Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Fox&Hound]

I mean... the two expansions are really, really similar. Both have a double-sided flat-ride and an external, tame, lightly-themed coaster. Both are themed to incorporate a pre-existing attaction - the train or TSMM. The Circus has a merchandise location TSL lacks while TSL has a quick service window. I actually prefer the theming in Storybook (no gigantic statues of characters having meet and greets nearby, a bit of historical relevance with the train connection), but that's subjective and neither's great. On the basics, the comparison is pretty spot on.

Good points! Plus they both have a lot of wasted space: TSL with its layout and Circus with the random circus tent in the back with phone chargers. Both have head scratching meet and greets: TSL with characters already shown in statue form and circus with their “nobody asked for” meet and greet with circus themed fab five.

Either way, I am very excited for TSL. Even circus, which seemed odd at first has grown over time for me and I enjoy the extra space provided and cute theming. And the dueling dumbos is a win for anyone with kids. Hope TSL surprises us too!!!!!

 

[Isanka]

Where the souvenir store will be located?

 

[twebber55]

I mean... the two expansions are really, really similar. Both have a double-sided flat-ride and an external, tame, lightly-themed coaster. Both are themed to incorporate a pre-existing attaction - the train or TSMM. The Circus has a merchandise location TSL lacks while TSL has a quick service window. I actually prefer the theming in Storybook (no gigantic statues of characters having meet and greets nearby, a bit of historical relevance with the train connection), but that's subjective and neither's great. On the basics, the comparison is pretty spot on.

agree on all accounts although i think Toy Story (the IP) doesn't adapt well to a theme park environment

 

[Ag11gani]

I just realised how unfortunate the name Woody's Lunchbox is.

 

[Casper Gutman]

agree on all accounts although i think Toy Story (the IP) doesn't adapt well to a theme park environment

Oh, agreed completely. There are a ton of reasons for that, but off the top of my head,

1) toys, when blown up to giant size, lack the intricate detail that modern theme parks thrive on - they're just big blocks of color

2) the oft-remarked upon problem of scale, but particularly of DIFFERENCE of scale. Scale in Bugs Land kinda-sorta works because everything is fairly close in scale - the "big" items are cookie boxes or the like. For TSL to be convincing, you need structures that differ drastically in size from the functional, "toy-sized" structures - fences, the house, perhaps even lawn furniture. You'd need to build giant structures or employ really clever sfx.

 

[Horizons '83]

I mean... the two expansions are really, really similar. Both have a double-sided flat-ride and an external, tame, lightly-themed coaster. Both are themed to incorporate a pre-existing attaction - the train or TSMM. The Circus has a merchandise location TSL lacks while TSL has a quick service window. I actually prefer the theming in Storybook (no gigantic statues of characters having meet and greets nearby, a bit of historical relevance with the train connection), but that's subjective and neither's great. On the basics, the comparison is pretty spot on.

Eh, I get what you're saying but I wouldn't put Barnstormer and Slinky in the same "kiddie coaster" category although I know many do. Also, I think A.S.S will be the sleeper in this land, which SBC doesn't have, so actually now that I am typing this, I don't really see how you can compare the 2, they are quite different. I could care less about Merch options.

 

[ElBendro]

I just realised how unfortunate the name Woody's Lunchbox is.

 

[danlb_2000]

Where the souvenir store will be located?

Strangely there doesn't seem to be one in the land. I assume they will do merchandise carts instead.

 

[trainplane3]

This is the last place I'd expect to see "H" Woody. But I can't say I haven't thought of it a while ago...

 

[MisterPenguin]

And the dueling dumbos is a win for anyone with kids.

Wait!.. You can see more than one Dumbo at a time?!!!! What would Walt think of this break of show?!!!

Where the souvenir store will be located?

Sunset Blvd for all things TS. I think where Starring Rolls was, or that expanded space. But, they'll probably also be carts. <insert Buzz and Woody meme of "X, X everywhere">

 

[MKeeler]

The aerial below infuriates me a bit with the whole process. Hollywood Studios is woefully underbuilt and will be unprepared for the crushing weight that will be coming its way once Galaxy's Edge is online. The image shows an example of poor planning in preparation.

Why was Woody's Lunchbox built so far away from the Toy Story Mania building? If you pushed the Lunchbox closer to the Mania building, creating a row of facades with the new entrance, that current plot of land becomes open for a small-form attraction. Something like the Critter Carousel could be an option. It's not great, and it's not a new E-ticket, but that's not what DHS needs. DHS is desperate for B, C, and D attractions. Small form diversions. A Toy Story Land with only 2 new options will not cut it going forward.

