Why Hollywood Studios is being rebuilt

[Turtle]

The concept of "DHS isn't expanding, they're replacing!" really boggles my mind. The park has average attendance numbers, but the problem is that they don't stay the whole day.

But Cars Land replacing the Backlot Tour would make guests stay longer in the park, it has more interest, and it can even raise the attendance. In fact, a lot of people who've been to the park before just skip the shows (Indy, LMA, BB) and the backlot.


So basically what I'm saying: Guests spend 30 minutes on the backlot tour. Guests spend 90 minutes [and lots of cash] in Cars Land.

 

[danlb_2000]

Maybe. It was, of course, just a theoretical amount. But there are a lot of sit down restaurants at DHS.

I think we all would agree that more guests equals more people who will potentially, and very often, buy meals.

How good are those restaurants doing? Are they always at capacity? Since you know that DHS is doing well, you must have access to this information.

 

[GoofGoof]

The concept of "DHS isn't expanding, they're replacing!" really boggles my mind. The park has average attendance numbers, but the problem is that they don't stay the whole day.

But Cars Land replacing the Backlot Tour would make guests stay longer in the park, it has more interest, and it can even raise the attendance. In fact, a lot of people who've been to the park before just skip the shows (Indy, LMA, BB) and the backlot.


So basically what I'm saying: Guests spend 30 minutes on the backlot tour. Guests spend 90 minutes [and lots of cash] in Cars Land.

...and Star Wars is even more of a lucrative draw. Potentially brand new customers and returns of past customers. Instead of guests coming to WDW to go to MK/EPCOT, buying a multi-day pass and visiting DHS because its included in the price of admission they could actually draw guests who are at WDW specifically to go to DHS. That probably hasn't happened outside of special events like SW weekends since Tower of Terror opened.

 

[Turtle]

Continuation of my last post:

WHAT YOU LOSE WITH BACKLOT
Backlot Tour
Lights Motors Action

WHAT YOU GET WITH CARS LAND
Cars Dark Ride
Junkyard Jamboree
Flo's V8 Cafe
Cozy Cone Food Court
Radiator Springs Curios
Sarge's Surplus Hut
Ramone's Paint Shop
Fillmore's


That sounds like a lot more of an expansion than replacement

 

[Turtle]

...and Star Wars is even more of a lucrative draw. Potentially brand new customers and returns of past customers. Instead of guests coming to WDW to go to MK/EPCOT, buying a multi-day pass and visiting DHS because its included in the price of admission they could actually draw guests who are at WDW specifically to go to DHS. That probably hasn't happened outside of special events like SW weekends since Tower of Terror opened.

Exactly!

 

[GoofGoof]

How good are those restaurants doing? Are they always at capacity? Since you know that DHS is doing well, you must have access to this information.

Just one man's observation and not at all intended to be a representation of the masses...I've never eaten at a table service restaurant at DHS. Partially because we didn't stay through dinner and partially because we had other places we preferred to eat on our trips. On my next trip I am planning on doing Mama Melrose and SciFi but that is mostly due to having DDP for the first time and we are traveling with friends who had both places on their must do list. We are also spending 1 whole day and 1 half day at DHS so I will be seeing lots of things I haven't in a while and maybe for the last time

 

[ScoutN]

What is everyone talking about someone shooting down the notion of something happening. I see none of that. Oh wait. That's right, @wdwmagic gave us a "shut the troll up" button.

Makes the thread a ton better!

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

The concept of "DHS isn't expanding, they're replacing!" really boggles my mind. The park has average attendance numbers, but the problem is that they don't stay the whole day.

DHS got 9.9 million guests in 2012, and wait times for Midway Mania are ridiculous on some days. I'm kinda guessing that DHS was near its attendance goal for 2012, they aren't planning on trying to pack in as many guests as MK.

However, it is true that a Carsland would open up a bit more space for guest traffic, if it replaced Backlot and some other attractions, but you would lose some ride capacity, and guest space, i.e. LMA. In terms of long-term growth, no need to make a rash decision. If they built Carsland in the parking lot, then they'd have time/room to upgrade Backlot and re-purpose or continue to use backstage areas.

(Though Carsland would be sweltering in Orlando, something to see in the early morning, or evening.)

Currently the in-park re-development plans for Carsland inside of DHS's current boundaries involving ripping out current attractions and backstage areas on a scale never seen before at a Disney park, IMHO.

BVS in DCA re-utilized store buildings, they got new facades, and Carsland was built on a parking lot.

 

[Turtle]

DHS got 9.9 million guests in 2012, and wait times for Midway Mania are ridiculous on some days. I'm kinda guessing that DHS was near its attendance goal for 2012, they aren't planning on trying to pack in as many guests as MK.

However, it is true that a Carsland would open up a bit more space for guest traffic, if it replaced Backlot and some other attractions, but you would lose some ride capacity, and guest space, i.e. LMA. In terms of long-term growth, no need to make a rash decision. If they built Carsland in the parking lot, then they'd have time/room to upgrade Backlot and re-purpose or continue to use backstage areas.

(Though Carsland would be sweltering in Orlando, something to see in the early morning, or evening.)

Currently the in-park re-development plans for Carsland inside of DHS's current boundaries involving ripping out current attractions and backstage areas on a scale never seen before at a Disney park, IMHO.

BVS in DCA re-utilized store buildings, they got new facades, and Carsland was built on a parking lot.

But the backlot tour is the thing of the past DHS when it was a "movie-studio". The park is going away with that theme. So it'd make no sense whatsoever to keep the backlot.

With Cars Land, you are getting more things to do than LMA and the Backlot Tour with guests having a real interest in it.

