What's the deal with Hollywood Studios

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I remember my last time watching them draw, he was drawing Lilo and I knew that that was the last time I was ever going to see that. I have to pay myself a visit to the Great Movie Ride, I'd that ride still the same or better which I highly doubt? I haven't been on that ride since the mid 90s.

 

[englanddg]

I remember my last time watching them draw, he was drawing Lilo and I knew that that was the last time I was ever going to see that. I have to pay myself a visit to the Great Movie Ride, I'd that ride still the same or better which I highly doubt? I haven't been on that ride since the mid 90s.

I remember watching them draw Little Mermaid, and then Beauty and the Beast, and the list goes on...during the great second age of Disney Animation...

As a kid it excited me about those films, and I suspect it did my parents as well. And I went and saw every single Disney release, even when it was my money to spend (as an adult)...

I remember being so excited for Hunchback...and being disappointed. And then Mulan (it was very good)...I did opening night both times. After Mulan, I gave up on Disney animated films. They were becoming cliche and silly.

Now...when you tour...nothing...empty desks...

 

[bethymouse]

It's sad. But I am thinking SOMETHING is in the works to change its reputation! I certainly hope so!

 

[disneyfan1995]

I actually really like DHS the way it is for the most part. I think we can do away with LMA since it only shows like 3 times a day. I do think they could maybe try to tie in themes a little bit better, but there are some great attractions there. TOT and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster are both there as well as GMR. I know a lot of people dislike GMR but I think it's great. I make sure to ride it at least twice each trip. I honestly think the way you enjoy DHS is what you make of it so it's best to put aside what other people say about the park and to form your own opinions of it. I think a lot of people dislike it since so many others dislike it so they're sort of pulled into it if that makes any sense.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

They're no doubt biting their nails.


But in all seriousness, it appears that DHS is the WDW park that has been hardest hit by Potter. DAK is too different, EPCOT is about dining and events nowadays, the MK is simply invincible. DHS took the brunt of the UNI attack. So I think that DHS will see great investment the coming few years. Either Star Wars or Cars, with more Pixar stuff thrown in for good measure.

I wonder if that will truly help the park, or merely serve to further dilute DHS' theme. 'Random collection of rides based on IP properties' looms for DHS. Which is UNI's formula, it would only mean Disney being dragged down to UNI's level, from where UNI will beat it from experience and agression.

I agree that DHS was hit the hardest by Potter, but appears to be coming from Universal in the next 5 to 6 years says and AK also.

I saying that because Universal's aim according to WDW1974 is to have more attendance than 2 of the 4 WDW parks based on everything at Universal is planning. If Universal gets a 3rd park built like WDW1974 mentioned, that is going to put People in the United States that go to Orlando for Vacation to make a decision. Universal's aim if they get a 3rd park would be having tourists spend 3 to 6 days at Orlando on a 6 or 7 day Vacation.

While I don't go to Universal and have more than 7 days on a trip usually, that isn't the case for all Americans who go down to Orlando or want to go to Orlando for their vacation.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

They're no doubt biting their nails.


But in all seriousness, it appears that DHS is the WDW park that has been hardest hit by Potter. DAK is too different, EPCOT is about dining and events nowadays, the MK is simply invincible. DHS took the brunt of the UNI attack. So I think that DHS will see great investment the coming few years. Either Star Wars or Cars, with more Pixar stuff thrown in for good measure.

I wonder if that will truly help the park, or merely serve to further dilute DHS' theme. 'Random collection of rides based on IP properties' looms for DHS. Which is UNI's formula, it would only mean Disney being dragged down to UNI's level, from where UNI will beat it from experience and agression.

I agree that DHS will see great investment in the coming few years. What DHS needs to do is get both with the fact Universal isn't done yet with their parks adding attractions.

I don't think adding more Pixar would Dillute DHS' Theme. The fact is getting a rid of an attraction masquerading as working studios would help the theme. Adding Pixar attraction could be bring a theme of stuff coming from Pixar's studios.