Hopefully TDO is currently planning for great expansion after Galaxy's Edge, but I doubt it.

 

[Horizons '83]

The aerial below infuriates me a bit with the whole process. Hollywood Studios is woefully underbuilt and will be unprepared for the crushing weight that will be coming its way once Galaxy's Edge is online. The image shows an example of poor planning in preparation.
View attachment 272630

Why was Woody's Lunchbox built so far away from the Toy Story Mania building? If you pushed the Lunchbox closer to the Mania building, creating a row of facades with the new entrance, that current plot of land becomes open for a small-form attraction. Something like the Critter Carousel could be an option. It's not great, and it's not a new E-ticket, but that's not what DHS needs. DHS is desperate for B, C, and D attractions. Small form diversions. A Toy Story Land with only 2 new options will not cut it going forward.

Hopefully TDO is currently planning for great expansion after Galaxy's Edge, but I doubt it.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but who in the heck do we think we are saying they screwed up the plans? Maybe its a backstage area they needed since a lot of it was absorbed when the land was built, maybe its simply a storage area, we really don't know. Wait until its finished, they bring your complaints back here. On a side note, I am feeling a bit feisty today.

 

[Isanka]

^ It's good to have some empty land. I hate when the buildings are too tight.

 

[marni1971]

The aerial below infuriates me a bit with the whole process. Hollywood Studios is woefully underbuilt and will be unprepared for the crushing weight that will be coming its way once Galaxy's Edge is online. The image shows an example of poor planning in preparation.
View attachment 272630

Why was Woody's Lunchbox built so far away from the Toy Story Mania building? If you pushed the Lunchbox closer to the Mania building, creating a row of facades with the new entrance, that current plot of land becomes open for a small-form attraction. Something like the Critter Carousel could be an option. It's not great, and it's not a new E-ticket, but that's not what DHS needs. DHS is desperate for B, C, and D attractions. Small form diversions. A Toy Story Land with only 2 new options will not cut it going forward.

Hopefully TDO is currently planning for great expansion after Galaxy's Edge, but I doubt it.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but who in the heck do we think we are saying they screwed up the plans? Maybe its a backstage area they needed since a lot of it was absorbed when the land was built, maybe its simply a storage area, we really don't know. Wait until its finished, they bring your complaints back here. On a side note, I am feeling a bit feisty today.

The building certainly could have gone closer to TSM. All that will be behind it is a fire lane and the ride exit path. One assumes if they did this the area would feel too open so they’ve maintained a more closed in feel.

Even if it was used as an indoors seating area for the QS hatch.

 

[Fox&Hound]

The building certainly could have gone closer to TSM. All that will be behind it is a fire lane and the ride exit path. One assumes if they did this the area would feel too open so they’ve maintained a more closed in feel.

Even if it was used as an indoors seating area for the QS hatch.

Aren’t they adding outdoor covered seating around the quick serve? I thought I saw concept art with the little drink umbrellas serving as covered tables....

 

[marni1971]

Aren’t they adding outdoor covered seating around the quick serve? I thought I saw concept art with the little drink umbrellas serving as covered tables....

Yes.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Why was Woody's Lunchbox built so far away from the Toy Story Mania building?

Maybe they didn't want to create the mistake they made with the MK being concrete canyons and instead create something more open and lush and less claustrophobic?

 

[MKeeler]

Maybe they didn't want to create the mistake they made with the MK being concrete canyons and instead create something more open and lush and less claustrophobic?

I guess it shows my preferred park, but I suppose I was hoping for something closer to Disneyland's Fantasyland, where there is such a breadth of attractions in close proximity. That space would just seem so much more valuable to DHS capacity as a carousel or top-inspired spinner (or the Slinky Dog ZigZag spin if they weren't using him on the roller coaster). For the amount of space Toy Story Playland will be taking up, it seems a shame we are only getting two new attractions in an already underbuilt park.

 

[Timothy_Q]

I guess it shows my preferred park, but I suppose I was hoping for something closer to Disneyland's Fantasyland, where there is such a breadth of attractions in close proximity. That space would just seem so much more valuable to DHS capacity as a carousel or top-inspired spinner (or the Slinky Dog ZigZag spin if they weren't using him on the roller coaster). For the amount of space Toy Story Playland will be taking up, it seems a shame we are only getting two new attractions in an already underbuilt park.

I definitely agree with that sentiment.

But that kinda applies to most of WDW when comparing it to DLR.

DL's Fantasyland alone has more rides than either DHS, DAK and Epcot have in their entirety

 

[P_Radden]

DL's Fantasyland alone has more rides than either DHS, DAK and Epcot have in their entirety

Which is disappointing when you consider how old those parks are.