Monsters Inc. Land

[HandsomePete]

The logic behind axing Muppets was that Disney leadership wanted to preserve AC for some larger scale expansion bigger than Monsters down the road. If Monsters takes over AC, perhaps they can put the larger expansion originally slated for AC in the area of Indy, Star Tours, and expand out into the parking lots.

It’s really been a 35 year disasterclass of land planning, but it all goes back to building a working studio with a small attraction attached and then being unwilling to scrape all of “working studio” buildings because they’re now occupied by operations leaders who get to park right outside their building in a shaded garage.

Don’t get too excited. That guy moving his office is just one of all people moving offices from around all WDW to a new consolidated location so they’re all working at same location. And may not be related at all, as this has been going on for a year.

They should do the entire area a solid and build a basic but nice office complex out in Hamlin/Winter Garden to take all of that traffic off of Reams/Western Way.

 

[UNIrd]

Hard disagree. If I’m paying good money, the ticket prices are only going to go higher, and don’t want to see less attractions, I think the backlash is justified.

This is not the first nor the last time that we're going to lose attractions to make way for new ones. They just need to be better than what it's replacing.

 

[GA-MBIT]

This is not the first nor the last time that we're going to lose attractions to make way for new ones. They just need to be better than what it's replacing.

To be fair, I think it's likely that the Door Coaster probably will be more "fun" to the GP and draw bigger crowds than Muppet-Vision ever will. Disney could absolutely consider that "better". But IMO a timeline where Post-GE Launch Bay outlasts Muppet-Vision 3-D is a doomed one.

 

[Sneakman]

As a huge Muppets fan who wants to see more of them in the parks, we collectively as a fanbase need to do a better job of accepting the fate of a 30+ year-old 3D film.

That being said, it should fully be put in the Launch Bay Area.

I feel like it is inevitable. But they should show up somewhere else. Wether that be in the hall of presidents, or somewhere new entirely. I still am not against a hypothetical updated version of the show like the country bears got (sans the Disney songs part of course) , if it had imagineers in their a game. I know the Jim Henson history would stink to lose, but the show could still be updated. It is a film after all. I would prefer a new dark ride of course, but that seems kinda unlikely.

Also martinsvids is now saying it’s still
Leaning towards muppets. Lord help us all

 

[Parkscope Joe]

It's not that it's just a Muppets product or that it's 30+ years old. What really stings is it's Jim Henson's last work with these characters before his death. The site-specific installation of the material is also another issue, sure throw it on Disney+ but how will the AAs, effects, and live characters be handled? The reason why it's a theme park attraction is why it's so hard to experience other places! For that I think there's a good case to keep MuppetVision around just like Great Moments with Mr Lincoln or Carousel of Progress.

 

[Nick]

As a huge Muppets fan who wants to see more of them in the parks, we collectively as a fanbase need to do a better job of accepting the fate of a 30+ year-old 3D film.

That being said, it should fully be put in the Launch Bay Area.

I don’t even agree that it *should* go in animation courtyard instead of Muppets, I think this is feelings talking still. Just because there’s an underused part of the park doesn’t mean now is the right time to pull the trigger on building in the area. If this can fit in a rather small Muppets Courtyard, then it’s not the right thing to take up the main access point to land in Animation Courtyard that could fit another Galaxy’s Edge sized land if they wanted.

 

[belloq87]

If they are not going to use all of the backstage areas behind AC and Sunset, I'm sure they would design Monstropolis in a way to account for future access to the remaining space.

And also... I don't want Zootopia or Simpsons (the current leading rumors for what may come after Monsters), so the more we can push that off into the future, the more there's a chance those ideas get dropped entirely in favor of something else. Which I would prefer.

 

[BigHouseFootball]

Do kids even care about the Muppets? Do they even know who they are?

You have to do what’s best for the park not what’s best for an attraction. And you have to keep future expansion in mind too. If it was designed to fit in the Muppets Courtyard and thus fits perfectly there do it.

The worst thing would be to move this to the courtyard and thus cutting off an easily accessed expansion plot. And then Muppets will get axed in 5-10 years anyway.

If Disney is really going to change their mind and keep Muppets 3D then move it to MagicEye like mentioned here. Lord knows that space is under utilized.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

It's not that it's just a Muppets product or that it's 30+ years old. What really stings is it's Jim Henson's last work with these characters before his death.

This is such a bizarre argument to me. There’s a world where the Launch Bay was the last thing an Imagineer worked on before they died.

This isn’t to downplay the man’s legacy, but everyone dies at some point—that doesn’t mean their last work is automatically cast in stone. To think that the legacy of the man who wrote “Rainbow Connection” would be lessened because his last completed work (a theme park ride with a metatextual through line that says, “this is a corporate gimmick”) would be removed is a reach.

You don’t see people lining up to preserve A.I. because it was the last thing Kubrick had a hand in.

 

[Alicia]

You don’t see people lining up to preserve A.I. because it was the last thing Kubrick had a hand in.

