To me, the movies, the backlot, and Hollywood all go hand in hand, and thematically make a great park, that's not where, I think, the identity issue comes from.
When I think of Hollywood Studios the first thing that tends to spring to mind are the big three, Rockin' Roller coaster, Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania, Three very different attractions. Two of them are thrill rides, One of them is a family ride. Two of them are heavily themed, One of them is a roller coaster through cardboard cutouts.
Toy Story Mania is a great ride, and very popular, and the ONLY family ride in Hollywood Studios. Arguments could be made for the Great Movie Ride and Backlot Tour, but how about saying it's the only family E-Ticket. Toy Story Mania takes place in Andy's Room, yet somehow it enters through Pixar Studios? What?
Tower of Terror is, In my opinion, probably the least offender of the three in the identity department. It's tied into the Twilight Zone, a Classic TV series, creates a huge iconic structure that fits the Golden Age of Hollywood while also creating it's own separate identity. And it's just a great ride.
Rockin' Roller Coaster, However is found at the end of the 30s Hollywood Street, and somehow takes place today, in a modern recording studio. Besides that it has a high height requirement, and features both a launch and inversions, which make it a not-so-family-friendly attraction.
And that's just the big three. Now consider Movie Ride, which is probably my second favorite Hollywood Studios attraction after ToT. It creates such a specific feel and vibe, it really is a city of glitz and glitter, and anything can happen at the movies. It's optimistic and ideal, and with the hijacking, it really is something you can't see anywhere else! Fantasmic, The American Idol Experience, Muppetvision, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and One Man's Dream also fit this optimistic vibe, and work very well.
That brings me to Star Tours. I love Star Tours (It's right after ToT and GMR in my favorites). But does it fit with the theming? It's a futuristic spaceport that's half movie set...Hmmm...What?
Or Better question...Who cares?
Star Tours the attraction is so well executed, that it simply doesn't matter what the exterior looks like, or if it's a film set or if you're really in space, because it's awesome! Once you get inside the building, you have a very close to perfect experience. I wouldn't use such hyperbole, but the same can pretty much be said for Toy Story, it's not perfect, but because it is a great and popular ride, we as an audience are willing to forgive one or two missteps.
Which then brings me to the reverse of that. Pretty Much everything in between Muppets and Toy Story.
Ugh.
Phineas and Ferb, Cars, Lights Motors Action, Backlot Tour, Streets of America, all of that needs to change!
Let's start with the streets of America, The biggest problem with them is that they are always empty! There is no reason to go back there! The only time anyone lingers on the streets of America is during the Osborne Lights. At one time, Hollywood Studios management was actively looking for other special events to draw people into this are of the park (And therefor away from Toy Story) at other parts of the year, and not just Christmas! It's not just about that! The only attraction back there is LMA! Which only runs two shows a day for most of the year because it's so darn expensive to operate! Which leads to another problem! The premier theater is just sitting there empty! And Management is baffled as to why there is no one back there?
Anyway, LMA is not only the cause of the downfall of the streets of America, but has famously also killed the backlot tour. Bulldozing Residential street, and cutting the tour short, it is a shell of it's former self! And then there's the building between Toy Story and Backlot Tour, it's being used for Offices (It's not just sitting empty as many people have implied, but that is prime real estate. Eventually, something has to go there! But for now it's once again empty!
All of this creates so many traffic flow problems, and so much unused space that no one is quite sure what to do in the back of the park! The park is so uneven, and so unbalanced and that's what causes all of their problems. Their thematic problems, their crowd flow problems, everything!
Anyway, I'm sick of typing and I've already written a novel, so that's my thesis about what is currently wrong with Hollywood Studios.
