RUMOR: Overhaul for Hollywood Studios

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

This is (as some would say) a HEAPING PANTLOAD of rumor and speculation, but it is kind of fun to consider and heavens knows this park needs a shot in the arm!

From WDW News Today...

Is A Huge Expansion “In Production” For Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

Aug 15, 2012 by wdwntadmin

Well, I think Disney tried their best to keep it a secret, but it seems that more observant park-goers have spotted some of the creative minds behind Cars Land at Disney California Adventure walking around Disney’s Hollywood Studios the last few days. What does this mean? Well, long before Cars Land ever opened at DCA, I had heard that Cars Land was coming 5 years later to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. Walt Disney Imagineering and company management know Cars Land is a big winner (selling tons of food, merchandise, and park tickets) and understand it can be just as big a hit, if not bigger, in Orlando. Even while I was wiritng this article, things have progressed even further with Kathy Mangum, one of the creative minds behind Cars Land, being promoted to a “executive producer” position at Walt Disney World.

Hollywood Studios has been in the midst of an identity crisis over the last 10 years as film production came to an end, the Disney animation studio shut-down, and the Residential Street section of the Backlot Tour was bulldozed. Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show has been a disaster since it opened 7 years ago, now only performing 2 shows a day and the Backlot Tour is an expensive attraction that doesn’t serve many guests on a daily basis. This plot would be perfect for Cars Land, and here’s where we think it will go (along with some of the other rumored additions we’ll be telling you about here):

Cars Land along with its attractions Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Flying Tires, and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree would certainly be enough to finally convince people that Hollywood Studios is a full-day park. So I know what you’re saying, “Tom, some sites have already been saying Cars Land is coming to Florida, so none of this is new.” You’re right, Cars Land isn’t exactly a stretch, but the larger plan to revamp the Studios over the next 6 years is much more than one large land…

Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard will finally see the arrival of the Red Car Trolley if all goes according to plan. The cars will be stored behind Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, where they will then come through the gate near the attraction’s entrance, turn onto Sunset Boulevard, and ride down to Hollywood Boulevard. Now, as for where they will travel from here, I have heard two scenarios: either they will swing left to the park entrance and then turn back towards Sunset Boulevard down a new street taking them past the Theater of the Stars or they will take a trip up to the Great Movie Ride, passing over what used to be the Sorcerer’s Hat before returning down Sunset Boulevard. I tend to think the route illustrated above is a little more realistic considering guest flow in certain areas.

I like the idea of a new street cutting towards Sunset Boulevard as it would make is much easier to get from the park entrance to Tower of Terror, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater, and Theater of the Stars. Speaking of Theater of the Stars, enjoy Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage while you can because that is currently scheduled to be the first thing leaving once work starts on this giant project. Similar to what happened to the Theater in the Wild at Animal Kingdom back in 2006, this theater will close for 10-12 months to be enclosed before a new show debuts. That new show? Tangled: The Musical.

I already mentioned that the Sorcerer’s Hat icon is history, but then what will be the park’s icon? Well, the old Chinese Theater facade on the Great Movie Ride is leaving as well since Disney no longer has the rights to use that on merchandise or in publicity materials. Since it works so well at the new and improved Disney California Adventure, expect to see a modified version of the Carthay Circle Theater plopped on front of the giant show building of the Great Movie Ride. Again, here’s a crude quick image I made to illustrate the location:

Unlike the Carthay Circle Theater in California, this facade will actually lead to a real theater: the existing pre-show room for the Great Movie Ride. However, just above the new loading area on the second and third floors will be a restaurant and lounge, just like the new building at DCA. Walt Disney World is always looking to add more fine dining and with Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the castle still as popular as ever, another restaurant inside a park icon would be a great idea. While the Great Movie Ride is closed to change the exterior, it is believed the interior will receive some much neeed TLC, and maybe even a new scene or two, hopefully just in time for the park’s 25th anniversary on May 1, 2014. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but refurbishments like this often aren’t announced too far in advance, so it’s is likely that the Great Movie Ride could close sometime in early 2013 for these changes.

