Time For a Hollywood Studios Makeover?

[WDWVolFan]

Sorry if someone has posted a similar thread before but after going there last year, I think that Hollywood Studios needs some updating from a rides standpoint.

The Great Movie Ride: I LOVE that it looks the same as the Chinese theater in LA but I think the ride itself needs some revamping. Add some different movies or update the current ones. The robotics of the characters is pretty archaic compared to other attractions. I went there the first time in 1994 and it's the same thing.

Backlot Stage Tour: Same for this one, I haven't noticed a single update to the Catastrophe Canyon part.

Muppets: While that's a cool attraction, it's another one that has been the same for decades.

Star Wars: I like that they made up the video part of the ride but I think it could use some updating as well.

American Idol: I personally do not see the point of it, I believe it used to be the Chevy Chase sound stage attraction, it was cool but I think it needs a bigger impact attraction.

If you think about it the major hitters at Hollywood Studios are 5: Tower of Terror, Aerosmith, Indiana Jones, Star Tours and Toy Story; you can add Fantasmic to the list but I find that this is very little.
I think WDW could make this part a lot better...I still love it, but compared to the other parks, that's the one that least evolved over the years...not sure if it was due to the MGM financial troubles but still.

 

[Spikerdink]

This has sort of been covered in other threads....especially with the thoughts on Star Wars Land, Cars Land, etc....

I think the consensus is that Disney is going to make a big announcement in August at D23...if not, many people will be disappointed.

I agree the park needs some major attention, and will be getting its due very soon.

 

[WDWVolFan]

What's D23?
Sorry...I'm definitely a rookie.

 

[imagineer boy]

Actually Sounds Dangerous was built in the former theater occupied by the Chevy Chase Monster Sound Show. Super Star Television used to be in the American Idol theater. Anyways, here's my complete plan for an overhaul of DHS:

Disney’s Hollywood Studios​

-First of all the name goes! The park will be renamed to “Disney Studios Florida” and will become a real working movie studio once again.

-The giant Mickey hat will be demolished and never seen again!!!!!

-The Great Movie ride: Ride is extended with new movie scenes (possibly backwards into the HISTK playground) while existing scenes are upgraded including the removal of Tarzan scene. New movies possibly include Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Godfather, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and possibly more. End montage is updated as well.

Echo Lake:

-Indy Stunt show is removed to make way for Indy attraction similar to the ones in DL and TDS. Ride will mostly be the same except with an Aztec theme and a few new encounters. Exterior will be a huge Aztec pyramid with minimal studio themeing.

-Right next to Indy an “Excavator” coaster similar to Raging Spirits (but with somewhat different track design to be less painful) is added.

-Current new version works fine. POSSIBILITY: Area in front of attraction redone to expand star wars theme. Possibility of converting Drew Cary show into Mos Eisley cantina.

-When American Idol eventually dies, the AI show theater could get an entirely new show possibly a comedy stunt show.

Muppets Courtyard:

-Muppets gets their own sort of mini-land.

-Muppets 3-D stays mostly the same except with some possible enhancements such as digital projection, smell effects during pie scene, and other various things here and there.

-Pizza Planet is relocated to Pixar Place and building rethemed to the Swedish Chef’s restaurant.

-Christmas street theme is relocated and current street is rethemed to Muppets.

-Muppet mobile labs added to the area.

-Muppet Movie Ride also added finally!



Streets of America: Area is expanded a little bit to have more street sets and even a town square sort of area.

-Some shops are added to the area.

-Area expands over into the currently un-occupied area to the south of the park where the station for the new back lot tour will be built.

-New Backlot Tour will be added which will tour a brand newly built real production studio area built in the unoccupied area south of the park. It’ll go through real soundstages and outdoor sets and façade laden streets. A special in depth small group tour can be offered at a special price. Tour has special encounters including updated new Catastrophe Canyon.

-LMAX will be re-shifted to fit the expansion of the land. The show will be greatly improved to be less boring, have more exciting stunts, better special effects, etc. More human stunts will be added to the vehicle ones. Herbie and Lightning McQueen are permanently removed from show.

Animation Courtyard: Little mermaid, animation tour queue, one man’s dream, and old Narnia exhibit are all torn down to make way for a bigger area.

-The animation building is brought back to be a regular animation production facility for Disney animated features. Yay! The building will get a lobby similar to DL’s version with several different experiences. These include a how to draw a character demonstration, art from the films exhibits, and the main animation tour complete with movie (similar to Back to Neverland), trip through the animation work areas, and interactive areas similar to the ones in DCA (Ursula’s Grotto, Beast’s Library, etc. ).

