Studio 1 - What will become of ye?

[fizzog]

Ok, you've been living in a cave if you don't know about Hollywood Blvd coming to Paris (ok, maybe not living in a cave but separating yourself from Micechat) but Studio 1 already devotes itself to recreating Hollywood. I personally think that walking from Studio 1 practically directly into Hollywood Blvd would be a rather bad clash and not make sense, so... what do we all think should be done with Studio 1 if anything? Vote on le poll! I thought of some things, perhaps not practical but just ideas.

1. Make it into a kind of giant exhibition about the history of movie making starting in the 20s and ending up in the present day where you can go in front of a green screen and stuff.

2. Make it seasonal, for instance when the next Narnia film comes out, deck it out as a Narnia set. When POTC4 comes out (oh come on folks, the money is just too tempting and I thought 3 was great enough to allow for a lighter sequel) it would be Tortuga or a ship deck. That sorta thing. Ooh and at Christmas it could have special North Pole decorations

3. Choose a theme for a movie set, ie, a space station and you can explore it and it features little interactive exhibits talking about all the different elements of movie making. Eg you can try out using a camera or do some blue screen stuff with the space station windows (this one kind of links with the first and second).

[pussnboots]

Tough one. It's one of those things that looked fantastic as a concept art, but failed to live up to that in reality. But where to begin fixing it?

I suppose the concept should be kept, but well, money just needs to be poured into it, really. The facades need more depth. They need to come together, it's currently far too eclectic. That enormous shop needs far more "exploration value" in the form of smaller areas or interesting displays. And that restaurant is just horrible, or as I like to call it, the place where you get a tray of processed Nestle crap and wonder where your €20 went.

But personally, I think the entrances ruin it the most. All that bright light; where's the buffer zone? When you enter the Disneyland Park, you walk underneath a dark tunnel to represent the darkness before a film. At the WDS, a movie-themed park for Pete's sake, there's no such transition.

[fizzog]

Also the christmas trees are still up in the windows hehe. I think it looks/feels way better walking from the main park section to front lot actually for some reason. The whole thing just felt somewhat flat and distant in some respects. My main gripe is a thematic clash but I don't think injecting a bit of new life into it would do it badly either.

[pussnboots]

Originally Posted by fizzog

Also the christmas trees are still up in the windows hehe. I think it looks/feels way better walking from the main park section to front lot actually for some reason. The whole thing just felt somewhat flat and distant in some respects. My main gripe is a thematic clash but I don't think injecting a bit of new life into it would do it badly either.

It's better that way because at least the Front Lot is worth looking at. Before the ToT, no worse, before the Partners Statue, Studio 1 had by far the worst, most pathetic "weenie" in Disney history. All that built up excitement and then you exit the building and -- what? A blue hat and a sign reading "Studio Tram Tour"? Worst anticlimax ever. Especially since most of the guests had become accustomed to walking up to castles, mountains, ships and God knows what else.

[fizzog]

Indeed! Please vote on the poll Puss.... At least it'll be fixed now, if only they'd shift the Tram Tour's entrance to Backlot and have the tunnel lead into more street sets, but that's for another discussion.

[nathan detroit]

I think that Studio 1 is the only part of WDS that currently works thematically. Yes, Hollywood Blvd will clash somewhat but I'm afraid that I don't think any of Fizzy's suggested replacements would work and I can't really think of anything to put there in its place. It is essentially a row of shops and eateries. If we could get rid of all of the shops and move them elsewhere, it might be nice to fill the building with cinema screens and mini theatres showing all sorts of different-genre clips and shorts.
In the meantime, leave it as it is.

[pussnboots]

Originally Posted by nathan detroit

I think that Studio 1 is the only part of WDS that currently works thematically. Yes, Hollywood Blvd will clash somewhat but I'm afraid that I don't think any of Fizzy's suggested replacements would work and I can't really think of anything to put there in its place. It is essentially a row of shops and eateries. If we could get rid of all of the shops and move them elsewhere, it might be nice to fill the building with cinema screens and mini theatres showing all sorts of different-genre clips and shorts.
In the meantime, leave it as it is.

Well, I suppose it's all relative. Compared to the rest of the park, it's a real winner. And I must admit that it's very photogenic. And since the park veritably closes at noon, it's nice to see a functioning neon light for once.

But do that cavernous store and that eatery really have their fans?

[Malin]

Studio 1 main purpose is to accomendate guest during the (pre global warming) cold wet winter months.Its also the only area of the park where the main theming is executed well.I say why fix something that don't need fixing where so many other areas of the Studios need some TLC

[nathan detroit]

Fizzy is right that once Hollywood Blvd opens, Studio 1 will look like a pale imitation (hopefullt anyway!).
Puss is right that Studio 1 offers a nice 'nightime' experience, even first thing in the morning.
Malin is right that Studio 1 offers nice respite from the Euro-winters.

This thread is no fun - everyone is right!

As to Puss asking if the shop and eaterie (I refuse to call that a restaurant!) has any fans - the answer is probably no. The shop in Production Courtyard is far superior and WDS does not have a single decent food outlet. But, the atmosphere within Studio 1 is fantastic. The enclosed space allows the theme to be fully in-your-face, and with a theme as good as that why not? The music is always pumped up to eleven and the store fronts are all interesting and attractive. Although its no main Street, it comes close and is always constant regardless of weather or time of day.
Hollywood Blvd may suffer from being too big and open. I remember when I was in WDW MGM, the theming of their Hollywood was not really apparent until after dusk and as we have already discussed, the opening hours of DLP do not match those of TDR!

[fizzog]

But why not just make 10 louder in Studio 1?

Hehe...

I actually think Backlot Express is quite cool but that's all. Cheap theming but fun nonetheless. I guess it could be made into a New York Broadway night time set with Times Square in the distance but it's not the movie capitol of the world like Hollywood so it might not quite make sense as the gateway into the park. Still, allows for some more original street sets behind Hollywood Blvd

[k_peek_2000]

Originally Posted by fizzog

But why not just make 10 louder in Studio 1?

Because it goes to 11.

[nathan detroit]

This may be a stupid question and maybe I should know the answer, but is anything planned to happen in Hollywood Blvd or is it just going to start off as a facade?

I hope that its not going to be more shops and eateries. I would rather it opened as a bunch of facades as long as we had the knowledge that they would eventually front some new attractions and places of interest.

[fizzog]

From what I've seen of recent concept art not everything will be a facade, but I always thought that 'island' building wouldn't be by the look of it

[nathan detroit]

I just hope that they are leaving room within the buildings for future development.

[fizzog]

I'm not incredibly confident I'm afraid, oh how I wish I was