Moving beyond the Hollywood of the 1930′s, one of the most anticipated pieces of the project has to be “Star Wars Land”. I don’t think that will be the name, but a new show and dining experience should round-out the Star Wars offerings in the park nicely. The beloved Backlot Express restaurant will be converted into the Mos Eisley Cantina from Star Wars: A New Hope, allowing guests to interact with strange creatures at the bar and order even stranger menu items, maybe even some blue milk. Meanwhile, Jedi Training Academy will move into the former Sounds Dangerous theater for an entire new version of the show that incorporates and audio-animatronics living character figure of Yoda. I’ve also heard Disney will be looking to either expand the existing shop or build a new larger Star Wars store near-by as the current store just can’t hold all of the merchandise they have available, including space for things like the Droid Factory or the “Carbon Freeze Me” process.

Moving north, Muppet Studios is in for some investment as well, albeit not nearly as major as anything else that might happen in the park. Pizza Planet will become a counter service location themed to the Muppets, while Mama Melrose’s should become some sort of table service experience with the Swedish Chef. While The Muppets have proven popular, the safe investment would be in converting dining locations rather than constructing a new attraction to showcase them. I also expect to see a few Muppets living character shows roll around this area as well, such as the returning Muppet Mobile Labs with Bunson Honeydew and Beaker, or the long rumored Electric Mayhem band.

The final piece of the puzzle should be the long-rumored Monsters Inc. suspended roller-coaster including a giant scene in the door room from the film. This ride would still be heading to Soundstage 1 from what I am hearing. I know, it may be hard to believe this one as we have been hearing about it forever, but now that the company is looking to invest in the park, it seems likely that a ride already somewhat developed would be cheaper to add than something still in the early stages of creation.

There are also rumors of changes to Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Fantasmic!, and the possible replacement of PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun with the PIXAR Play Parade currently running at Disney California Adventure. I won’t get into these simply because they are smaller projects and items being discussed in other places, but they should not be forgotten in the grand scheme of things. As for the time frame on this entire project, it should all be competed by 2018 with Cars Land being the final phase. I don’t have any more information than that.

We usually stay away from too much speculation on this site, but a good majority of this report has been substantiated from various sources over the last few months. I feel the need to point out that all of this is simply rumor at this point and it is possible that the entire project be cancelled much like numerous other projects over the 57 year history of the Disney Parks. So what do you think? Is this the extreme makeover Hollywood Studios needs to finally shed the old working studio theme?

http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/9719

This ties in with rumors sparked by the move of Imagineering Exec Kathy Mangum to WDW.

http://www.fortfiends.net/forum/topic/7266-exec-kathy-mangum-moving-to-wdw-now-that-cars-land-is-open/

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I'd love to see DHS get a carsland. or really anything new.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Wow. It would be incredible if that all came to pass.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

I'd be psyched if even half of it did!

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

That would be sweet! Now i will calm my expectations realizing this is only a rumor and just cross my fingers.

[LONE-STAR 370]

Wish it would happen.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Wow.

Whoever wrote that has some imagination.

There is no way even a fraction of any of that is going to happen. Despite its perceived flaws, guests still flock to DHS. Why would Disney even think about spending this kind of money when there are already plenty of guests lined up to pay for what is there now?

TCD

[Lou... 3,118]

I think that very astute philosopher of all things Disney, Mo, said it best, and I quote, "a heaping pantload".

[Discamper 394]

Cool I ask about a cars land at HS a few months ago

Yaaaaaa

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

I think that very astute philosopher of all things Disney, Mo, said it best, and I quote, "a heaping pantload".

Well maybe this time we'll luck out and it will be a heaping pantload of awesomeness!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Oh look! More rumors and speculation that Cars Land may be coming to Hollywood Studios. This time from WDW Magic...

Is Cars Land heading to Disney's Hollywood Studios?

