The Park Formerly Known as Disney's Hollywood Studios? Yep ...

[Magenta Panther]

I agree with you here and Disney management has only themselves to blame on the poor, stale condition of this park. Letting it languish and get to the state it is in, goes to show that the current leadership didn't see or want to see that the park was needing work and updating for the longest. Kind of reminds me of years ago how DCA's very apparent problems and short comings was ignored for years and dismissed by the company, until they forced by low attendance numbers to admit that a fix was needed. This is what happens when greed and apathy is the accepted way of doing things by the those in charge and just coasting along is good enough.

I hate how DHS or whatever it will be called, has fallen into the state it is currently in and any Disney fan who cares about the parks, should be just as disappointed as I am. For a company that was known for pushing the envelope and making the parks a unique and special place from anything else out there, they have really dropped the ball and there's just no disguising or defending it anymore. So much needs to be done and it's maddening to think what Disney could do and has the money and talent to get it done, but is just sitting on their hands with no sense of urgency. That's one thing I give USO credit for and like about them right now. They have been building new attractions and resorts at a rapid pace and giving the guests more options. It's sad that it will be years before anything good and creative (also non DVC) will be opening for us at WDW.

The only thing Robert Iger cares about are the stockholders. He's the kind of CEO Walt Disney despised. He may have made the company more prosperous, but he sold its soul to do it. I can't wait for him to leave.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Been thinking about this and here's what I think they *could* do...

This is going to be the Star Wars theme park and it will open in stages. SW will begin taking over around the area near Star Tours. They could move The Muppets to Epcot... I can see Imagination starring The Muppets!

I can't. And NO, not because I "hate" the puppets (yeesh). Because Dreamfinder and Figment are a million times better, especially because they're original DISNEY characters and were created specifically for that ride.

 

[Beholder]

I can't. And NO, not because I "hate" the puppets (yeesh). Because Dreamfinder and Figment are a million times better, especially because they're original DISNEY characters and were created specifically for that ride.

We may disagree on the muppets, but I agree 100% about Figment and Dreamfinder. To me, that pavilion sort of held the "soul" of that park. Original ideas and attractions are few and far between as it is, let's keep what we have. But let's update and honor the attractions, not replace.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Ooh yeah the Muppet Studios portion could use some loving and updating. The success of the new movies would draw in newer and younger crowds while the TLC and some nostalgia added in would draw in us long time lovers of that whole gang. When you list them that way it does make a lot more sense, though where does Rockin fit in? Lmao

"Success"? The second movie was a flop. Just so you know. The Muppet area needs to go altogether IMO. I think it'd be a perfect area to put a Frozen attraction in. For one thing, it's enclosed. Imagine walking through DHS during a balmy Orlando day and suddenly coming upon a frozen Arendelle Town Square, with "snow" on the ground, icicles on all of the buildings and a frozen, sparkling fountain. The Imagineers could contrive to make the area a bit colder, and "snow" could fall every now and then, a la Main Street during the Christmas Party. And the theater could be re-themed to a Frozen 3D show, with snow falling inside of the theater, AND it could be downright chilly in there. I think this would be a huge hit, and better use of the area.

Although Magic Kingdom would be a much better place for Frozen. But I don't know if there's any more room out there for a decent-sized attraction.

 

[Beholder]

"Success"? The second movie was a flop. Just so you know. The Muppet area needs to go altogether IMO. I think it'd be a perfect area to put a Frozen attraction in. For one thing, it's enclosed. Imagine walking through DHS during a balmy Orlando day and suddenly coming upon a frozen Arendelle Town Square, with "snow" on the ground, icicles on all of the buildings and a frozen, sparkling fountain. The Imagineers could contrive to make the area a bit colder, and "snow" could fall every now and then, a la Main Street during the Christmas Party. And the theater could be re-themed to a Frozen 3D show, with snow falling inside of the theater, AND it could be downright chilly in there. I think this would be a huge hit, and better use of the area.

Although Magic Kingdom would be a much better place for Frozen. But I don't know if there's any more room out there for a decent-sized attraction.

At this point, it IS a little hard to imagine a DHS revamp without some sort of nod to Frozen. Maybe it's to early to gauge it's staying power, but at this point, Frozen may end up being this generations Little Mermaid. So it'll be 20-30 years before they build a permanent attraction?

 

[NobodyElse]

Disney Hollywood Nara Dreamland Florida.

