Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Mike S]

A post I made in the GMR thread but now with some edits and an addition in the order of how they would open.

What DHS should've been:

Muppets, same as what's going on.

Pixar over SoA/LMA. Incredibles E Ticket, Monsters Inc. D Ticket coaster (or dark ride) + relocated Laugh Floor (BH6 takes its spot in Tomorrowland), an Up D Ticket like Shanghai's Peter Pan, Gusteau's restaurant, Wall-E AA rolling around for M&G's, and TSMM stays pretty much the same as it is now with the third track.

On the TSL plot we get Frozen if it wasn't shoehorned into Epcot. Put in a third clone of the E Ticket rumored for Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea and then a reindeer version of the Buzz ride that's coming to TSL which itself is a different version of Mater's ride in Cars Land.

Animation Courtyard becomes Toontown with the rumored Mickey ride and a clone of Roger Rabbit.

SWL up front near Star Tours expanding into the parking lot. If SWL had to be put in SoA/LMA so it opened earlier this would be a different big budget land in the Echo Lake area but my plan focuses on a much better Pixar presence than TSL and a place for Frozen and Toontown.

That brings the total ride count to 14 where before BLT closed we had 6. It's really too bad though that Disney lost their ability to handle a budget so much so that Avatar alone costs around $1 Billion and TSL has to see constant cuts. I can't imagine what my plan here would cost.

 

[SCOTLORR]

Ok so i was thinking about this overall refurbishment/makeover to DHS and it just doesn't make any sense. Attractions that are staying are RnRc, ToT (God Willing), Star Tours (Also God Willing), TSMM, and MV3D. New attractions we are getting are the two e-tickets in SWL, two c-tickets in TSL, and the transfer of GMR to the Mickey Ride, which essentially does nothing for capacity. this only adds up to 10 lol how could they possibly think they could stop there? This leaves pads around the park in Echo Lake, Animation Courtyard, and, as long as the parking garages are still a go, behind the echo lake area. Plus it leaves an outdated Indy Stunt Show that doesn't even fit the theme of the park anymore. Even with the recent history of Disney's decision making, this is really hard to believe.

 

[Mike S]

Ok so i was thinking about this overall refurbishment/makeover to DHS and it just doesn't make any sense. Attractions that are staying are RnRc, ToT (God Willing), Star Tours (Also God Willing), TSMM, and MV3D. New attractions we are getting are the two e-tickets in SWL, two c-tickets in TSL, and the transfer of GMR to the Mickey Ride, which essentially does nothing for capacity. this only adds up to 9 lol how could they possibly think they could stop there? This leaves pads around the park in Echo Lake, Animation Courtyard, and, as long as the parking garages are still a go, behind the echo lake area. Plus it leaves an outdated Indy Stunt Show that doesn't even fit the theme of the park anymore. Even with the recent history of Disney's decision making, this is really hard to believe.

Fixed. MV3D is a show.

 

[SCOTLORR]

Fixed. MV3D is a show.

lol thanks. I enjoy it as much as a ride, but I see what you mean.

 

[Mike S]

lol thanks. I enjoy it as much as a ride, but I see what you mean.

Also because it would be strange to only include MV3D and no other show in the park.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Yes, which is a major reason that DHS has always sucked. Even in its "glory days", it was an inferior park.

It's cool to have parks with different feels and DHS can remain more show heavy, but you need a certain baseline amount of rides in a theme park. And 5 ain't it (nor is the 9 total that seems to be planned). It's not unreasonable to expect DHS to get up to, say, 12 rides with this current "massive" investment.

That's strictly a matter of opinion. Many of us enjoyed it and never even noticed there were a shortage of ride. To me, at least, a theme park doesn't mean just rides.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Comparing it with 1989 is foolish.

Compare to 1999. That's how much has been lost.

There was an ideal opportunity to expand the park and really boost its capacity. It's been missed.

Foolish is a strong word as well as being insulting. At worst, I would say it isn't relative at this point, but it was factual and it got a lot of guest visits.

 

[marni1971]

Foolish is a strong word as well as being insulting. At worst, I would say it isn't relative at this point, but it was factual and it got a lot of guest visits.

It's foolish (no harm intended) to compare a park barely open with the park today. A fairer comparison would be to compare today's park to the park at its hey day, with most return for the admission charge.

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

For anyone in the know, is it possible that after all the dust settles and everything including SWL is fully optional for 2 or 3 years that they begin to focus on the final two problem zones in animation and echo? My thinking is that this current revamp is going to make the park much better than its been in a long time, however it won't be complete until they settle the last two regions.

 

[doctornick]

That's strictly a matter of opinion. Many of us enjoyed it and never even noticed there were a shortage of ride. To me, at least, a theme park doesn't mean just rides.

