Opinion: Disney’s Hollywood Studios needs a Disney+ Pavilion
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no longer the park about how to make movies. It is now the park about being in the films and television shows with the theme park industry’s favorite buzzword: immersion. Since we are focused on the film and television world, I believe it’s time for a Disney+ Pavilion to be added.
This is my opinion, and one I know it isn’t shared often with people online. But I love Star Wars Launch Bay. I preferred it pre-pandemic, when there was a focus on the welcome video, rotating museum items, and special dessert parties, alongside the currently offered items. That being said, I still enjoy the opportunity to meet the characters and see some of the remaining museum items. For full transparency though, I should mention I am partial to my previous place of employment.
UPDATE – 06/23/23, 10:05 a.m. EST: Opinion tweet from user @WDWentHost added to bottom of article for their idea of adding Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser items to Disney+ Pavilion.
I am not rooting for its survival though, at least partially. I believe Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a bright future with an update to a Disney+ Pavilion. The offerings of Star Wars Launch Bay can be easily modified to showcase one of The Walt Disney Company’s favorite arms of the business, Disney+.
Disney+ Day is Already Celebrated at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney+ has and continues to be advertised in this area. Disney+ Day is also celebrated in Walt Disney World at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The current welcome theater show is not in operation, and hasn’t been for a few years now. Guests were welcomed into a theater for a short documentary-style video that spoke about “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” upcoming Star Wars films, and the construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
This theater could be quickly modified to offer commercials, behind-the-scenes looks, and five-minute previews of upcoming Disney+ offerings. The theater itself dumps into one of numerous museum rooms. Much like the show, this could offer a revolving space for new Disney+ show props.
Character Interactions
Currently, guests visiting Star Wars Launch Bay can meet Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and BB-8. Disney Visa Card Holders can also visit Darth Vader in a special area, complete with free digital photo downloads.
I believe these characters interaction areas should remain, but the characters should change. BB-8 would be the hardest to modify, as his body is landlocked. Even with all of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, meeting famous droids is hard to do. R2-D2 and C-3PO appear in the California version, but rarely in Florida. His location could remain, or be gutted for a third, and more easily modified, character area.
Chewbacca can be seen in Star Wars Launch Bay, roaming in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and (for now) at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Even in the popular Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land, it is possible to get a quick hug or photo with this lovable character. I believe Chewbacca’s home at Star Wars Launch Bay could be permanently changed for a swap-out spot for Disney+ characters.
Darth Vader is tricky. He currently doesn’t have a show ongoing on Disney+. He is not in the more recent Star Wars films. But, he is one of the most famous fictional villains in history. And, during my time working for Disney in the midst of the pandemic, I was asked constantly about meeting Darth Vader, Mickey Mouse, and Stitch. I believe Darth Vader’s meet and greet area should stay, but that he not be the only character to meet in that space.
Modified Star Wars Character Experiences
Darth Vader’s meet and greet space can remain unchanged and yet still offer a multitude of character experiences. Disney+ currently has numerous shows and movies revolving around this time frame, such as “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Andor,” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” with upcoming shows like “Ashoka,” and “The Skeleton Crew.” The setting of a Star Destroyer bridge could easily apply to bounty hunters like Boba Fett or Fennec Shand; villains such as Darth Vader, Captain Phasma, or Kylo Ren; and rebel infiltrators like Cassian Andor or even C-3PO.
This space could certainly still host the infamous Darth Vader, but he doesn’t have to be the only option. This space could be perfect for revolving villain characters who are harder to meet and speak with. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is more immersive and story-driven. While Rey, Vi Moradi, and Chewbacca stop for photos and greetings, it is rare to get Kylo Ren to pose for a photo in this area. This villains meet and greet spot would allow just that.
Adding More characters to the Disney+ Pavilion
Now, imagine the Star Wars villain location is taken. Disney can then modify Chewbacca’s current space into a revolving area for Disney+ locations. Florida is still stuck under the Marvel and Universal Orlando Resort contract, so many Marvel characters are out of the question. But that wouldn’t stop Pixar, Disney Junior, Bluey, Disney, or other Lucasfilm properties from being showcased.