 

[DVC91]

"Success"? The second movie was a flop. Just so you know. The Muppet area needs to go altogether IMO. I think it'd be a perfect area to put a Frozen attraction in. For one thing, it's enclosed. Imagine walking through DHS during a balmy Orlando day and suddenly coming upon a frozen Arendelle Town Square, with "snow" on the ground, icicles on all of the buildings and a frozen, sparkling fountain. The Imagineers could contrive to make the area a bit colder, and "snow" could fall every now and then, a la Main Street during the Christmas Party. And the theater could be re-themed to a Frozen 3D show, with snow falling inside of the theater, AND it could be downright chilly in there. I think this would be a huge hit, and better use of the area.

Although Magic Kingdom would be a much better place for Frozen. But I don't know if there's any more room out there for a decent-sized attraction.

If they put it in either park we'd have Norway architecture x2, which would really bother me and I'm sure many others.

Also, MMW grossed $51.2M at the box office. Granted it's $14M less than the Muppet Movie ('79), but it's the 3rd highest grossing Muppet movie of all time (unadjusted for inflation. After adjustment it's 7th, and Worldwide (unadjusted) it's 2nd). Hardly a "flop" I'd say. Check it out on the boxofficemojo website. Not to mention those sticklers over at RT gave it a 79% which is nothing to turn your nose up at.

Take into account that The Muppet Movie ('79) jumps from $65.2M to $211.7M after inflation as well

 

[Goofyernmost]

Yeah. "Studios" only makes sense if they produce (or at least really commit to pretending to produce) films and other media there.

Sometimes I think that people tend to think that there is only one emphasis that can be used with the word Studio's. In the beginning it did imply that an active studio was behind the gates, and there was. Later, it changed along with the theme to include the representation of other studios not the actual production in real time. Muppet Studios existed to showcase the Muppets. Pixar Place to showcase Pixar, the rest including, from the beginning, the Great Movie Ride showcased the efforts of a variety of active and inactive studio's. It is a word that becomes very flexible depending on where the emphasis is placed.

I don't think it has ever been off target if one took the time to figure out just what the target was.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Disney Park® Hollywood - A Division of Squid Brand Fish Sauce™

 

[SirLink]

"Success"? The second movie was a flop. Just so you know. The Muppet area needs to go altogether IMO. I think it'd be a perfect area to put a Frozen attraction in. For one thing, it's enclosed. Imagine walking through DHS during a balmy Orlando day and suddenly coming upon a frozen Arendelle Town Square, with "snow" on the ground, icicles on all of the buildings and a frozen, sparkling fountain. The Imagineers could contrive to make the area a bit colder, and "snow" could fall every now and then, a la Main Street during the Christmas Party. And the theater could be re-themed to a Frozen 3D show, with snow falling inside of the theater, AND it could be downright chilly in there. I think this would be a huge hit, and better use of the area.

Although Magic Kingdom would be a much better place for Frozen. But I don't know if there's any more room out there for a decent-sized attraction.

The Muppets are basically Disney's National Lampoon series or could be if Disney would let them, they are relatively cheap movies that make back costs and deliver a small profit but are incredibly easy to license to Wallmart/M&S/Tesco/Kellogs for any any promotion. They are key to tap into that 20-30 year old nostalgia, which can be very profitable. Which if Disney were clever that would be the focus of the park aimed squarely at that demographic. No princesses should be featured in the park period.

 

[DisneyGentleman]

looking ahead:

Anyone think "Studios" will remain in the park moniker?

Seriously, I'm wondering if they are going to take some very different direction. Like, for example, Disney Heroes Theme Park - to be someday offset by Disney Villains.

 

[NobodyElse]

I did some researching and the cars land space is almost identical to the back lot tour and the lights motor show...
California Adventure space = Roughly 3,266 Sq ft.
Disney's Hollywood Studios = Roughly 3,246 Sq ft.
How Ironic...
View attachment 62245 View attachment 62246

Not to be a "d bag", but your "Sq ft." figures seem to be off by more than a rough amount. Assuming Cars Land is about 12 acres, that would be about 522,720 square feet. Your point is however correct that the two areas are similar in size.

 

[FutureCEO]

Basically, The park can keep Tower of Terror, Toy Story, Great Movie Ride and Star Wars. And throw the rest away

 

[crispy]

Disney's Hollywood Nostalgia Park
Disney's Arts and Animation Park (play on the Art of Animation resort)
Disney's Movieland

 

[landauh]

Personally, they started going wrong when they began deviating from the parks original purpose, theme, whatever made it a "concept" to begin with. A coherent tradition from attraction to attraction based on a common idea. DHS and EPCOT are clearly (for me) the worst off. This hodgepodge of attractions stacked on top of one another with no clear or stated "reason" for doing so creates an uneven experience. The state fair does this. Six flags does this. WDW should never do this. It's symptomatic of a business model that has abandoned story for maximizing revenue. I have never really understood the business world but I do know that profit takes center stage in decisions now so more than ever. I'm not commenting on the good or bad of this, BUT the obvious repercussion if this is what we have at DHS. A bunch of unrelated attractions without a clear, thematic transition from one area to another. It's a mess. To fix this, I have to believe a serious make-over is needed. I wouldn't at all be opposed to shutting it down for a year or two, fix it, reopen with a fresh new mission and name. I know, I know, it'll never be that way, but this is just thinking out loud anyway.

