Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2014/09/20/backlot-tour-closing-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/" target="_blank"><b>9/20/14: Backlot Tour Closing at Disney's Hollywood Studios</b></a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Wow, this is huge! The tour has been on its last legs for nearly a decade, but I wasn't expecting to see it close so soon. I can only assume that this is the first indication of a huge project coming to the park, like the long-rumored Star Wars land or a similar project (Carsland?) I'll be a little sad to see this leave, since it was one of the few remaining elements that actually tied the park to a "behind the movie magic" concept, but it was so poorly done after LMA was built that I'm ready to see it go. I just hope that whatever replaces it is really well done
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It will also be interesting to see how quickly work starts in that area, and when they close LMA. As it stands now, there's really no way to put anything of substance back there with the huge arena in the middle of it, but if that's removed, there's a huge plot of land (roughly 1/3 of the total park area) to work with I also wonder if this was announced somewhat suddenly internally. The runDisney races typically have their courses certified by USATF 3-4 months in advance, and there are several upcoming races that use parts of the tram tour route (including the costuming tunnel and loading area). Those course maps haven't been updated to remove those areas, so I wonder if they'll need to go back and redo them. The Wine & Dine Half Marathon in November in particular spends about 2 miles looping in and around that area of the park, but it's also used in the Marathon in January and TOT 10-miler in October
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost ^^^They've been working on this project for years. I think that they were just waiting for the right time to tell people. Let's face it, the backlot tour died in 2005. If it wasn't for Catastrophe Canyon it would have been put down just to do it a favor. They announced earlier this year that it was going to be closed for refurb. sometime this summer. When they said that I told everyone to see it if they really liked it because once they closed it, it was never going to see the light of day again. It's to bad to lose those memories, but, my memories were of a bigger and grander scale. The current one will not be missed.
Originally Posted By dagobert I couldn't care less about that attraction. I had high hopes about the STT when we visited in 2008, but it was the same disappointment like in Paris.
Originally Posted By leemac <<The tour has been on its last legs for nearly a decade, but I wasn't expecting to see it close so soon. >> It has sadly spent more of its life being irrelevant than it was relevant. Park management will be cock-a-hoop as this attraction was a massive expense to a park that already has some of the most expensive attractions to operate and maintain in WDW (like Indy, LMA and ToT). I won't miss it personally but it did have a decent guest throughput that won't be replaced for years. The park's capacity will be radically reduced - and even more so when LMA shutters permanently. I know there were discussions about keeping Canyon open so I can only presume that those fell on deaf ears. That is the real shame with this closure.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros What makes it so expensive to operate? Aren't the trams basically the same as the ones in the parking lot? It's not like it has a bunch of AAs along the route or anything; it seems like everything just sort of sits there and collects dust (though it's been closed "for refurbishment" during my last 2 visits, so it's been a while since I rode it) >>I know there were discussions about keeping Canyon open so I can only presume that those fell on deaf ears.<< I'm not surprised that it didn't come through. It's basically the only thing left on the tour that's remotely worthwhile; since 2005 the ride has basically just been Catastrophe Canyon with a little filler at the beginning and end. It's really sad how little there is to it, when you consider what all it started with
Originally Posted By leemac <<What makes it so expensive to operate?>> Two words - cast members. The Tour requires a lot of CMs to run it. WDW Co. hates attractions that are heavy on opex like personnel costs. CM costs are low hanging fruit for management - easy to quantify the impact of removing roles. The trams aren't cheap to repair either - lots of wear and tear.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Two words - cast members. The Tour requires a lot of CMs to run it.<< But the number of CMs that it requires in relation to its capacity doesn't seem all that bad; it certainly seems like it's in line with what The Great Movie Ride requires, and it doesn't even have all those fancy AA's and effects, and custom ride vehicles to maintain. When considering other recent-ish high-capacity E-tickets like RSR or Indy, they all require a small army to staff. Plus I would assume that they would need to design any replacement attraction(s) to be able to operate at night Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see this finally put out of its misery. It was actually quite good in the park's early years, but has been pretty terrible ever since they got rid of Residential Street. I just don't understand why they're so quick to cut a huge portion of the park's capacity without having a replacement ready. Wasn't that park having serious trouble meeting its numbers this year; isn't that why they put Frozen there instead of MK? I just don't see how this is going to help them for the upcoming FY
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Sadly, yes, this attraction needed to be put out of its misery. Now the question is: What will be replacing it?