-Nightmare Before Christmas Dark Ride is added to the land, potentially in former Playhouse Disney theater.

-Magic Carpets of Aladdin is moved here

-Kiddy Coaster based off of Mickey’s Plane Crazy cartoon is added.

-Water play area based off of Steamboat Willy is added.

-POSSIBILITY: Dark ride based off of old Mickey cartoons or silly symphonies.

Pixar Place: Area is relocated to the western side of the TSMM building with entrance to the ride relocated as well. Old costuming building is torn down to make way for expansion. Area retains its identity with the same brick look.

-Toy Story Midway Mania: Keep mostly the same, but maybe perhaps the midway theme could be removed. Not sure. Add more real props and maybe a few animatronics throughout the ride. Perhaps recycled from the old buzz lightyear ride. Finale must be changed to a battle with Zerg.

-Luxo Jr. Animatronic is ADDED BACK INTO THE LAND!!!!!

-Monsters Inc could get its treatment with a relocation of the laugh floor from MK or perhaps the doors coaster. Either one would work.

-Pizza Planet direct from the Toy Story movies is added.

-Ratatouille restaurant direct from the movie is added.

-Buy n’ Large from Wall-E is made a store in the land.

-Finding Nemo could get its treatment here with either:

A: Crush’s Coaster like in DLP

B: Ride in Epcot relocated here

C: Musical show from AK moved here

I’m leaning towards C. However Nemo could have a presence in the new Australia area in AK. Either would work.

-Incredibles could possibly get their own attraction based on Kuka technology. TBD.

-A dark ride themed to the various other movies could be a possibility as well. All land expansion is strictly blue sky at this point in time. This also includes possibility of a Radiator Springs mini land.

Sunset Blvd: Area stays mostly the same.

-RnRC: Exterior could get a face life to express the surrounding architecture in the area.

-Beauty and the Beast theater will be enclosed to simulate watching a show at the Hollywood Bowl theater under a night sky. B&B show is replaced with something new. Current show is very outdated.

-Fantasmic: Theater could possibly be relocated for better traffic solutions and theater upgrades, but could be too costly and pointless. Just a thought for now. The actual show will be vastly upgraded and be similar to the show currently playing in TDS. Better effects, less use of stock footage, removal of Pocahontas sequence, better Dragon finale added, cheesier elements removed, possible music remixing, just an overall improved show.

Entertainment:

-Add a new parade that mixes floats with a motor cars parade thing that evokes a Hollywood premier. Floats are themed to Disney films with a Hollywood twist, as well as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Muppets.

-Bring back the fireworks with a new show called “Blockbusters in the Sky.”This show is set to famous movie music such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Last of the Mohicans, Wizard of Oz. Lord of the Rings, Chariots of Fire, Gone with the Wind, Close Encounters, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.

-Seasonal Things-

-Keep Star Wars weekends the same. Have the special Star Wars themed fireworks and parade be a permanent staple of the event.

-Give the fireworks seasonal overlays for Halloween and Christmas. The show plays famous themes from various classic horror and Christmas movies. These could be simple tags to the ends the regular fireworks show rather than totally new shows on their own.

-Keep Osborne Lights, add more decorations for Halloween.

-Add E-ride nights to the park.

 

[WDWVolFan]

Whoa! Just out of curiosity, are you a real imagineer working for Disney and those are real ideas or are you just a fan?
Not trying to be a jerk, just trying to get a grasp on expectations.

 

[Brickcity Pauly]

In my short time here, I feel like I've seen this topic 80 times...haha.
I personally have very little problem with DHS, other than the fact that you can do most of it in 6-8 hours if you get some fast passes. I love Muppetvision...if they could update it, that might be cool, but I'm fine with it as is. I was very happy with the changes to Star Tours. ToT and RnRC are great and shouldn't be touched, as is TSM. I also have no problem with that hat, and don't get all the hate for it.
But some of the other things that I didn't mention, could probably use an update, or maybe to be replaced with something else.

 

[Soarin2u]

We've talked way to much about DHS here on the forums. I'm nearly sick of it ...in a good way. As pure fans of Disney we are acknowledging where Disney needs to put its efforts into. We agree that DHS needs work and if it is done right we can restore it to its former glory. We have all pointed out where it needs help and what can stay. One thing that needs to go is the Hat.(Which I still love) Things such as backlot tour needs to be either taken away and or updated... A lot. Hollywood studios use to be a working studios, if we can bring that back, it will bring the crowds and ideas back too. Etc. Etc. Etc...

