The Studios Project: Can they fix it?

DisneyMusician2

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The Studios are really in dire need of a change. I think the key to revitalizing the studios is to have the Disney people begin to film there somehow. They make a ridiculous number of made-for-TV movies and other projects for Disney Channel, and opening the lots to that kind of filming on a regular basis would add greatly to the appeal of the park. Increased attendance would mean some more stuff that would have to go into the parks. Bring back the real grit of making entertainment. Show people interactively what it takes in the attractions, and you will have a successful park once again. Any ideas out there?
 

kcnole

Well-Known Member
Filming isn't going to come back to the parks, but yes it can be fixed. The following is my plan.

1. Revitalize the tram tour: This attraction could keep the water effects show as the preshow although it definitely needs to lose the pearl harbor tie in and be updated a bit. It's still a fun show, especially if you get to be in it. Then the tram tour needs to be changed from the backlot tour to the special effects tour. We could still visit catastrophe canyon, but then in addition we'd also visit maybe an additional 3-4 soundstages where we see various astonishing special effects take place right in front of us. Maybe we could have a soundstage that simulates a hurricane, one that simulates a major fire effect, one that has a monster attacking the tram, etc... I'm not creative enough to design the individual soundstages but I know there are people who could do a wonderful job with this. In between the soundstages we could still find various movie props laying about and then also end with a small walk through attraction. If this could be done, this tour could be turned back into a good hour long E-ticket attraction.

2. Rehab the Great Movie Ride: Part of doing this would be to remove the hat (although I know that won't happen). Remove some of the older movies that aren't as relevant any longer and replace them with scenes from Star Wars, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc... Also make some of the sections scary again like they once were. I remember the days when the alien portion was actually one of the hilights of the ride and actually had the ability to scare you a bit. I don't know what happened to it, but it doesn't anymore.

3. Rehab Star Tours and make Star Tours 2.0 whatever that would entail.

4. Remove the awful sounds dangerous show and put in some good shows that demonstrate how tv shows and movies are made like used to be there. These wouldn't be huge E-ticket affairs, but it would be a good C-ticket show that people would enjoy.

5. Bring in the little mermaid show from Tokyo to replace the one that is currently running.

6. In addition to Toy Story Mania add two more C-ticket dark rides to the park. I'd like to see "The Nightmare Before Christmas" one made and maybe the "Little Mermaid" concept although I wouldn't be opposed to any other concept that actually used AA's.

7. Do something imaginative with the animation tour again. This used to be such a wonderful tour. This is an area where I think they could actually bring some animators back again who would actually be working on something since Disney is going with 2D animation again. At the very least have them working on a cartoon for the disney channel or something.

8. Refurb Fantasmic and bring it up to the standards of at least the Disneyland version. I'd personally like to see them surpass what's being done at Disneyland. At the very least remove the Pocahontas section and replace it with an exciting pirates themed section.


I know those are a lot of steps, it includes 4 major refurbs of attractions, several new rides, and some major rethinking of some other areas and it would take a lot of work, time, commitment, and money. But if they're willing to pour the hundreds of millions of dollars into the failed DCA then they can do that here as well. I don't think it would be too hard to implement some of these ideas and slowly do the rest as well. If that would be done we'd have a completely new and revitalized park worth visiting again.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
The Studio in Studios is dead I`m afraid; physical proof was when the backlots were trashed by the Animation extention and car park, then LMA. Midway looks like it`ll be the no-going-back point for the Stages too.

It wasn`t as if they didn`t try, but the fact was production companies as a rule didn`t want to shoot in central Florida. We have the same issue in the UK; you find it`s often not the comapny but the cast who refuse to relocate.

My humble Idea? Theme it as a `pretend` Film Studio; give the illusion it`s a lively complex. Don`t pretend it is a theme park, and don`t pretend it`s a real working studio.
 

DisneyMusician2

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The Studio in Studios is dead I`m afraid; physical proof was when the backlots were trashed by the Animation extention and car park, then LMA. Midway looks like it`ll be the no-going-back point for the Stages too.

It wasn`t as if they didn`t try, but the fact was production companies as a rule didn`t want to shoot in central Florida. We have the same issue in the UK; you find it`s often not the comapny but the cast who refuse to relocate.

