Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Goofyque']

An indoor restaurant and gift shop provides air-conditioned indoor space and somewhere to go when it rains every day in the summer - something that is very important for a land designed for families with children. And the same goes for a meet and greet space, particularly when the current Pixar Place has one.

Beyond the weather issues, a proper restaurant in each land is part of what makes "a land". I think most people would consider a land to be a place with attractions, restaurants, shops, and a restroom.

It was certainly not the norm in MK for nearly 40 years! I love the shops and TS dining, but these are a fairly new development in many of the "lands". Pretty sure I will find food close by TSL.

 

[Ragerunner]

Toy Story Land was designed with the idea of something small and not very impressive. It is meant to be a moderate addition to HS, just to temporairly fix the park before SW:GE (a HUGE project) opens next year. That's why there isn't so much attention to problems like these.

Speaking of the capacity of the new rides, the overall excitement about them will probably have faded away by the time of summer or fall 2019, even earlier possibly. They aren't something out of the ordinary (Slinky Dog Dash is a standard family rollercoaster with not a lot of theming attached to it and I don't think that the Alien Swarling Saucers needs any explanantion) and they will most likely be overlooked by the time Galaxy's Edge opens. So this is a temporary problem.

I am not sure that a 10+ acre investment in a land restricted park should be viewed as a short term 'fix' or small when being developed.

When galaxy's edge opens it's going to take all the attraction capacity of this park (and probably more) not to be completely overwhelmed for years to come.

 

[ptaylor]

I take your point about indoor spaces for families to go. But the inclusion or otherwise of shops and restaurants is probably a decision out of the imagineers' hands.

Yes it likely came down to financing, but then WDI over-charge to ridiculous levels.

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

I am not sure that a 10+ acre investment in a land restricted park should be viewed as a short term 'fix' or small when being developed.

When galaxy's edge opens it's going to take all the attraction capacity of this park (and probably more) not to be completely overwhelmed for years to come.

When I said temporairly I meant that HS desperately needs something new. Disney decided to go for something big and something small. Toy Story Land is the small project and it should provide a "short-term" boost to the park before Galaxy's Edge opens completing phase 1 of HS. Toy Story Land would not make a good job as a standalone addition to bring more people to the park in the long-term.

 

[wdwmagic]

Toy Story Land was designed with the idea of something small and not very impressive. It is meant to be a moderate addition to HS, just to temporairly fix the park before SW:GE (a HUGE project) opens next year. That's why there isn't so much attention to problems like these.

Speaking of the capacity of the new rides, the overall excitement about them will probably have faded away by the time of summer or fall 2019, even earlier possibly. They aren't something out of the ordinary (Slinky Dog Dash is a standard family rollercoaster with not a lot of theming attached to it and I don't think that the Alien Swarling Saucers needs any explanantion) and they will most likely be overlooked by the time Galaxy's Edge opens. So this is a temporary problem.

Nothing about TSL is temporary. Don't expect to see it going away, and it is very much a strategy for the rebirth of the park to offer more to families, especially young children.

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

Nothing about TSL is temporary. Don't expect to see it going away, and it is very much a strategy for the rebirth of the park to offer more to families, especially young children.

I didn't say it's going anywhere, no. I said that it would "temporairly" boost the park before the huge boost that SW:GE will give.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Toy Story Land was designed with the idea of something small and not very impressive. It is meant to be a moderate addition to HS, just to temporairly fix the park before SW:GE (a HUGE project) opens next year. That's why there isn't so much attention to problems like these.

Speaking of the capacity of the new rides, the overall excitement about them will probably have faded away by the time of summer or fall 2019, even earlier possibly. They aren't something out of the ordinary (Slinky Dog Dash is a standard family rollercoaster with not a lot of theming attached to it and I don't think that the Alien Swarling Saucers needs any explanantion) and they will most likely be overlooked by the time Galaxy's Edge opens. So this is a temporary problem.

Ah yes. Something "small." That cost as much as 2 1/2 Everests. Or 1 1/2 Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railways.

Small in everything except acreage, cost, and marketing.

If this was meant to tide us over and serve as filler once Galaxy's Edge opens, you would think more attention would have been paid to providing high hourly ride capacity and large, air-conditioned spaces. Instead, we have a deeply-flawed land that is required to serve as the major marketing push for 2018 and which only negligibly increases the capacity of the park. Just because it's family-friendly doesn't mean it was envisioned as a cheap kiddie land. It's meant to be Fantasyland for DHS. Is it successful?

