Could Disney's Hollywood Studios Change?

DSC_0050The infamous Sorcerer hat is coming down from Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting tomorrow.  With all the press it’s getting it makes me think of the rest of the park and the direction it’s heading.  With the giant hat structure being dismantled, it seems like it will go back to the original look of the park.  But, is that what is really needed?  The original concept of the park was taking guests behind the scenes of a working studio.  That is far from the case now, so what should the park look like?

This theme park is poised for a big comeback.  The backlot tour is closed.  So is American Idol.  Shows that have been around from nearly the beginning are Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid.  Should those stick around?

Here’s some thoughts of mine:

0177_Cars_Land_DCA_October_21_2012Cars Land.  Yes, there is great debate on whether this should be in the Florida park or not, but it has been a great hit at the Disneyland Resort and should be a solid hit in Florida.  More specifically, having Radiator Springs Racers would help grab and eat up crowds in the park.  A couple of caveats with my own idea is that Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Flying Tires are not that much of a hit, and maybe not needed as much.  Why not set up the main Radiator Springs road as a cross between a set and the greatly detailed area that DCA has?  Cut out the two attractions because it’ll save money to add other things in the park, and they aren’t needed as much.  That way you can have a couple of the buildings appear as facades for the set.  I know it sounds cheesy, but it would fit the current theme of the park to still being a studio.

The other con is that having a second huge attraction and land like this could steal from the west coast.  If the main reason people are going to Disneyland (probably not the case) is for Racers, they can get more bang for their buck, so to speak, at Disney World.  It could end up hurting DCA.  Although, for us passholders we’d see smaller lines for Racers.  Hmmmm.

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids: Movie Set Adventure
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids: Movie Set Adventure

Another addition I would have is a full Muppet Studios area.  Keep the Muppet Vision attraction and put in an interactive ride where the Backlot Tour and Honey, I Shrunk play area have been.  There’s plenty of land.  Maybe even put in another playground type area with Muppet themed items.  It could be a cross between Toontown with its interactive street items, and a goofy watery themed play structure.  Overall, it would make the park seem like it’s truly the Disney studio it should be.

Lastly, I would take out the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.  I know, that’s pretty controversial, but I don’t think it’s as much of a hit as it used to be.  And, it takes up a lot of land.  Yes, it can hold a lot of people which helps the park, but Lights, Motors, Action is a little more exciting to watch.  Take it out and put in another Star Wars attraction.  With there being a lot of land, something fairly big could fit there.

But, these are my ideas.  I’d love to hear what people would do with the park if they were in charge!  What are your ideas?


Comments

3 responses to “Could Disney's Hollywood Studios Change?”

  1. Any thoughts on how Star Wars would fit in as well?

  2. See, I’m not a big fan of a Cars Land being at DHS. It is one of the crown jewels of the Disneyland Resort and, given California is along Route 66, it makes perfect sense that it would be in a park called Disney California Adventure. It’s one of the big reasons why people go to DCA. i wouldn’t want Cars Land to go anywhere else just in the same way that I wouldn’t want a Rataouille ride at DCA. It’s not that I don’t love the Ratatouille ride at Disneyland Paris, but it gives me something to look forward to going there.

    I do think that a big chunk will go to Star Wars and that should be fairly exciting. I’d love to see how they differentiate it from what they’re planning to do at the Disneyland Resort.

    It’s too bad that they can’t use most of the Marvel characters there, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t use ANY Marvel characters. Guardians of the Galaxy are actually outside the realm of characters in the Universal contract. It would be amazing if they created Guardians attraction there to give people some Marvel love.

    I do love the idea of a Muppets expansion, The Muppets definitely deserve more!

    I also imagine that they’ll expand Pixar Place. If they reimagine the park, I’m wondering if they’ll try to bring a Toy Story Playland similar to DLP and HKDL there.

    Anyway, exciting times. I absolutely loved DHS when it first opened as Disney/MGM. But, since it’s no longer a real working studio, it’s time to reimagine that park!

    1. Good idea with Guardians. I would wonder if it would fit better at someplace like Tomorrowland, though? I’d be fine with it being at either place. Although they could do a sci-fi area of Studios with Star Wars, Guardians, and move the Drive-In restaurant to whichever space they can.

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