The Future of DHS

[GizmoDuck]

With the flurry of announcements and rumors surrounding DHS recently, I thought it'd be appropriate to have a thread on the park and where it will be going in years to come, as well as your feelings about such changes

To start off, here's a list of News, Announcements, and Rumors that have come about/resurfaced recently:

-Star Tours 2.0
-Refurbishment of Backlot Tour, restaurant, and HISTK play area
-Closing of Sounds Dangerous
-Refurbishment of Muppet Vision 3D
-Addition of Muppet What-not Shop
-Removal of Prince Caspian Meet-n-Greet
-Testing of New Queue on RnRc
-Rumors of the extension of Pixar Place(Monsters Inc, Bugs Life, Cars, etc)
-Rumors of a Phineas and Ferb attraction
-Rumors of Removal of the Sorcerer's Hat
-Large-scale disappointment amongst devoted fans and casual park-goers alike for stale attractions (GMR, VOLM, Magic of Disney Imagination, Indy Show, LMA, and even F! for some)
(I'm sure I'm forgetting some, let me know what I forgot, I'll update :wave

With so many changes and potential for new and updated attractions, I think its safe to say that we are in the early stages of a DHS renewal.

I have viewed DHS, especially in recent years, as the most "trendy" of the four parks. For what it lacks in theming and overall feel (connected by a generous, yet underdeveloped Movies, Music, and Television theme) it makes up for with the use of recognizable and popular franchises and pop-culture connections.

The current Walt Disney Company seems to reflect this desire to spread more extensively and disversly into pop culture through the use of things other than "the mouse". (e.g. the purchase of Marvel, reemergence of the Muppets, extreme popularity of Pixar films)

This makes me think DHS will recieve much attention and changes in years to come. While I'm glad this will give the park much of the TLC it needs, I also think it will lose much of its original intentions and theming. It may become even more of a celebration of entertainment franchises than of the industry itself.

 

[GizmoDuck]

I also thought I'd share some of my thoughts on where the park may be headed.

Remember, this is only speculation, but feel free to jump in the conversation, agree/disagree, or comment :wave:

On The Future of the Muppets in DHS

Its clear that Disney is trying to bring back the popularity of the Muppets into the consciousness of the public, as well as introduce them to new generations. If you pay attention, you will find the Muppets everywhere int he media lately, from celebrity endorsements (let's not forget Lady Gaga's Kermit-inspired outfit :lol to appearences and references on talk shows, and especially in WDW's latest marketing campaigns.

I'm very glad to see this, it would be a shame to see such great characters forgotten by time.

Now as to what comes next, I think will depend on how well the relaunch goes. If all goes well with the new Muppet movie, I think we will see much more of the Muppets on television, in the movies, and eventually in the parks. With Muppetvision 3D recieving its refurb and the construction of the new WhatNot Shop, I'd imagine Disney is watching closely to see how the public takes to the Muppets.

I've heard rumors that the Backlot Express eatery might be converted into a general Pixar, or particular Pixar movie themed eatery. With the addition of such a restaurant, Pizza Planet could EASILY be converted to the original concept for Gonzo's Pizza Pandemonium.

And if all goes well, we could get, dare I say it...The Great Muppet Ride? :lookaroun

(wishful thinking, I know :lol

 

[misterID]

And if all goes well, we could get, dare I say it...The Great Muppet Ride?

Only if its not a refurb of TGMR, but its own ride. imo, GMR is the SSE of DHS, and like it, represents what the park is, or at least, what its supposed to be, and it doesn't need a muppet character retheming.

Give them their own muppet ride and leave GMR alone.

 

[GizmoDuck]

On Pixar and DHS

In recent years, Pixar has become a HUGE component of Disney. Many of its characters have become more recognizable and synonymous with the Walt Disney Company than a majority of its own creations.

With the recent annoucements of the lengthy closures HISTK and the BLT and eatery, I have much reason to believe the rumored Pixar place expansion is imminent.

I believe we'll get a Cars attraction. Cars has become a phenomenon amongst the younger male crowd. Its popularity has reached to such an extent that DCA is adding an entire new land based off the film. While the film was decent (feel free to flame) its popularity can easily be attributed to the extremely appealing combination of cars and animation. Additionally, with the announcement of Cars 2, it has become clear that Cars is here to stay.

