Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[marni1971]

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)

Plus a 3.5 acre designated expansion area between this and the parking lot.

 

[Ismael Flores]

They really should consider land use when they build these lands. Let's look at Paradise Pier, not much going on there but at least they were able to add toy story midway mania using the same footprint as the coaster.

When Carsland was built they should have considered prepping up some of the big rock work area so that a show or future ride can be installed within them. Maters might have even fit inside one of the huge rock pieces in the middle of the track. A tunnel themed to a mine could have been part of the queue that lead to an indoor maters that would have control lighting and possible effects within the Rick walls. A simple spinner turned into an elaborate black light attraction.

The same should be considered for slinky coaster. Changes in elevation over large prop buildings that could house attractions like aliens or another dark ride. Instead of spreading two rides in eleven acres they can fit three or four in less land and have room for expansion.

 

[djkidkaz]

My thought would be that you would lose slinky coaster and end up with something closer to the other lame Toy Story Lands. I'd rather have slinky coaster which is original than have them bring out those other lame rides at Paris just to add capacity.

 

[DinoInstitute]

My thought would be that you would lose slinky coaster and end up with something closer to the other lame Toy Story Lands. I'd rather have slinky coaster which is original than have them bring out those other lame rides at Paris just to add capacity.

I would agree with this, but on the same token I'd rather have one of the lamer flat rides and a solid omnimover with it instead of the coaster. Mostly because the coaster's experience just keeps seemingly getting hacked away at and just won't be the exciting thing we once saw. Also because this park really needs a good omnimover/more kid friendly attractions.

 

[NormC]

I'm back. I took a break.

Welcome back Pam.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

C'mon, Disney. Do the right thing and make this a proper Pixar land expansion. You've already delayed for a year while you've dilly-dallied and squabbled over the budget. What's another 3 or 4 months at the drawing board to really do this properly? (Wishful thinking, I know, but believe in your wishes and all that...)

Of course, once any plans are finally decided on, where does that leave us on a construction timeline? Are we still looking at about 18-24 months to get this all done? Meaning a late 2018/early 2019 (!!!) opening? Honestly, it becomes a legitimate question of what opens first - Disneyland's SWL or Dinorama: Toy Story Edition. And does the Great Movie Ride still go down as planned after TCM's contract ends if TSL has only just broken ground?

The prospect of a park operating at full ticket price with only 4 rides (and 10 attractions total, not including fireworks) is downright embarrassing.

 

[Mike S]

I would agree with this, but on the same token I'd rather have one of the lamer flat rides and a solid omnimover with it instead of the coaster. Mostly because the coaster's experience just keeps seemingly getting hacked away at and just won't be the exciting thing we once saw. Also because this park really needs a good omnimover/more kid friendly attractions.

I'd rather have a land stuffed with as many dark rides as Disneyland's Fantasyland.

 

[DinoInstitute]

C'mon, Disney. Do the right thing and make this a proper Pixar land expansion. You've already delayed for a year while you've dilly-dallied and squabbled over the budget. What's another 3 or 4 months at the drawing board to really do this properly? (Wishful thinking, I know, but believe in your wishes and all that...)

Of course, once any plans are finally decided on, where does that leave us on a construction timeline? Are we still looking at about 18-24 months to get this all done? Meaning a late 2018/early 2019 (!!!) opening? Honestly, it becomes a legitimate question of what opens first - Disneyland's SWL or Dinorama: Toy Story Edition. And does the Great Movie Ride still go down as planned after TCM's contract ends if TSL has only just broken ground?

The prospect of a park operating at full ticket price with only 4 rides (and 10 attractions total, not including fireworks) is downright embarrassing.

But the thing about making it a real Pixar Land with different areas makes it so that they can open in phases. Some of it could open after SWL, but others can open as they are built for the capacity. That way it doesn't have to be that cheap with just 2 new attractions.

 

[Next Big Thing]

If one wants to look at this whole TSL/budget cut situation with ANY optimism whatsoever, it would be that it should be an easy to demolish land. Not that I expect that any time soon after opening, but it's not a Pandora or SWL either where, once it's built, it ain't going anywhere.