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>I just don't understand why they're so quick to cut a huge portion of the park's capacity without having a replacement ready. Wasn't that park having serious trouble meeting its numbers this year; isn't that why they put Frozen there instead of MK? I just don't see how this is going to help them for the upcoming FY<<< The problem is that DHS is really a small park and has a lot crammed into it. Mostly all closed now, but, if, and I use that word loosely, if they are going to build something substantial, then they need the space to do it. What more logical area would there be. No buildings to speak of, and an attraction that has been on life support for years. They needed to shut it down to use the space to build, we hope. Either that or it is going to be a massive "Frozen" meet and greet! Now to answer the question of "why haven't then done much of anything with the empty attraction buildings that the now have, well, I can't say why to that. I think what they thought would be a money saver has turned around a bitten them in the butt by lost traffic. Now they have to take a bigger bite to fix the mess that they got themselves into by their almost criminal complacency.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA What seems likely? - Carsland? - StarWars Land? - something else?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip My GUESS (and hope) would be Carsland... there is no way you would need that much space for a Star Wars Land. They have all they need for that in the vicinity of the existing Star Tours attraction.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Sorry to keep bothering you RT but I wonder if you felt the construction was as horrific as it sounds? I am looking at huge crowds with family for the holiday week (Xmas-thruNYE) I know crazy stupid.... The monorail is being worked on WDW MK Railroad being repaired MK Hub completely torn up with construction walls Polynesian Resort a mess with construction Epcot Maelstrom under construction HS Backlot Tour closing AK River of life construction and parking lot construction and finally the entire Downtown Disney mess with huge parking lots under construction and shops and stores being built and construction walls everywhere! I would cancel if not for the non-refundable airfares.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Well, the construction didn't bother me much. The attraction closings planned for the Studios are not ones I usually go to anyway. They are at the back of the park and shouldn't interfere with anything else too much. The Sound Studio has been closed for some time now, and I only visited it a couple times after 'Sounds Dangerous' left. Idol was great for awhile, but like the show itself has grown stale. It has been take it or leave it for me the last couple of visits. The main problem with the construction area blocked off around the hub at the MK was it meant closing the only smoking area in that part of the park. My wife was not happy. I was not happy about having to walk all the way back to Tomorrowland so she could smoke. :-( Maelstromm shouldn't be a big issue. It is at the back of the pavilion and shouldn't impact the rest much if at all. My understanding is everything will remain the same except that one attraction. Downtown Disney is a mess, but it hasn't been a "must do" for me in recent years anyway. With the homogenization of merchandise at WDW, you can find almost anything you would find at the World of Disney Store at the various parks. You may have to visit more than one shop, but you will find it. Mouse Gear at Epcot is probably the largest and best outside of Downtown Disney. The Art of Disney store at Epcot is also just as good as the one in Downtown Disney. Parking looked like it would be an absolute mess right now, but we rarely drove to DTD anyway... parking there has ALWAYS been a problem. If I go there I take a bus. The construction of Avatarland should not be a problem at the AK. I never visited Camp Minnie-Mickey anyway after my first visit to the AK, and it really is an area separate from the rest of the park. Not sure what to expect from the River of Life construction, but since nothing has operated on the river since a few years after the AK opened, it shouldn't have much impact either. The construction at the Poly has no impact unless you react terribly to ugly where beautiful used to be. The public areas that existed before are still there. But where there used to be a lush tropical garden in the middle you now have drywall walls. Hey... at least it's not plywood!! I wouldn't cancel.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Thanks for the laughs I mean reassurance! Fortunately my grandchildren won't know the difference. Oh by the way I am moving out of Missouri and going to Texas. I always thought I would meet up with you and your wife someday since I have a good friend in Springfield area. Oh well still look for your reports on LP. Not many of the regulars left unfortunately. I guess this will make all our Texas LPers happy! Maybe get a big Texas welcome from that elusive dan young...
Originally Posted By tashajilek "What seems likely? - Carsland? - StarWars Land? - something else?" I really hope it isn't another Carsland. There are some people who visit both US parks and another CL wouldn't bring me to DL. Star Wars or something unique would be great!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I really hope it isn't another Carsland. There are some people who visit both US parks and another CL wouldn't bring me to DL. Star Wars or something unique would be great!>> I hope it is. I visit both parks, but I get to WDW much more frequently. WDW is a two-day drive, DL is three. Airfare is much more expensive to LAX than to MCO. It is very hard to get a reservation at the Grand Californian Villas if it isn't your "home resort" where you have an 11 month booking window. By the time it is open to all DVC members at 7 months, it is usually fully booked. You can stay at the other DL hotels on points (which I have done three times in the past), but the value is nowhere near as good as at a DVC property. A Star Wars Land WILL be developed at the Studios... that has been officially announced. The question mark is what will go in at the back of the park. It is too far removed to be part of Star Wars Land, and SWL would never need that much space anyway. Carsland with RSR would.
