News Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[The Leader of the Club]

I know they canned Steve Whitmire because he spoke out against their handling of the Muppets (and if you ask me there’s tons of evidence proving this, especially since all the other Muppet performers are still friends with him and even Brian Henson has spoken positively about him since), but why Dave Goelz? Has he done anything to invoke the wrath of Iger?

He hasn’t done anything, but he is almost 80.
Puppetry is quite strenuous, so I wouldn’t be shocked if he announced his retirement in the next couple of years.

 

[etc98]

If they end up expanding behind animation courtyard, would they demolish the racing springs academy/future villains theater to make a walkway from sunset blvd to it? I’m just thinking of why they wouldn’t move muppet vision 3d there

That theater is on the opposite side of the Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster from Animation Courtyard. Any connection from Animation Courtyard to Sunset Boulevard would be on the other side

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

While they all saw dollar signs, going back to Eisner, they at least tried to keep each park unique, and didn't shove profit above guest satisfaction in your face like they do now.

It’s publicly traded multiple national fortune 100 company, every decision is made towards dollar signs. Keeping the parks diversified wasn’t and accident, and it wasn’t fan service, it was a business decision made to help attract a larger cross section of customers and to justify idea that WDW was a week long vacation with multiple admissions and multiple different things to see

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

It’s publicly traded multiple national fortune 100 company, every decision is made towards dollar signs. Keeping the parks diversified wasn’t and accident, and it wasn’t fan service, it was a business decision made to help attract a larger cross section of customers and to justify idea that WDW was a week long vacation with multiple admissions and multiple different things to see

So if all the parks become homogenized what’s the value in a trip?

 

[Jrb1979]

So if all the parks become homogenized what’s the value in a trip?

IMO it's why there is such a disconnect between many here. You have the older fans that love what the parks were, love the nostalgia and each park was unique.

Then you have todays fan that really doesn't care about any of that. They want the IP they know.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

So if all the parks become homogenized what’s the value in a trip?

From Disney’s perspective, the value is that their big IPs are spread across all four.

DAK has Avatar & Encanto, DHS has Star Wars & Toy Story, EPCOT has Frozen & Marvel, MK has Cars & Princesses.

They think that people will go to all four because they like all of these properties and will want to experience them all.

 

[DonniePeverley]

So we get an attraction, and lose an attraction.



A complete disgrace.

 

[DonniePeverley]

That's cause that's the group that has the disposable income that Disney is after.

Off the shelf roller coasters have had no effect on attendance at Universal. Only a small demographic will get excited by a generic coaster, with a lick of paint and attached IP.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

So we get an attraction, and lose an attraction.



A complete disgrace.

It's a net gain of one attraction. Gaining door coaster and Monsters theatre show in the old MV3D theatre, and then losing MV3D.

One objective positive from this is Hollywood Studios will be growing its roster of things to do (though still hate to see existing attractions replaced).

 

[Jrb1979]

Off the shelf roller coasters have had no effect on attendance at Universal. Only a small demographic will get excited by a generic coaster, with a lick of paint and attached IP.

Velocicoaster had a boost to attendance as well as Hagrids.

 

[Schmidt]

I

For whatever reason there really wasn't much outcry over muppets getting taken out of DCA for Frozen then never returning. I think part of that is due to Anaheim's population not really caring for 3D shows much.

I think we are just in this weird era where people complain about anything before a project is complete based on their own bias. It’s also interesting to see what people complain about and don’t. Personally I think the addition of Monsters and Muppets to RNRC in Hollywood Studio are huge upgrades over what was previously there. The Muppets show has been a skip for me and a lot of others for a while now. No one is pounding down the theater show doors to see a 30 plus year old show . The noise is coming from the fans on this page. The general crowd doesn’t seem to care near as much. I mean how many failed attempts do we need to see as it relates to resurrecting this IP over the past 3o years. It doesn’t work. It seems not to be relatable to modern audiences. If it were, we would have successful contemporary Muppet shows and movies. We don’t. IMO Muppets has nostalgia but it’s a dead IP and a theme park show that is stale. I don’t expect anyone to agree with this but just offering a different perspective.

 

[Blobbles]

I

I think we are just in this weird era where people complain about anything before a project is complete based on their own bias. It’s also interesting to see what people complain about and don’t. Personally I think the addition of Monsters and Muppets to RNRC in Hollywood Studio are huge upgrades over what was previously there. The Muppets show has been a skip for me and a lot of others for a while now. No one is pounding down the theater show doors to see a 30 plus year old show . The noise is coming from the fans on this page. The general crowd doesn’t seem to care near as much. I mean how many failed attempts do we need to see as it relates to resurrecting this IP over the past 3o years. It doesn’t work. It seems not to be relatable to modern audiences. If it were, we would have successful contemporary Muppet shows and movies. We don’t. IMO Muppets has nostalgia but it’s a dead IP and a theme park show that is stale. I don’t expect anyone to agree with this but just offering a different perspective.

I don’t think the muppets are a truly DEAD ip and ever will be. Muppets 2011 worked, and mayhem people liked, maybe not a SMASH ULTRA hit, but still good reception, so the muppets can work again. I don’t think that they’ll ever truly reach the heights they did in the 80s again, but maybe that’s ok. People
Still KNOW who the muppets are, and Jim Henson is still beloved. I think they are gonna continue on as more of a smaller “cult” ip but still knowledgeable. Maybe not as a Mickey Mouse level household name, but the notion of Kermit going into a rocky and bullwinkle level of “fallen from public consciousness” doesn’t seem realistic. Especially under Disney. They’ll always use nostalgia, that’s what they are built on. Part of the reason why I think Disney is a good environment for Kermit and company.

