Guests are waiting in line at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for something unexpected. Not a popcorn bucket, a meet-and-greet, or even a ride or show, but instead they’re forming a line just to look at a display.

Inside that window at Hollywood Studios is a display of costumes from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. When was the last time a costume display has generated enough demand to require an organized line? Honestly, I don’t even remember a single time when this has occurred, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios has displayed thousands of iconic film and television props since it opened in 1989.

There was a time when Disney would lean into cultural moments like this. For example, during the Michael Eisner and Frank Wells era, the company understood the power of aligning its brand with the biggest names in global entertainment, and that it didn’t only have to be for a streaming service. The fearless duo of Eisner and Wells decided that the best way to make Disneyland and EPCOT Center “cool” in the mid-1980s was to work with the biggest music star at the time, Michael Jackson.

Captain EO starred Jackson and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The script was also partially written by George Lucas and produced in conjunction with Lucasfilm. Michael Jackson wrote and performed two new original songs for Captain EO, both of which became classics in his discography.

If only there was a mega-famous musician who wrote their own music to team with on something similar to this now…

The Disney Pixar Short Film Festival at EPCOT, which occupies the former home of Captain EO in the Imagination Pavilion, is hardly something guests plan their day around. Over at Disneyland, the Tomorrowland Theater has been sitting unused since 2020. These venues are begging for some sort of use that will better serve guests at these parks. Honestly, there are underutilized large theaters and show buildings at most Disney Parks around the world that could benefit from such an offering.

Taylor Swift is inarguably the most influential musician and most famous human being in the world right now. She resonates across generations and has a cultural reach that extends far beyond music. Her impact is now being seen in her clothes having the ability to create a queue. Imagine if she had an attraction at a Disney theme park!

Something as simple as a 4D concert-style experience would work, but I really think the Captain EO formula would be the ultimate concept. I’m not saying Disney should reboot Captain EO, but an original film with Swift in the lead, featuring brand new songs written and performed by her, would undoubtedly be a hit.

Disney already has an established relationship with Taylor Swift through Disney+, which is currently showing a docuseries about the Eras tour. The partnership exists, the audience exists, and the demand is clearly there. Why not?

To play devil’s advocate, Disney seems to shy away from celebrity involvement outside of IP-driven fodder for theme park attractions these days, and I assume this is because they have been burned in the past. Michael Jackson had his share of controversial moments and allegations against him. Of course, allegations against Steven Tyler in recent years likely did-in the Aerosmith version of Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster. Still, many Disney-movie-related rides & shows as of late do star the actors from said films, so there’s still plenty of celebrities in attractions who could ruin their reputations. To make a long story short, it wouldn’t be much more of a risk than involving any other famous person in your parks.

Another roadblock could be the belief that film-based attractions just don’t have the shelf life of something more grandiose. Disneyland Resort has a mostly local audience, many of whom visit the parks regularly. The feeling in the industry is that guests won’t go see a short film or 3D show as many times as they’ll go on a ride they like, something that would make the show less valuable for a park that has mostly returning guests. I don’t know that I believe that. I think it’s just a matter of giving them something they really want. Also, a Taylor Swift film would be a safer bet than a $250 million Taylor Swift-related ride that would need to bank on the fact that she will still be popular and relevant many years later. The lower investment in a film-based show could see a financial return must quicker, and it could also be produced and constructed way faster to capitalize sooner on her fame.

Personally, I’d prefer that this attraction be built at Disney’s Hollywood Studios rather than EPCOT, but wherever it goes, it would be a smash hit. For me, this feels like an opportunity for Disney to deliver something new, yet something that has the feel of a different ‘Era’.

Do you agree? Let us know in the comments and on social media.

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