"Lights, Motors, Action!" Stunt Show to Close Permanently
After operating for a little less than 11 years, one of Disney's Hollywood Studios' biggest stunt shows will close forever to allow the theme park to expand and introduce brand-new themed areas (including Toy Story Land, Star Wars Land and other rumored lands that have not been announced to the public yet).
While the show and other nearby areas will officially close on April 2, 2016, it is not know if the theater will be demolished (or partially removed) right away.
While the show and other nearby areas will officially close on April 2, 2016, it is not know if the theater will be demolished (or partially removed) right away.
Here is the official announcement confirming the show's closure, as seen on the Disney Parks Blog:
"As many of you know, our historic expansion at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will bring new, spectacular experiences to the park, including lands inspired by the blockbuster Star Wars and Toy Story films.
Recently, we shared that the park’s Star Wars-themed land will transport guests to a never-before-seen planet with new experiences that’ll include a customized secret mission on the Millennium Falcon and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts everyone in the middle of a climactic battle. And in Toy Story Land, Andy’s backyard will come to life and the famous little green aliens will take you for a spin in their very own flying saucers. A family-friendly roller coaster will also have you riding on the back of Slinky Dog.
In order to bring our new lands to life, the first steps of the expansion will be happening soon. We wanted to let you know that Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and nearby locations around Streets of America will be closing on April 2, 2016. The Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show attraction will continue its daily shows until the closing date.
While the new areas of the park come to life, we’ll continue bringing new things to Disney’s Hollywood Studios such as the recent opening of Star Wars Launch Bay, the nighttime spectacular “Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular” and Sunset Showcase."
PHOTO: © 2016 Walt Disney World Resort. All Rights Reserved.
No surprise here. That's got to be an expensive show to run. Also, I would guess that is right where they want to put Star Wars land. I think the Muppet theater is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic news. And, yes, please retire the Muppets.
ReplyDeleteI'm typically against the "nothing to do here" arguments at DHS, but ending this show officially cuts the park in half.
ReplyDelete3 fastpasses and go Home .Now a 4 hour park ..I am all for change but don't close everything at ounce.
ReplyDelete"And, yes, please retire the Muppets."
ReplyDeleteNo.
Muppets must stay, but need to take over that area. It always felt strange to have the little Muppet square with only one attraction for them, and a half of a store.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many ways Disney could take them: they're built for making folks laugh at every day stuff and wonderful to use in parodies. If I were them I'd consider revamping the show and allow it to have new elements added in every so often to keep it fresh. (SW Land opens, have Darth Vader take over the screen for a few moments until shut down by kermit, have one of the monsters walk through wearing storm trooper attire, that sort of thing.
SW isn't going into that area. A major portion of the backstage for LMA is in the new Toyland zone. Also this LMA area is going to be needed early on simply for staging equipment, materials etc. There is a tremendous amount of work to do, outside, in the real world. This expansion is not being constructed inside existing buildings or only at night.
ReplyDeleteTop of the parking garage is going to have a great view!
Disney continues to charge full rate for the park and that is ethically indefensible. I'm not a fan of the constant "What would Walt do?" crowd that portends to gatekeep, but in this instance I DO think Walt would cut the rate and tell his shareholders to suck it up and tough it out a few years.
PS: I wouldn't be surprised that the usual 8' high construction walls become more substantial - think Streets of New York style facades. Higher walls provide more noise and dust control. There are no site lines to preserve either. (Like Hub construction, etc).
I respectfully disagree with the above, as the best attractions in the park are Toy Story, Rockin' Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. Once you've seen LMA, you've seen it and don't need to again. The backlot tour was boring ever since they cut it way down. Streets of NY is pointless now that Osborne Lights are gone. Muppets is so blurry/analog/outdated that it must either go or get updated. While it's not technically in the Star Wars Land area, it is right next to it, so it might be better to just go. Most kids these days don't know or care about the Muppets, so should Disney really keep it for the 35-55 crowd who used to watch it on TV? I don't think that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is we've all been complaining that this park needed to be gutted with a major expansion, and guess what? It's happening, so celebrate the changes with Pixar and Star Wars. If you don't want to spend full price, don't buy the ticket. Go visit Universal or Seaworld. It's fine. The market will take of all that. If they see attendance drop, they'll do something about it.
