Studio Backlot Tour Closing on September 27, 2014

[Stevek]

We shouldn't have to schedule anything.

True dat. Looking forward to scheduling at 2:18-2:30 Potty Pass+ for the Tangled bathrooms next trip. Hope I can hold it!

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Because I am not a big show guy, DHS is always a difficult "full day" for me.

 

[tl77]

Two things!

First, look at the area to the left of where the wording of "Studio Backlot Tour" is and above where Catastrophe Canyon presently sits. It's a pond (which can be moved) storage buildings, parking lot and other not revenue producing junk. That alone doubles the area available.

Second, they are already or have already set plans to change the entrance to the park to the far right of this picture. In other words the current access road and beyond can also be used for expansion. Yea, I know, wetlands, blah, blah, blah. Well, Disney gave them, Disney can taketh away. That creates another large parcel that can be used for expansion. In my mind, it was always the most logical area to do stuff in when redoing DHS.

What they will put there is anybodies guess at this point. Probably a couple of spinners, a pin shop and a DVC sales booth, but, they can do a lot with the place if they decide to and do it without taking out anymore attractions.

I think that pond is part of Catastrophe Canyon, that's where the over flow water from the show ends up, and while they could reconfigure wetlands, it's probably much cheaper to just knock down something on useable ground, but you're right most of the stuff currently in that backstage area could find a new home else where

 

[SportsGoofy]

They'll just use the wetlands in DHS backlot area to create "Dagobah"...

 

[RayTheFirefly]

Since I don't feel like reading 32 pages, has there been any new development on this topic? Or is everyone still speculating?

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

I still enjoy Indy, but I only see it once every decade or so. The fact that that is still an option is mind-blowing to me.

Shows and parades don't have a multi-decade shelf life; they just don't. That WDW sees fit to present their overpaying guests with shows and parades that haven't been touched in DECADES is mind-blowing. DHS is the worst offender with BATB, Mermaid and Indy pushing 25 years, but MK is trotting out the undignified remains of a 42 year old parade each night. Even Epcot puts on a 15 year old pyro show. When you're the highest priced theme parks in the world, you shouldn't be subjected to entertainment that was cutting edge in 1972/1990/1999.

They should be ashamed, but they're not. WDW guests don't demand better; they're by and large enablers as we've seen with the mass excuse-making for the poorly conceived Frozen attraction. And if anyone believes a replacement for the Backlot Tour is imminent, I've got some oceanfront property in Iowa to sell to you. Shall we start taking bets now for how long the backlot will sit vacant?

Mongello actually said that making a new ride would take years and cost much more money - so what? Do it right or don't do it at all.

This. So much of this.

You sir (ma'am?) win the internet for the day.

 

[wdw47]

I still enjoy Indy, but I only see it once every decade or so. The fact that that is still an option is mind-blowing to me.

Shows and parades don't have a multi-decade shelf life; they just don't. That WDW sees fit to present their overpaying guests with shows and parades that haven't been touched in DECADES is mind-blowing. DHS is the worst offender with BATB, Mermaid and Indy pushing 25 years, but MK is trotting out the undignified remains of a 42 year old parade each night. Even Epcot puts on a 15 year old pyro show. When you're the highest priced theme parks in the world, you shouldn't be subjected to entertainment that was cutting edge in 1972/1990/1999.

They should be ashamed, but they're not. WDW guests don't demand better; they're by and large enablers as we've seen with the mass excuse-making for the poorly conceived Frozen attraction. And if anyone believes a replacement for the Backlot Tour is imminent, I've got some oceanfront property in Iowa to sell to you. Shall we start taking bets now for how long the backlot will sit vacant?

Mongello actually said that making a new ride would take years and cost much more money - so what? Do it right or don't do it at all.

This post literally nails it on the head. Well done.

Totally agree that BLT will just sit there and rot or be used for "special" events that some group is paying an absurd amount of $$$ for.

 

[BrerJon]

I probably watch it about once a month and still love it. Sue me.

Yeah I watch it every chance I get and really enjoy it. I think it's aged really well and is still as impressive as it was in the 90s. Compared to the crappy stunt show at Universal, Disney has a good one there. I'd love it if they relocated the show to LMA, built an Indy ride like in Tokyo or California, and had that whole back section Indiana Jones and turned Streets of America up to Star Tours into a massive Star Wars land.

 

[BrerJon]

Mongello actually said that making a new ride would take years and cost much more money - so what? Do it right or don't do it at all.

Yeah, money is not something the world's biggest entertainment company is struggling with. They could build DisneySea twice over with change to spare if they really wanted to. The Pixar, Marvel and Lucas acquisitions were each more expensive than that entire park cost to build, so the idea they're strapped for cash when each year brings another multi billion acquisition is laughable.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

They lost me after they took the Golden Girls house away...Can't wait to see what's going to go there.

In May 2013, my now husband and I were treated to a backstage tour of LMA from a Twitter friend who works on the show. He told me that the yellow/golden awning on the town facade in LMA is a tribute to the Golden Girls house (apparently, that's the exact spot where the GG house was).