Of course and I'm offering my opinion, not any sort of fact. But I would argue that even at it's peak (post-Sunset Blvd construction but before the mass closings) that the park was subpar for a Disney park and not up to the standards it should be. The lack of rides was a symptoms, but not the only cause -- though I would also say that no matter what the theme or execution of a theme park that some baseline number of rides and overall attractions is needed and DHS has never gotten to that point.

This park has been limping along its entire existence. It's nice that it's kinda being addressed, but it still will have significant capacity issues even once the planned stuff comes. Hopefully, they continue to address it.

 

[Chef Kronk]

A post I made in the GMR thread but now with some edits and an addition in the order of how they would open.

What DHS should've been:

Muppets, same as what's going on.

Pixar over SoA/LMA. Incredibles E Ticket, Monsters Inc. D Ticket coaster (or dark ride) + relocated Laugh Floor (BH6 takes its spot in Tomorrowland), an Up D Ticket like Shanghai's Peter Pan, Gusteau's restaurant, Wall-E AA rolling around for M&G's, and TSMM stays pretty much the same as it is now with the third track.

On the TSL plot we get Frozen if it wasn't shoehorned into Epcot. Put in a third clone of the E Ticket rumored for Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea and then a reindeer version of the Buzz ride that's coming to TSL which itself is a different version of Mater's ride in Cars Land.

Animation Courtyard becomes Toontown with the rumored Mickey ride and a clone of Roger Rabbit.

SWL up front near Star Tours expanding into the parking lot. If SWL had to be put in SoA/LMA so it opened earlier this would be a different big budget land in the Echo Lake area but my plan focuses on a much better Pixar presence than TSL and a place for Frozen and Toontown.

That brings the total ride count to 14 where before BLT closed we had 6. It's really too bad though that Disney lost their ability to handle a budget so much so that Avatar alone costs around $1 Billion and TSL has to see constant cuts. I can't imagine what my plan here would cost.

Now THAT would be a great park.

 

[DinoInstitute]

A post I made in the GMR thread but now with some edits and an addition in the order of how they would open.

What DHS should've been:

Muppets, same as what's going on.

Pixar over SoA/LMA. Incredibles E Ticket, Monsters Inc. D Ticket coaster (or dark ride) + relocated Laugh Floor (BH6 takes its spot in Tomorrowland), an Up D Ticket like Shanghai's Peter Pan, Gusteau's restaurant, Wall-E AA rolling around for M&G's, and TSMM stays pretty much the same as it is now with the third track.

On the TSL plot we get Frozen if it wasn't shoehorned into Epcot. Put in a third clone of the E Ticket rumored for Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea and then a reindeer version of the Buzz ride that's coming to TSL which itself is a different version of Mater's ride in Cars Land.

Animation Courtyard becomes Toontown with the rumored Mickey ride and a clone of Roger Rabbit.

SWL up front near Star Tours expanding into the parking lot. If SWL had to be put in SoA/LMA so it opened earlier this would be a different big budget land in the Echo Lake area but my plan focuses on a much better Pixar presence than TSL and a place for Frozen and Toontown.

That brings the total ride count to 14 where before BLT closed we had 6. It's really too bad though that Disney lost their ability to handle a budget so much so that Avatar alone costs around $1 Billion and TSL has to see constant cuts. I can't imagine what my plan here would cost.

The best thing about a DHS overhaul? The possibilities are beyond endless. There's no right way to do it; there's so much potential everywhere. And with real budget/creativity there's an endless amount of good concepts.

For anyone in the know, is it possible that after all the dust settles and everything including SWL is fully optional for 2 or 3 years that they begin to focus on the final two problem zones in animation and echo? My thinking is that this current revamp is going to make the park much better than its been in a long time, however it won't be complete until they settle the last two regions.

Honestly I think Animation is a far bigger problem than Echo. That said, IMO, in order to fix it I really don't think there's that much work that needs to be done. Retheme the buildings to actually match the rest of the area to the Old Hollywood theme and it's already significantly better; then, with the rumored Tangled show coming in that area, and then hopefully somethings classic-animation based to replace the rest.

I like the theme of Echo and hope it doesn't change too drastically, but the northern section with Indy and Star Tours is kind of weird and will be especially when SWL opens.
I thought it would be cool to make that like "Adventure studios" or something like that where you can have properties like Indy and GotG and other sci-fy/action/adventure themed IP's thst don't get their own land.

 

[Mike S]

The best thing about a DHS overhaul? The possibilities are beyond endless. There's no right way to do it; there's so much potential everywhere. And with real budget/creativity there's an endless amount of good concepts.

Honestly I think Animation is a far bigger problem than Echo. That said, IMO, in order to fix it I really don't think there's that much work that needs to be done. Retheme the buildings to actually match the rest of the area to the Old Hollywood theme and it's already significantly better; then, with the rumored Tangled show coming in that area, and then hopefully somethings classic-animation based to replace the rest.

