I don't think it's necessary to start retheming the soundstages to make them look like something else. The soundstages are the creative conceit that the entire park was based upon: you are entering a movie soundstage where you ride the movies.
So here's my realistic plan to fix the entrance area:
Imagine this: You pass under the iconic archway. There's no doubt in your mind, you have arrived at Universal Studios. After entering through the turnstiles, you've arrived upon a large, beautiful, open courtyard. The "ON LOCATION" film shop (irrelevant!) and Beverly Hills Boulangerie are no longer there. Instead, this large, plaza courtyard stretches from Guest Services all the way over to Lucy. You feel like you are on a movie studio. It's lush, with trees, tons of seating, fountains, bright pink California bougainvillea draping down from trellises, etc.. Guest Services TMs are milling about, giving you directions, helping to plan your day. Here's where you can get a map, plan the day, set up a meeting point, buy Universal Express, and more. Lost and Found, the Restrooms, and Guest Services are all within plain view. The existing theming in the area (Producer's Building, Editing, Sound Mixing, etc. all stays). You're on a fancy studio lot! All this blends seamlessly with the existing buildings (VIP, Group Sales, Turnstile Coverage, etc.) We keep a pathway through the courtyard for parades.
Some signage is added for placemaking: LUCY becomes the "STUDIO ARCHIVES" (which happens to contain Lucy stuff). The Betty Boop store becomes "STUDIO WARDROBE" (which happens to have Betty Boop stuff). The STUDIO STORE remains unchanged.
Up ahead, on the road to Despicable Me, you see a small metal archway stretching over the street. It says "PRODUCTION STAGES". (I hate to use a Disney reference, but think "Pixar Place"). You pass under the archway. Gone is the peaceful calm of the courtyard -- now you're in the hustle and bustle of production! Red rotating lights spinning on the soundstages (remember these, folks?) signal that stuff is being shot. Tons of placemaking here: Production props everywhere -- lighting, trucks, scrims, circus animals, etc. Existing Shrek decor are stripped down. Huge signs list out the various movies shooting in the soundstages. Of course, nothing is actually shooting in the sound stages -- but we are going for it, folks: we are owning the "working studio" theme and it will be so over-the-top, that people will play along. False doors are added to soundstages: "PROPS", "MAKE-UP", etc. Lot of opportunities for gags here, but this isn't a fantasized Disney interpretation -- this all feels very real.
Shrek and DM Team Members are all now "Production Assistants". DM happens to be in production in one stage, and Shrek in the other. If you want to be part of the production, go on into the soundstage!
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I think we saw some of the "Creep effect" in the Production Central area where little by little, they tried to get away from the backlot concept (Shrek posters, Nickelodeon logos splattered on the buildings.. and even to the point where we are building facades, a la Despicable Me). It's turned into a mishmash mess. In this plan, we are going back to basics and amping up the theme with a little placemaking. On the other end of the courtyard, perhaps there's another archway to enter HOLLYWOOD SETS.
So, that's my proposal. Is it inexpensive? No. Is it necessary? Not really. Is it fun to think about? Yeah.
P.S.: In the spirit of creativity, if you have any comments on this plan, please offer constructive solutions, alternatives, or present your plan
