DHS Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[brb1006]

I like those rides for that reason.. Its original, and different.. It kinda adds a special touch to the land..

But it still looks like a typical ride you would see at a amusement park. Which is why I'm really hoping TSL at HS won't gain these copies at all and HS is already in a pretty bad state.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Theme can be whatever you want it to be. That's the beauty of a theme!

To give a scaled down comparison, if a kid has a birthday party and everything is decorated with Disney characters and stuff like that, wouldn't you say it's a Disney themed party? I don't think I would define the theme as "the story of boy turning 10 with his friends and family gathered". Similar thing here, there's no reason a land can't be Pixar themed.

The birthday party you describe is themed decor. It is not at all the same as the themed experience that defines themed entertainment.

I like those rides for that reason.. Its original, and different.. It kinda adds a special touch to the land..

They're off the shelf rides from Intamin. The opposite of original and different.

 

[po1998]

Kid friendly doesn't have to mean carnival type flat rides and theming. That's the same mindset behind Dino-Rama. As perfect examples, Pirates and Mansion are kid friendly.

Dino-rama which was done under the supposedly brilliant Joe Rhode is a disaster primarily because of the theme, and the stupid carnival games. TSL is better right from the get go because it doesn't have a ridiculous "back story".

PS I didn't say I approve of a land with nothing but carnival flat rides.

 

[brb1006]

The birthday party you describe is themed decor. It is not at all the same as the themed experience that defines themed entertainment.


They're off the shelf rides from Intamin. The opposite of original and different.

Intamin also designed other rides at various parks at Six Flags mainly Roller Coasters.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Intamin also designed other rides at various parks at Six Flags mainly Roller Coasters.

That is not really relevant to the issue. Disney does not do that sort of manufacturing in-house, so every ride system is going to be built with by someone who has also done work for others. The problem is that the rides in question are stock designs available to almost* anyone.

*Some restrictions apply.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Fantasy is a unifying theme because fantasy describes something. It's not just a word, it describes what's in the land. Each ride feels like a fantastical journey. In tomorrowland, each ride should have a futuristic vibe. In frontierland, each ride should have a frontierish vibe. Sometimes that falters a bit and that's what leads to weaker lands.

Pixar is just a word. Perhaps I went too far before, so I must directly ask you, what says that Zootopia can't be part of a Pixar Land? What says that Big Hero 6 can't be part of it? Just a name? I'd like to do a test. Sit 100 people in front a screen and have them watch Big Hero 6, but without the words Disney or Pixar appearing at all. After the film, would they be able to tell which studio created it? If they can't tell, well then, why couldn't the movie fit in a Pixar Land?

Star Wars is their main movie that embodies the sci-fi/adventure genre, which makes it disntictly different from most of what Disney Animation and Pixar put out. Marvel is their main cluster of movies which embody super heroes and such. You can usually tell just by watching the movie if it's a superhero movie or not, although sometimes it gets close with plain sci-fi. People have argued that Big Hero 6 and GotG could work together in a superhero land, and I can't argue that. Onward... In a way, ToT represents the horror genre. Rock 'n' Rollercoaster is the odd child but it has a distinct rock n roll, music, gritty feel. A land of family movies would work in contrast to everything else in DHS.

And so yes, I'd be a supporter of a land that embodies family movies (ya know, movies that make you all warm and fuzzy inside). That is, if they can create a setting that a) doesn't just feel like a bunch of places thrown in a blender and b) works in contrast with the rest of the park. But Wreck It Ralph, Bolt, Chicken Little, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Planes*, etc. would all fit such a land. They could certainly choose not to use any movies outside of Pixar. But if they're looking for a place to put a Zootopia ride, I wouldn't want them to avoid putting it in the land simply because it's made by the wrong studio.

Lastly, I must wonder, will Pixar even exist in 5 or 10 years? The next CEO could just combine it with WDAS. If you think I'm crazy, let me mention that our friend Spirit sees it as a strong possibility too.

*Okay, please, no Planes. On a side note, I wonder what studio most people would say that movie is created by.

This is why i've always been for a CG Animation land at DHS. Fantasyland leans heavily on Hand-drawn animation, so i'd love to see a land with all the CGI stuff come together under one umbrella. Give the land some unifying name and be done with it.

 

[CanadianGordon]

I'd just like to hear actual word on what's happening with this land. We got a funky drawing early on and then a redo was shown which made it look worse than before... Disney please don't do this to us. Give us actual information.

Make me excited to visit.

 

[DinoInstitute]

I'd just like to hear actual word on what's happening with this land. We got a funky drawing early on and then a redo was shown which made it look worse than before... Disney please don't do this to us. Give us actual information.

