Disney's Hollywood Studios (General Discussion)

[Joel]

I agree that it's a substation, as it's even marked that way on the Orange County map, but it's odd. If you look at the Google Map version, it's there but has trees all around it. Substations usually have power lines running in and out of them and where those run the trees are cut back along the path. This doesn't have that. I'm just kinda curious what the set up is on that deal.

If you look at the top of the overall shot, you can see an identical setup (substation) on the other side of the park. I would assume they are bringing in a parallel feeder with more juice to help support all the new ride infrastructure. Once they get going, I can see them maybe clearing a line of trees running up to the new cast member parking lot/costume building area.

Powerlines are all buried so that doesn't surprise me.

 

[Nick]

Backstage changes/Parking lot changes:

 

[epcyclopedia]

Interwebz says GMR closes for good this fall.

Not sure what to make of that.

 

[Nick]

Interwebz says GMR closes for good this fall.

Not sure what to make of that.

If that happens then it looks like we're getting the Mickey LPS.

As much as I love GMR, Disney doesn't appear to want to update even the Animatronics, so at this point i'm fairly ambivalent to change.

That said, replacing a ride instead of adding one is certainly not ideal and will drop the total park ride count down to a meager FOUR RIDES until TSL opens.

 

[Mad Dog]

If that happens then it looks like we're getting the Mickey LPS.

As much as I love GMR, Disney doesn't appear to want to update even the Animatronics, so at this point i'm fairly ambivalent to change.

That said, replacing a ride instead of adding one is certainly not ideal and will drop the total park ride count down to a meager FOUR RIDES until TSL opens.

I love the Great Movie Ride. Sorry to see it go so soon, if that rumor is true. . I'll have to catch it when I do my day at DHS in May.From this story that follows it sounds like Disney wasn't happy with this attraction from Day one.....Since this may be TGMR swann song, here's an interesting story from former Disney Imagineer Sam Gennawey's book on Universal Orlando founder Jay Stein (JAYBANGS)......"Along with MCA's Jack Daniel, Winnick (MCA/Universal Executive) was sitting in the tram behind Eisner and his entourage as they took their maiden voyage on The Great Movie Ride,an attraction on which they had bet the house. For Winnick,this was the only 'set/show' facility that met Disney quality standards. The lobby was beautifully executed and most impressive. The MCA/Universal men were not impressed with the animatronics used during the Chicago back alley scene where the guide leaves the guests stranded. The slow speed of the ride vehicles made the escape from the back alley anti-climatic. They were amused that Disney would use a direct take-off of the Conan (Universal attraction) transformation to bring the guide back to life later in the tour. Akthough some of the animated characters were unusually good likenesses of the celebrities and the sets were nice, overall Winnick was disappointed. He was not the only one. Eisner stepped off the tram and perfectly pantomimed that moment of clarity and despair when a movie character realizes he has been let down by his Imagineers. Having overheard Eisner and company during their walk,Winnick was confident that they were going to request many changes and much money would be spent making improvements before the park's grand opening. As Winnick was walking out of the park, one youngster near him kept asking his mother where E.T. was. Of course the answer was "ET is not here. He is coming to Orlando later". The Universal people felt Eisner's pain and then howled all the way back to their hotel. Overall, it was evident that Disney had attempted to recreate the Universal experience in Hollywood in their style..They had used script material, words and techniques that Universal had used for years. Although Disney was a 'theme park', not a 'real working studio', Winnick was not sure that the public would be able to tell the difference. The most identifiable difference between the Disney facility and what Universal was planning on building up the interstate was that in the Disney park the visitor, with a few exceptions, was a spectator. At Universal, the visitor would truly be a participant. Winnick predicted that once the word got out, this would give Universal the real edge.......The first thing Winnick noticed was the small parking lot (MGM-Disney)...The locker facility was smaller than the other parks, leading Winnick to believe that Disney was expecting a relatively short stay."

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Some of Disney's decisions are crazy... but no way they are that stupid to close GMR without atleast TSL open. Unless it's a real quick refurb

 

[Nick]

Some of Disney's decisions are crazy... but no way they are that stupid to close GMR without atleast TSL open. Unless it's a real quick refurb

What would be happening if/when this closes would be a complete gut job, no quick refurb.

From what I know about the rumor, Disney originally wanted GMR to close almost 3 months ago at the beginning of January. They originally wanted the new ride to open for 2019 and may still be aiming for that, which could be why they want to close it in the fall if that's what they decide to do. Of course, they could always push it back until after TSL, but this is is something that seems less a matter of if and more a matter of when. Disney is done with the GMR.

