Originally Posted By RoadTrip I like the location of The Studios... it makes it easy to hop to Epcot and I enjoy walking to The Studios when I stay at the Boardwalk. My main complaint about the park is that such a huge chunk of the total real estate is devoted to LMA, Catastrophe Canyon and the Streets of America... all sections of the park that I rarely visit.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I like the location of the studios as well. For those of us who stay off property, and drive to WDW when we frequent the WDW parks. We appreciate how close those two parks are to each other. There have been several times when I have parked at the MK, only to end the night at EPCOT or worse, the Studios and then somehow in heaven have to make the trek back to the parking lots at the MK. At least there is a monorail linking EPCOT to the MK. If your at the Studios upon closing, you have to wait for a bus to take to get back to Ticket and Transportation Center, easily a 45-60 minute experience. Especially when you in the huge traffic nightmare leaving the Studios. I'll take two WDW theme parks side by side, that I can easily travel between several times a day at will. Over two WDW theme parks on opposite ends of the WDW property. One of which my car is parked in till it is time for me to leave for the day. And then spend easily an additional 20-30 minutes to drive off property. Roadtrip is correct. When it comes to real estate, the huge flaw to the Studios is all the current wasted space devoted to just three past their prime, under promoted and underwhelming attractions.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 The current space needs to be better utilized, but in reality the Studios is in a terrible spot because it cannot expand outside its current boundries. Any major expansion of the park needs to be stay within the boundries that the current park sits in. That is terrible planning. If I am not mistaken the parking lot backs up to some protected areas on the property (not to mention that it is terrible set up for a parking lot) The back of the park is on World Drive and you cant grow left or right. I agree about the location in terms of ease. We like to leave the back of World Showcase and walk to the Studios or visa versa. It is a nice walk but still terrible planning.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I really appreciate and respect what you folks have to say regarding the physical location of the Studios. Not being an expert on just where the protected wetlands are around the Studios, but the parsel of land the studios is on represents about 25% of that block of property engulfed by roads. Again, not sure just what are wetlands and what isn't. Also, if it came down to it, why not either build over or move World Drive if that is an option. Personally, I would like to see a 3rd or 4th monorail loop(s) installed. But, it has to be cheaper to move a road than spend the, apparently, billions it would take to put in an addition monorail loop. The folks at WDW had to divert a leavy just to install L,M,A. Also, I wouldn't worry about it since WDW's management team hasn't given any indication they plan on expanding any of WDW's parks. They just seem to be reclaiming prior park property. I really find this conversation kinda ridiculous given all the empty and abandoned space available for rides and attractions in the MK, and all still undeveloped and abandoned real estate in EPCOT, and it's World Showcase. And your worried that the Studios is potentially landlocked?
Originally Posted By sjhym333 Not worried at all. It is just a fact that we discussed at length in Imagineering after the park was open a couple of years. And yes one of the options discussed was expanding onto the other side of World Drive. I think you correct though. Disney is showing no real interest in expanding the parks much besides an occasion attraction here and there and some revisiting existing attractions. My personal feeling and what I am hearing from friends is that despite all the buzz about Carsland happening at the Studios, it is just not going to happen in the forseable future. On a different note. I was out at EPCOT on Christmas day and took a ride on Test Track with my son. I thought it was a nice redo. My son was less impressed. EPCOT was packed and there was a mile worth of traffic backup getting to the MK toll plaza. A friend just messaged me that the MK is at capacity for the second day in a row.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom If we are going to talk about Disney theme parks that are landlocked, wouldn't Disneyland and California Adventure parks be in the ones we should be concerned about? Disney's California Adventure is 55 acres, not including the Carsland expansion. Disneyland California is 85 acres. Disney's Hollywood Studios is 154 acres. And your concerned that the Studios is potentionally landlocked? You don't think WDW can make due with the Studios at 154 acres?