Funny example since Spielberg worked hard to complete that project to preserve the last thing Kubrick worked on.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Funny example since Spielberg worked hard to complete that project to preserve the last thing Kubrick worked on.

That wasn’t my point, though. It was a project worth seeing through to completion, sure.

Now, 25 years later, it’s an otherwise unremarkable footnote in his filmography. If I were to take away your copy of A.I. in exchange for [insert promising new film here], are you going to decline because it happened to be produced the year of his death? Especially when 2001, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Clockwork Orange, etc. still exist?

 

[Nick]

Funny example since Spielberg worked hard to complete that project to preserve the last thing Kubrick worked on.

Yeah, but then the project finished, it went in theaters, etc and most people don’t even know that was Kubrick’s last work. I don’t remember AI being shown on a daily basis in a dedicated space anywhere to honor Kubrick.

In this case, a theme park film was made with love by Henson, he tragically dies, it becomes widely documented among muppet fans, theme park fans, and the entertainment community that it’s his last work. And it plays for 33 years straight and counting to this point.

I get it was his last work, but 33 years is more than a respectful amount of time to show that work to thousands every single day.

But the facts of the matter are that DHS only has so much room and whether it’s now or in a few years, MV3D will be replaced, it’s inevitable given the lack of expansion room the park has. If this land was designed specifically to fit such a cozy plot of land as Muppets, I kinda think that’s where it should go because I think if Monsters goes in AC, I fear we will ultimately regret that decision in the long term.

 

[Sneakman]

Well, whatever it is, I hope muppets lives, and I hope we find out soon. It’s crazy how so many people have so many different thoughts. Kinda unprecedented. I wonder why.

I honestly am not sure who to believe. Martinsvdis said it’s still muppets, if that means anything.

 

[GA-MBIT]

I honestly am not sure who to believe. Martinsvdis said it’s still muppets, if that means anything.

I believe no one knows anything at this point, not even Disney themselves.

 

[Nico]

Save Muppetvision by addition - just make a giant Muppets expansion. I can’t think of a better property for a dark ride. The sight gags alone.

 

[Nick]

Save Muppetvision by addition - just make a giant Muppets expansion. I can’t think of a better property for a dark ride. The sight gags alone.

Now if this is the argument I can get behind it. Build a real muppets land with MV3D, an actual Muppets ride jutting into the parking lot, tear down Studio 1 to better theme the area and there you go.

Keeping MV3D around for the sake of it without thinking about the larger ramifications on the park by doing that and pushing Monsters elsewhere where it may not be that good of a use of space I can’t fully get behind.

 

[belloq87]

To me, I look at all of this like this:

1. Muppet*Vision is a great attraction that serves a purpose as a quality offering with a very low barrier to entry.
2. There is no absolute need to replace it.
3. Even if Monstropolis didn't take up all of the backstage area behind Animation Courtyard, there's no reason to think Disney would lock themselves into being unable to use the rest of that space in the future.
4. Expansion pads for the park also exist between Tower of Terror and Fantasmic, as well as between Galaxy's Edge and the weird alley beyond Walt Disney Presents where they had Incredibles meet-and-greets. And the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (and the area immediately in front of it) could be a prime area for replacement (given that the show has been compromised and Indy will be represented in Animal Kingdom).

So add to the park's lineup now, and deal with future needs in the future.

 

[GA-MBIT]

It isn't and will never be actually on the table, not at this rate at least, but... yeah, a proper Muppet expansion to reimagine that Courtyard spot would be really, really nice.

The best use of Animation Courtyard is a total rebuild that allows for Sunset Blvd to transition into whatever new land they plop down, and for that to transition cleanly into TSL. Completing that loop is totally achievable. The current Monstropolis plans for that space don't seem to do that, and that's unfortunate.

 

[FrankSinatra]

Well, whatever it is, I hope muppets lives, and I hope we find out soon. It’s crazy how so many people have so many different thoughts. Kinda unprecedented. I wonder why.

I honestly am not sure who to believe. Martinsvdis said it’s still muppets, if that means anything.

Believe Disney when they announce it, and until then we’ve heard you loud and clear (on multiple forums).

Anyone want to discuss the new Monsters Inc. attractions? I’m wondering how long the door coaster will be, and hoping it’s at least 2 minutes of ride action.

The slide in the concept art that hints at a playground… how fun would it be if that was a way to exit the ride building?

 

[mainejeff]

"Do today's kids even know who the Muppets are"?

Do today's kids even know who Indiana Jones is???

To me the Muppets are a property that has been mis-managed and underutilized by Disney. The Muppets appeal to everyone from small children to elderly grandparents. How many of their IPs can they say that about?

Really hoping for 1 of 2 things:

1. Muppets stay and Muppets Courtyard is improved.

2. Muppets move with a new show in Hall of Presidents.

Monsters Inc can be a fantastic land.....I hope they do it up right. The coaster looks unique and very re-rideable.