 

[Mike S]

If one wants to look at this whole TSL/budget cut situation with ANY optimism whatsoever, it would be that it should be an easy to demolish land. Not that I expect that any time soon after opening, but it's not a Pandora or SWL either where, once it's built, it ain't going anywhere.

The same is true for Dino-Rama and yet...

 

[Next Big Thing]

The same is true for Dino-Rama and yet...

I have to think Dino-land is on the agenda after Avatar. Of course, we never really hear DAK rumors, so i'm not counting on it.

 

[DinoInstitute]

If one wants to look at this whole TSL/budget cut situation with ANY optimism whatsoever, it would be that it should be an easy to demolish land. Not that I expect that any time soon after opening, but it's not a Pandora or SWL either where, once it's built, it ain't going anywhere.

While I highly doubt they would decide to demolish it, now that you mention this it got me thinking, I wonder if it's possible they keep the attraction plans and all but could maybe retheme everything for Pixar Place?

The same is true for Dino-Rama and yet...

At the same time though, DAK really shouldn't be worried about replacing that land at the moment, they just need more to do. Once more is open at the park, then I think they would focus on Dino Rama (similarly to how they could for TSL).

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

I have to think Dino-land is on the agenda after Avatar. Of course, we never really hear DAK rumors, so i'm not counting on it.

Their was rumor posted just the other day about Zootopia in DAK of course though it is blue sky at the moment. I'd like to see Dino land become an actual land themed to dinosaurs kind of like how they have that raptor encounter thing at IOA but covering a lot more land. Keep dinosaur but the county fair should be replaced with a much more immersive experience.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Their was rumor posted just the other day about Zootopia in DAK of course though it is blue sky at the moment. I'd like to see Dino land become an actual land themed to dinosaurs kind of like how they have that raptor encounter thing at IOA but covering a lot more land. Keep dinosaur but the county fair should be replaced with a much more immersive experience.

Where can I find this rumor?

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

Saw this post in between checking in with a close family relative member who is dealing with the dreaded "C" disease .... So as I understand it there are blue sky plans over the content of a Zootropolis in DAK, those characters are coming in land form but now its a content issue.

This was posted a few days ago. From the sounds of it they want Zootopia content in WDW asap though I have a feeling a full fledged land wouldn't be for a while. Probably just M&G's first.

 

[Mike S]

At the same time though, DAK really shouldn't be worried about replacing that land at the moment, they just need more to do. Once more is open at the park, then I think they would focus on Dino Rama (similarly to how they could for TSL).

That makes sense for Dino-Rama but not for TSL. Why not just do better the first time around instead of getting rid of it later? The plot of land is still empty so it's not too late to drop it. It's not like Disney has no experience changing plans at this stage of a project.

 

[DinoInstitute]

That makes sense for Dino-Rama but not for TSL. Why not just do better the first time around instead of getting rid of it later? The plot of land is still empty so it's not too late to drop it. It's not like Disney has no experience changing plans at this stage of a project.

No I definitely agree with you, I'm just saying it's possible.

It's really not even that hard to change the theme to Pixar. I can think of like at least 5 cool ways to utilize the properties under a relatviely similar budget that would be infinitely better than TSL

 

[po1998]

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.

This would be a great plan BUT...I don't think you would see this kind of investment in DHS over 15 years, let alone as one BIG renovation/expansion.

 

[Mike S]

This would be a great plan BUT...I don't think you would see this kind of investment in DHS over 15 years, let alone as one BIG renovation/expansion.

I did say it's listed in the order it would open implying phases. In an ideal world SoA and LMA demo would've started much sooner after BLT closed without any of the BS of BLT sitting empty for over a year.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

I did say it's listed in the order it would open implying phases. In an ideal world SoA and LMA demo would've started much sooner after BLT closed without any of the BS of BLT sitting empty for over a year.

I'm too the point of saying go ahead and build CarsLand instead of TSL. Same acreage ? Too cool lands that I could send hours in. Plus, Cars sells lots of merchandise.