Beauty and the Beast and Voyage of The Little Mermaid rumored to close at DHS
Walt Disney World: Just wait until you hear the replacements!
Lately there's been a rumor going around that BATB and TLM over at Hollywood Studios could close as early as December. This really isn't a surprise considering New Fantasyland has those 2 movies heavily featured. I would be fine with them closing since I really don't visit the shows anymore. That was until I heard what the replacements were. BATB is getting replaced by Tangled: The Musical. Meh, ok, but the songs weren't memorable. I would prefer Princess and the Frog, but Tangled gets the money. Now what about TLM? Ok, you might wanna prepare yourself for this. Ready? Ok.
PHINEAS AND FERB
I'm not kidding you, Phineas and Ferb is replacing Voyage of The Little Mermaid. There's a good side and bad side to this. The good thing is Phineas and Ferb is currently in it's peak and a movie is coming out next year, so it could last a few years. Bad news? The peak. The show is currently in its peak like I just mentioned, but how long will it last? Will it turn out like Spongebob that after the movie the show goes bad? Keep in mind none of this has been confirmed, but it's very likely this will happen. Your thoughts?
From Rob Pastor
Posted October 9, 2012 at 11:33 AM
I have no interest in either new show possibility. Beauty & the Beast has excellent music and good theatrics. The Little Mermaid has excellent music and the theater's special effects & atmosphere are superb. This would be 2 steps back for a park that needs to go 2 steps, or more, forward. The status quo would be preferable. The Disney Orlando management decisions,during the past decade, have been questionable. More effort is put into fancy room keys & minor queue changes than innovative attractions.We really like Hollywood Studios. But if this rumor is true, we will be spending much less time at Hollywood Studios during our spring 2013 vacation. Looking for Disney to make a splash in improving Hollywood Studios, but this mostly indictes a destructive tsunami. There's enough weak areas in the park to change without chopping two of the best attractions. Maybe now the suit's will also tear down the Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster to make way for more cartoon Meet & Greets. Hollywood Studios has been a nice alternative for adults. Not overly filled with eight year olds in strollers and screaming kids. Now,it seems that want to kid size HS too.
From Dominick D
Posted October 9, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Keep in mind there isn't much for the little one to do at DHS. No worries, I doubt Phineas and Ferb will last long (Doug Live, anyone?).
From Amy Smith
Posted October 9, 2012 at 12:38 PM
The only reason Doug didn't last is because Disney's Doug is not the REAL Doug. Nick had Doug first and then Disney got the rights and screwed up everything that was good about the show.
I like the idea of a Tangled replacement for BatB because there is no Tangled attraction in any of the parks and BatB is about to get half a land. While I can't stand Phineas and Ferb and don't see how a good show could be made of it, the current Little mermaid show is pathetic and the effects hardly ever work.
I'm more excited about the possiblity of them demolishing the backlot tour and building a ride there.
From Dominick D
Posted October 9, 2012 at 12:53 PM
There's still the rumored Urinating with Rapunzel at MK ;)
From Amy Smith
Posted October 9, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Ugh sorry, my computer is being an idiot. Double post.
Dom; "Urinating with Repunzel". The restroom Meet & Greet. Gotta laugh at that. Good comment.
Ever since EasyWDW starting calling it that, I had to start calling it that XD
MORE DHS NEWS:I have a neighbor who is as reliable an Orlando Disney source as they come. Latest word on the street is that Carsland WILL be added to DHS-just with no flying tire ride. The lack of that will be made up for by the Monsters Inc coaster, which will be finally put in after years of rumors. Also, Muppets land is likely not happening. He said nothing of Starwars land, so no update on that. He told me about the P&F show a week and a half ago, so I'm gonna take his word on this.
Ask him when he's back if SW land is happening.
It would be unfortunate to see Beauty and the Beast replaced by a show with a weaker musical score but Tangled does indeed make money and perhaps it is time to freshen things up.
From James Rao
Posted October 9, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Tangled was a top notch animated flick. Probably not a classic like B&tB, but still well above average. I have no issue with it coming in as a replacement to liven things up a bit. Disney should change their live stage shows out a bit more frequently in the future to keep things fresh.
P&F is hugely popular right now and the target audience will eat it up. Again no issues.
I put both of these changes on the scale and scope of a C-Ticket attraction like Despicable Me at USF. Definitely not game changers, but fun and lively.
