Why Hollywood Studios is being rebuilt

[Taylor]

Yeah, me too. The corporate drama is hilarious to think about, especially if there are folks in TDO who actually think things are just fine with the parks and the WDW property overall.

Did I miss some major post that spilled all the beans? Or are we talking about merely a summation of the various rumors and plans that have dribbled out in several different threads here about a coming DHS Makeover, plus a few passing mentions recently from folks like Al Lutz? Or was there some bombshell announcement in the last 48 hours that I missed?

Oh, and also, I just Googled it and apparently Iraq does have an actual Navy. Supposedly they aren't very good though.

Well they have no water around them. How do they train?

 

[Captain Neo]

So to understand more fully... P&R made this leak as a dig at D23? Seems like it backfired to me, since I've been considering making the trip out to the expo much more now that the prospects of a major announcement are higher.

I don't think these plans have even been approved by Disney's board f directors yet

I assumed we would get an official announcement in October even though D23 made the most sense for an earth shaking announcement

 

[Black Pearl]

Guess I'm late to the party.... Where do I go look to catch up?

 

[Black Pearl]

Well they have no water around them. How do they train?

Sounds like a "Cool Runnings" type movie to me!

 

[Skip]

Say, where's Pixie to tell us more about how all of these rumors are bogus? Never mind the fact they've apparently seriously ruffled some feathers of some key members of the company... but heyyy, Disney would NEVER get rid of the Osbourne Lights, right!? Rumors are wrong and insiders can't ever be trusted!

 

[Captain Neo]

Guess I'm late to the party.... Where do I go look to catch up?

Literally anywhere. This stuff is blowing up all over the Internet. I even saw this Star Wars land leak on a gaming forum of all places.

 

[raymusiccity]

Sounds like a "Cool Runnings" type movie to me!

Exactly! Lets hear it for the Jamaican Bobsled Team!!

 

[alissafalco]

When leaks are made on information that is factual but not announced that is an issue in ANY company when it was not planned. In today's day in age with internet being readily accessible to nearly every individual in the country leaks are an even larger issue. While Die-Hard Yippie Kye Yay enthusiasts are few and far between it does not rule out what general population park goers here. I am sure that the number of guest visits to this site is much higher than member readership is daily. Once one site picks something up ten others do as well and run with it. When guest viewership across the board is outweighing the members it is a safe bet that several of those are general park goers. You would be surprised how much non die hard fans google about if anything is new. Once they find a forum and read a few posts they are hooked to finding things out.

I feel that is the large issue. That does not even get into showing hands to other companies that can use the info to their benefit even it is just for strategic planning of announcements.

That's how I got hooked!

 

[SirLink]

Modest relative to neither. Disney will get more bang for their buck than New Fantasyland but this will not be a DCA-style makeover.

NFL: $+/-$400 million. I refuse to believe they spent this much but that is what all the data seems to indicate

DCA 2.0: $1+ billion

Avatar: $700+ million

DHS Overhaul: <$600 million

I hope this post motivates shareholders the way @WDW1974 and I brought what is going down at SEAS to world's attention.

I am always shocked that although massively flabby group known as WDI, has not unionized yet...

I just can't get my head around you are going to remove 4 rides(2 of which are popular) and replace with 4 rides. Seems a little stupid in the grand scheme of things - that they want people to stay in a park longer, but seem incapable of increasing the ride count number up to high teens. So the grand plans of Star Wars have been nixed ...

 

[Longhairbear]

Confused here at the blind item a bit. I think I know what is being said. Did something big happen inside WDC?
Blue Sky Disney removed an article at the request of the WDC. Now that's interesting.

 

[doctornick]

Now Star Wars will get the majority of that budget right? And there better be more then one ride for Pandora if that's the budget!

From what I saw, at the time, yes, that is the case.

What, exactly, "is the case"? That Star Wars will get the majority of the budget for DHS? Or that Pandora will be more than one ride?

 

[doctornick]

So to understand more fully... P&R made this leak as a dig at D23?

I take @pheneix post to mean that the leaks had nothing to do with D23 and the elaker doesn't care one way or the other on the impact on D23. I get the sense that the elaks were meant to light a fire under executives (at TDO and Burbank) who approve budgets and plans. Probably -- and this is just conjecture on my part -- to show that there is significant interest in a Star Wars themed area if it is done well and thus force the hand of the powers that be to provide a proper investment.

 

[Captain Neo]

Confused here at the blind item a bit. I think I know what is being said. Did something big happen inside WDC?
Blue Sky Disney removed an article at the request of the WDC. Now that's interesting.

What was in the Blue Sky article? Sounded like leaked plans for their movie division?