But, yes. The coaster should be objectively-fun. Hopefully, you have a Fastpass so you can spend an enjoyable 30 minutes experiencing all there is to see and do in the new land at 7 am this summer.

 

[djkidkaz]

Nothing about TSL is temporary. Don't expect to see it going away, and it is very much a strategy for the rebirth of the park to offer more to families, especially young children.

Hopefully there is more in the pipeline for families. Once SWGE opens this park will be loaded with E-Tickets and in need of family attractions. luckily we’ll get Mickey railway but two or three kid rides in the park is not enough to keep a child happy.

 

[britain]

Ah yes. Something "small." That cost as much as 2 1/2 Everests. Or 1 1/2 Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railways.

Small in everything except acreage, cost, and marketing.

If this was meant to tide us over and serve as filler once Galaxy's Edge opens, you would think more attention would have been paid to providing high hourly ride capacity and large, air-conditioned spaces. Instead, we have a deeply-flawed land that is required to serve as the major marketing push for 2018 and which only negligibly increases the capacity of the park. Just because it's family-friendly doesn't mean it was envisioned as a cheap kiddie land. It's meant to be Fantasyland for DHS. Is it successful?

But, yes. The coaster should be objectively-fun. Hopefully, you have a Fastpass so you can spend an enjoyable 30 minutes experiencing all there is to see and do in the new land at 7 am this summer.

Maybe he/she just means small relative to Star Wars.

 

[Driver]

LOL. On the contrary, Disney is counting on CMs having loose lips about “everything [they] ever wanted in a land!”

Whatever, I'm going to "Dress Rehearsal " on Sunday and I know the rules, we are not supposed to ruin the magic. I did mention in previous post that I believe the ride will be well received. And that's all I feel comfortable saying about it.

 

[tirian]

I hear you, but I just mean the tone of TL94 was a comedic one. Even Alien Encounter was a dark comedy. When you would listen to the bombastic tone of the TTA narration (“embrace the promise of tomorrow!”) it’s clear that they were doing to Tomorrowland the same thing that had happened to Jungle Cruise: Make it into a silly riff on the original sincere theme.

But Future World covered that territory in a much better way, leaving the MK’s Tomorrowland in a place that needed to differentiate itself. The Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon style worked for TL and introduced some much needed adult/teenager appeal to Florida’s MK.

Before Epcot, TL was great. After Epcot, it needed to change.

 

[tirian]

It was certainly not the norm in MK for nearly 40 years! I love the shops and TS dining, but these are a fairly new development in many of the "lands". Pretty sure I will find food close by TSL.

Likewise, the density of attractions in DL is incredible. You can stand next to Alice in Wonderland and see Teacups, the Matterhorn, the Subs, the Monorail, Storybookland Canal Boats, Casey Junior, and Autopia. Then you can walk around a corner and enjoy a small, quiet water feature.

 

[andysol]

But, yes. The coaster should be objectively-fun. Hopefully, you have a Fastpass so you can spend an enjoyable 30 minutes experiencing all there is to see and do in the new land at 7 am this summer.

This essentially summarizes the land pretty well. It has rides and that's it. It's everything we argue about when we talk about the Disney Difference and being able to enjoy the park and immersion and hidden features. TSL will essentially have none. You go in, you ride the rides, and you leave. And that's the disappointing part.

I don't mind the decor and "immersion"- it looks fine to me for what it is- even the exposed coaster. But if Disney felt that way, and they were proud of their work- why are they wanting you to ride the rides and leave the land as soon as you do? Why aren't they wanting you to slow down and take it all in? A store would've helped. A QS restaurant certainly would've allowed for it. A M&G not as much.

But look at every other successful land. Diagon Alley likely being the gold standard. One ride, that's it. But you could spend hours there. Star Wars will likely be similar. Why they wanted you in and out of this land in 30 minutes, if it truly is a filler for before SW:GE, is beyond me.

 

[ToTBellHop]

This essentially summarizes the land pretty well. It has rides and that's it. It's everything we argue about when we talk about the Disney Difference and being able to enjoy the park and immersion and hidden features. TSL will essentially have none. You go in, you ride the rides, and you leave. And that's the disappointing part.

I don't mind the decor and "immersion"- it looks fine to me for what it is- even the exposed coaster. But if Disney felt that way, and they were proud of their work- why are they wanting you to ride the rides and leave the land as soon as you do? Why aren't they wanting you to slow down and take it all in? A store would've helped. A QS restaurant certainly would've allowed for it. A M&G not as much.