It has been stated numerous times that Disney's biggest challenge is appealing to the young male audience. While it will be even further extending its appeal to young females with the fantasyland expansion, I think the addition of Radiator Springs, or a similiar attraction to DHS would be perfect to capture the attention of the young male crowd.

As previously rumored, the Backlot Tour would be a great area to place such an attraction. The BLT is undeniably stale (not the sandwich, those are always tasty :slurp. The attraction already follows a track-like path, and catastrophe canyon could fantastically be incorporated into a Radiator Springs Racers-esqe ride.

Next, I move to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playset. HISTK is far removed from the conciousness of the public, and even most Disney buffs. The playset is in great need of a conversion. With the recent release of A Bugs Life on Blu-Ray DVD, I think we will see an increase of the popularity of this film, merting the conversing of the HISTK playset into the frequently rumored, and much more appropriate A Bug's Life theme.

I also think we'll finally get the fabled Monsters Inc coaster. Monsters Inc is a great film with alot of heart and it needs its own stable attraction (Pipe down MILF, I said stable!) Its quite a unique story, and with the recent release of Monsters Inc on Blu-Ray DVD, I'm sure many will be introduced to Monsters Inc. for the first time.

As for what else Pixar Place may get? We will just have to find out. There is much land that can be added to this area, and it has potential to be DHS' powerhouse. With recent great films like Wall-e and Up, as well as the popular Incredibles (I have yet to see Ratatouille, but I've heard great things), there are many other options that could be included in Pixar Place.

While there has yet to be any announcement on such an expansion, I'd watch closely for more hints in the following months

 

[GizmoDuck]

Only if its not a refurb of TGMR, but its own ride. imo, GMR is the SSE of DHS, and like it, represents what the park is, or at least, what its supposed to be, and it doesn't need a muppet character retheming.

Give them their own muppet ride and leave GMR alone.

Don't worry, The Great Muppet Ride was intended to be its own attraction, actually a spoof of the GMR.

Check it out, really cool stuff:

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Great_Muppet_Movie_Ride

(The Neverland Files has more info too, but the site is down right now )

 

[_Scar]

I'm pretty positive that the Great Muppet Movie Ride was supposed to replace the Great Movie Ride.

 

[kapeman]

Has anyone heard about changes regarding the Citizens of Hollywood (aka Streetmosphere)?

I have heard they did not renew the contract for the guys in the Dept. of Public Works?

Is this true and can anyone share any details?

Also, what might this mean for the rest of the CoH?

VERY disappointing, if true!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Only if its not a refurb of TGMR, but its own ride. imo, GMR is the SSE of DHS, and like it, represents what the park is, or at least, what its supposed to be, and it doesn't need a muppet character retheming.

Give them their own muppet ride and leave GMR alone.

Well, maybe an upgrade to GMR would be good....

 

[heartodisney]

With the flurry of announcements and rumors surrounding DHS recently, I thought it'd be appropriate to have a thread on the park and where it will be going in years to come, as well as your feelings about such changes

To start off, here's a list of News, Announcements, and Rumors that have come about/resurfaced recently:

-Star Tours 2.0
-Refurbishment of Backlot Tour, restaurant, and HISTK play area
-Closing of Sounds Dangerous
-Refurbishment of Muppet Vision 3D
-Addition of Muppet What-not Shop
-Removal of Prince Caspian Meet-n-Greet
-Testing of New Queue on RnRc
-Rumors of the extension of Pixar Place(Monsters Inc, Bugs Life, Cars, etc)
-Rumors of a Phineas and Ferb attraction
-Rumors of Removal of the Sorcerer's Hat
-Large-scale disappointment amongst devoted fans and casual park-goers alike for stale attractions (GMR, VOLM, Magic of Disney Imagination, Indy Show, LMA, and even F! for some)
(I'm sure I'm forgetting some, let me know what I forgot, I'll update :wave

With so many changes and potential for new and updated attractions, I think its safe to say that we are in the early stages of a DHS renewal.

I have viewed DHS, especially in recent years, as the most "trendy" of the four parks. For what it lacks in theming and overall feel (connected by a generous, yet underdeveloped Movies, Music, and Television theme) it makes up for with the use of recognizable and popular franchises and pop-culture connections.