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I also forgot the obvious. The Studios could always pull a DL/DCA and occupy part of the parking lot by putting in parking decks. I think if potential size is a factor here, there are some options. (why am I thinking of Witches while I'm posting this) I would much rather see WDW diminish the necessity of having these expansive parking lots, in the first place. That is one thing monorails or expanding WDW Transportation does is significantly lower the need for huge parking lots everywhere.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 We could except that the whole reason that Disney bought all the land it did in Florida was to avoid the growth that came up around Disneyland and deal with the fact that Disneyland is landlocked. In Anaheim they did a good job at working with what they had. Personally I don't care the Studios is where it is. My only point is that it is landlocked as a park and that is poor planning.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 Except that today all of the parking lots are at capacity at all of the parks but EPCOT at the moment. I don't think Disney has the stomach to do what many of us think they should, which is expand the monorail or be innovative about getting people around property. I think that with all the bus stations sitting in front of the park Disney feels that bus transportation is the best way to move people.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I guess from my standpoint, I really don't see the Studios as potentionally being landlocked as the greatest barrior facing WDW. And, in my opinion, there is still a lot more WDW can do in improving its intra and inter park transportation. All of which apparently isn't even on the radar.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<I think that with all the bus stations sitting in front of the park Disney feels that bus transportation is the best way to move people.>> I grudgingly have to admit, that buses are the fastest and most cost effective way of moving guests around property. Secretly, I harbor thought of expanding the monorail loop to incorporate the Value resorts with EPCOT and the Studios. I really don't see constantly redirecting WDW resort and theme park traffic onto WDW's more and more typically congested roadways all the time, as the answer. Having stayed on property when all the roads have been closed for the Disney Marathon Weekend.... I know it is not the answer. Kinda sucks when your stuck at your resort till noon on both Saturday and Sunday till the roads open.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Disney feels that bus transportation is the best way to move people." They're probably right.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I like the idea of the Studios being limited to the existing footprint. Epcot has too much available space, allowing them to leave major structures like the Odyssey, Wonders of Life and second floor of Imagination vacant and unused. Disneyland Park has been forced to utilize existing space, resulting in a far better-designed park.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I have been away from this thread too long! Some interesting observations. (None of which have anything to do with the original topic!) Just a couple of things I did want to respond to... First, there were a lot more than "five" attractions at Disney-MGM when it opened. I found a post I wrote from another thread: ...here's the list for Disney-MGM, from a 1989 Guide Map: Hollywood Boulevard 1. The Great Movie Ride 2. Theater of the Stars (which was unnamed in the 1989 guide) Lakeside Circle/Backlot Annex 1. SuperStar Television 2. The Monster Sound Show 3. Epic Stunt Spectacular 4. Star Tours (opening Spring 1990) Backstage Studio Tour 1. Backstage Shuttle Station (that's how it's listed) Production Center 2. Costuming 3. Scenic Shop 4. Residential Street 5. Catastrophe Canyon 6. New York Street 7. Water Effects Tank 8. Special Effects Workshop and Shooting Stage 9. Soundstages 10. Post Production Editing and Audio 11. The Walt Disney Theater Animation 1. Back to Neverland 2. Animation Studio 3. Disney Classics Theater So, 20 attractions, with TREMENDOUS 'fudging." Realistically, here's the count: 1. Great Movie Ride 2. Theater of the Stars 3. Superstar Television 4. The Monster Sound Show 5. Epic Stunt Spectacular 6. Backstage Tram Tour/Catastrophe Canyon 7. Walking Tour 8. The Walt Disney Theater (which was part of the walking tour) 9. Back to Neverland 10. Animation 11. Star Tours (being generous here. It wasn't open until the next year) So, ten actual attractions for Disney-MGM at opening. The theater, many here will recall, originally sat right next to the Brown Derby. There was, indeed, a character based show during the opening year. If I were home, I could scan some photos and link. (I may do that within the next couple of days.) I do remember the Soundstage Restaurant and Catwalk Bar. In fact, I did scan those photos some time back. Here they are for anyone who is interested. (The theme, which changed from time to time, was the Plaza Hotel from "Big Business" when these were taken.) Overview from the catwalk: <a href="http://s325.beta.photobucket.com/user/newdug/media/SSR8903.jpg.html?sort=6&o=38" target="_blank">http://s325.beta.photobucket.c...t=6&o=38</a> The main floor: <a href="http://s325.beta.photobucket.com/user/newdug/media/SSR8902.jpg.html?sort=6&o=39" target="_blank">http://s325.beta.photobucket.c...t=6&o=39</a> Looking up at the Catwalk Bar (incidentally, it's still up there, above Playhouse Disney Live!): <a href="http://s325.beta.photobucket.com/user/newdug/media/SSR8901.jpg.html?sort=6&o=37" target="_blank">http://s325.beta.photobucket.c...t=6&o=37</a>
Originally Posted By leemac <<So, ten actual attractions for Disney-MGM at opening.>> Indy wasn't ready for May 1 - it didn't open until late summer I believe. I'm also not sure how you could split attractions like Animation and Back to Neverland etc. However it is all very subjective. D-MGM was always designed to be a half day experience - it wasn't masquerading as anything else. The problem was that there was so much pent-up demand for theme park experiences at WDW in the late '80s that it was a monster success out of the gates. The park didn't even have a masterplan for post-Star Tours as no-one thought it would get even close to 8m guests annually.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>D-MGM was always designed to be a half day experience - it wasn't masquerading as anything else.<< Isn't this why they also opened Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island around the same time? None of them were meant to take up the same amount of time as a trip to Epcot or MK, but if you do 2 of them on the same day, it feels like you've accomplished something. Plus, it costs more for a guest who does two things in a day rather than just one!
Originally Posted By sjhym333 If I remember correctly the thought behind the Studios was a half day experience at a lesser price then the other parks. Disney didn't announce the cost of the Studios tickets until a couple of months before opening. I remember that once the decision was made to charge the same as the other parks there was a big discussion among us in Imagineering about how that was going to be received by the public. Of course the park opened and was a success but was a mess in terms of its layout. I remember standing in front of the Chinese Theater one mid-morning and trying to keep the lines from the tram tour, animation, movie ride and Superstar television separated.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Officially, the Indy stunt show opened August 25. But I saw the show less than a month after opening, along with a full audience. All of the elements were not there, so my guess is they were trying to put anything out there to absorb the crowds. As for "splitting" attractions (to boost the count), it is VERY subjective. Just look at the "official" count. Residential Street? Costuming?
