So we are less than a month from the Academy Awards and there’s an interesting thing happening at the Hollywood Studios: nothing. Absolutely nothing. The park with the Hollywood theme, early 1900s Hollywood vibe, Great MOVIE Ride in the center isn’t pulling anything special for the Academy Award season. No red carpet, no subtle changes to some of the area to match the season, nothing at all. This is nothing new; after all I am pretty sure Hollywood hasn’t done anything at all to celebrate the Oscars since 1989. But isn’t it time that they do something about it?
This park is now the least-attended of the four major Disney World parks. Star Wars Weekends is losing some appeal, the ESPN Weekend is totally null and void, and there hasn’t been an outstanding new attraction since Toy Story Mania many years ago. If someone brings up American Idol we will have problems. But one way we can definitely breathe some life into this park is by creating some exciting events similar to how Epcot spices its attendance with the Flower and Garden and Food and Wine Festivals. I propose 28 Days of Oscar.
What I would do is throughout February you spice up the Hollywood Studios with new features, shows, and events involving the upcoming Academy Awards, which are usually done at the end of February. Before the Oscars, you can use the Premiere Theater and continuously show the most popular movies that have won Academy Awards. They can range from modern Oscar-winning classics like Forrest Gump and Spirited Away to older classics like Casablanca, Mary Poppins, Gone With the Wind, etc. In the Drew Carey theater, you can do Oscar trivia games where guests can earn prizes and whatnot. Inside what used to be the Narnia exhibit can be an Oscar exhibit which showcases all the films in the Disney/Touchstone line that has won Academy Awards over the years.
The Citizens of Hollywood can do special Oscar-themed games and events throughout the day to commemorate the upcoming telecast. You can even change the music around the Great Movie Ride area to play music from every film that has won for Best Original Score. I know that certain competing companies might complain a little but there are over 80 years of music to go through, I am sure we got the background music part covered. In the Animation area they can play original scores from animated movies that won the Oscar (Up, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Mary Poppins, etc.).
Lastly, the Fantasmic stage can be used to create a great montage of Oscar-winning films past and present. Set to music, a few special effects here and there, and plenty of Oscar flair, we can create a 30-minute experience that shows us all of the wonderful Oscar-winning moments we grew up with and love. What better way to celebrate the Oscar winners past and present than with a grandiose presentation in the Fantasmic area? Yes I know the stage is for Fantasmic, but this area has so much potential for other events. For those that know me best know I've been drooling for a Star Wars-like show during their Weekends.
Anyway, back on topic. The big night. Oscar night.
On Oscar night they should hold a very special ceremony for guests that are willing to pay a little extra. We can re-create Hollywood by rolling out an actual massive red carpet stretching from the front of the park to the Chinese Theater. Select guests that decide to participate will show up in their very best dressed ways and will walk down the carpet with the Citizens of Hollywood (and the Photopass team) posing as paparazzi and reporters. Inside the Chinese Theater they can watch the Oscars and are treated to an all-you-can-eat banquet inside the area throughout the Academy Awards. I have never been a fan of separate-ticketed events but this event is much too small for every random guest to enjoy.
But the regular guests will not be left totally in the dark. They can witness the well-dressed guests walking the red carpet, but will also be allowed to watch the Academy Awards from multiple locations including the American Idol screens inside and outside, the Premiere Theater, inside some of the quick-service restaurants, and of course, the Hollywood Brown Derby. On this night Hollywood Studios can stay open normally until 5:00, re-open at 6:00 with all the additional changes, and run until 11:00 at night, when the Oscar usually finishes.
Most of these changes are low-key, but can definitely spice up a park that has seen better days in the past. What once used to dominate the four parks in terms of events (Soap Weekend, Star Wars Weekend, ESPN Weekend) has really calmed down lately. Hollywood Studios has the space, themeing, and ability to re-create the park into a temporary Academy Award shrine and can re-create some of the hype and fun of attending the Oscars on the other side of the country. Remember, in Disney its all about the small details, so why not dedicate a month to celebrating movies that are associated with Oscar gold? It would definitely give repeat visitors a reason to return to Hollywood Studios in February. And best of all can bring back some of the original theme to the park: celebrating the movies.
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