VIDEO: Disney Imagineering Shares Behind the Scenes Look at the Making of Star Wars Land at Celebration Orlando

WDWNT on April 19, 2017

At a panel discussion today at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando entitled Star Wars and Disney Parks: A Galaxy in the Making, creative minds from Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Imagineering discussed their unique partnership and shared additional details about the new galactic lands being created at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Everyone in the room got to experience the excitement and commitment this team is bringing to this project.

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Here’s an exclusive look at a video shared at today’s event which gives some insight into this incredible collaboration.

The team shared exciting new details about the story behind this mysterious destination somewhere on the Outer Rim — lying on the edge of the Unknown Regions. The remote village was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes, but the prominence of the outpost has been bypassed with the rise of hyperspace travel. Now home to those who prefer less attention, it has become a thriving port for smugglers, rogue traders and adventurers traveling between the frontier and uncharted space. It’s also a convenient safe-haven for others intent on avoiding the expanding reach of the First Order.

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Unusual characters from across the galaxy have landed here, preferring the “no questions asked” environment as well as easy access to exotic supplies and an abundant supply of ready rogues looking to join a crew for their next adventure.

As Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced last month, our Star Wars-themed lands are scheduled to open in 2019.

VIDEO: Learn More About Star Wars Land’s Reputation System, Attractions, and More with Full Celebration Orlando Panel

WDWNT on April 19, 2017

Yesterday, a special panel at Star Wars Celebration Orlando was presented celebrating “Disney Parks and Star Wars –  A Galaxy in the Making”. The presentation includes 40 minutes of talk about the Star Wars Land project for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, revealing new details we have not heard before. Learn all about building a reputation, helping bounty hunters, joining the First Order or the Resistance, piloting the Millennium Falcon, and more in the video below:

Due to copyright issues, Disney would not allow us to upload the behind the scenes video they stop to play in the panel, but you can watch it in all of its glory here:

The panel also began with the story of Star Tours and an announcement of a new destination from The Last Jedi, which you can watch below:

The new destination in Star Tours will debut in late 2017. The Star Wars themed land at Disney Parks will open in 2019.

VIDEO: Star Wars Takes Over Rock ‘ N’ Roller Coaster, Rogue One Joins Galactic Spectacular, Rey Appears, and More from Galactic Nights

WDWNT on April 19, 2017

Star Wars – Galactic Nights took over Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Friday, April 14th, 2017 during Star Wars Celebration Orlando, turning the park into a fanboy’s dream. While we are still formulating a review (as it is expected the event will return), please enjoy our videos of the various festivities:

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster – Star Wars Edition

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster drops Aerosmith and adds the magical musical core of John Williams in this attraction overlay. The ride portion is mostly dark except for some projections of stars, a nice upgrade over the last time this overlay was installed in December 2015 for the premiere of The Force Awakens.

Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away adds Rey

Rey from the new Star Wars trilogy joins the cast of this show for one night only.

Imperial March

Darth Vader and the stormtroopers march through Disney’s Hollywood Studios in this event exclusive offering.

Rogue One added to Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular

A Rogue One sequence replaces Both in Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. You can see the Both version of the show below this one in case you are wondering what’s missing.

Stars in Cars Celebrity Motorcade

A celebrity motorcade welcomes the stars to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Galactic Nights Epilogue and Lanyard Reveal Moment

Right before the fireworks show, the event is recapped and the guest lanyards come to life with some Disney magic…

The Seventh Sister Reveals Her Face in Jedi Training

Just for this event, the Seventh Sister is turned into a face character in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.

Planetary Projections

The Chinese Theater is turned into a living canvas as tableaus of Star Wars planets come to life.

Celebrate the Saga 

Alright, they can’t all be winners. Witness this strange and almost useless stage show/powerpoint presentation on the history of Star Wars.

Photo-Ops

6 unique photo-ops were offered to guests during this event.

Walt Disney World Gondola System Foundation Construction About to Begin

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

We reported back in February about a rumor that Disney is planning to build a gondola system connecting Epcot, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation/Pop Century Resorts, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Now comes an official “Notice of Commencement” for the construction of “foundation and building infrastructure” at six different locations that correspond with the six locations we mapped out for the gondola’s route.

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The six addresses in “Attachment ‘A'” correspond exactly to the locations on the map from our February post.

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The addresses in the Notice of Commencement are:

  • 251 E. Buena Vista Dr., Bay Lake, FL – this is the turn at the intersection of Buena Vista Dr. and Epcot Resorts Blvd., near the Speedway gas station.
  • 785 Studio Dr., Bay Lake, FL – this is the station located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • 1874 Avenue of the Stars, Bay Lake, FL – this is the station located at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot.
  • 1910 Animation Way, Bay Lake, FL – this is the station at the Hourglass Lake bridge between Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
  • 1051 Sea Breeze Dr., Bay Lake, FL – this is the station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
  • 1074 Sea Breeze Dr., #C, Bay Lake, FL – this is the turn on the property of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

This is the first official filing of a Notice of Commencement, and typically construction begins soon after such a notice is filed.