 

[rhino4evr]

so what would replace the GMR? That's a large show building. They could really do a lot with it. I mean it should be something movie related, no? Would they tear down the Theater?

 

[Nick]

so what would replace the GMR? That's a large show building. They could really do a lot with it. I mean it should be something movie related, no? Would they tear down the Theater?

Mickey Trackless ride ("Ride through Mickey's most memorable moments"). The ride is said to be close to 8 minutes long and would still leave a decent portion of the show building "empty" (which would just be transferred to backstage space).

Facade would remain the same.

 

[rhino4evr]

Mickey Trackless ride (history of the mouse in cinema). The ride is said to be close to 8 minutes long and would still leave a decent portion of the show building "empty" (which would just be transferred to backstage space).

Facade would remain the same.

That's not a "bad" idea, the great movie ride is definitely dated. Although that Wizard of Oz scene is still pretty cool.

 

[shiekra38]

Considering Mickey dosen't have his own ride, this may be a great idea

 

[jtsalien]

If that happens then it looks like we're getting the Mickey LPS.

As much as I love GMR, Disney doesn't appear to want to update even the Animatronics, so at this point i'm fairly ambivalent to change.

That said, replacing a ride instead of adding one is certainly not ideal and will drop the total park ride count down to a meager FOUR RIDES until TSL opens.

Pretty much my feelings. The GMR is like a really crappy boyfriend or girlfriend that you've dated for years. You still care about them and they mean a lot to you, but at this point you know they won't change. So it's best to move on.

I love the Mickey idea. But you're right. Can they really be so bold to gut another attraction right now? And couldn't something like this have gone in the Animation Courtyard instead? Then you'd be replacing some really underused space instead of a prominent attraction in the park.

 

[Nick]

Pretty much my feelings. The GMR is like a really crappy boyfriend or girlfriend that you've dated for years. You still care about them and they mean a lot to you, but at this point you know they won't change. So it's best to move on.

I love the Mickey idea. But you're right. Can they really be so bold to gut another attraction right now? And couldn't something like this have gone in the Animation Courtyard instead? Then you'd be replacing some really underused space instead of a prominent attraction in the park.

It should be going into Animation Courtyard, yes.

However, due to how management currently views the land as their Star Wars base until SWL opens, you can almost book that there will be no major changes to the the area until at least 2020.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

What would be happening if/when this closes would be a complete gut job, no quick refurb.

From what I know about the rumor, Disney originally wanted GMR to close almost 3 months ago at the beginning of January. They originally wanted the new ride to open for 2019 and may still be aiming for that, which could be why they want to close it in the fall if that's what they decide to do. Of course, they could always push it back until after TSL, but this is is something that seems less a matter of if and more a matter of when. Disney is done with the GMR.

I know the ultimate plan is a gutting for a new addition, I was just wondering why they wouldn't wait for TSL to come alive. This park already has bad capacity.

 

[Nick]

I know the ultimate plan is a gutting for a new addition, I was just wondering why they wouldn't wait for TSL to come alive. This park already has bad capacity.

:shrug:

There's a big chance they do wait. However, they obviously want to shift crowds to DAK this year and maybe are hoping they can get away with taking one more ride offline? I mean they're running the park with 5 rides now as it is, maybe they just figure they might as well get it all done now.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I'm pro Mickey ride but losing the GMR would really kill off the idea of having a park that celebrated Hollywood. Talking to David Daut on twitter and he brought up the good idea of having the Mickey ride take place where the old animation tour was.

 

[Nick]

I'm pro Mickey ride but losing the GMR would really kill off the idea of having a park that celebrated Hollywood. Talking to David Daut on twitter and he brought up the good idea of having the Mickey ride take place where the old animation tour was.

Yup. Knock down the entire launch bay and the old animation building/offices and that's exactly where it should be.

Like I said above though, WDW is afraid to do anything with Launch Bay until SWL opens as they feel they NEED a large Star Wars presence to help carry this sad park.

 

[belloq87]

The Great Movie Ride getting removed would be a huge loss for both Hollywood Studios and WDW as a whole. As a gigantic fan of classic cinema, it's one of my favorite rides. I'm sure a Mickey ride if done well (read: lots of sets and AAs) would be fun, but I can't imagine it being a substantial enough attraction to be housed inside the park's icon; the ride inside there should be the park's grand thesis statement.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Closing anything at Studios right now just seems insane.

 

[belloq87]

If the ride's going to be closed by October, it looks like I'll be skipping the park on a trip for the first time ever. I just don't think I can justify paying admission (even as part of a multi-day ticket) for 4 rides (one of which I don't do), Muppet*Vision, and Indy.

That's too bad.