Saturday, July 25, 2009

Mickey's Movieland

Revisiting an old concept for Disney-MGM Studios. This land was designed for an EPCOT pavilion about Hollywood filmmaking. Then Universal Studios was building a park in Florida so Disney essentially responded. And according to JimHillMedia, Bob Weis who is WDI's DCA VP, may want to bring this to DCA's HPB after that land's previously scheduled events. So I hope this will be the 2nd major phase for DCA after 2012.

The exterior was to be designed after the 2719 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027 address formerly home to Hyperion Studio/ Walt Disney Studio from 1926-1940. The interior was to feature how Mickey Mouse cartoons were made. Ala Disney-MGM's "The Magic of Disney Animation", Disney's California Adventure's "Disney Animation" building, and the"Disney: The Music Behind the Magic" exhibit. Recreation and displays of old equipment such as the multiplane camera, animator's desk, ink & paint department, etc.

Considering WDI is planning to resurrect the Carthay Circle Theater from the grave, it would be appropriate for the Hyperion Studios as well.

I would plan for Hyperion Studios on the corner alongside DCA's MuppetVision*3D and Stage 17 (Millionaire building). MuppetVision*3D would be the new location for DCA's "Disney Animation" attraction. Stage 17 would perhaps be demolished inorder to properly fit Mickey's Philharmagic. As guests enter between the buildings, they have a choice between "Disney Animation" exhibits or Philharmagic. The 3D theater will exit to the Animation building. The Muppet Theater is redesigned as the main lobby while the preshow and queue are redesigned as the exhibits like Sorcerer's Workshop, Turtle Talk, and Drawn to Animation. Perhaps a 2nd level above the preshow can be used.

I was thinking the Monsters, Inc. facade would be redesigned as Pixar Studios, but there's enough Pixar influence everywhere. I would completely redo this ride building for "Muppet Movie Mayhem" (The Great Muppet Movie Ride and a cross with Superstar Limo). And the facade would resemble Muppet Studios. Guests are featured actors for an upcoming Muppet Show and must ride their limo to the set. But mayhem ensues as the limo crashes through different soundstages of "upcoming" Muppet features like TREASURE ISLAND, CHRISTMAS CAROL, WIZARD OF OZ, etc. Finally, we reach the end. Instead of CDA cleaning, it's an audience full of muppets. Across the bleachers is a penguin band. Roz is replaced by Statler and Waldorf.

Hollywood & Dine would also need a complete demolition for what should be DCA's answer to Disney's Hollywood Studios' Rock n Roller Coaster to counteract with Tower of Terror and to REALLY attract the crowds into this corner of the land. For now, my best choice would be a "TRON: Lightcycle Chase" attraction based on the Zamperla Motocoaster design rather than the Booster Bike. Why? Motocoaster appears to be more up Disney's alley with compact usage of land and multi-levels to ensure a fun thrill factor vs. a coaster that needs lots of stretches of land which the Disneyland Resort is unable to provide.

To make this more interesting, actual dual coasters could begin with coaster 1 lining up with coaster 2 in a launch sequence ala Radiator Springs Racers. But then will be like Universal's Dueling Dragons where they meet a few times in the dark ride building lit by blacklight. The bikes would glow and riders be able to see them ala Space Mountain pre-2005.

Furthermore, I would like the current animation building to be a new version of "The Great Movie Ride" based only on live-action Disney films, post-show exit into a real movie set of upcoming films ala Disney's Hollywood Studios' 101 Dalmations, Narnia, and Haunted Mansion. Pre-show should display concept, props, make-up, costumes, etc from past successful and recognizable films. The "Off the Page" store relocated in the center of the "Hyperion Studios" recreation.

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