It would also lower the wait times for Midway Mania (and possibly even Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Rollercoaster) now that two more family friendly attractions and experiences have been added

 

[wm49rs]

What you are saying is open to interpretation, discussion, dismissal as possibly a false rumor spread by somebody at Disney as it is posted on an internet forum before official announcements have been made.

The talk on this board was that there was going to be a major announcement at D23 . . . then we hear some rumors which are very blue sky. There is a gigantic chasm between blue sky work and presenting something at a convention. I guess they could have made an Avatar like announcement with a picture of McQueen . . . they seem happy to do that, but the project doesn't seem to have the green light.

So, you want this thread shut down because it supposedly has "bogus" rumors within, which could be upsetting to some of our newer members. But you have no issue with it remaining open as long as you can debate the same rumors with our valued insiders? Got it.....

 

[lazyboy97o]

So, you want this thread shut down because it supposedly has "bogus" rumors within, which could be upsetting to some of our newer members. But you have no issue with it remaining open as long as you can debate the same rumors with our valued insiders? Got it.....

Same guy who used Lee's own diagram of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to argue with Lee.. Methinks somebody should promise to go into exile if/when this gets announced.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

But the backlot tour is the thing of the past DHS when it was a "movie-studio". The park is going away with that theme. So it'd make no sense whatsoever to keep the backlot. With Cars Land, you are getting more things to do than LMA and the Backlot Tour with guests having a real interest in it..

Nothing official about a change in theme for DHS. It would be kinda awkward given all of the movie industry references and rides.

If you've seen the sorry state of affairs at MK over the past many decades, they add rides, but they also take them out. No more Mr. Toad, no more SWSA . . . I'm not a big fan of the Backlot tour, and it left a sour taste in my mouth the last time I rode it.

But I also see an opportunity. WDI doubtlessly has scenarios/plans for the Backlot filed under the scenario of a re-imagination. They could:

1. Use that empty soundstage, and build a large showbuilding to build a Muppets Studio Tour. Utilizing the trams, you could experience an elaborate dark ride into a sort of Muppet version of movie history. (They came up with something like this for a Muppet Square for DHS).

2. They could build the show building (much less than Carsland), and have a tram tour through an idealized Hollywood backstage area from the 1930's with animatronics.

3. Use LPS vehicles for a Monsters Inc. ride, or put in an Oz ride with a hot air balloon basket as the ride vehicle.


Carsland is cool. It brings back a lot of nostalgia, but the dark ride scenes aren't much compared to stuff like the Great Movie ride and other attractions in WDW. And it would get so hot during the summer . . . The Cadillac mountain range, despite looking great, was necessary due to the presence of power lines and I think some hotels too.

Does everything need to be cloned? The only cloned piece of NFL was Mermaid (at least the interior), and rest of NFL was custom. Same thing with Avatarland. An imagineer who was questioned about Carsland at DHS said that no decision has been made on that . . . but that he was pretty excited about what he is working on. There might be less of a desire to clone Carsland, from inside the halls of WDI, than some people might believe.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

So, you want this thread shut down because it supposedly has "bogus" rumors within, which could be upsetting to some of our newer members. But you have no issue with it remaining open as long as you can debate the same rumors with our valued insiders? Got it.....

Never said it should be shutdown, just kinda funny because some who stumbles on this site might think that the plans for DHS are official or announced.

 

[NoChesterHester]

Rockwork can be built anywhere.

Soil conditions can make it very expensive, but we can feasibly build anywhere.

 

[wm49rs]

Never said it should be shutdown, just kinda funny because some who stumbles on this site might think that the plans for DHS are official or announced.

You decried the harm it would possibly do to our newest members as a weak justification for closing the thread.....

 

[GoofGoof]

Never said it should be shutdown, just kinda funny because some who stumbles on this site might think that the plans for DHS are official or announced.

Who really cares. It's a section of the forum dedicated to rumors. People need to make up their own minds. It's not like WDWMagic put it on the front page announcing it as a fact. It's not like someone tweeted or re-tweeted that Iger was at DHS during SW weekend to make a SW Land announcement...wait, that did happen, just not this site.

 

[bigeternity]

Whatever happens at DHS, I hope it expands the park in a sensible and entertaining manner.

 

[NoChesterHester]

Whatever happens at DHS, I hope it expands the park in a sensible and entertaining manner.

Expanded offerings and shrunken footprint...

 

[bigeternity]

Expanded offerings and shrunken footprint...

And better guest flow....

 

[The Empress Lilly]

The concept of "DHS isn't expanding, they're replacing!" really boggles my mind. The park has average attendance numbers, but the problem is that they don't stay the whole day.

But Cars Land replacing the Backlot Tour would make guests stay longer in the park, it has more interest, and it can even raise the attendance. In fact, a lot of people who've been to the park before just skip the shows (Indy, LMA, BB) and the backlot.


So basically what I'm saying: Guests spend 30 minutes on the backlot tour. Guests spend 90 minutes [and lots of cash] in Cars Land.

I would agree with all of that.

But maybe there is another, overriding consideration. DHS is only one of four theme parks. WDW can afford the luxury of specialised parks. And one of DHS's specialisations is shows. Even if more rides would mean that DHS attracts more visitors, with higher customer satisfaction, then still guest satisfaction with WDW as a whole could go down. Because guests would go through the same tired formula of 'collection of IP franchise rides' in all four parks.

Varitation is key! And WDW has an amazing advantage over its competition in having the blessing of size, of four theme parks. There is no need for every park to be follow the same formula of a full, two day park with thirty rides. WDW can specialise, with a food and drink park (the formerly great park of EPCOT), a show park (DHS), and a leisurly atmosphere park (DAK).