I agree with JB. The Muppits have to go. I have seen it a few times, and the quality is very poor. Ironically, the Star Wars display filled the park with people, so I don't think Disney will reduce the price. If Disney is smart, it will keep adding tidbits of the future Star Wars films. This will add crowds. This park desperately needs this upgrade. It will be under construction for a few years, but wow, when it's finished, it will be amazing! We just have to be patient!
ReplyDeleteBart Simpson: Dad, what's a Muppet?
ReplyDeleteHomer Simpson: Well, son, it's not quite a mop...it's not quite a puppet...so to answer your question, I don't know.
The Simpsons were making fun of the Muppets lack of popularity among kids back in the 1990s, so they were already kind of a joke 20 years ago. Modern audiences really don't care about these characters.
Disney owns the Muppets. They will not let that investment go down the drain. Stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteI actually think they will keep the Muppets attraction. I also feel Pizza Planet will be no longer, and once reopened will be a Muppet themed restaurant. They could also add back the meet n greet. Disney just did 2 Muppet movies and now has a Muppet show on ABC, which will be revamped for the Spring. The Muppets are far from dead. Mark my words, you will see more of the Muppets!
ReplyDeleteThe Disney Parks Blog confirmed that Muppet*Vision 3D will not close as part of these changes nor is it expected to.
ReplyDelete"Most kids these days don't know or care about the Muppets, so should Disney really keep it for the 35-55 crowd who used to watch it on TV? I don't think that makes sense."
ReplyDeleteWho was it again that said "Your dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."?
Anybody else think that the Muppets should move over to EPCOT?
ReplyDeleteWith Captain EO gone and HISTK gone, Why Not just move it to that theater?
Maybe re-theme the entire Imagination Pavillion utilizing the Disney Muppet assets including them in a new ride to imagination? You could also adopt Figment as a Muppet?
Plus, EPCOT needs Characters and moving the Muppets would give EPCOT some
Muppetvision 2 could work perfectly in Epcot as if you remember at the end of the movie everything is damaged and the muppets needed to find a new home. Beaker and dr Bunsen could take over the show
ReplyDeleteMaybe start with a Muppets meet-n-greet in the now empty Innoventions West, and if the interest is strong enough, give them the Imagination or Energy pavilion (move those dinosaurs to Animal Kingdom).
ReplyDeleteLook, the Muppets are ok for what they are. The glory days are over.
ReplyDeleteIn a real sense the muppets don't have legs - they're never going to be as popular as they once were - unless perhaps they went to total animation and then they could more easily utilized in "Pixar" fashion
Disney owns all kinds of characters, many were once just as popular as the muppets were. Buying additional properties when they go up for sale, like the muppets, doesn't necessarily equate to some enormous effort by Disney to make them more important, as it were, and the fact that Disney owns something certainly doesn't equate to that something being popular or a smash success etc.
There is a lot of mid/late 20th century entertainment property near being shopped around. Studios will buy this stuff, most of it will be put away and forgotten about.
What's next, Kukla Fran and Ollie Land? Mr Rogers Neighborhood? Archie's in Riverdale?
Scooby Doo Haunted Mansion? (THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!)
Kukla, Fran and Ollie? Boy, that goes back! I don't think anyone under the age of 50 remembers them! Scoopy Doo haunted mansion would be great at Universal! I won't go there about Mr. Rogers! How about the Flintstones?
ReplyDeleteMr. Maggo's Mirror Maze? Davy and Goliath's coaster?
ReplyDeleteMickey and Minnie Mouse?....Oh wait...
ReplyDeleteThink it's all massive shame. The studios were great with behind the scenes stuff. I'm a great fan of cars land. It's a time of change from each park being a unique experience to a bunch of character orientated rides. The magic for me was moving from a Hollywood street to endor to a tram past Something I'd seen in a film. Times change I know, but favourite park is now Epcot which had no massive charachter tie ins
ReplyDelete