I probably got too worked up over "armchair engineering", as you said, but I've never seen a list I disagreed with this much, so, touche'.
That's OK, variety is the spice of life.
I was simply trying to create a consistent theme based on Hollywood of the 1930s / 1940s. I think the park started out with a great theme in 1989 but didn't stick with it after 1994. I think the biggest crisis it faces today is one of identity...it is becoming merely a repository for rides without any real connection to each other, and that is my main motivation behind these daydream proposals, and why I move or discard popular rides like Star Tours or RNRC that I don't feel fit the theme well, even if they are crowd pleasers.
1. You really think tearing down DHS's most popular attraction to build a Roger Rabbit area would be a good idea? Yes, G-Force records doesn't fit with the theme of Sunset (though it does fit with the overall theme of the park, as does it's art deco style facade and "soundstage" building), but this wouldn't make sense either.
RNRC is a very popular ride, no doubt. But I would bet, just about any high intensity roller coaster which Disney builds in any of its parks, is bound to be a big hit. People like roller coasters. But they don't necessarily advance the theme of the park or of the land they are located in, and that's how I feel about RNRC.
Also, I guess you misunderstood one part of what I wrote. I am not advocating constructing a Roger Rabbit area. The land on which RNRC sits, plus the empty plot immediately to the south of it (currently used as employee parking), was originally intended as a Roger Rabbit ("Maroon Studios") area. I am proposing using this land to build a ToonTown similar to those in Anaheim or Tokyo, and getting rid of the half-baked version which exists todayin the Magic Kingdom. The idea of ToonTown is based on Roger Rabbit but not limited to it...it is a home for many of the classic toons from the 1930s and 1940s...which fits in well with the time period Hollywood and Sunset Blvds are trying to evoke. This way little kids would have an area they could have fun in, that also fits in with the whole "Golden Age of Hollywood" idea.
2. Cloning isn't always good, either. Our Fantasmic is also longer due to the fact that it is in it's own ampitheater. The only scene that really could be changed is the Pocahontas scene, as that movie hasn't remained as popular as other Disney classics.
I never said cloning was always good. But a cloned Fantasmic would definitely be better than the one in DHS.
3. I have no idea what that show is, but I don't care about Beauty and the Beast either. It was never supposed to be a permanent show.
Check it out on YouTube. Those who have seen it and the other HKDL show (Lion King), generally agree that they are among the best Disney shows anywhere. Again, importantly, I believe they are a spoof on the Oscars...so very appropriate for DHS.
4. As far as I know, Sunset was never supposed to have buildings lining all the way down the street. Maybe in early concept art... but think about it, it would throw off the aesthetics of the street, as its all designed to have The Hollywood Tower Hotel be the center of attention, the same way Main Street at MK is designed to draw your attention to Cinderella Castle and make it appear larger than it really is. A real trolley would be unnecessary and cause big problems with traffic flow.
I have many pieces of concept art of the buildings on the west side of Sunset...and they would have in no way distracted from the TOT. There was also plenty of open space left where the northern half of Sunset Ranch is today. Some high res pictures of the unbuilt buildings such as the Coconut Club can be found on Alain Littaye's Disneyandmore blog (disaneymore.blogspot.com). These buildings were cut due to cost, no other reason.
And finally, Sunset Market Ranch is properly themed to the 1930's era of the street, being a makeshift food court in the depression/WWII era. It also doesn't really look that bad and is DHS's most popular quick service food location.
I agree Sunset Ranch doesn't look bad. But architecturally, I like the buildings of West Sunset better. Additionally, the original plan did provide for quick service stalls where the northern half of Sunset Ranch is today, modeled after Hollywood icons such as Tail o' the Pup and Date Shack. I can post concept art if you like but that may be a little too much off-topic for this thread.
6. Mickey's PhilharMagic is the best attraction in Fantasyland, and a park shouldn't have more than one 3D movie attraction.
I'm not advocating keeping MuppetVision. Also, as long as I'm dreaming, do you think I would keep Fantasyland the way it is today
7. Again, not gonna happen. I wish people would just accept that the hat is the new icon, most guests actually like it, and it makes more sense as an icon than you think: its a recognizable symbol of the "magic" of Disney's animated classics, and the real Walt Disney Studios in Burbank also has the hat adorning their animation building. They can't use the Chinese Theater as an icon, and the Earful Tower can't be seen from most areas of the park, so now all four parks have a big, centralized icon.
The placement of the Hat destroys the vista down Hollywood Blvd and spoils the ambience of the area. I don't mind the Hat itself but I would advocate the solution that was made for Disney-MGM Studios Europe (the unbuilt Parisian park from the early 1990s). A big blue Hat was placed just outside main gate. And, in fact, there is perfect place outside the DHS front gate, where the Chistmas Tree goes today, that could accomodate the hat, and restore Hollywood Blvd to its old self. Plus...I have never seen one shred of credible evidence to back up the popular internet story that Disney isn't allowed to use the Chinese Theater as an icon.