But if you look back to few pages on the general forums, your sure to find a lot.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Star Wars: Attraction is perfectly fine as is! What it needs is something additional. I'd like to take some time to see exactly how much real estate is free around the attraction. How about a themed dining experience! You could have a cantina bar, serving all sorts of specialized drinks, and then have a a separately themed dining area... maybe along the likes of an Ewok festival, like in the end of Episode VI.

Rockin': Time to block that corner off and rehash this ride! Aerosmith is not relevant anymore, Steven Tyler may be but if you polled a certain age group now, say 10-25, and asked about Aerosmith the answers might show that kids aren't even aware who they are! Turn this sucker into a Tron attraction!

 

[rob45]

It needs refreshing. Indy show is boring and so is the Backlot tour. Muppet 3D needs a new movie.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

This somehow seemed apropos...

 

[EOD K9]

Star Wars: Attraction is perfectly fine as is! What it needs is something additional. I'd like to take some time to see exactly how much real estate is free around the attraction. How about a themed dining experience! You could have a cantina bar, serving all sorts of specialized drinks, and then have a a separately themed dining area... maybe along the likes of an Ewok festival, like in the end of Episode VI.

!

Yub Nub!!

 

[wdwfan4ver]

What's D23?
Sorry...I'm definitely a rookie.

D23 is an expo. It is an event where people in Disney do presentations including the Park and resort division for the media and the public. That event also does announce new stuff based on the history of the event.

The 2013 D23 Expo happens from August 9th to the 11th.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Star Wars: I like that they made up the video part of the ride but I think it could use some updating as well.

Star Tours: The adventures doesn't need an update since it was updated in 2011 at DHS. The fact is almost every Disney Theme park Worldwide that has Star Tours has been updated to Star Tours: The adventure Continues except for Disneyland Paris. From a DHS standpoint, Star Tours shouldn't be updated again before there is more episodes coming out.

What really could be done with Star Wars is an expansion or have more of a presence Star Wars in the Park.

 

[imagineer boy]

Whoa! Just out of curiosity, are you a real imagineer working for Disney and those are real ideas or are you just a fan?
Not trying to be a jerk, just trying to get a grasp on expectations.

Just a fan. lol

 

[CohibaMan]

For what it's worth, I was at DHS this morning at 8:30AM. At precisely 9:05AM, there was a 60 minute wait for Toy Story and Fast Pass return was already at 11:15-12:15. And the park opened at it's normal time of 9:00AM, THAT'S BUSY!!! While I completely agree that DHS needs more attractions, if we are purely talking re-vamping/theming and not expansion, then Epcot or Tommorrowland could use them way worse!!! (IMO)

Have you been to Captain EO lately? I was there two days ago....
Pretty much all of Tommorrowland needs a major thematic overhaul. There is no cohesion between rides and nothing futuristic or whimsical about any of it. The People Mover is by far the best ride in that section!

 

[donaldtoo]

It got a makeover just a few years back. TDO's version of a makeover.
They renamed it.

 

[BryceM]

I see a move to the Imagineering boards in the distance...

 

[luv]

Except for the street with ToT and BatB, I'd just level the park and start over. Most of what is there is stuff I don't like. The park is wildly confusing for newbies (and those tiny maps are little help).

The park needs to be re-done. IMO. It has it's fans, though!

 

[Magenta Panther]

Actually Sounds Dangerous was built in the former theater occupied by the Chevy Chase Monster Sound Show. Super Star Television used to be in the American Idol theater. Anyways, here's my complete plan for an overhaul of DHS:

-The Great Movie ride: Ride is extended with new movie scenes (possibly backwards into the HISTK playground) while existing scenes are upgraded including the removal of Tarzan scene. New movies possibly include Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Godfather, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and possibly more. End montage is updated as well.

Now, really. There is no way Disney is going to include scenes from R-rated movies in the Great Movie Ride. So forget the mob movies. As for Star Wars, I've suggested that the Alien scene be replaced with a scene inside the Millennium Falcon, with AAs of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and the bots on the run from the Empire (we'd exit the scene just as the Falcon goes into lightspeed. That could be a nice effect). But really, The Great Movie Ride celebrates the older films, the timeless classics, Old Hollywood. I wouldn't want it to include too many contemporary films, if any at all.

 

[englanddg]

Now, really. There is no way Disney is going to include scenes from R-rated movies in the Great Movie Ride. So forget the mob movies. As for Star Wars, I've suggested that the Alien scene be replaced with a scene inside the Millennium Falcon, with AAs of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and the bots on the run from the Empire (we'd exit the scene just as the Falcon goes into lightspeed. That could be a nice effect). But really, The Great Movie Ride celebrates the older films, the timeless classics, Old Hollywood. I wouldn't want it to include too many contemporary films, if any at all.

Alien wasn't rated R?