The current Walt Disney Company seems to reflect this desire to spread more extensively and disversly into pop culture through the use of things other than "the mouse". (e.g. the purchase of Marvel, reemergence of the Muppets, extreme popularity of Pixar films)

This makes me think DHS will recieve much attention and changes in years to come. While I'm glad this will give the park much of the TLC it needs, I also think it will lose much of its original intentions and theming. It may become even more of a celebration of entertainment franchises than of the industry itself.

Wow! All these sounds great! Muppets and Pixar really gets me going! But, anything on the Mickey Watertower? I know at one time they sold different types of replicas of this and I missed out!

 

[cblodg]

With the flurry of announcements and rumors surrounding DHS recently, I thought it'd be appropriate to have a thread on the park and where it will be going in years to come, as well as your feelings about such changes

To start off, here's a list of News, Announcements, and Rumors that have come about/resurfaced recently:

-Star Tours 2.0
-Refurbishment of Backlot Tour, restaurant, and HISTK play area
-Closing of Sounds Dangerous
-Refurbishment of Muppet Vision 3D
-Addition of Muppet What-not Shop
-Removal of Prince Caspian Meet-n-Greet
-Testing of New Queue on RnRc
-Rumors of the extension of Pixar Place(Monsters Inc, Bugs Life, Cars, etc)
-Rumors of a Phineas and Ferb attraction
-Rumors of Removal of the Sorcerer's Hat
-Large-scale disappointment amongst devoted fans and casual park-goers alike for stale attractions (GMR, VOLM, Magic of Disney Imagination, Indy Show, LMA, and even F! for some)
(I'm sure I'm forgetting some, let me know what I forgot, I'll update :wave

With so many changes and potential for new and updated attractions, I think its safe to say that we are in the early stages of a DHS renewal.

I have viewed DHS, especially in recent years, as the most "trendy" of the four parks. For what it lacks in theming and overall feel (connected by a generous, yet underdeveloped Movies, Music, and Television theme) it makes up for with the use of recognizable and popular franchises and pop-culture connections.

The current Walt Disney Company seems to reflect this desire to spread more extensively and disversly into pop culture through the use of things other than "the mouse". (e.g. the purchase of Marvel, reemergence of the Muppets, extreme popularity of Pixar films)

This makes me think DHS will recieve much attention and changes in years to come. While I'm glad this will give the park much of the TLC it needs, I also think it will lose much of its original intentions and theming. It may become even more of a celebration of entertainment franchises than of the industry itself.

Star Tours 2.0 - Good thing. The ride is old and dated. Great theming in the queue though

BLT, Restaurant, HISTK- I personally would either like to see them demolish BLT or remove LMA and return the BLT to what it once was.

Closing of Sounds Dangerous- I have no issues with this.

Refub Muppets 3D- I love the Muppets so I hope they get a good refurb and maybe more in their area. I'd love a Muppets store!

Remove Prince Caspian- I'm fine with this.

Pixar Place expansion?- well, I'd be willing to bet there would be one. TPTB put a lot of money in there and removed a fairly popular attraction in Millionaire.

Phineas and Ferb?- Put it where Sounds Dangerous was

BAH Removal?- I don't necessarily want to see it go. If they could move it to the front of the park outside the entrance and keep the mini-store kiosk, I'd be fine with that. But I want the old sight-line back of the Theater.

Get rid of the Indy show and bring on the Indy Ride (that would be HUGE for this park), little TLC for GMR but not a massive refurb (it's a classic), Fantasmic!: I'm not a fan of it anyway so I could care less.

Personally, I'd like to see them get rid of Idol and bring Millionaire back in. I know that won't happen, but one can dream

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Looks to me more like a rash of cost cutting with a rumour of possibly some attraction jam at some point in the future, possibly. When we start getting excited about long over due refurbs it really shows how far things have slipped. :shrug:

 

[Figment632]

I'm pretty positive that the Great Muppet Movie Ride was supposed to replace the Great Movie Ride.

They were always supposed to be two seperate attractions.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Well, maybe an upgrade to GMR would be good....

The tech, sure. I'm fine with the scenes in there, but that's just me.


Hopefully the removal of the BAH is soon, seeing that it's 10 year lifespan is almost up!

 

[NewfieFan]

While I'm glad this will give the park much of the TLC it needs, I also think it will lose much of its original intentions and theming. It may become even more of a celebration of entertainment franchises than of the industry itself.