8. Ignoring the fact that Fantasmic is being cut to 2 shows a week soon, it would cost to much money to do both a fireworks show and Fantasmic. Guests are satisfied with Fantasmic, and this adds some variety to the nighttime shows of the parks, so not all 3 have a fireworks display.
I am not saying that any of my proposals are realistic given the budget mindedness of the current WDW management. But why not have 3 fireworks shows, if they are all different? I'm saying have it in addition to, not in place of Fantasmic. And three firework shows were exactly what there were in the early 1990s. Sorcery in the Sky was a great tribute the movies. Are two nightime entertainments too much for one park? Then how about MK which has two or DL which has / had 3?
9. Would there be any point in bringing back an outdated show other than your own nostalgic purposes? American Idol Experience isn't even open yet.. who knows, it may be a big hit.
You misunderstand me...I'm not saying bring back SuperStar TV in the same version as 1989. I'm saying make one for the present day. I think a show celebrating one of the fundamental media of entertainment is better than a show where you get audience members to play karaoke.
10. Unless the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is removed anytime soon, having two attractions in one park based on the same movie franchise isn't a good idea. I DO agree, though, that Indy should get a thrill ride at DHS, and Epic, while still decent, is getting a little tired. However, removing RnRc is ridiculous as a good portion of the park's guests come ONLY for it's 2 thrill rides.
I don't see how an Indy show show, and Indy coaster, would be similar experiences. Rather than plopping an Indy ride in the middle of Hollywood, let's have a themed area instead...just like they have at Tokyo DisneySea. Since I removed RNRC, I replaced it with an Indy coaster. Indy fits the 1930s / 1940s ambience much better. If interested, dig up the blueprints for Disney-MGM Studios Europe in the early 1990s. This had a whole Indy section with a large themed restaurant plus the Stunt Show. I would keep this general plan but expand upon it to add the ride.
11. Dic* Tracey? Really? Yes, Star Tours needs an update, but why replace it with an underwhelming movie that barely made a mark at the box office, and today, nobody even remembers?
This is the exact same reaction everyone has...but it misses the point. The movie was mediocre overall. But the art direction and set decoration were superb, and perfectly suited again to the 1930s/1940s era. If interested...there is more high res art on the Disneyandmore blog (look under Disney-MGM concept art) if you are interested...I think it would make a stunning ride. It would Orlando a unique, top notch EMV ride (unlike the mediocre Dinosaur).
A bad movie can be made into a good ride and a good movie can be made into an unmemorable one. Also, guests do not have to be familiar with the movie that the ride is based on. How many people riding Splash Mountain know anything about Song of the South? The Dic* Tracy ride would have less to do with Mr. DT than with the theme of cops vs gangsters...a classic Hollywood genre.
Also, they can't just move attractions around, they would have to demolish Star Tours almost completely and rebuild it (and where would it fit in Tomorrowland? Only if they remove the Speedway, which they won't) which would be an insane waste of time and money for a ride thats just much easier to leave open until a rehab comes.
You're being too serious here. I'm not telling laying out a realistic vision for the future, just what I think a thematically consistent DHS would be. But there is plenty of unused land around Tomorrowland, plus a few attractions there today that I wouldn't mind seeing go the way of the dodo. It's entirely feasible to relocate Star Tours there, and I think Tomorrowland needs it.
12. Oh, please, no. I love Pixar, but they already have their own section of the park now, and Cars was not a good enough movie to warrant revamping a huge section of the park to it. And, I think most of us can agree that not EVERY new thing should be about Pixar.
Please note, this is the only Pixar element in my little daydream. It would add a fourth thrill ride to my version of the park (TOT, Indy coaster, ________ Tracy EMV ride, and Cars Test-Track-style ride). I think the art-deco architecture of radiator springs, plus the fact that route 66 did end up in LA, would work well with the physical theming of the rest of the park, though admittedly it doesn't quite fit the 1930s/40s time period. Another good idea for a Test Track style ride...and perhaps something to expand Lucas' presence since I am relocating Star Tours...is to build an ride and land (with same footprint, the NY / Muppet area + old Residential Street area) based on American Graffiti. This could be a 1950s themed area and a good home for restaurants like 50s Prime Time Cafe.
13. I've said this many times on this board, and I'll say it again. Those buildings that you think are empty really ARE in use as various office buildings for DHS and WDW, and things such as the Creative Costuming building and prop buildings are also in use. The only building currently not in use is Soundstage 1, next to the Backlot Tour entrance, which is to become the rumored Monsters, Inc coaster anyway.
Do you think...that the Disney company is incapable of moving those functions elsewhere? The biggest handicap of DHS is that they built the park in such a cramped fashion, when so much land was available at WDW. Moving these offices elsewhere and clearing the land for park expansion would to the park a lot of good IMO.
Back on topic now