 

[twebber55]

What, exactly, "is the case"? That Star Wars will get the majority of the budget for DHS? Or that Pandora will be more than one ride?

I think he meant star wars but i assume both. If pandora does have a 700 million budget no way only one ride

 

[NoChesterHester]

What was in the Blue Sky article? Sounded like leaked plans for their movie division?

I saw that this morning too. I'd love to know.

Interesting it got pulled. Perhaps after the P&R leaks they are trying to plug the holes?

 

[STITCHGEFAN]

Can't help but feel that WDW have only themselves to blame for the state they find DHS in. What was once an outstanding park was left to steadily become average and then poor in comparison to rivals.

If DHS had been updated frequently like Universal and not been left until half of the park is outdated and in need of a change, we would not be talking about this. I know SW was updated and TSM has been a great addition, but there are just too many attractions that are mediocre at best.

What I find interesting about the DHS V Universal battle is how Universal has significantly less shows than DHS. In my opinion,this is part of Disney's downfall. Realistically, does anyone want to watch LMA after the first time? Same goes for BB, Indy and LM and even American Idol. Meanwhile, Backlot and GMR are shows in their own right, but realistically is there a large enough audience that will come back time and time again to see these shows after the first time? Not many, and adding all the above mentioned is a LOT of land space.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I take @pheneix post to mean that the leaks had nothing to do with D23 and the elaker doesn't care one way or the other on the impact on D23. I get the sense that the elaks were meant to light a fire under executives (at TDO and Burbank) who approve budgets and plans. Probably -- and this is just conjecture on my part -- to show that there is significant interest in a Star Wars themed area if it is done well and thus force the hand of the powers that be to provide a proper investment.

Exactly. I get the impression that several months ago, there was a push to invest a LOT of money to fix DHS, and as usual, attempts have been made to reel that back in recently, and this has ed some individuals off and they want it known that the guest customer expects more than a bit of placemaking.

 

[Captain Neo]

I saw that this morning too. I'd love to know.

Interesting it got pulled. Perhaps after the P&R leaks they are trying to plug the holes?

From what I can tell Disney released their film slate for the next 5 years but then quickly pulled it back. It showed animated films based on giants and a Space film as well as a project with Jason Bateman.

 

[NoChesterHester]

You think the threads that @WDW1974 or myself generate don't at least attract some scrutiny by some key WDW personnel that matter? I know the Spirit has quite the fan following around the resort these days.

I was just asked to relay a message on behalf of some very ed off people in Orlando who don't want to get roped in on D23 BS.

No offense was intended.

I understand that lots of comments on here have to be veiled. It isn't always clear to those of us not directly involved and aware of the machinations.

 

[Sue_Vongello]

What was in the Blue Sky article? Sounded like leaked plans for their movie division?

Yeah ... here's what was removed from Bluesky Disney:

The future under The Hat Building is being revealed...

When the schedule was announced a couple of weeks ago, a lot of people were confused as so many of the films coming out fromWalt Disney Animation Studios had the same name: "untitled". Well, perhaps it should've just been said unrevealed. Because now we will slowly start to give you a hint as to what lies ahead, and what you can be prepared to see over the next few years.

Other sites have started to get an inkling as to what is ahead, so I've been given permission to reveal a little more of what's ahead by my Bothans. After "Frozen" comes out this year (expect the actual trailer out around "Cloudy 2") we have next year's most unusual animated film yet with the Marvel adaptation of "Big Hero 6" to make an impression on Disney fans like no film before it. Then WDAS takes a year break before starting back again on 2016 with Nathan Greno's new twist on fairy tales entitled "Giants" which will show you how much his influence on "Tangled" truly was. Later in the year Byron Howard's (sans Greno who was attached before his own project) "Zootopia" staring a very foxy Jason Bateman ends out 2016.

After a short break we'll finally get Ron and John's next feature, "Moara" which will be a Polynesian tale involving the island folk and the idols made famous the world over. It will also mark the directing duo's first computer animated film, or at least computer hybrid animated film (think "Paperman"). Following that, if story issues are worked out Dean Wellin's teenage space race animated film will rush to the screens. Wellin's film is an unusual story that is different from most Disney Animation, just as Big Hero 6 marks a change in perception of what comes from the Mouse.

After that there are a couple projects being developed right now that are way too early to really get into. But as you can see, the list of animated films coming ahead are more than just fairy tales. And John Lasseter is working hard to make sure that the quality and content are focused and entertaining the way that fans expect animated films from Burbank. So to put it in chronological perspective for you here is the schedule:


Frozen (2013)

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Giants (2016)

Zootopia (2016)

Moara (TBA, likely 2018)

Untitled Dean Wellin's animated feature ( TBA, likely 2018)


Just get some animated shorts in front of them...