DHS What should they do with Animation Courtyard?

[Purduevian]

I wonder if the entrance Launch Bay/ Animation building would be too much of a bottle neck to put a ride attached to the back of the building... I still think the black box idea was a really cool idea and would be perfect

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

how did both the animation courtyard threads (which probably should be merged into 1) both end up talking about muppets?

Us muppet fans were told many times that monsters couldn’t go to animation courtyard because that was “prime real estate” (where else have we heard that term?) and Disney needed the space for something even better than monsters.

And then we got this.

So it’s all related.

The good news is… this isn’t Simpsons.

There would be space for some type of dark ride behind the building…. Could be a neat expansion of animation studio. I’d love to see the earful tower return as well!

 

[lazyboy97o]

Us muppet fans were told many times that monsters couldn’t go to animation courtyard because that was “prime real estate” (where else have we heard that term?) and Disney needed the space for something even better than monsters.

And then we got this.

So it’s all related.

The good news is… this isn’t Simpsons.

There would be space for some type of dark ride behind the building…. Could be a neat expansion of animation studio. I’d love to see the earful tower return as well!

This project will also involve exterior work quite close to guests.

 

[Andrew C]

Us muppet fans were told many times that monsters couldn’t go to animation courtyard because that was “prime real estate” (where else have we heard that term?) and Disney needed the space for something even better than monsters.

And then we got this.

So it’s all related.

The good news is… this isn’t Simpsons.

There would be space for some type of dark ride behind the building…. Could be a neat expansion of animation studio. I’d love to see the earful tower return as well!

They also passed on putting MRR here...

 

[BrianLo]

Us muppet fans were told many times that monsters couldn’t go to animation courtyard because that was “prime real estate” (where else have we heard that term?) and Disney needed the space for something even better than monsters.

And then we got this.

It was behind animation courtyard. They still don’t seem to be accessing any of the theoretical expansion area.

 

[cheezbat]

This is nothing.

Not impressed.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

This is nothing.

Not impressed.

This certainly isn’t a major announcement/project—that’s happening on the other side of the park.

However, the “little” things—like aesthetic upgrades of this kind—are part of what improve the holistic experience that differentiates Disney.

They could have just replaced Launch Bay with the new animation experience, and kept everything else the same. And Animation Courtyard would have remained just as ugly and lacking in thematic cohesion as it is today.

Instead, they’re making subtle changes like adding trees that improve the aesthetics and adding signage (“Studio Theater,” perhaps “[sound]stage [X]”…) that improves the thematic cohesion.

I hope this is a sign of what’s to come soon for Commissary Lane, Pixar Plaza, and the Star Tours facade, rather than just keeping them all as they are until far-future complete redevelopment.

 

[aladdin2007]

This is nothing.

Not impressed.

This is way better than the ghetto crud it is now and has been for far too long.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I would love to see a hollywood toontown of some sort over on this side of the park someday, I still lament the loss of Mickeys Toontown Fair in MK but that's just me.

I think most people would. It would even naturally transition into the new studio courtyard, as this would be where the toons would “go to work”. It’s a shame Toy Story Land is where it is cause that would be the perfect plot of land.

 

[ChrisFL]

Us muppet fans were told many times that monsters couldn’t go to animation courtyard because that was “prime real estate” (where else have we heard that term?) and Disney needed the space for something even better than monsters.

And then we got this.

So it’s all related.

The good news is… this isn’t Simpsons.

There would be space for some type of dark ride behind the building…. Could be a neat expansion of animation studio. I’d love to see the earful tower return as well!

I wonder what they did with the original Earful tower. Also Paris will probably get rid of theirs soon, they should bring it to WDW.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I wonder what they did with the original Earful tower. Also Paris will probably get rid of theirs soon, they should bring it to WDW.

The concept art and physical models show the tower staying in Paris. They are keeping the “studio / Hollywood” theme at the entrance of the park.

 

[ChrisFL]

The concept art and physical models show the tower staying in Paris. They are keeping the “studio / Hollywood” theme at the entrance of the park.

Interesting.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Yeah, I’m baffled by the arbitrary “one land/ attraction per IP” thing. Both Diagon and Potter Paris are masterpieces and I’d love to have more (better) Star Wars lands. Marvel in California shows the kind of bland mess you can get if a huge, diverse IP is forcefully reduced to one “theme.”

Now, not every IP can support multiple lands like Potter, SW, and Marvel, but a lot of strong Disney franchises are currently underserved in Orlando - Lion King, Aladdin, Moana, Beauty, etc. all have some presence but could support much more.

Honeslty while both are impressive, I don't find all 3 of the Harry Potter lands all that impressive because they are mostly just kinda copies of each other... there's not that much unique in them other than the rides (and I suppose Knockturn Alley)

They both have the butterbeer carts, a standard quick service eatery, candy shop, wand shop, clothing, bar, whatever. It all just feels very samey.

 

[HMF]

This certainly isn’t a major announcement/project—that’s happening on the other side of the park.

However, the “little” things—like aesthetic upgrades of this kind—are part of what improve the holistic experience that differentiates Disney.

They could have just replaced Launch Bay with the new animation experience, and kept everything else the same. And Animation Courtyard would have remained just as ugly and lacking in thematic cohesion as it is today.

Instead, they’re making subtle changes like adding trees that improve the aesthetics and adding signage (“Studio Theater,” perhaps “[sound]stage [X]”…) that improves the thematic cohesion.

I hope this is a sign of what’s to come soon for Commissary Lane, Pixar Plaza, and the Star Tours facade, rather than just keeping them all as they are until far-future complete redevelopment.

I will agree that it will make the courtyard better. What is distressing is the fact that they are contradicting what they have been implying for the last 10 years.