Just to comment on this statement... I don't see where else Disney can go with DHS but to focus on the entertainment franchises. It's not a working studio, animation is all gone, etc.... what else is left to focus on!?! And the rides and attractions that still have the originally "intentions and theming" are pretty lame (not all but most).

All the fanboys don't want to see the latest "hot thing" put in Epcot, thrown into MK, AK is just a different park all together,... so where do you put it!?! DHS seems to be the only answer!

Cars is hot... whether you like the movie or not... it's popular! The franchise is making Disney money. Where else would you put a Cars attraction but in DHS (specifically Pixar Place)!?!

I'm actually excited about the future of DHS! Some of the franchises will have longevity and it will be a good thing for DHS and will bring the people in through the gates!

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Just to comment on this statement... I don't see where else Disney can go with DHS but to focus on the entertainment franchises. It's not a working studio, animation is all gone, etc.... what else is left to focus on!?! And the rides and attractions that still have the originally "intentions and theming" are pretty lame (not all but most).

All the fanboys don't want to see the latest "hot thing" put in Epcot, thrown into MK, AK is just a different park all together,... so where do you put it!?! DHS seems to be the only answer!

Cars is hot... whether you like the movie or not... it's popular! The franchise is making Disney money. Where else would you put a Cars attraction but in DHS (specifically Pixar Place)!?!

I'm actually excited about the future of DHS! Some of the franchises will have longevity and it will be a good thing for DHS and will bring the people in through the gates!

DHS is like the Drop Box for WDW. You want this here? :lol: Put it in DHS.


I don't know if that's a good thing or not, seeing that it can be VERY random.

 

[GizmoDuck]

I'm pretty positive that the Great Muppet Movie Ride was supposed to replace the Great Movie Ride.

Nope, the Great Muppet ride was supposed to be its own attraction.

Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia: "When Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3D attraction opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios two years after the park's opening, the area surrounding the attraction was going to be developed into a Muppets-themed zone, with another attraction in the area being The Great Muppet Movie Ride, featuring Muppets such as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy re-enacting scenes from famous movies. Again, budget cuts at the stalling theme park forced the idea for a Muppet land to be scrapped, along with "The Great Muppet Movie Ride"."

Maybe were you thinking of the Villians themed attracted that was proposed to replace the GMR? :shrug:

 

[GizmoDuck]

DHS is like the Drop Box for WDW. You want this here? :lol: Put it in DHS.


I don't know if that's a good thing or not, seeing that it can be VERY random.

So true. :lol:

Granted it dilutes the story of the Studios, but the theming is already such a stretch now that I wouldn't mind a completely random attraction if it were fun.

 

[NewfieFan]

DHS is like the Drop Box for WDW. You want this here? :lol: Put it in DHS.


I don't know if that's a good thing or not, seeing that it can be VERY random.

If you ask me... DHS is already pretty random!?! With some of the franchises coming in we might just have a few themes being pulled together!

But WDW needs a "drop box"! And some of the popular franchises just may have the best attractions... turning DHS into quite the theme park!?!

I love TSMM... it's a great ride... worth the trip over to DHS IMO. Wouldn't it be great if we had more attractions like this...?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Nope, the Great Muppet ride was supposed to be its own attraction.

Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia: "When Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3D attraction opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios two years after the park's opening, the area surrounding the attraction was going to be developed into a Muppets-themed zone, with another attraction in the area being The Great Muppet Movie Ride, featuring Muppets such as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy re-enacting scenes from famous movies. Again, budget cuts at the stalling theme park forced the idea for a Muppet land to be scrapped, along with "The Great Muppet Movie Ride"."

Maybe were you thinking of the Villians themed attracted that was proposed to replace the GMR? :shrug:

In turn, I think that was a rumor spurned by the arrival of Sorcerer Mickey's BAH. :lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

If you ask me... DHS is already pretty random!?! With some of the franchises coming in we might just have a few themes being pulled together!

But WDW needs a "drop box"! And some of the popular franchises just may have the best attractions... turning DHS into quite the theme park!?!

I love TSMM... it's a great ride... worth the trip over to DHS IMO. Wouldn't it be great if we had more attractions like this...?

To an outsider, yes, very random. Heck, even to someone who has been told the backstory a million times (Thanks, Servo ) it's still a oddity.

DHS is quite the park, I agree. It just needs to become more cohesive. But it most certainly is a vibrant spirited place.