 

[litaljohn]

After Mulan, I gave up on Disney animated films. They were becoming cliche and silly.

to be fair I think all Disney films are pretty silly, it wasn't as though we had animated versions of schindlers list before mulan.

that said I thought brother bear was pretty good. plus any fan of Rick moranis would love that A. he's in it, and 2. rutt is basicly just Bob McKenzie

 

[englanddg]

to be fair I think all Disney films are pretty silly, it wasn't as though we had animated versions of schindlers list before mulan.

that said I thought brother bear was pretty good. plus any fan of Rick moranis would love that A. he's in it, and 2. rutt is basicly just Bob McKenzie

Fair enough. I gave up on them, and I did miss out on some decent flicks (which now I've seen)...Brother Bear and Atlantis being two of them.

 

[stevehousse]

I miss the old backlot tour that lasted over an hour! You went through everything studios, streets that were filmed on, etc. the tour now is nothing it was compared to back in the day. The backlot tour used to e the main attraction to see, and now we skip it!

 

[litaljohn]

Brother Bear and Atlantis being two of them.

good call, I forgot all about Atlantis!

 

[unkadug]

They should close HS and wait until the poll results are in from WDWMagic before deciding what to do with it.

Good god dude...if you hate this site so much then why do you even bother coming here?

 

[stevehousse]

Wasn't a huge brother bear fan but me and my boys love Atlantis and treasure planet!

 

[KaneMarko]

2 of my favorite Disney attractions reside in DHS: Tower of Terror and Fantasmic!

Even with that said, DHS has been my least favorite of the Disney parks. I'm not exactly sure why. It is the smallest of the parks, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe it's the fact that outside of ToT, Fantasmic, and Rockin' Rollercoaster there's not a lot there for me. It does have a rather confusing layout, IMO once you get to the back half of the park.

I don't claim to know what the fix is for the park. The easy answer is "expansion". But expand it how? I'm not sure you can just plop a large Marvel or Star Wars themed expansion on it. Least, not in my view. Perhaps they should get back to the "studios" part of Hollywood Studios. Maybe get back to making movies and shows there and let the guest see the actual process of it? IDK.

But I agree with the thread opener. DHS is fun. But I have always felt it needed something else. Just not sure what the "something else" would be.

 

[pumpkin7]

well the MGM part is gone, so that's a good place to start. otherwise I agree it seems to slip a bit for me in rank as well, although I say this as a person who's favorite park is AK which seems to be unusual round these parts.

I will say I think part of it is Epcot gets special festivals all the time and concerts, MK ha a new expansion in progress. designs are coming in for avatar in AK, in a way it seems like MGM is getting the cold shoulder in updates and improvements, wait lemme guess a new drop sequence will be made on ToT that we can't tell any difference on the previous builds?

I think the problem may be staleness. I have seen posts in others threads (forgot who said it) that mentioned just adding even shades of something new in mgm. for Instance they suggested getting rid of Aerosmith in rock n roller coaster and I next something new like, I think they suggested Bon Jovi. it would certainly be an improvement after hearing the same three Aerosmith songs over and over by now. I think it was a pretty good idea

First, I LOVE your hat. Totally cool.

Second, I agree. It used to be this awesome working Studio where you could go and watch TV shows being 'filmed' at you were immersed in the feel and magic of Hollywood.
Then, the Hat arrived. MGM disappeared. They opened non movie - esq rides, like Aerosmith. They let the other 'movie' rides rot (Here's lookin' at you, GMR), and removed the best parts out of the Backlot Tour. It's just not the same anymore. It's just another park.

 

[unkadug]

First, I LOVE your hat. Totally cool.

Second, I agree. It used to be this awesome working Studio where you could go and watch TV shows being 'filmed' at you were immersed in the feel and magic of Hollywood.
Then, the Hat arrived. MGM disappeared. They opened non movie - esq rides, like Aerosmith. They let the other 'movie' rides rot (Here's lookin' at you, GMR), and removed the best parts out of the Backlot Tour. It's just not the same anymore. It's just another park.

DMGM was never a fully functional studio...they only created shows that were designed around the need to create shows there to justify the "studios" name.

Non-movie attractions? Hollywood is the recording capitol of the world.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

2 of my favorite Disney attractions reside in DHS: Tower of Terror and Fantasmic!

Even with that said, DHS has been my least favorite of the Disney parks. I'm not exactly sure why. It is the smallest of the parks, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe it's the fact that outside of ToT, Fantasmic, and Rockin' Rollercoaster there's not a lot there for me. It does have a rather confusing layout, IMO once you get to the back half of the park.

