Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[HauntedMansionFLA]

The "point" of this expansion always seemed to me just to get some additional rides in the park to up capacity prior to SW being built. I don't think either of the TSL additions is expected to be a "draw", just that they would add more things to do.

That said, I think they'd be better served by dropping the coaster and adding two rides in its place (preferably some dark rides). It takes up a lot of real estate for a relatively short, limited capacity ride while the park needs multiple additions to really round things out.

As many have mentioned, a larger more fleshed out Pixar place would have been a better addition to DHS than a sparse one IP land like TSL. Of course, when TSL was announced, it seemed like an additional IP land (apparently Monstropolis) was also being planned, so it made more sense for a land based on exclusively on Toy Story. Since that land is seemingly off the table, it would be nice if they would revisit and expand the idea for TSL.

I'd be alright with a more general Pixar Place instead of just Toy Story. They have a lot of cool characters that have a lot of potential that Disney hasn't give them the attention they deserve.

 

[Mike S]

The "point" of this expansion always seemed to me just to get some additional rides in the park to up capacity prior to SW being built. I don't think either of the TSL additions is expected to be a "draw", just that they would add more things to do.

Every new expansion is expected to have one "big," and I'm using the term very loosely here, new ride. For TSL that's Slinky. Without it we're left with A-SS.

I agree with the rest of your post. Huge missed opportunity.

 

[J. D.]

I'd be alright with a more general Pixar Place instead of just Toy Story. They have a lot of cool characters that have a lot of potential that Disney hasn't give them the attention they deserve.

Not trying to derail things too bad here, but if the fabled 5th gate ever came to fruition I think going all Pixar wouldn't be too terrible of an idea.

 

[elchippo]

Toy Story Land <Pixar Land. A Pixar Land should look like Pixar's campus, similar to Pixar Place now. Lots of brick, and a big Luxo Jr/ball icon in the middle. Keep the bricking theme with a beautiful courtyard the overall aesthetic, but each building/section representing a different film with various accents added (similar to Midway Mania now) to the brick theme. 2 rides, meet and greets, and a restaurant (Remy's?). It would be amazing!

Yes! I always thought a good "Pixar Land" might be to stick with the campus theme, and create the premise that this is where "the Pixar stars come to make their movies". Then each building/area can have its own theme. Maybe that makes too much sense and is too good of an idea though.

 

[Daveeeeed]

Which has been there since 2008 and would still be there if this whole land was to be dropped. The main draw of the new attractions is Slinky. Without it there's no point to the expansion.

Right, but it is still the headliner there, besides walking to Star Wars land it will be the only ride I will routinely ride there. Slinky is the anchor of the new expansion, but the land's anchor will still be TSMM sadly

 

[elchippo]

Right, but it is still the headliner there, besides walking to Star Wars land it will be the only ride I will routinely ride there. Slinky is the anchor of the new expansion, but the land's anchor will still be TSMM sadly

Sort of like Dumbo as the anchor of Storybook Circus. Take an established ride that people love, but then make WAY too big a deal out of it...

 

[Andrew C]

Sort of like Dumbo as the anchor of Storybook Circus. Take an established ride that people love, but then make WAY too big a deal out of it...

what is wrong with Dumbo?...it is popular so they increased capacity...besides...Dumbo may anchor Storybook Circus, but it is a part of Fantasyland.

 

[elchippo]

what is wrong with Dumbo?...it is popular so they increased capacity...besides...Dumbo may anchor Storybook Circus, but it is a part of Fantasyland.

Nothing wrong with it at all....Storybook Circus is some of the best Imagineering put out there in recent memory. It's just that they took a ride we already knew and loved, then hyped a new "land" that looks great, but offered almost nothing new (I'm an adult with no kids, so no interest in a splash station or character meets). And sort of rested on the laurels of "but we have Dumbo!" to sell the idea of it. A new (sub)land, but with very little new in it.

I better stop saying Dumbo for fear of derailing this thread

 

[doctornick]

I actually like Storybook Circus in both appearance and execution (of what's there) -- I know many others disagree -- but what's it's missing is some additional attractions. Having a dark ride or two in the back corner would have really filled out the land.

 

[CanadianGordon]

We need less "lands" and more RIDES. Where's that Monsters Inc door ride they were talking about years and years ago? I'd have loved that.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

If their aim was to immerse you in "Andy's Yard" why didn't they just re-theme the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play land? As much as I loved that growing up, it would have been an ideal and logical switch.