We have seen the Pixar “Elemental” characters appear on the red carpet, but imagine their tie in at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Star Wars Launch Bay store is still closed, but could also be a revolving area for new merchandise. Character themes for meet and greets and the store could arrive in seasons, much like the fan-favorite Tribute Stores at Universal Studios Florida.
Before Star Wars Launch Bay, this building was The Magic of Disney Animation. It featured character highlights, like I am suggesting. Ralph and Vanellope were highlighted at one time, with photo-ops available with Disney characters.
Rebuild the Museum Aspect
One of the original selling points for Star Wars Launch Bay were the original models and props. Now, not so much. These areas haven’t been refreshed in a long time, but that doesn’t mean people don’t like props and museums. Take a look at the Disney100: The Exhibition offering in Philadelphia.
Technology, such as the AI Walt Disney, could be used in these museum spaces. Revolving props could highlight upcoming shows and films. There is always a push to make everything exciting for the young kids, but think of the dedicated (and high-spending) Disney adults that were inspired by the Drawn to Animation show, the Studio Backlot Tour, and learning about Walt Disney Imagineers. If this space is already holding Star Wars props and memorabilia, why not use some of this area to push your newest properties.
Nostalgia Needs a Fandom
Disney+ already does a really great job with advertising opportunities at Disney California Adventure, specifically with the Marvel characters. Nick Fury was just announced as a limited time character experience in the park.
Every single time Marvel adds limited time characters to Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure, it goes viral on TikTok, causes articles to be written by sites such as ours, and brings a swarm of passholders, influencers, and fans to the area.
At one time, Mickey Mouse was just another cartoon character. Now he is one of the most recognizable figures on Earth. For Disney to look ahead, build the fandom now for movies and shows you are producing. Films such as “Tron: Legacy” and “Treasure Planet”, or shows like “Gravity Falls” and the older “DuckTales” gained a huge fandom years after their release. Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel build quality films, but not all of them get the billion dollar release openings like “Frozen,” “Encanto,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” or “Avengers: Endgame.”
Getting that family photo with an “Elemental” character now could mean the super fans calling for a sequel many years down the line, like we have seen for sequels to “The Incredibles,” and “Monsters Inc.”
Making Old New Again
Disney’s Hollywood Studios still has long-standing fans desperately asking for limited-time parades like the older Hercules Victory Parade. While Disney may not want to gamble that much effort and planning for a release, they do still offer the Disney+ Day Motorcade.
Imagine if new film or show experiences in this thought-up Disney+ Pavilion started with two weeks of a themed motorcade. Disney’s Hollywood Studios loves their themed Chevy Camaros that showed up constantly in their pandemic-era motorcades. You don’t need to have massive, custom-built parade floats (but I would love if Disney made some).
What Next?
Will this ever happen? The answer to that question is probably more up to Disney+ ad spending than to Walt Disney Imagineers or park operations management. I think it is a plausible idea, and one that would tie in to Disney’s current efforts.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently opened the live action “The Little Mermaid” meet and greet area. It also recently opened the Toy Story Land Roundup Rodeo BBQ. Both relate to popular Disney media assets. A Disney+ Pavilion could be another updated area of the park.
@WDWentHost, Steve Soares, suggests that the closing of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser could provide new decor for this space. I believe this could be a fantastic look to really define the Star Wars section of the space. I would also love to see the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser survive in another form, perhaps as an uncharge dinner experience. But, that is for another opinion article for another time.
Do You Agree?
Are you a fan of classic Star Wars and want this relic to the Star Wars films to remain as is? Do you agree that the Disney+ Pavilion should be born? Or, are you part of the crowd that still wishes Star Wars Launch Bay was torn down for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway instead of The Great Movie Ride. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
I’d be up for this!