As many people have heard now, it has been announced that the Studios Backlot Tour and the Studios Catering Co. will be closed for refurbishment from February 15–March 28. This announcement has brought waves of speculation as to the purpose of this refurbishment. Is this just a simple paint job that will have the Backlot Tour open with a fresh look or is there something more to this?
I have been wandering around the Web looking for some of the ideas that people have as to what else could be behind this refurbishment. I have seen some people who would like to see something Marvel related in the parks, Nightmare Before Christmas-related, and I have even seen a few mentions about moving Toontown to Hollywood Studios and putting it there. The majority of the rumors, by far, seem to be Pixar related.
A lot of people want more Pixar characters in the parks and the Backlot Tour’s placement at the end of Pixar Place makes it an ideal location for a new Pixar attraction of some kind. Two ideas seem to be springing up around the forum world that are Pixar related. The first is some kind of attraction relating to Radiator Springs; I think this idea springs from the new land coming to Disney’s California Adventure. The second and more probable idea in my opinion is the Monsters Inc. roller coaster.
This has been rumored for a long time and came out even more strongly when The Hub, the cast member Web site, posted about the possibility of this coaster in summer of 2008. The post gave a description of the coaster, possible concept art and even mentioned that it would be in the area at the end of Pixar Place, where Backlot is located. The coaster has been described as a hanging coaster that acts like the child doors and travels around the Monsters Inc. factory. That would make for an interesting ride indeed!
So what do you think? Is this just a quick touch up and then back to the Backlot Tour we have enjoyed for years, or is more behind this? As Jimmy Buffett says at the Old Key West Resort, “Only Time Will Tell”.
Contributed by: Jessica C. (NDI#21). Jessica is our resident “Gossip Girl” and creator of The True Disney Fan Blog.
Living in Delaware her whole life, Jessica did not know much about Walt Disney World until she went at 13 years old. That initial trip, though, got her hooked on the magic. As the years went on, she did everything she could to learn more about Disney (including watching documentaries and reading books). She did not know many people that shared her passion until she discovered the wonders of the internet and the Disney community found on it. She has gotten involved with as many Disney projects as she can, including writing the weekly news articles for The Disney Driven Life and writing for her own blog, The True Disney Fan. Jessica has also taken on a position with Celebrations Magazine, working the social media aspects of the publication. Through all these platforms, Jessica strives to bring as much Disney magic as possible into her everyday life, and she works to share it with everyone she meets!
I’ll be there the week of Feb. 15, and this is not the only change coming to the Studios. I cannot say what other changes are coming, but they are big and impactive.
I’ll be there the week of Feb. 15, and this is not the only change coming to the Studios. I cannot say what other changes are coming, but they are big and impactive.
I hope it is the coaster, to me DHS needs more than the paint job for back lot.
I hope it is the coaster, to me DHS needs more than the paint job for back lot.
We really like the backlot tour, it’s pretty cool! We also absolutely LOVE the Monster’s Inc. ride @ DCA & it would be really awesome to have some sort of Monster’s ride @ WDW! We’ll see!
We really like the backlot tour, it’s pretty cool! We also absolutely LOVE the Monster’s Inc. ride @ DCA & it would be really awesome to have some sort of Monster’s ride @ WDW! We’ll see!
Jess, I look forward to each and every little piece of gossip you post here. The posts are always such enjoyable reads and get the gears in my brain turning.
The Monster’s Inc. door coaster ride would be hard to top as far as additions go. I would love to see the Studios put this in. The Backlot Tour is a mere shadow of what it was originally created to be. My thought on it is either to restore it to it’s original state (which won’t happen since the studios are no longer being used for the actual filming of shows and/or movies on a regular basis) or go ahead and replace it. It is simply too depressing to visit it as it currently is. For real, I have heartache over it.
Jess, I look forward to each and every little piece of gossip you post here. The posts are always such enjoyable reads and get the gears in my brain turning.
The Monster’s Inc. door coaster ride would be hard to top as far as additions go. I would love to see the Studios put this in. The Backlot Tour is a mere shadow of what it was originally created to be. My thought on it is either to restore it to it’s original state (which won’t happen since the studios are no longer being used for the actual filming of shows and/or movies on a regular basis) or go ahead and replace it. It is simply too depressing to visit it as it currently is. For real, I have heartache over it.
they regularly close this ride down to swap out the memorabilia. (sp?) I don’t expect any major changes.
they regularly close this ride down to swap out the memorabilia. (sp?) I don’t expect any major changes.