I too thought Tangled was a great addition to Disney's animated roster (excited for Frozen next year). Having seen the Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream show, transitioning the movie to a 30 minute musical would be no problem.
From Tim W
Posted October 9, 2012 at 6:31 PM
I honestly think both are bad ideas for long time replacements. I don't think Tangled has memorable enough music to have a musical based off of it. Instead Mary Poppins, Cinderella, or even Princess and the Frog would be much decisions. I would prefer Mary Poppins as I feel it does not get the representation it deserves, and could fit into the Hollywood Boulevard theming much better than Tangled. Instead they should save Tangled for Fantasyland.
As for Phineas and Ferb, I think this is another poor move. The show seems to be winding down, and it seems that Disney moves quickly past its tv shows once they end. Even if the show lasts another 2 years, that would not accomodate the longevity that they would want the musical to have. I would suggest something much safer that would provide longevity such as DLP's blacklight show Animagique. Another idea is to eliminate the use of this show space, turning it into a ride to help attract people away from nearby TSM.
I doubt that Disney would get rid of two of their most popular shows at DHS. Not to mention that they have live singing.
I agree with you Tim. I would love to see Mary Poppins replace BatB and Animagique replace VOTLM. Like you said, Phineas and Ferb is getting old, and I fear the show's peak is ending soon. Gravity Falls (an excellent show you must watch) is destroying it ratings wise (airs right after Phineas and Ferb most of the time), plus a new Craig McCracken show is coming in the spring. For those who don't know, McCracken created The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends. In fact, why not replace Disney Channel Live with a Phineas and Ferb show there?
Tim I disagree with you on Phineas and Ferb they are already planning a july 2013 feature length film and also the first Marvel cross over set for next year also. Last year they also extended there contract to produce shows until 2014. So its not dieing maybe lull but not dead yet!
I dont like the idea of replacing Beauty and the Beast (by the way cast members call it TOTS because its played at Theater of the Star stage and so the BATB is throwing me off)because it still brings in a lot of people and tons still come for the show. I understand replacing the Little Mermaid because she is getting her own ride but Beauty and the Beast is not. So why not keep it?
The only DHS rumor I have heard about is the Monster Inc Roller Coaster which they actually started but then stopped because they realized the hourly ride capacity is to low like Toy Story Mania and would cause the same wait times as Mania and so have put it all hold.
I think Cars is a bad idea for DHS. I want them to get rid of the Backlot and Catasrophe Canyon but keep the Boneyard as a street to walk through so that you can get close and take pictures with some of the stuff. I would then put in Marvel in that area.
I'm going to join in the ridiculous amount of unfounded hear-say rumors.
My friend that I work with, who's father is an Imagineer, says that Radiator Springs Racers will be coming, but not the land. I'm not sure if that means as much mountain range as DCA or not. He says that the Monsters ride will be going forward.
As for the shows, they still are popular not because they are good, but because of name recognition and a lack of things to do at DHS. In fact, that's a problem at all WDW parks. IF you open something, it will be decently popular no matter what because it is simply something to do.
I agree that Tangled is popular enough and the music is strong enough for a show. Phineas and Ferb is not going anywhere soon and would be silly not to take advantage of the most popular cartoon.
From Dominick D
Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:14 AM
When RSR and Monsters come, which part of Backlot and LMA will they be at?
Frankly I think it's about time for TotS to get a new show, it's had Beauty and the Beast forever and a fresh show wouldn't hurt the park at all. In fact, with Tangled being very popular I think it would be an increased draw.
I've always LOVED the idea of Monsters Inc having it's own little land/attraction area. Even being an older movie it's still got a huge fan-based and is getting a prequel so it obviously has mass staying power (okay and it's my favorite Pixar movie). Cars I don't feel so great about but agree that DHS needs a high power, high draw attraction and RSR fits the bill completely though I'd like to see more then just the ride go up.
I don't have much opinion on Phineas and Ferb because it never appealed to me but I know it's still hugely popular with folks but like many of you, I wonder if it has sticking power for more then a few years. I'd suggest something like the old "Playhouse Disney" show to appeal to the kids but Disney (at least to me) doesn't have the quality shows it did then to pull it off a second time.
From Scott B
Posted October 10, 2012 at 12:56 PM
As a parent of two diehard Phineas & Ferb and Tangled fans, I say, bring it on!