My humble Idea? Theme it as a `pretend` Film Studio; give the illusion it`s a lively complex. Don`t pretend it is a theme park, and don`t pretend it`s a real working studio.

OK, so lets assume it is a fake film studio for a moment. How do we take the attractions and make it really appear to be a studio again? What could you put in there to really make it work?
 
...
7. Do something imaginative with the animation tour again. This used to be such a wonderful tour. This is an area where I think they could actually bring some animators back again who would actually be working on something since Disney is going with 2D animation again. At the very least have them working on a cartoon for the disney channel or something...

Brilliant idea... lets have tour where we all walk around a computer nerd working on a high powered PC... it could have a really big hard drive and umpteen gig of memory and maybe be networked into another computer with even more memory and more hard drives and it could have a really cool looking mouse pad that was shaped like mickey mouse... and Gee wally, computer animation just doesn't seem as interesting as the old school drawing.

In other words I dont see how they can make computer animation that interesting.
 

kcnole

Well-Known Member
well since Lasseter has stated that he wants a reinvestment into traditional 2d animation again, it can still be done. There's also a lot more to creating a cgi animation than just having a computer as well. They could hilight the differences in both types of animation and what the steps are to make the animation take life.
 

DisneyMusician2

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Taking everyone through the process of really making either a 2D or 3D movie again would be great. The whole Robin Williams-Walter Chronchite spiel used to be so much FUN! Now the process is SO bland, and WAY too much "Discover it yourself" with bad computer touch screens. Take us through story boards, voice-overs, cool stories from movies, and the evolution of the Amination process.
 

sconti

Member
I think the park can be greatly improved by adding a 3rd e-ticket attraction. If you think about it, all the other parks have at least 3 (MK has the 3 mountains, EP has Test Track/MS/Soarin' and AK has E:E/Dino/Safari). This "3rd e-ticket" could be movie/studio based to put a little movie punch back in the park.

As good as ToT and RnR are, it's simply not enough.
 

Dagger

Member
I personally love the Playhouse Disney stuff and I want more of it. We were going to do Universal on our next trip because of Barney and SpongeBob (for our toddler) but decided not to... but I wouldn't even be thinking twice of it if there were more toddler interaction activities and I think the Studios are a perfect place to do it (as they've already started!)

I also love the muppets/star wars/indiana jones activities and feel like they need to take a note from those 3, as at least 1 of them seems to be on everyone's list. Muppets is definitely the most nostalgic for me. I thought it was funny when I was 9, and it's still funny now.
 
I dont remember where I read this, and I'm sure it was pure speculation/wishful thinking, but its an awesome idea in my opinion:

Give the muppets more of a presence in the park, as was originally planned. Most importantly, interject the muppets into the Great Movie Ride. Have them reinacting famous scenes, Statler and Waldorf heckling and such.

Actually, this would probably ruin GMR for a lot of people. But, I love the muppets... so to me its golden. Either way, Something needs to be done to GMR other than just updating the final video every year.
 

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
Pixar Animation Tour

In other words I dont see how they can make computer animation that interesting.

This solution sounds simple enough to me, so here are a few ideas to make an interactive Computer Animation demo fun:

Create stations: Have the group move (as the old days) from station to station and build on the dynamic demo in each pass.
1) Use audience "polling" to select a scene/story. This will be of a limited selection as all the environments are pre-modeled. (i.e. City-scape ala Incredibles, Picnic ala Bugs Life, Bedroom ala Toy Story)
2) Scanning adult & child "volunteers" to make CG characters. (CM artist takes basic model and with help of software adds "costume" & color to model.
3) A CM with the tracking suit can animate the 3D characters.
4) Use volunteers to make the voices (Adult voice the kid, kid voice the adult might be fun). Just mix it up and optionally add effects (kid sounds like robot, grown up sounds like a high-pitched flea, etc.)
5) Use volunteers to select audio special effects (again limited selection, but a few choices based on the above selected scene).
6) Final "Showing" on the big screen. Group piles into theater and watch a real of Pixar Shorts followed by their creation on the big screen.
7) WDW $machine can provide PhotoPass ops at the stages for volunteers as well as the video on DVD.


