Sounds....Boring

Sounds Dangerous is one of the more notable failed attractions designed by WDI. However, I must admit that I get sort a guilty pleasure out of it. It is a fun show and I love Drew Carey. But that does not change that fact that I can experience this attraction at home if I put on headphones and turn out the lights.

When the attraction first debuted, the use of Binural Audio was cutting edge. But in 2010, many podcasts created by park guests use the same technology. This means one of the major draws of the attraction is now worthless. Guests can have the same experience at home as in the park. Drew Carey has also taken a major hit in the publicity department. When the attraction was built, he had his own show on ABC. Now his show is gone, and he has gotten a poor reception on the Price is Right.

So all in all, Sounds Dangerous is a an example of a good idea gone bad. This is why the attraction is now reduced to seasonal status. We can only hope that WDI can come up with something new and exciting for this theater. After all, sound is a huge park of movies and television and deserves to have an attraction showcasing its importance.

Hollywood Studios Live

This is an idea for a new nighttime show at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It would be like an epic variety show that would be held a few times a week as an alternative to Fantasmic. The show would take place on a stage in front of the giant Sorcerer Mickey Hat.

Your host, Marty Sherman, would come out to start the show. His energy and wit would set the tone for the rest of the night. Entertainment would consist of different acts from around the WDW Resort. Comedy groups and musical acts would be rotated on a schedule to create a new show every night. In between the performances, skits would take place. These could include Disney characters, cast members, and even park guests. One of the key concepts that would set this show apart would be its commitment to making you laugh. Not only would there be plenty of hidden jokes for adults, but it wouldn't be afraid to make fun of other things at the resort.

And of course the only fitting end to any Disney nightime show is a fireworks spectacular. The fireworks and lasers would be set to classic film scores and great Disney movie soundtracks. This would definitly be a night of fun for the whole family.

Star Tours 2

Here is a video teaser for the new Star Tours 2 attraction at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios. It talks about 3 possible destinations for the ride: Bespin, Endor, and Alderaan.

Dr. Strangehat or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Sorcerer's Hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios, or at the time, Disney's MGM Studios was changed forever on September 28, 2001 when it's new park icon was unveiled. It was a 100 ft tall Sorcerer Mickey hat in celebration of Disney's 100 Years of Magic Promotion. The hat size is 605 7/8 and Mickey would need to be 350 ft tall to wear the hat. While the hat was made famous by Mickey in Fantasia, it was made infamous by the guest uproar to this new addition to the studios.

People hated the fact that it covered up one of the studio's other landmarks, the Grauman's Chinese Theater. The beautiful view down the boulevard was now blocked by a giant blue hat. Well, that's because the Imagineers simply wanted it that way.

When the park opened in 1989, it needed the MGM brand to survive as a studio and a park in general. The Disney Company didn't have the vast collection it does now and didn't have enough films to support an entire theme park. So, it brought on MGM as a partner in order to acquire it's collection of great classic movies. By the early 2000s, however, the Disney Company had established it's own place in Hollywood and was able to stand on it's own as an entertainment powerhouse. Because of that, the Imagineers decided it was time to change the park's direction. It was time to move away from MGM, and make it a true Disney park.

The hat symbolizes the first step in the "Disneyfication" of the studios that ended with the changing of the park's name to Disney's Hollywood Studios. It embodies the magic of the music, films, and tv that the park represents.

At first, I was like every other Disney fan. I hated the hat. But the more I thought, the more I realized that it really was a good symbol for the park. Unlike the Chinese Theater, it itself was already a Disney icon. While the Earful tower at the studios also could have been chosen, it doesn't have the same grand scale as the hat. So over time, it has grown on me. I don't hate the hat anymore. I have come to accept it for what it is. It is not tarnishing a classic attraction, much like the wand did to Spaceship Earth. It is also much more attractive at night. With the fancy lights on the ears, it really makes a difference in the park at night.

So that's pretty much the whole story. What are your thoughts on the hat? Love it or hate it? Or even just don't care? Share your opinions in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Buddy Cop

My first idea for a show would take place in the Disney Hollywood Studios. It would be a mix of a stunt show and an interactive studio tour. The show would chronicle the history of famous Buddy Cop movies and how they were made. That background information would be displayed in an interactive queue outside the attraction.

From there, the guests would be introduced to their own veteran detective. He would be the typical older cop in all of the example movies. Our detective would announce to the group of new recruits that only one of them could become his new partner. The guests would be taken through several training games including a laser gun battle, a crime scene investigation, and a high speed police chase. A winner would be chosen from each small group.

The rest of the groups would be lead into a large theater to watch all of the new pairs of cops compete in a competition to find the best pair. The guest that wins the competition could be given a special souvenir detective badge. I think this type of experience would bring guest interaction to a new level. It also explores an area of Hollywood films that is not covered in the park.