 

[Andrew C]

If their aim was to immerse you in "Andy's Yard" why didn't they just re-theme the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play land? As much as I loved that growing up, it would have been an ideal and logical switch.

don't think there is room for a coaster there...just saying...

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

don't think there is room for a coaster there...just saying...

From what I'm hearing, the Slinky coaster will be a dud anyway...so no harm no foul.

 

[RobbinsDad]

Yes! I always thought a good "Pixar Land" might be to stick with the campus theme, and create the premise that this is where "the Pixar stars come to make their movies". Then each building/area can have its own theme. Maybe that makes too much sense and is too good of an idea though.

Personally I think it's a horrible idea. Pixar is Disney now. The lines are blurred. Why would WDW confine their current and future Pixar IP to one land in one park? Besides, Nemo already has 2 attractions in 2 other parks.
Pixar Place was fine when there were only 5-6 Pixar franchises in the Disney canon. Now we're at 17 movies and counting. Doesn't make sense.

 

[CanadianGordon]

Slinky is going to be more for the kids, which honestly the park needs. However, why can we not have a ride based on the chase sequences they've had in the movies? I don't know if it would work hanging off the back of a car though.... Or a ride through a conveyor belt at the airport, or... to the furnace... Might be too scary for kids.

 

[doctornick]

Personally I think it's a horrible idea. Pixar is Disney now. The lines are blurred. Why would WDW confine their current and future Pixar IP to one land in one park? Besides, Nemo already has 2 attractions in 2 other parks.
Pixar Place was fine when there were only 5-6 Pixar franchises in the Disney canon. Now we're at 17 movies and counting. Doesn't make sense.

There's no reason to "confine" Pixar properties to a designated Pixar Place type land in DHS. It's entirely possible to have Pixar Place with multiple IPs and have Pixar stuff featured in other parks/locations where they are appropriate. It doesn't have to be either/or.

 

[RobbinsDad]

There's no reason to "confine" Pixar properties to a designated Pixar Place type land in DHS. It's entirely possible to have Pixar Place with multiple IPs and have Pixar stuff featured in other parks/locations where they are appropriate. It doesn't have to be either/or.

Of course that's true, but the idea still doesn't make much sense to me. Why is Pixar more of a brand than Toy Story? If they ever decided to build Monstropolis at HS, which would rule by the way, would the two need to be branded together under a Pixar theme to have synergy? Of course not. Pixar characters are Disney characters and they should be able to float wherever within the World. It's just my opinion, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe a Pixar-themed area is necessary or would even work well.

 

[doctornick]

Of course that's true, but the idea still doesn't make much sense to me. Why is Pixar more of a brand than Toy Story? If they ever decided to build Monstropolis at HS, which would rule by the way, would the two need to be branded together under a Pixar theme to have synergy? Of course not. Pixar characters are Disney characters and they should be able to float wherever within the World. It's just my opinion, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe a Pixar-themed area is necessary or would even work well.

The point is that a "Pixar" themed area could be more diverse, dynamic and flexible with adding or changing attractions than a single IP land. When you do a single IP, land, you are more constrained and dependent on the popularity of that one IP. When you have a land with multiple diverse IPs, then it doesn't matter if one of the attractions has an IP that falls out of favor -- it's easy to not fret about one ride, plus it is easier to re-theme one if necessary. And multiple IP lands are more likely to have wider appeal since there are different things being featured.

A more generic land also allows for much more rapid integration of future new IPs.

 

[Mike S]

Of course that's true, but the idea still doesn't make much sense to me. Why is Pixar more of a brand than Toy Story? If they ever decided to build Monstropolis at HS, which would rule by the way, would the two need to be branded together under a Pixar theme to have synergy? Of course not. Pixar characters are Disney characters and they should be able to float wherever within the World. It's just my opinion, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe a Pixar-themed area is necessary or would even work well.

Disney does the same thing with their own characters. There's Fantasyland, then there's other attractions elsewhere too.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Of course that's true, but the idea still doesn't make much sense to me. Why is Pixar more of a brand than Toy Story? If they ever decided to build Monstropolis at HS, which would rule by the way, would the two need to be branded together under a Pixar theme to have synergy? Of course not. Pixar characters are Disney characters and they should be able to float wherever within the World. It's just my opinion, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe a Pixar-themed area is necessary or would even work well.

I feel like you're probably right in that this is likely what Disney's mindset is, but personally I don't think it matters. Despite them being "Disney", I still mentally differentiate all Pixar and WDAS movies, as I think most people do. So I think that's really not a huge problem, and the pros of a Pixar land outweighs any cons.