Previously, Disney filed paperwork with the South Florida Water Management District regarding the Hourglass Lake station because that impacts a body of water under the SFWMD’s purview.

PCL Construction Services Inc. is a large construction firm in the civil and industrial sectors and has done work at Orlando International Airport, Legoland Florida, the Orange County Convention Center, and many other locations in Orlando and around the world.

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 4/4/17 (Star Wars Land, Toy Story, More One Man’s Dream Changes, ETC.)

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

Our latest photo report brings us to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see the latest progress on the park’s massive expansion and more. Let’s take a look…

Welcome to Hollywood!

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PhotoPass services will remain at Sid Cahuenga’s, even now with Cover Story on Hollywood Boulevard reopened.

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Some repaving happening on Hollywood Blvd., long overdue based on the color difference.

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Will this be the end of the infamous metal lines in the ground on Hollywood Boulevard?

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The Darkroom and Cover Story have reopened as one larger store attached to the Celebrity 5 & 10.

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The Dark Room has mostly pins and MagicBands for sale.

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Cover story has a lot of smaller trinkets, as well as stationery and assorted other souvenirs.

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The openings between all three shops were greatly expanded for better traffic flow as well.

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The merchandise stand outside of Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is now also sponsored by Hanes and has signage with a shop name.

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Signage outside of the former Starring Rolls Cafe now tells guests of many other dining options.

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You can see a large crane working in the former-Backlot area from the entrance of the Hollywood Brown Derby.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: Get a Bird’s Eye View of Star Wars Land & Toy Story Land Construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

It is once again time to take to the skies above Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a bird’s eye view of the construction of the park’s largest expansion, including Toy Story Land and the highly anticipated Star Wars themed land. We begin our journey with an aerial flyover video of the site:

Due to popular demand, I took the time to label a photo to better show where things are:

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As always, you can click the photos to enlarge them.

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In Toy Story Land, we can see a wall being constructed in front of the parking garage to block it from the view of guests while they are in the land.

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The new backstage facility behind Star Wars has taken shape since we last checked in. It will likely be the first piece of the expansion to be completed.

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If you look closely at the load station for the Slinky Dog Dash, you can see one small section red coaster track installed where guests will eventually board the toy vehicle.

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Not much else is happening in Star Wars Land, other than the wall we showed you in our expansion update last week. Otherwise, the ditch for the larger attraction continues to be worked on.

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The work south of the road, towards the bottom, is for the new parking entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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Toy Story Land is expected to open in 2018, while Star Wars Land will officially open in 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

New “Music of Pixar Live!” Show Coming to Hollywood Studios this Summer

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

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Some new entertainment will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer in a limited time engagement.

This new event called “The Music of Pixar Live!” will showcase some of the wonderful, yet memorable music from a selection of Pixar Films. There will be a live orchestra, as well as appearances from beloved Pixar character she such as Woody and Sully.

Starting May 26, “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” will be presented three times nightly at Theater of the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (following the regular daily performances of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage”). The show will also feature highlights from some of Pixar’s greatest scores, from films like “Toy Story” to “Cars 3.

Disney CEO Bob Iger Extends Contract Through 2019

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

On Thursday, the Walt Disney Company announced the extension of current CEO Bob Iger’s contract to July 2, 2019.  The complex nature of finding a suitable replacement has proven challenging in the years since Mr. Iger first announced his desire to retire.   Since it is a “robust process of identifying a successor and ensuring a smooth transition” the Board of Directors felt keeping the steady approach Mr. Iger has provided would best serve the Company.

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Robert A. Iger

In the release, the Independent of Lead Director of the Disney Board Orin C. Smith highlighted Mr. Iger’s success’s over his first 11 years as CEO.  Among those achievements are the 448% growth in shareholder returns while simultaneously increasing the market capitol of the company from $46 billion to $177 billion.

Mr. Iger expressed his gratitude in saying “leading this Company is a tremendous privilege, and I am honored to have been asked to continue serving as CEO” adding “even with the incredible success the Company has achieved, I am confident that Disney’s best days are still ahead”.

As part of his agreement, Mr. Iger will receive a $5 million dollar bonus for staying on.  In addition to the bonus, Mr. Iger will remain a consultant for the company for 3 years following his retirement.  Back in 2011, Mr. Iger announced his intentions to step down in 2015.  The departures of CFO Jay Rasulo and COO Tom Staggs left no clear successor within the company.  This latest extension marks the 3rd time that Mr. Iger’s contract has been extended since his initial announcement.

With Pandora: World of Avatar set to open this spring and both Toy Story and Star Wars Lands set to open by 2019, it makes sense that Mr. Iger would want to stay on for those openings as the acquisition of both Pixar and Lucasfilm have been huge success under the Iger tenure.