The fate of the stage that has blocked this view of the hat in recent years is unknown, but many cast members expect it to be removed along with the stage. The removal of both would allow an unobstructed view of the Chinese theater from Hollywood Boulevard, the visual "weenie" from the park's first decade, when the park was known as the Disney-MGM Studios.
However, don't count on seeing that view forever, going forward. Disney's making changes to Hollywood Studios at a brisk pace, with the Backlot Tour closing earlier this month. And today, Disney also confirmed that the Legend of Jack Sparrow walk-through attraction will close permanently at the end of the day Thursday, Nov. 6.
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It is becoming clear that Disney is reinventing that entire park - and good for them. The park needs new focus. I've said it before, I would be really happy to see Disney embrace a philosophy of showcasing classic movies as the focus of their Studios Park, and let Universal take the route of being hip-and-current movie ride showcase. Both are great ideas for a movie studio park. Disney is better poised to embrace the family classics than Universal. Run with it Mouse House. More variety in Florida means better vacations (and an emptier wallet, unfortunately).
I Reply: Add in Pandora and you can expand that perspective and post "Disney is reinventing the genre ... yet again."
I don't know what Disney has in mind for Hollywood Studios, but I have quite a bit of optimism now, with the hat and stage leaving, in addition to the Backlot Tour and American Idol Experience having closed. These areas are all adjacent to Pixar Place, which makes me think they are being selective in their choices for what to close. It's not as if they closed Sci Fi Diner, Anaheim Produce, and One Man's Dream, which are not in any way connected.
I won't speculate on what they'll replace all of this with, but I hope it's grand. And considering the specific locations of what they've closed, or are closing/removing, it makes me think they have a cohesive plan in place.
I haven't been this excited about Disney in a long time. Go Big Mouse!
What are you not saying? Please more rumors.
I'm glad to see the hat go. I would like to take a photo of the theater in the background as intended. But I'll be upset if this is just a temporary reprieve.
While the hat should go, the stage should remain. That's the question of how they will put back the stage or relocate it. The stage became a fixture of the park. It'll seem strange to not see the stage anymore.
Are they just demolishing the hat or are they going to move it somewhere else? Can't wait to get pics of the theater again!
I personally think the park needs a complete rebranding :-)
The central walkway will undoubtedly change. They still need a break between the walkway and Star Wars that supports a sudden transition. It has to handle traffic volume. Effectively, we have a classic movie walkway, Star Wars on the left, disney animation to the right, and Pixar to the back. There's a lot of space to reconfigure the studios area to finish Pixar. Muppets may keep their corner. The ToT/ RnR coaster walkway is still a mashup for future work. Real question is if classic movies fits the new park or is it rebuilt with a new modern Disney studios theme built to support modern Disney marketing.
- girl loves Disney
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I wonder if the theater will even remain...according to some sources, they are at the very least redoing the entire interior of Great Movie Ride, this makes me wonder if they're taking it out entirely to put in a new centerpiece. (an even BIGGER sorceror's hat?