BATB is one of my favorite live shows at Disney and will be sad to see it go but Tangled will be a good replacement for it. Still not sure why Tiana is not really represented at the parks though. I love Phineas and Ferb but I believe it would be more suitable as a motion simulator type ride similiar to the Simpsons at Universal. I am still hoping they bring Indiana Jones ride to Orlando as well.
From Jay R.
Posted October 10, 2012 at 4:04 PM
I think princess & the frog would make a good show, but Tangled is a good as well.
DHS might as well take the aladdin show from DCA (it's a good show)
The Aladdin show from DCA would be huge for DHS.
From Dominick D
Posted October 10, 2012 at 8:35 PM
Disney is holding a What's Next? conference on December 7 (the day after Fantasyland and Test Track open), so we might expect these shows to be announced. Don't expect anything big UNLESS Universal decides to announce Transformers and HP.
In my opinion, I think that the Theater of the Stars needs to be redone like the Hyperion Theater. In terms of what show to put in, I actually wouldn't mind a "remake" of Beauty and the Beast put in there with better sets, costumes, extended length to make it more like the Broadway show. I do agree Mermaid deserves to close, but I'm not sure of what to replace it with. In terms with the Dec. 7 press conference, I assume we'll learn more about Avatar or part 2 of Fantasyland. In addition, I did hear Universal is having a media event on Nov. 1, possibly to announce the Simpsons restaurants, Diagon Alley and Transformers.
From Dominick D
Posted October 11, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Jennifer over at the Disney Parks Blog is teasing something for DHS.
From Tim W
Posted October 11, 2012 at 1:44 PM
I agree Christopher. Theater of the Stars needs to be enclosed, and should provide more than a hard, metal bench. If they do end up refurbishing the theater with a new show, they might as well do it the right way!
Urgh, I would seriously dislike WDW if they had these shows replaced. What is wrong with beauty and the beast? Or the little mermaid they are classics!! Keep the classic shows all the rest have gone. Anyone remember Hunchback Of Notre Dame? These are the shows I run to, and keep going back. I hope they don't replace with tangled. Good film, but seriously?
The Hunchback show was one of the best shows ever staged in a theme park.
It was my family's favourite. My dad stayed behind one year to get the ace of hearts card Quasi ripped up from a CM.
El diablo.......
But notoriously, Disney suits can have too much of a good thing. I would hate for these shows to go as well...but maybe with New Fantasyland (sick of hearing that), its inevitable.
From Dominick D
Posted October 23, 2012 at 7:32 AM
Hunchback was removed because it wouldn't fit in with the new Streets of America.
Not to be a downer but - Source? I haven't seen any of these rumours except for people 'wanting' such attractions on other discussion boards.
During my summer as a Cast Member, you hear CMs make up all sorts of rumours regarding new attractions - and they tell these to the guests too. They often like to refer to 'my uncle/cousin/brother knows/works with Meg Crofton/Phil Holmes' or some other top dog. Honestly, most of the rumours CMs spread are gained from online discussion boards on websites like this, where people often speculate rather than report. The variations of Test Track rumours I heard all summer were ridiculous, all claiming to be 'on the inside'. I heard someone claim, to a guest (!), they were 100% certain that Test Track was going to be transformed to Cars Land, as they were told by 'higher management'. Right...
Over the years of following theme park developments, I only trust 'rumours' that are posted from particular websites. On the other hand, I'd actually enjoy a Tangled production - the opening song and 'See the Light' are two excellent songs. Much better than the music in other recent Disney movies such as Princess and the Frog.
I wholeheartedly agree with Ashleigh. (But only if Tangled doesnt replace a show I love) :-)))
A Tangled show would allow for fresher humor than the ultra-sincere BatB. The Aladdin show at DCA was a good example of a show that didn't take itself too seriously, and I think Tangled would be in much the same vein. Some nice new special effects and set pieces, maybe even a new song or two to fill out the score, and I think it could easily be a long=term winner.
I agree that Phineas and Ferb is probably getting a little old to be a long-term resident of that space, but I think the most likely scenario is to put together a show that includes a lot of fun puppetry and some of the more memorable songs from the series in a sort of 'greatest hits' show. I think it could be done for a relatively low buy-in from Disney, and could easily be replaced when the next big Disney Channel franchise rears its head.
From Dominick D
Posted November 1, 2012 at 5:48 AM
Now that the Phineas and Ferb movie has been delayed to 2014, will the show be done with it's peak by then?
This discussion has been archived, and is not accepting additional responses.