I'm not sure that made me feel better about the house being gone (okay, no, it didn't), but it's a nice trivia bit nonetheless.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I still enjoy Indy, but I only see it once every decade or so. The fact that that is still an option is mind-blowing to me.

Shows and parades don't have a multi-decade shelf life; they just don't. That WDW sees fit to present their overpaying guests with shows and parades that haven't been touched in DECADES is mind-blowing. DHS is the worst offender with BATB, Mermaid and Indy pushing 25 years, but MK is trotting out the undignified remains of a 42 year old parade each night. Even Epcot puts on a 15 year old pyro show. When you're the highest priced theme parks in the world, you shouldn't be subjected to entertainment that was cutting edge in 1972/1990/1999.

They should be ashamed, but they're not. WDW guests don't demand better; they're by and large enablers as we've seen with the mass excuse-making for the poorly conceived Frozen attraction. And if anyone believes a replacement for the Backlot Tour is imminent, I've got some oceanfront property in Iowa to sell to you. Shall we start taking bets now for how long the backlot will sit vacant?

Mongello actually said that making a new ride would take years and cost much more money - so what? Do it right or don't do it at all.

Sure, but try and change anything and see the whining, wailing and crying start up. Just look at what has happened with the famous "toad". Years later there is still a vocal outcry about how that road side carnival ride is so terribly missed. It all depends on your particular perspective.

 

[Launchpad McQuack]

I haven't read through the whole thread, but I was just trying to come up with a list of attraction ideas that would be a better use of the space than the current version of the BLT, and I could only come up with two...

1. anything
2. everything

 

[jt04]

This post literally nails it on the head. Well done.

Totally agree that BLT will just sit there and rot or be used for "special" events that some group is paying an absurd amount of $$$ for.

I disagree. Something is percolating. See just how much is happening at DAK with no indication it was on the way. Not to mention the previously announced Pandora. A lot is going on behind the scenes.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Say they keep LMA, could they keep Catastrophe Canyon and rase the rest of BLT? They would have to reroute how you got to CC, maybe make it part of LMA.

Catastrophe Canyon is behind the Lights! Motors! Actions! bleachers. You'd have to tear down and rebuild one or the other.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Sure, but try and change anything and see the whining, wailing and crying start up. Just look at what has happened with the famous "toad". Years later there is still a vocal outcry about how that road side carnival ride is so terribly missed. It all depends on your particular perspective.

That's part of the problem, although one seriously doubts that the departure of "Beauty and the Beast - Live On Stage!" after twentysomething years would engender the kind of anger caused by closing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

The current leadership uses carefully crafted "guest surveys" to create support for their actions (whether the support is real or not), and justifies stupid changes as "giving people what they want."

Disney has NEVER been about giving people what they want. No one wanted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, the Mickey Mouse Club, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, EPCOT Center, etc. They didn't know they wanted them until they existed. It's called innovation.

Would people sob big old crocodile tears if MSEP finally "glowed away" to the scrap yard and never returned? Probably. Would those same people be wowed by a brand new, extravagant, technologically advanced nighttime parade that sets a new standard? They would, and then they'd forget about the clunky MSEP and let it live where it should - in hazy, happy memory where its glaring deficiencies are not an issue.

Sometimes change is good, and you have to ignore Mona from Duluth on the Disney Parks Blog because Mona from Duluth doesn't KNOW what she wants, she just knows that losing Storytime with Belle next to the Castle will RUIN her trip (this was a real thing people complained about a few years ago). Storytime with Belle made way for Enchanted Tales with Belle. Is Enchanted Tales with Belle a better experience than Storytime with Belle was? Unequivocally yes. Disney was wise to ignore Mona and not stop in their tracks because one snowflake wouldn't get to listen to Belle yammer about her movie.

Disney would have done one better to create an amazing, immersive ridethrough experience for Beauty and the Beast and exceeded guest expectations on a level they couldn't have anticipated, as opposed to just plussing the storytelling experience with some special effects and higher capacity.

At DHS, Disney should ignore any fanboi whimpering and clean house. Replace aging, embarrassing experiences like BATB with dazzling and high quality ones. Give the park an identity. Make it soar.

But why would you do that when a hastily slopped together Frozen sing-a-long show with no singing actors makes people reel with unrivaled glee? The standards are so low for WDW guests that they won't ask for better. They won't know they want something awesome until Disney gives it to them, which they're no longer in the habit of doing.

The vision, the daring - it's all gone, unless you're in Asia. American audiences settle for less, and are more than happy to pay through the nose for it.

 

[BernardandBianca]

Yeah, money is not something the world's biggest entertainment company is struggling with. They could build DisneySea twice over with change to spare if they really wanted to. The Pixar, Marvel and Lucas acquisitions were each more expensive than that entire park cost to build, so the idea they're strapped for cash when each year brings another multi billion acquisition is laughable.

All they would have to do is not buy back stock for ONE year.

 

[Mike S]

That's part of the problem, although one seriously doubts that the departure of "Beauty and the Beast - Live On Stage!" after twentysomething years would engender the kind of anger caused by closing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

The current leadership uses carefully crafted "guest surveys" to create support for their actions (whether the support is real or not), and justifies stupid changes as "giving people what they want."