But look at every other successful land. Diagon Alley likely being the gold standard. One ride, that's it. But you could spend hours there. Star Wars will likely be similar. Why they wanted you in and out of this land in 30 minutes, if it truly is a filler for before SW:GE, is beyond me.

Exactly. And it would’ve been easy to do! A toy store themed to Toy Story is simple to theme and a Toy Story sitdown character meal would sell out 180+10 days out at $45/head. Theme it like the Midway Mania queue and maybe throw in interactive “windows” where you see the characters other than the four physically in the room and families would lose their schnitzel. How can a family land themed to something as iconic as Toy Story fail so completely?

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

Ah yes. Something "small." That cost as much as 2 1/2 Everests. Or 1 1/2 Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railways.

Small in everything except acreage, cost, and marketing.

If this was meant to tide us over and serve as filler once Galaxy's Edge opens, you would think more attention would have been paid to providing high hourly ride capacity and large, air-conditioned spaces. Instead, we have a deeply-flawed land that is required to serve as the major marketing push for 2018 and which only negligibly increases the capacity of the park. Just because it's family-friendly doesn't mean it was envisioned as a cheap kiddie land. It's meant to be Fantasyland for DHS. Is it successful?

But, yes. The coaster should be objectively-fun. Hopefully, you have a Fastpass so you can spend an enjoyable 30 minutes experiencing all there is to see and do in the new land at 7 am this summer.

Nope. Definitely not something cheap. But it is small when compared to the $800 million of Star Wars Land, the $500 million of Pandora and the $430 million for New Fantasyland it is.

And I don't think it is meant to be the "New Fantasyland" of HS. New Fantasyland's highlight is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train which is a masterpiece when compared to TSL's highlight, the Slinky Dog Dash. The second ride of TSL is Alien Swarling Saucers, a carnival-like ride which has nothing memorable in it (except the music ), while over in the Magic Kingdom there is the Little Mermaid, a very good dark ride and not a spinning attraction like the Teacups. Then there is Woody's Lunchbox (a standard quick service restaurant) while in MK there is "Be Our Guest" (one of the most elaborate restaurants in WDW). And this is pretty much where TSL ends, while in New Fantasyland there still is the Enchanted Tales with Belle, Princess Fairytale Hall (TSL doesn't have meet n' greets) and Storybook Circus with 2 more rides and another meet n' greet.

Yes, it is meant to give a more family-friendly tone to the park but certainly not in the scale of New Fantasyland, and the recent budget cuts are only here to affirm this. Besides Mickie and Minnies Runaway Railway will open next year, another family friendly attraction. But who knows? Maybe more things will be added to the land in the future.

 

[gmajew]

Exactly. And it would’ve been easy to do! A toy store themed to Toy Story is simple to theme and a Toy Story sitdown character meal would sell out 180+10 days out at $45/head. Theme it like the Midway Mania queue and maybe throw in interactive “windows” where you see the characters other than the four physically in the room and families would lose their schnitzel. How can a family land themed to something as iconic as Toy Story fail so completely?

Love this idea and nothing is stopping them from taking one mans dream and making it a restaurant and meet and greet space... or even keeping the meet and greet space they have open and just adding the restaurant.

 

[Incomudro]

This essentially summarizes the land pretty well. It has rides and that's it. It's everything we argue about when we talk about the Disney Difference and being able to enjoy the park and immersion and hidden features. TSL will essentially have none. You go in, you ride the rides, and you leave. And that's the disappointing part.

I don't mind the decor and "immersion"- it looks fine to me for what it is- even the exposed coaster. But if Disney felt that way, and they were proud of their work- why are they wanting you to ride the rides and leave the land as soon as you do? Why aren't they wanting you to slow down and take it all in? A store would've helped. A QS restaurant certainly would've allowed for it. A M&G not as much.

But look at every other successful land. Diagon Alley likely being the gold standard. One ride, that's it. But you could spend hours there. Star Wars will likely be similar. Why they wanted you in and out of this land in 30 minutes, if it truly is a filler for before SW:GE, is beyond me.

There are three rides in TSL.
People seem to forget Midway Mania.

 

[wdwmagic]

VIDEO - First look at Toy Story Land after dark

 

[Incomudro]

Did you mean to quote me? I didn't mention anything about only having 2 rides.

You said "you ride the rides" and get out.
There are three rides, and one of them is the most popular in HS until Star Wars opens up.
Guest are going to enter TSL and be in the land for three rides, plus the opportunity of a quick serve meal.
That can take up good amount of time.

 

[Andrew C]

VIDEO - First look at Toy Story Land after dark

Okay, it looks pretty cool at night.