 

[Jrb1979]

I

I think we are just in this weird era where people complain about anything before a project is complete based on their own bias. It’s also interesting to see what people complain about and don’t. Personally I think the addition of Monsters and Muppets to RNRC in Hollywood Studio are huge upgrades over what was previously there. The Muppets show has been a skip for me and a lot of others for a while now. No one is pounding down the theater show doors to see a 30 plus year old show . The noise is coming from the fans on this page. The general crowd doesn’t seem to care near as much. I mean how many failed attempts do we need to see as it relates to resurrecting this IP over the past 3o years. It doesn’t work. It seems not to be relatable to modern audiences. If it were, we would have successful contemporary Muppet shows and movies. We don’t. IMO Muppets has nostalgia but it’s a dead IP and a theme park show that is stale. I don’t expect anyone to agree with this but just offering a different perspective.

I don't disagree with any of that. Your point is exactly what I was talking about earlier and why there is such a disconnect between people here.

You have a lot of the old school park fans that loved the parks due how different each one was and how immersive each park was with its own theme. The parks are built of nostalgia for them.

Then you have those that are like you that don't have that nostalgia for the old attractions. Are more interested in the newer IP.

IMO neither side is wrong, it's that they sometimes have a hard time understanding each other.

 

[Blobbles]

I don't disagree with any of that. Your point is exactly what I was talking about earlier and why there is such a disconnect between people here.

You have a lot of the old school park fans that loved the parks due how different each one was and how immersive each park was with its own theme. The parks are built of nostalgia for them.

Then you have those that are like you that don't have that nostalgia for the old attractions. Are more interested in the newer IP.

IMO neither side is wrong, it's that they sometimes have a hard time understanding each other.

I think we need to strike more of a balance. I don’t think EVERYTHING is gonna be saved unfortunately, especially with the theme park Buisness the way it is, but I do feel like there needs to be a better balance of keeping the best of the old when possible. I think it’s ok to have some cult classic attractions that have a smaller more dedicated audience.

 

[SpectreJordan]

Right next door to the Villains thing and in the shadow of the 1930's themed Hollywood Tower Hotel.

The Hollywood Tower part could lead itself to some Muppet style humor; especially if the theory of the Villains being temporary & the Muppets taking over that theater is right. They could joke that the only place the Muppets could afford is right behind an old, haunted hotel.

 

[Schmidt]

I don’t think the muppets are a truly DEAD ip and ever will be. Muppets 2011 worked, and mayhem people liked, maybe not a SMASH ULTRA hit, but still good reception, so the muppets can work again. I don’t think that they’ll ever truly reach the heights they did in the 80s again, but maybe that’s ok. People
Still KNOW who the muppets are, and Jim Henson is still beloved. I think they are gonna continue on as more of a smaller “cult” ip but still knowledgeable. Maybe not as a Mickey Mouse level household name, but the notion of Kermit going into a rocky and bullwinkle level of “fallen from public consciousness” doesn’t seem realistic. Especially under Disney. They’ll always use nostalgia, that’s what they are built on. Part of the reason why I think Disney is a good environment for Kermit and company.

I’m a 50 yr old guy. I grew up with the Muppets and love them. The reality is the popularity of th IP will continue to decline as my generation grows older unless Disney can reverse course. This is almost at Rocky and Bulwinkle level now imo.
With that said I’m excited to see them added to RNRC.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think we need to strike more of a balance. I don’t think EVERYTHING is gonna be saved unfortunately, especially with the theme park Buisness the way it is, but I do feel like there needs to be a better balance of keeping the best of the old when possible. I think it’s ok to have some cult classic attractions that have a smaller more dedicated audience.

I do too. It feels like Disney doesn't feel that way and I feel some fans don't feel that way either.

From Disney's view, is if the cult classic attraction doesn't sell enough LLs than it needs to be removed for one that does.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Disney's increased reliance on coasters for new additions means many older guests can't do them.

The great Disney rides of the past were things 3 generations could ride together, that doesn't happen as often anymore.*

I feel like the new rides are designed by Disney adults, for Disney adults...not so much their parents and children.

*Universal is frequently criticized for this, but Disney's efforts to mimic their competitor is creating the same problem.

This is an excellent post. I’d add that the new coasters are designed for SOME Disney adults - no one too old, as you say, or with a disability, or with too much stuffing in the wrong spots (and of course theme park fans are famously svelte).

But at least all these restrictions get us… much shorter, less narratively and aesthetically complex attractions.

 

[Jrb1979]

I’m a 50 yr old guy. I grew up with the Muppets and love them. The reality is the popularity of th IP will continue to decline as my generation grows older unless Disney can reverse course. This is almost at Rocky and Bulwinkle level now imo.
With that said I’m excited to see them added to RNRC.

You can say that for a lot of classic Disney attractions. Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tiki Room.
Regardless of how popular an attraction is, parks still need those as filler attractions. Not everything needs to be brand new and have 2 hour waits.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

I’m a 50 yr old guy. I grew up with the Muppets and love them. The reality is the popularity of th IP will continue to decline as my generation grows older unless Disney can reverse course. This is almost at Rocky and Bulwinkle level now imo.
With that said I’m excited to see them added to RNRC.

They’re not anywhere near as obscure as Rocky & Bullwinkle. People still talk about Muppet Christmas Carol every holiday season. They’re still getting new shows and specials. Kermit is the star of several popular memes. Heck, they’re getting a roller coaster now. I think most people under 30 can identify Kermit, while they can’t identify Bullwinkle.

I think a more apt comparison for Muppets would be the Looney Tunes. People know who they are, but they aren’t at the forefront of cultural relevance. They keep trying to reboot them, but nothing really works.