I know my family and my son would LOVE this. Any other thoughts? If anyone other than me likes this, any CM's out there that can suggest this? :eek:
 

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Brilliant idea... lets have tour where we all walk around a computer nerd working on a high powered PC... it could have a really big hard drive and umpteen gig of memory and maybe be networked into another computer with even more memory and more hard drives and it could have a really cool looking mouse pad that was shaped like mickey mouse... and Gee wally, computer animation just doesn't seem as interesting as the old school drawing.

In other words I dont see how they can make computer animation that interesting.
There is quite a bit about 3D animation that can be made very interesting and guest interactive as well. Motion capture comes to mind. Have a guest put on the leotard with all the tracking balls on it and show how the computer goes from live action to finished 3D animation.
 

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
I like the list in general. You make a lot of the same points I would have.
1. Revitalize the tram tour Agreed: Old props are cheap to acquire
2. Rehab the Great Movie Ride Agreed: Family favorite, but gettin' old.
3. Rehab Star Tours Agreed: WDI has come along way, let the flex their muscles.
4. Remove the sounds dangerous show Agreed:
5. Bring in the little mermaid show from Tokyo Low priority
6. add two more C-ticket dark rides to the park. I'd like to see "The Nightmare Before Christmas" AGREED: It minimizes the worry folks have about the Mansion being changed.
7. Do something imaginative with the animation tour again. Agreed: see my Pixar Animation Tour post.
8. Refurb Fantasmic Agreed: A few "tweaks" would be nice.

"Dagger" had mentioned the Playhouse Disney stuff. My thought is to add more of the DisneyChannel in general as small filler to bring details back to the park.
1) Where are the Koala Brothers? Big franchise opportunity there! How about a dumbo-like ride for the kids where they get to fly in the Koala Brothers planes? Small area & reasonable cost.
2) How about a Bueno Nacho to eat at.....hello Kim Possible fans. I'd buy a Naco if they had'em.
3) For my own satisfaction, how about Higgly Bowling? I can throw a huge ball and knock'em down like pins? (Sorry....bad taste I know.)


And the clincher that will bring me the inevtiable flaming posts is.......
:lol: Change the name to "Disney Pixar Studios" :lookaroun
 

shoppingnut

Active Member
They need to bring more rides and shows that don't require live actors, that can be open during emh's. I'd like to see some more dark rides that are kid friendly. If they could bring an E ticket ride like Soarin that pretty much everyone in the family can ride instead of another roller coaster that would be great.
 

jimmyritt33

New Member
A Koala Bears ride is kind of a good idea, but I think that making use of the Playhouse Disney characters would be good. A lot of the movies featured at the park are lost on the little kids. What about building an entire land of nothing but Playhouse Disney.
 

DisneyMusician2

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
A playhouse Disney ride would certainly be interesting, but I'm not sure an entire land would sustain itself. It would certainly be interesting to see, though. I would even like to see some more recent movies added in rides to the park, some that might even change periodically.
 
I personally love the Playhouse Disney stuff and I want more of it. We were going to do Universal on our next trip because of Barney and SpongeBob (for our toddler) but decided not to... but I wouldn't even be thinking twice of it if there were more toddler interaction activities and I think the Studios are a perfect place to do it (as they've already started!)

I also love the muppets/star wars/indiana jones activities and feel like they need to take a note from those 3, as at least 1 of them seems to be on everyone's list. Muppets is definitely the most nostalgic for me. I thought it was funny when I was 9, and it's still funny now.

Of course your a grown up... have you ever gotten down to the eye level of a little kid in the playhouse disney show? I feel sorry for the little kids cause they can't see anything most of the time. Who ever decided to put everything up on a stage should be shot, they surely missed the fact that it may be a perfect height for adults but is way to tall for kids.
 
They need to bring more rides and shows that don't require live actors, that can be open during emh's. I'd like to see some more dark rides that are kid friendly. If they could bring an E ticket ride like Soarin that pretty much everyone in the family can ride instead of another roller coaster that would be great.
Maybe they could use some automatons like they do in the bear country jamboree, I'm sure they would be as enthusiastic as some of the people in the live performances.
 


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