Originally Posted By CDF1 In some 10 trips to WDW, I've never considered Studios as being more than a one-day plua parhaps a possible "couple-of-hours park hopper" park. I've eaten at most of the restaurants and the one-time experience was "interesting" but never was the food good enough to demand a return trip - on the other hand, the variety of the international food selections at Epcot make it a family favorite for extended periods of tme. Certainly ToT and RnR coaster are nice attractions but as I said, we sometimes just do a park-hop for those two rides (perhaps because we live in SoCal we don't view Muppets or Star Tours as big repeaters since DLR has them - ToT is different since, for our money, WDW version is the best) Just a word on DAK - while DAK doesn't provide the wealth of attractions that MK park does, it does provide for a comfortable and relatively relaxing day experience - something you sometimes might want during a busy vacation week. But everybody has their own opinion and isn't that what makes life wonderful?
Originally Posted By mstaft I love we all think differently. Spice of Life stuff... I had written a piece about The Great Movie Ride's role in Disney park history on Sunday to post today. After Doobie's love fest on DHS, I almost expanded it as a review of the Studios history. That said, it still is an interesting take on this ride: www.insightsandsounds.blogspot.com
Originally Posted By danyoung I'd have to say that the Studios ranks # 4 for me as well. But I also have to quickly say that I'll take that #4 park over any Six Flags out there! I've always enjoyed the Indy show, although it's long past time for an update. The backstage tour is just a joke now, and needs to be retired. I've only seen the Motors stunt show once, but for whatever reason it didn't do much for me. I really enjoy the park atmosphere, and I still love Beauty & the Beast. Florida's Fantasmic! show is a pale shadow of the incredible version at DL, but I'll still see it maybe once a year. I've had many wonderful meals at the Brown Derby. And while I like the Sci-Fi for its atmosphere, the food is just OK. Overall I find the Studios to be a 1/2 day park, with a trip back in the evening for F! or the Osborne Lights. I still manage to have a great time there, but it would be the first park I'd cut out if time was limited.
Originally Posted By mstaft I agree- and last visit, I didn't even go there. Visit before that, half a day- and I was done.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 While I can see picking a particular park to be your favorite, I don't understand comparing them. In my mind they are 4 DIFFERENT parks all with the Disney theme. To me, DHS is suppose to be about the movies, and HOW they are made, not just another bunch of rides that may or may not have any connection to a movie. What's wrong with entertaining and educating at the same time?
Originally Posted By leobloom >To me, DHS is suppose to be about the movies, and HOW they are made, not just another bunch of rides that may or may not have any connection to a movie.> But you do realize that virtually none of the attractions purport to teach the guest how movies are made. I guess the stunt shows do. But they're the exception, not the rule.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<But you do realize that virtually none of the attractions purport to teach the guest how movies are made.>> They USED to show how movies are made, back when the park was an actual working studio. I can remember going to the Backlot Tour and seeing how they use green screens for special effects in the preshow (does anyone else remember that giant bee?) Now the closest you actually get is seeing the "Harbor Attack" preshow.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^^The kids of a friend of mine were picked to ride the bee. Do they still do the animation walk through tour? I remember walking in a building that had a room with fat columns, they were using it to film some program.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I'm a big DHS fan. It isn't my favorite of the 4 when I'm towing my little kids behind but I do enjoy it when it is just me or adult friends are along. I like it for all the reasons Doobie pointed out. I do like the shows and if I was a family visiting the parks for a week I might like it even more for the shows. (Just a day to have fun while not killing yourself.) And, they are darn good shows. Do they still do the Star-A-Day? I remember getting a chance to ask Pierce Brosnan (pre-Bond) if he thought he would ever get to play Bond. ("We hope to make it happen eventually.") Great Movie Ride DOES need an upgrade (as does the Indiana Jones Stunt Show). I can do without the "forced" tram ride. But, that was a shot over the bow at Universal. If the Studios ranks 4 behind MK, AK and EPCOT then that is still some pretty darn good company.
Originally Posted By bayrr326 <<As it is, I don't see all that much difference between the CA and FL version overall, save the forward-motion part of the experience>> I am sorry but DCA's version sucks compared to DHS's version. Florida's is not just about the ride it is the entire experience. From the moment you turn around the corner onto Sunset Blvd, walk up the hill through the gardens with mist hanging in the air and broken down fountain, into the musty lobby it sets the mood in a way CA's version doesn't even come close.
Originally Posted By leobloom While you're at it, DL's Fantasmic blows DHS's out of the water (pardon the pun). It was so disappointing, I dont even bother with it at DHS.
Originally Posted By jedijoemadman I'm a movie buff, so the Studios have always been my favorite park, though I do love them all. Star Tours and Indiana Jones are my favorite attractions, though I do wish they would update them a bit. The newer attractions such as the Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of terror are close seconds. And the park does seem to change more to me every time I visit. Even though I keep up on all things related to the parks, I'm always pleasantly surprised each time I go. That being said, I hope the one thing that doesn't change is the retro 1940's look of Hollywood Boulevard. That was Hollywood's Golden Age, also the heyday of the Disney Studios. Some of their finest works came out of that era and by keeping that air of nostalgia is to honor Walt himself and everything that he built his company on.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I miss the Studios of my first 2 visits in the early '90s. The animation tour was incredible, I actually saw the art they were working on for Beauty and the Beast and Lion King. The studio tour was more than a waste of time it was fun and informative. And the Monster Sound Show?! Fuggetaboudit! You actually got to learn about Foley artists and sound replacement, ADR... THAT was edutainment! I can't believe someone thought Sounds Dangerous was a suitible replacement. Yes I still enjoy the Studios with the newer entertainments I just wish they didn't take away some of what was great about it when they added the thrills.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Thrills bring more customers, so more money. Therefore those of us who enjoy learning, too bad, we lose.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I have nothing against the thrills, I love them too. I just wish they didn't pilage what was good about the park while adding them. The tour and Monster Sound Show weren't even in the same section. I understand the Animation Tour would suffer when the animators left, but it was just so special in its hey day.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Thrills bring more customers, so more money. Therefore those of us who enjoy learning, too bad, we lose.<<< Sadly true. I used to really love the Studios in the early days.
Originally Posted By libertysquare76 Agreed,first visit was in June 1989 when it was the only studios theme park open in Orlando. The Magic of Disney Animation was a poor substitute for walking through the animation studios and soundstages. Still, I would rank it 4th but still better than Anything in Europe,including DLP, don't even get me started on how much better it is than anything in the UK. Happy 20th studios!