I believe that some of you are forgetting why Disney made the decisions that they made. I remember coming to WDW and enjoying both EPCOT and MGM because it had attractions that showed how things worked. Of course in the 70s, 80s and 90s I was one of those freaks that built computers and robots in my room (didn't have a garage) and Disney or WED/WDI was always pushing technology. The issue Disney had was that the guests were complaining that they did not come to Disney to be educated and stopped going to EPCOT and MGM. Disney being a for profit business needed to do something and they decided to abandon the original stories to appease the guests. It worked for awhile but now Disney is facing guests that have more computing power in their phone that all of Disneyland when it opened. Technology is now pushing Disney.

Yes there have been bad decisions by management and yes there is a void in the Studios, but let's be as smart as many are trying to claim and "see" what Disney comes up with and stop the endless nastiness that has taken over this thread. If you believe that Disney monitors this site do you really believe that you can get them to be on your side of the issue by constantly calling them names and stating that you are better than all of them put together? If I was Disney i would do everything I could NOT to give you the satisfaction of being correct.

For once try to sit back a LITTLE and see what is planned first.

 

[cw1982]

Basically, The park can keep Tower of Terror, Toy Story, Great Movie Ride and Star Wars. And throw the rest away

Add RnRC to that and I'd agree.

 

[CinematicFusion]

Basically, The park can keep Tower of Terror, Toy Story, Great Movie Ride and Star Wars. And throw the rest away

They can get rid of Great Movie Ride...as long as they bring in something of greater or equal value. It's not like that's the greatest ride of all time. It's decent and they haven't kept it up to date. I have zero emotional value invested in that ride.
Keep it...tear it down..whatever..

But...don't redo it and turn it into Imagination 2.0

 

[Beholder]

I believe that some of you are forgetting why Disney made the decisions that they made. I remember coming to WDW and enjoying both EPCOT and MGM because it had attractions that showed how things worked. Of course in the 70s, 80s and 90s I was one of those freaks that built computers and robots in my room (didn't have a garage) and Disney or WED/WDI was always pushing technology. The issue Disney had was that the guests were complaining that they did not come to Disney to be educated and stopped going to EPCOT and MGM. Disney being a for profit business needed to do something and they decided to abandon the original stories to appease the guests. It worked for awhile but now Disney is facing guests that have more computing power in their phone that all of Disneyland when it opened. Technology is now pushing Disney.

Yes there have been bad decisions by management and yes there is a void in the Studios, but let's be as smart as many are trying to claim and "see" what Disney comes up with and stop the endless nastiness that has taken over this thread. If you believe that Disney monitors this site do you really believe that you can get them to be on your side of the issue by constantly calling them names and stating that you are better than all of them put together? If I was Disney i would do everything I could NOT to give you the satisfaction of being correct.

For once try to sit back a LITTLE and see what is planned first.

I stated that I wasn't commenting on the right or wrong of what they do, I was commenting on the possible result of what they do. I'm under no illusion that anyone at TDO would base a multi-million dollar decision on what I or anyone else says here. The VAST majority of what I opine about is opinion, sometimes based on personal observation or sometimes just gut feeling. I'm sorry if that opinion is too critical or doesn't always wave the Disney flag.

And I understand times change, technology changes and along with it expectations change, but I fail to see why that equates to the abandonment of any of these parks intent or original goal?

 

[Maerj]

I can't. And NO, not because I "hate" the puppets (yeesh). Because Dreamfinder and Figment are a million times better, especially because they're original DISNEY characters and were created specifically for that ride.

They may be better but IF they would be changing DHS to a SW theme park, I can see them *possibly* moving the Muppets over there. They have Captain EO playing in the theater and a mediocre ride that includes one beloved character. If they were to update the pavilion and return it to it's former imaginative glory that would be great.

But I can't see them doing that. If the Muppets were to be brought into the ride maybe Figment and even Dreamfinder would find a way back in there as well. But we'll have to wait and see...

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I can't. And NO, not because I "hate" the puppets (yeesh). Because Dreamfinder and Figment are a million times better, especially because they're original DISNEY characters and were created specifically for that ride.

they and the ride are crap, and the vast majority of patrons will be unfamiliar with them and therefore have no nostalgia to them.