Make me excited to visit.

I feel like we should be getting the next (and likely final?) piece of concept art showing what's going on sometime soon. I don't know quite when they would, but it would make sense.

 

[Rich T]

Both of those rides at both Toy Story Lands at Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris at Disney Studios Park look cheap and are a bit generic. The Parachute ride gets special mention since it's almost Six Flags quality and styled ride compared to Jumping Jellyfish at California Adventure at Disneyland.

Okay, I gotta say this: Army Men Parachute Drop is a LOT better than Jumpin' Jellyfish. Jumpin' Jellyfish is one of the worst rides on the planet. It doesn't even "drop"... it just goes slowly up and down. It's too intimidating-looking for small children, and too boring for anyone older. And the boarding process/seat design is um...potentially very painful for males.

As a child of the Hot Wheels debut/golden age era, I would love RC Racer in the states. I look at that orange track and Supercharger station and I get a big goofy grin on my face. Traditional thrill rides don't have to be awful; Paradise Pier at DCA is a blast. And the playlands look far better than Dino-Rama (faint praise, yeah). I'm not saying I'd prefer this scenario over a *better* TS Land, just that RC Racer is something I'd vote for.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Okay, I gotta say this: Army Men Parachute Drop is a LOT better than Jumpin' Jellyfish. Jumpin' Jellyfish is one of the worst rides on the planet. It doesn't even "drop"... it just goes slowly up and down. It's too intimidating-looking for small children, and too boring for anyone older. And the boarding process/seat design is um...potentially very painful for males.

As a child of the Hot Wheels debut/golden age era, I would love RC Racer in the states. I look at that orange track and Supercharger station and I get a big goofy grin on my face. Traditional thrill rides don't have to be awful; Paradise Pier at DCA is a blast. And the playlands look far better than Dino-Rama (faint praise, yeah). I'm not saying I'd prefer this scenario over a *better* TS Land, just that RC Racer is something I'd vote for.

The RC racer thing doesn't just have to be the flat ride concept though. They could make a pretty cool version of Radiator Springs Racers themed to it.

 

[Rich T]

The RC racer thing doesn't just have to be the flat ride concept though. They could make a pretty cool version of Radiator Springs Racers themed to it.

True, but I just can't envision them ever spending that kind of money building a single Toy Story attraction--especially if they consider the original Slinky coaster design too expensive (meanwhile lesser parks worldwide add better-themed expensive coasters every year); Midway Mania is their headliner TS ride.

 

[Rich T]

Mystic Manor is original an different, you won't find anything like it in any other park. The parachute ride on the other hand can be found is dozens of amusement parks.

Of course, something like Mystic Manor is expensive to build and an off-the-shelf lightly-themed parachute drop is relatively cheap. Oh, look, the company just made a decision...

 

[Next Big Thing]

I like those rides for that reason.. Its original, and different.. It kinda adds a special touch to the land..

The ride is the furthest thing from original as there is in a Disney park. A quick search of "Parachute Drop Intamin" gave me this: http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amu...+Parachute+Towers/language/de-DE/Default.aspx

It's literally the EXACT same ride as the one in the TS Lands and they even use a picture of the TS Parachute drop to showcase the ride system (the only way to tell it's the Disney version is theming).

 

[SCOTLORR]

Honestly, RC Racer looks extremely fun, it's just an incredibly awful eye sore that would likely be visible from immersive areas in other lands of the park. Same goes for the parachute drop.

 

[DinoInstitute]

True, but I just can't envision them ever spending that kind of money building a single Toy Story attraction--especially if they consider the original Slinky coaster design too expensive (meanwhile lesser parks worldwide add better-themed expensive coasters every year); Midway Mania is their headliner TS ride.

I don't expect them to spend a lot of money either, I'm just staying that, if given appropriate budgets, they can create more unique and cool things than just flat rides.

 

[TeddyinMO]

I don't expect them to spend a lot of money either, I'm just staying that, if given appropriate budgets, they can create more unique and cool things than just flat rides.

There is a place for simple "cheap" flat rides. Now that shouldn't be every ride, but a park needs them. In fact, I'd argue DHS has been missing them all along. I have no idea what the new plans would be, but hypothetically if Disney came out tomorrow and said we are blowing up DHS and reopening with the following, wouldn't we all think this is a pretty good line up and a "full day" park? (No need to quibble on what's an E/D, etc. I realize my classifications may vary from yours, but the point still remains).

Personally, I think this shows what's missing from the announced plans. Two smaller nice rides that fill out Toy Story Land. Add those two in (or two similar replacements) and the new DHS is a great park. And if you did that, you'd add very little to the budget because they are "cheap."

