two parks there is SOOO much to do, Muppets could only survive ... 13 years? Is the audience that different, or is Muppets helped by the problem that is DHS?

It also has to do with capacity of attractions that all ages can do.

There’s so few things young kids can do at the park. If you add more rides without height requirements/shows, then maybe it isn’t as popular

 

[RSoxNo1]

The areas under debate.
View attachment 809131

Thank you, so Cypress Drive runs between the back of Muppets Courtyard / Star Tours and the expanded CM parking area. They could reclaim part of that area should they so choose.

 

[Disney Analyst]

It also has to do with capacity of attractions that all ages can do.

There’s so few things young kids can do at the park. If you add more rides without height requirements/shows, then maybe it isn’t as popular

That is very true.

 

[Horizons '83]

The areas under debate.
View attachment 809133

So much room to work with behind AC… demo the back offices and this becomes a fairly large land.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I mean, yes and no. Sometimes age does mean something is bad, if society has grown from a concept, or if it's become too normalized.

I think part of the issue Muppets is facing, 3D / 4D theatre attractions are such a normal concept these days, I can go to my movie theatre and experience one, the "gimmick" isn't unique or special anymore. Add in an IP that is frankly, well... dying ...

Of course, this attraction does take it up several notches with Animatronics etc, so it is still unique in that way, but the real question is what is the actual expiry date for this attraction, where it will legit just be a relic barely anyone goes to? 20-30 years from now? I love the Muppets, but this attraction does not scream timeless to me, not in the same way Mansion or Pirates does.

I am sure Disney is thinking long game here, when it comes to this area. I think the fate of Muppets is sealed, and it's just a matter of when.

You write all this in an era where every single ride Disney AND Universal builds is screen-based in a society in which everybody has multiple screens in their homes and their hands. It’s an old, meaningless argument - out-dated even.

What makes an attraction “timeless” isn’t the tech, it’s the artistry of the aesthetics, the writing, the concept. We’ve now got a bunch of people in this thread buying into the execs “new is inherently superior to old” despite three decades or so of unbroken experience that disproves the idea.

 

[Sectorkeeper71]

That is very true.

And come to think of it, they’ve slashed so much from the park that fits that bill without replacing it

GMR, animation academy, lights motors action stunt show, backlot tour and the HISTK playground right off the top of my head. Even something like the citizens of Hollywood is stuff for people to occupy people that has no wait or height limit.

I’m pretty sure everything that’s come in since then has some kinda height restriction. Runaway railway, millennium falcon, and the swirling saucers I think all have some minimum height requirement

 

[Casper Gutman]

Honestly, I enjoy the Muppets film, but it doesn't have the sort of "untouchable" status to me that other things do. Would I mind it remaining as a tribute to Henson? Sure, that's cool. But I don't feel it is sacrosanct and cannot be removed, especially if the Muppets have some other presence in the parks.

I too feel it is kinda dated and I actually find Waldo kind of annoying. Most of the rest of the show is good including the stuff in the theater itself. I lament the potential loss because I think as a continuous available high capacity show, it feels a big need for DHS. But if they replaced it with a similar caliber show, I'd be fine.

I actually will miss ITTBAB more than MuppetVision.

When was the last time Disney World produced a “similar caliber show”? When was the last time they even got close?

 

[DCLcruiser]

Should this be moved to the Studio's redevelopment forum?

Yes.

 

[Disney Analyst]

You write all this in an era where every single ride Disney AND Universal builds is screen-based in a society in which everybody has multiple screens in their homes and their hands. It’s an old, meaningless argument - out-dated even.

What makes an attraction “timeless” isn’t the tech, it’s the artistry of the aesthetics, the writing, the concept. We’ve now got a bunch of people in this thread buying into the execs “new is inherently superior to old” despite three decades or so of unbroken experience that disproves the idea.

I wondered if someone would argue this, but I firmly believe a screen based attraction, in a moving ride vehicle, or even a simulator, are still so fundamentally different than anything most people can experience on the regular, it goes without saying. I think they will have greater longevity.

But of course, ANY attraction can be timeless, regardless of the IP or the mechanism at play. I just think the nature of the Muppet attraction, the medium, does not help keep it around forever.

But I also believe most of these screen based attractions will need to be seriously upgraded or fully replaced after 30-50 years. There is a reason we really only count a few attractions as timeless.

 

[James Alucobond]

Here's a question to ponder. If DHS is finally filled with a decent capacity of attractions, does Muppets become less attended?

I always thought part of the higher popularity out east was simply due to DHS being so under built and grossly lacking in things to do, people are kinda just forced to do it.

Meanwhile out west, where between two parks there is SOOO much to do, Muppets could only survive ... 13 years? Is the audience that different, or is Muppets helped by the problem that is DHS?

It’s not like Monsters will add significant capacity, though. The discussion of removing capacity of the sort offered by MuppetVision should 100% be kicked down the road when you have a completely useless fork right in the front of the park like you do with Animation Courtyard. If they want to save the Monsters, Inc. plans for later because they think Grand Avenue is the ideal place for that, then fine. But Animation Courtyard should be developed first regardless of content.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Yes.

Studios Re-Redevelopment? Studios Redevelopment²?