I like the theme of Echo and hope it doesn't change too drastically, but the northern section with Indy and Star Tours is kind of weird and will be especially when SWL opens.
I thought it would be cool to make that like "Adventure studios" or something like that where you can have properties like Indy and GotG and other sci-fy/action/adventure themed IP's thst don't get their own land.

The biggest mistake they did was not going forward with the planned Pixar expansion after TSMM opened. The park would probably be much different by now. Anything other than the Door Coaster that was dropped @marni1971? I know Cars Land was considered once.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Of course and I'm offering my opinion, not any sort of fact. But I would argue that even at it's peak (post-Sunset Blvd construction but before the mass closings) that the park was subpar for a Disney park and not up to the standards it should be. The lack of rides was a symptoms, but not the only cause -- though I would also say that no matter what the theme or execution of a theme park that some baseline number of rides and overall attractions is needed and DHS has never gotten to that point.

This park has been limping along its entire existence. It's nice that it's kinda being addressed, but it still will have significant capacity issues even once the planned stuff comes. Hopefully, they continue to address it.

Except that as a working studio it was different then the other parks, but, was all that it could be at the time. It wasn't meant to be a high thrill park with many rides, it was meant to show people how movies, TV, Radio and Recording were done. Nothing more, so it was completely up to its mission and purpose. After the studio closed it had no real mission and then it sadly lacked in things to do and see.

 

[RSoxNo1]

So is there a chance that Slinky Dog Dash is removed? replaced? Can anyone in the know discount this?

 

[MagicHappens1971]

So is there a chance that Slinky Dog Dash is removed? replaced? Can anyone in the know discount this?

I think this is all the clarification we've gotten so far. I don't think the plans are finalized internally either

All I know is the land is being "tweaked", and that the order to start fabricating the coaster has been/was delayed. Still unclear as to if it has gone through yet. But I know it didn't go out in May as originally planned. Well, not the original plan. But Plan B.

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

The best thing about a DHS overhaul? The possibilities are beyond endless. There's no right way to do it; there's so much potential everywhere. And with real budget/creativity there's an endless amount of good concepts.

Honestly I think Animation is a far bigger problem than Echo. That said, IMO, in order to fix it I really don't think there's that much work that needs to be done. Retheme the buildings to actually match the rest of the area to the Old Hollywood theme and it's already significantly better; then, with the rumored Tangled show coming in that area, and then hopefully somethings classic-animation based to replace the rest.

I like the theme of Echo and hope it doesn't change too drastically, but the northern section with Indy and Star Tours is kind of weird and will be especially when SWL opens.
I thought it would be cool to make that like "Adventure studios" or something like that where you can have properties like Indy and GotG and other sci-fy/action/adventure themed IP's thst don't get their own land.

Agreed Animation should be addressed first but Echo lake will be very strange with star tours still there once SWL opens. Indy is going to be a big issue because that still fits with the studios/behind the scenes making of a movie theme which they're clearly going away from so that needs to go badly once everything comes online. The Mickey ride, TSL, SWL are fine as a phase one but capacity and two areas of the park still need to be addressed at some point not long after SWL opens or else it is still half a park.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Agreed Animation should be addressed first but Echo lake will be very strange with star tours still there once SWL opens. Indy is going to be a big issue because that still fits with the studios/behind the scenes making of a movie theme which they're clearly going away from so that needs to go badly once everything comes online. The Mickey ride, TSL, SWL are fine as a phase one but capacity and two areas of the park still need to be addressed at some point not long after SWL opens or else it is still half a park.

How many acres does the Indy stunt show take up? Is there anyway that area and a re themed Indiana Jones ride could be made into a cool Indy mini land? They have announced big plans for the franchise - why not bring it to the park?

 

[Next Big Thing]

It's foolish (no harm intended) to compare a park barely open with the park today. A fairer comparison would be to compare today's park to the park at its hey day, with most return for the admission charge.

I just want to point out that DHS/MGM never had a "heyday". Even in 1999, the whole working studio aspect of it was over and it was short on rides. Not that they've added more than ONE ride in the 17 years since (which is a disgrace), but the point is, the park was never great.

 

[Rob562]

How many acres does the Indy stunt show take up? Is there anyway that area and a re themed Indiana Jones ride could be made into a cool Indy mini land? They have announced big plans for the franchise - why not bring it to the park?

The entire plot of land, from Primetime Cafe to Backlot Express (not including either) bordered on the front by the current walkway past the theater and in the back by the backstage road that runs behind all of them, is 3.8 acres. (This includes the small gift shop next to Primetime Cafe)

By comparison, the Dinosaur building at AK (queue, ride building and shop) takes up about 2.1 acres. (Dinosaur's plaza and extended outdoor queue take up an additional 0.4 acres) So the Stunt Show land could easily hold an Indy EMV style attraction, and then some, without having to expand into the parking lot.

-Rob