E-tickets
Tower
RnR
Star Wars Millennium Falcon ride
Star Wars battle ride

D-tickets
Great Mickey ride or whatever that ends up being
Star Tours
Slinky Dog
Toy Story Midway Mania

C tickets
Buzz whip ride
Parchute drop *
RC Racers *
X wing vs Y wing spinner**

B/A Tickets
Meet and greets
Streetmosphere
Launch bay type exhibits
One mans dream or similar

Shows
Muppets 3D
Fantasmic
Beauty and the Beast
Little Mermaid
Jedi Academy
Indy Stunt
Disney Jr.

*Not currently proposed

** In my new DHS I'd add a dual indoor, dark spinner in Star Wars Land that has one ride of x wings and one ride of tie fighters. Have them go opposite directions, taking off at the same time so they seem to be coming towards each other as they come around. Give them buttons/lights that kids can use to "shoot" each other as they come around. A perfect shot sends the other ship back down to the bottom and they have to pull up on the handle to bring it back up. Cheap, simple and kids would love it. And, it's what SWL will be missing to complement the other rides.

 

[Mike S]

There is a place for simple "cheap" flat rides. Now that shouldn't be every ride, but a park needs them. In fact, I'd argue DHS has been missing them all along. I have no idea what the new plans would be, but hypothetically if Disney came out tomorrow and said we are blowing up DHS and reopening with the following, wouldn't we all think this is a pretty good line up and a "full day" park? (No need to quibble on what's an E/D, etc. I realize my classifications may vary from yours, but the point still remains).

Personally, I think this shows what's missing from the announced plans. Two smaller nice rides that fill out Toy Story Land. Add those two in (or two similar replacements) and the new DHS is a great park. And if you did that, you'd add very little to the budget because they are "cheap."

E-tickets
Tower
RnR
Star Wars Millennium Falcon ride
Star Wars battle ride

D-tickets
Great Mickey ride or whatever that ends up being
Star Tours
Slinky Dog
Toy Story Midway Mania

C tickets
Buzz whip ride
Parchute drop *
RC Racers *
X wing vs Y wing spinner**

B/A Tickets
Meet and greets
Streetmosphere
Launch bay type exhibits
One mans dream or similar

Shows
Muppets 3D
Fantasmic
Beauty and the Beast
Little Mermaid
Jedi Academy
Indy Stunt
Disney Jr.

*Not currently proposed

** In my new DHS I'd add a dual indoor, dark spinner in Star Wars Land that has one ride of x wings and one ride of tie fighters. Have them go opposite directions, taking off at the same time so they seem to be coming towards each other as they come around. Give them buttons/lights that kids can use to "shoot" each other as they come around. A perfect shot sends the other ship back down to the bottom and they have to pull up on the handle to bring it back up. Cheap, simple and kids would love it. And, it's what SWL will be missing to complement the other rides.

Flat rides aren't really needed though. It wasn't until sometime in the 90's where Disney started adding more and more of them outside of the opening of a brand new castle park and has continued since. There are other and better methods to all ages rides.

 

[marni1971]

Why not? Both sound awesome!

They're not.

 

[TeddyinMO]

Flat rides aren't really needed though. It wasn't until sometime in the 90's where Disney started adding more and more of them outside of the opening of a brand new castle park and has continued since. There are other and better methods to all ages rides.

Mike, there are other ways. But what's your definition of better? Would 5 new e-tickets be better? Sure. But at what cost? My point is Disney can essentially complete DHS' revamp with a relatively small addition to the previously approved budget. What's been announced so far is a start, but I think we all think there's something missing.

With millions already invested/planned, adding hundreds of millions more is not really a good idea or feasible for any exec to propose. This is the benefit of flat rides. They fill in the gaps at a low cost. Oh, and they can be fun too. RC and Parachute are actually a lot of fun. Heck, my kids and I love the flat rides at Bugs Life in DCA, which I realize get blasted on these boards, but they fill a specific niche at DCA. And of course, Dumbo and the Carousel are the original flat rides. They don't hurt anything, and they do fill a gap for a relatively low cost.

Look, I know we all want the next, greatest ride. I actually believe we are getting two of those with Star Wars. The addition of flat rides on their own is not good enough. The addition of flat rides as a supplement to much bigger plans is a valuable addition.

 

[shortstop]

Flat rides aren't really needed though. It wasn't until sometime in the 90's where Disney started adding more and more of them outside of the opening of a brand new castle park and has continued since. There are other and better methods to all ages rides.

Especially when they're building an entire land consisting of only flat rides. As complementary attractions, they're fine (I suppose), but they shouldn't be the focus of a land. Just a terrible use of space.