I don't claim to know what the fix is for the park. The easy answer is "expansion". But expand it how? I'm not sure you can just plop a large Marvel or Star Wars themed expansion on it. Least, not in my view. Perhaps they should get back to the "studios" part of Hollywood Studios. Maybe get back to making movies and shows there and let the guest see the actual process of it? IDK.

But I agree with the thread opener. DHS is fun. But I have always felt it needed something else. Just not sure what the "something else" would be.

Getting back the Studios parts of DHS is tough to do. The problem is some of the buildings from the old productions Days of DHS is now used for stuff like attractions or other things in the park now. That means DHS really doesn't have the room for a working studios anymore.

Marvel can't be in WDW due to the contract Universal Florida has with Marvel.

There could an expansion at DHS by using a part of the parking lot DHS has and Disney could building parking structure.That is one of the ways to do an expansion for Star Wars. The other way I read for a Star Wars expansion last month is by getting a ride of the DHS parade building and use that area as a min Star Wars Land.

There had been a rumor on one of the Orlando theme park rumor websites about DHS using its theme park park parking lot to expand and build a Parking structure and getting a rid of Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

That means there are two ways to do a Star Wars expansion, but rather Disney uses any of them is something no one knows right right now.

 

[pumpkin7]

DMGM was never a fully functional studio...they only created shows that were designed around the need to create shows there to justify the "studios" name.

Non-movie attractions? Hollywood is the recording capitol of the world.

I never said it was a fully working studio. That's why I put 'filming' in quotes.
And OK I'll let Aerosmith off but I don't associate stuff like that with movie studios.

 

[litaljohn]

Non-movie attractions? Hollywood is the recording capitol of the world.

yet Bon Jovi records in Middletown NJ. like MGM I think calling it the capital is just a title for perceived cred. not nessesarily a good thing, you might also say with so much that nobody creates more bad music than Hollywood. DC is deemed the nations capital and outside protected tourism areas the place is a disaster.
I think the real point I am getting a here is Bon Jovi is pretty awesome

 

[Soarin2u]

I agree with most here, MGM has lost it's potential. I remember being 7 or 6 when I first came to love that park! The Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground was my absolute favorite; I used to liked to get lost in it because it was so big back them to me! Now, I just can't say that, one being that my butt is to big to fit thought those tiny crawling places! Either way, one member mentioned that front half still had its spark and magic, which couldn't be more true! However the back half is what I my family call creeper alley! (Ever been there at night? If not, try it, you'll see what I mean.) It ultimately has no decent attraction!, (Toy Story and Star tours not included) The Muppets is short, too short, the Backlot, is a adventure of lame and, Lights Camera Action, has lost it's popularity. They need to add a extreme makeover to the entire back of the park.

>Since they have unused studios, I think they should give people the oppurtunity to play with all the stunt stuff! Hang on from wires, jump off of buildings in a gigantic cushion etc. It'd be fun for a lot of young adults!
>Another option would be is to provide classes, in animation ( which they already have) acting, singing, stunts, battle stunts, decoration and more! Each class would be an hour long and there be a fun area for the young ones too!
>Full on classes, for locals or travelers who are wanting to take a full out course on the things mentioned above. They'd be a daily class for about a week, (extra cost) at a certain time and anyone can take a class on their chosen topic! It'd get everyone to feel apart of the Disney Magic!

Personally, I think this is an easy and, fairly cheap way to get better use out of the dieing buildings! It will really gain attention to any young movie entrepreneurs, and give anyone a behind the scenes course of what type of magic goes into everything disney!

 

[erasure fan1]

I agree it seems to slip a bit for me in rank as well, although I say this as a person who's favorite park is AK which seems to be unusual round these parts.

While AK isn't my favorite park, it has the potential to be. It could be absolutely one of the best parks ANYWHERE if they would just put forth the effort. And that is the main problem I have with the studios. The effort just isn't there. The theme of "a tribute to Hollywood" isn't bad, but you can't go half in. They just need to tighten up the theme, add a couple dark (family friendly) rides and another E-ticket, and you have a world class park. Its a few things that need a lot of effort and a lot of cash. Disney though, doesn't seem willing to put forth either.