Disney has NEVER been about giving people what they want. No one wanted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, the Mickey Mouse Club, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, EPCOT Center, etc. They didn't know they wanted them until they existed. It's called innovation.

Would people sob big old crocodile tears if MSEP finally "glowed away" to the scrap yard and never returned? Probably. Would those same people be wowed by a brand new, extravagant, technologically advanced nighttime parade that sets a new standard? They would, and then they'd forget about the clunky MSEP and let it live where it should - in hazy, happy memory where its glaring deficiencies are not an issue.

Sometimes change is good, and you have to ignore Mona from Duluth on the Disney Parks Blog because Mona from Duluth doesn't KNOW what she wants, she just knows that losing Storytime with Belle next to the Castle will RUIN her trip (this was a real thing people complained about a few years ago). Storytime with Belle made way for Enchanted Tales with Belle. Is Enchanted Tales with Belle a better experience than Storytime with Belle was? Unequivocally yes. Disney was wise to ignore Mona and not stop in their tracks because one snowflake wouldn't get to listen to Belle yammer about her movie.

Disney would have done one better to create an amazing, immersive ridethrough experience for Beauty and the Beast and exceeded guest expectations on a level they couldn't have anticipated, as opposed to just plussing the storytelling experience with some special effects and higher capacity.

At DHS, Disney should ignore any fanboi whimpering and clean house. Replace aging, embarrassing experiences like BATB with dazzling and high quality ones. Give the park an identity. Make it soar.

But why would you do that when a hastily slopped together Frozen sing-a-long show with no singing actors makes people reel with unrivaled glee? The standards are so low for WDW guests that they won't ask for better. They won't know they want something awesome until Disney gives it to them, which they're no longer in the habit of doing.

The vision, the daring - it's all gone, unless you're in Asia. American audiences settle for less, and are more than happy to pay through the nose for it.

All that should stay in DHS after a park wide update are GMR, ToT, RnRC, TSMM and Star Tours. Everything else is fair game imo.

 

[wdw47]

I disagree. Something is percolating. See just how much is happening at DAK with no indication it was on the way. Not to mention the previously announced Pandora. A lot is going on behind the scenes.

I hope you're right but I fear the worst.

 

[Launchpad McQuack]

That's part of the problem, although one seriously doubts that the departure of "Beauty and the Beast - Live On Stage!" after twentysomething years would engender the kind of anger caused by closing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

The current leadership uses carefully crafted "guest surveys" to create support for their actions (whether the support is real or not), and justifies stupid changes as "giving people what they want."

Disney has NEVER been about giving people what they want. No one wanted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, the Mickey Mouse Club, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, EPCOT Center, etc. They didn't know they wanted them until they existed. It's called innovation.

Would people sob big old crocodile tears if MSEP finally "glowed away" to the scrap yard and never returned? Probably. Would those same people be wowed by a brand new, extravagant, technologically advanced nighttime parade that sets a new standard? They would, and then they'd forget about the clunky MSEP and let it live where it should - in hazy, happy memory where its glaring deficiencies are not an issue.

Sometimes change is good, and you have to ignore Mona from Duluth on the Disney Parks Blog because Mona from Duluth doesn't KNOW what she wants, she just knows that losing Storytime with Belle next to the Castle will RUIN her trip (this was a real thing people complained about a few years ago). Storytime with Belle made way for Enchanted Tales with Belle. Is Enchanted Tales with Belle a better experience than Storytime with Belle was? Unequivocally yes. Disney was wise to ignore Mona and not stop in their tracks because one snowflake wouldn't get to listen to Belle yammer about her movie.

Disney would have done one better to create an amazing, immersive ridethrough experience for Beauty and the Beast and exceeded guest expectations on a level they couldn't have anticipated, as opposed to just plussing the storytelling experience with some special effects and higher capacity.

At DHS, Disney should ignore any fanboi whimpering and clean house. Replace aging, embarrassing experiences like BATB with dazzling and high quality ones. Give the park an identity. Make it soar.

But why would you do that when a hastily slopped together Frozen sing-a-long show with no singing actors makes people reel with unrivaled glee? The standards are so low for WDW guests that they won't ask for better. They won't know they want something awesome until Disney gives it to them, which they're no longer in the habit of doing.

The vision, the daring - it's all gone, unless you're in Asia. American audiences settle for less, and are more than happy to pay through the nose for it.

I agree with all of this... EXCEPT I actually don't mind occasionally throwing things together like this Frozen sing-along. As long as this thing is temporary, it's not a bad thing, IMO. If it's still there in 10 years, we are having a serious problem.

Maybe none of the shows in DHS need to be permanent. Having rotating shows based on current and classic movies, original experiences, and whatever else could be fun. Play up the show business aspect of DHS and treat it kind of like Broadway with limited runs for each show. Granted, the big shows should have more put into them than this sing-along, but maybe a little distraction for kids like the sing-along isn't the worst thing.

 

[RayTheFirefly]

All that should stay in DHS after a park wide update are GMR, ToT, RnRC, TSMM and Star Tours. Everything else is fair game imo.

And One Man's Dream!