Aug 28, 2012 | 10:27pm EDT

It has been speculated about for a couple of years now, but sources familiar with the situation tell us that the massively successful Cars Land from Disney's California Adventure will indeed be heading to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Speculation points to the 'Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show' area as the location, with Cars Land taking over that entire space.

Adding further weight to the talk of Cars Land heading east is the fact that veteran Imagineer Kathy Mangum has recently relocated to Florida. Kathy spent the last few years in California overseeing the Cars Land project there. Nothing has been announced by Disney at this point, so as always, this information should be treated as speculation and is subject to change.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/disneys-hollywood-studios/news/28aug2012-is-cars-land-heading-to-disney%27s-hollywood-studios.htm

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Wow. I posted my link at roughly the same time. I should have known you were already on top of it Mo!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Great minds!!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

BUILD IT!!!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Will it help if we say pretty please??

[Lou... 3,118]

I'm not at all impressed by the fact that they've brought Kathy, what's her face, to WDW.

Cars Land has limited appeal. While it looks very neat, it's mainly geared towards the very young. Not much for teens or adults.

Send Kathy, what's her face packing, and hire some visionaries that think outside the box. Cars Land is the same old, same old.

Cars Land belongs at MK not HS.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Lou, this is gonna pain me but I disagree. I think DHS is missing something truly fun for the young ones. Not to mention it might help with the lines at TSM.

[J&J Adventuring..Julia 22]

Car Land, meh. However, the Star Wars Cantina. I am all over that idea. I would love to see the muppets get some love also.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

...I would love to see the muppets get some love also.

Agreed! The movie did well, I'd bet there's a sequel in the works. Seems like a good time.

[momofmany...Christina 17]

I was under the impression that the Kathy lady was here to head up Avatar land?

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Disney hasn't said exactly what she's being sent to WDW to head up, but the speculation has been that Avatarland will be one of her projects.

Personally I'd rather see that whole thing put on hold and have them tackle something for HS instead!

[freshlybarked 4]

As DHS is my least favorite park I would love to see it get something new and fun. For us this is a couple hour trip with less than exciting things to do and we tend to skip it every other trip. There are many Disney movies they could use to enhance this park. Do a Pirates inspired theme or something similar. Cars is fine so are a lot of other things. My husband loves Mary Poppins and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. National Treasure could be more of an adult treasure hunt. Lots of fun things could be done at this park.

[Lou... 3,118]

And that's why they say different strokes for different folks.

TOT, RNRC, TSM, ST, Fantasmic, MT, IJ, and few other attractions makes it my favorite, by far.

Actually based on industry estimated attendance figures and excluding MK, the other three parks are pretty much tied. Epcot leads the pack but not by enough as to make a difference. So it's difficult to make the case that one park is more in need of new attractions than the other two.

They're all in need of some overhauling, but to me Epcot is an absolute snooze fest, especially the World Showcase. Get me out of there.

And to prove my point, Epcot by far has the most Scooters. Other than those people with bad knees or hips that need a scooter, whose on those scooters? Yup, people that couldn't say no to a thick juicy steak and geezers. I can say that because I am one. They're happy shopping, eating, and drinking around the world.

IMO, get rid of those silly countries and put in some real attractions in their place.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

And that's why they say different strokes for different folks.

TOT, RNRC, TSM, ST, Fantasmic, MT, IJ, and few other attractions makes it my favorite, by far.

I agree with Lou. In fact, I already said above that there is no reason for Disney to overhaul DHS. They pack guests in here now, so why bother spending big bucks to attract more?

But, I am stumped about something . . .

What is MT?

Muppets 3D?

Are you calling the Great Movie Ride Movie Tour or something?

If not, the Great Movie Ride is entertaining. So is the American Idol attraction. And the Animation Attraction. And the Little Mermaid. And the Backstage Tour. Lou didn't mention these. There is a lot more to do at DHS than at Epcot or AK.

TCD

[Lou... 3,118]

What is MT? Muppets 3D?

Yes, and I do like most of the other attractions you listed.

There are a couple that need to be refurbished though.