Kermit the Frog Hot-Air Balloon to be Removed for Star Wars Land at Hollywood Studios

The MuppetVision fountain at Hollywood Studios was temporarily turned into a planter to accommodate the Star Wars themed-land construction nearby, but it seems the galaxy far, far away will have a long-lasting impact on the look of the 1991 Hollywood Studios attraction.

The Kermit the Frog hot air balloon as it has looked since it was repainted in 2008 to remove references to the Jim Henson name.

The Kermit the Frog hot air balloon as it has looked since it was repainted in 2008 to remove references to the Jim Henson name.

It appears as if the iconic Kermit the Frog hot air balloon (which has loomed over the Muppets Courtyard for nearly 26 years) will be removed at some point over the next few weeks. Disney has not stated if the balloon will be reused somewhere else, but it doesn’t sound like the balloon will be returning as of this time.

 width=

The balloon as it appeared from 1991 until 2008.

The balloon is being removed because it would be visible from inside of the Star Wars-themed land that is being constructed.

PHOTOS: Additional FuelRod Kiosks Added to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

 

The expansion of FuelRod continues at Walt Disney World as the swappable electronics battery has exceeded all expectations in just the first 6 months of its run at the Vacation Kingdom of the World.

Two new kiosks can now be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, one at PizzeRizzo, and another inside of Rock Around the Shop at the exit of Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster.

 width=

FuelRod kiosk inside of PizzeRizzo at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

 width=

FuelRod kiosk inside of Rock Around the Shop (Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster exit) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Be sure to check out our in-depth review of the FuelRod service, which by the way, is now also available at the Disneyland Resort.

Here is an updated list of kiosk locations at Walt Disney World:

  • Magic Kingdom
    • Tomorrowland Light and Power Co.
    • Big Top Souvenirs
    • Pecos Bill’s
    • Curtain Call Collectibles
  •  Epcot
    • Disney Traders
    • Camera Center (Future World)
    • World Traveler (International Gateway)
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios
    • Celebrity 5 & 10
    • Rock Around the Shop (exit of Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster)
    • PizzeRizzo
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom
    • Island Mercantile
  • Disney Springs
    • Marketplace Disney Photo Imaging
    • DisneyQuest
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports
    • ESPN Clubhouse Shop
  • Resort Hotels
    • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
    • Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
    • Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
    • Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Hold One-Night-Only After-Hours Star Wars Event in April

In alliance with Star Wars Celebration coming to Orlando, Disney will be holding an after-hours hard ticket event at Hollywood Studios called “Star Wars: Galactic Nights”. Star Wars: Galactic Nights will take place on April 14, 2017, from 7:00 PM to midnight. Tickets are available for $124 per child and $129 per adult (plus tax). It is $119.00 for adults and $113.00 for children if you are an Annual Passholder.

 width=

 

Guests are invited to put on your finest Star Wars-themed costumes and attire (permitting costume guidelines), and walk the red carpet toward an intergalactic introduction—followed by a whole universe of event entertainment and interactive fun, from a park-wide scavenger hunt to Star Wars Character encounters and more.

Hollywood Studios attractions available throughout the event include:

  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Star Wars Launch Bay
  • Star Wars: Path of the Jedi
  • Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
  • Toy Story Mania!
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
  • The Great Movie Ride
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid

The event also offers a wide array of exclusive offerings, including:

Inside the Saga – Celebrity Chat

After a brief pre-show warm-up featuring the hosts of the Star Wars Show, hear from a Star Wars feature film cast member. As your host asks question after riveting question, their stories will be yours—including what it was like to perform before an audience of millions.

Inside the Saga – Behind the Magic

Following a pre-show with the hosts of the Star Wars Show, learn what it takes to make some of cinema’s most beloved moments, as experienced by one of the Saga’s behind-the-scenes wizards. Their adventures will be yours as this special crew member explains all that goes into bringing the world—and worlds—of Star Wars to life.

Character meet and greets will also be a part of the event, including:

  • Stormtroopers on Patrol

As you board your shuttle at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, get ready to come face-to-face with Imperial Stormtroopers patrolling the embarkation ramps in pursuit of a Rebel spy.

  • Ewok Encounter

While you adventure through the forest of Endor en route to your flight with Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, prepare for a curious encounter with a few furry village inhabitants.

  • Imperial March

Clear the way for Darth Vader as the feared-and-revered Sith Lord leads a battalion of Stormtroopers down Hollywood Boulevard during a dramatic Imperial March to the event stage.

  • March of the First Order

Clear the way for Captain Phasma as this ruthless commander leads her squad of Stormtroopers up Hollywood Boulevard in a daunting demonstration of the First Order’s obedience and strength.

  • Characters at Star Wars Launch Bay

Visit the Cantina at this popular Disney’s Hollywood Studios destination for a chance to interact with the most notorious bounty hunter in the galaxy, Boba Fett—and possibly even Darth Vader himself!

The event will also be host to an exclusive scavenger hunt. During the Seize the Saga Scavenger Hunt, you’ll be enlisted to find 8 takeaway clues located at each of the Star Wars photo backdrops. After gathering the clues, Guests will be encouraged to act out their very own mini scene or capture a heartfelt message about their love for Star Wars—and post your moment on social media during the event.

The event hub will be a stunning, interactive projection featuring iconic Star Wars scenery. After guests witness a celebrity motorcade leading to the Rebel Base, you head to the main stage to find your home for ongoing event information, hosted shows, interactive moments, a DJ dance party and more.

In addition, be sure to check out the following feature presentations:

  • The Star Wars Show on Location

Join the hosts of the popular starwars.com show as they interact with Guests like you… and film material for their weekly online program.

  • Celebrate the Saga

Throughout the evening, take off on an interactive journey that chronologically celebrates the milestones of 40 Force-filled years of Star Wars.

There will be photo-ops with backdrops from all eight films, as well, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular and Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away will be presented during this event.

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 1/4/17 (Star Wars Overload, New Shows, New Socks, Etc.)

 

Our latest photo report brings us to Hollywood Studios, where we won’t be looking at Star Wars or Toy Story Land construction because you should just check out the aerial pics and video we recently posted for that. Instead, we will check out all of the other changes and modifications happening around what of the park actually exists now. Welcome to Hollywood!

Hollywood Studios Goes Rogue

 width=

Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away was updated for Rogue One. That being said, the show is still pretty awful.

 width=

 width=

 width=

Death Troopers from Rogue One now come out in a new scene.

 width=

 width=

 width=

We also have a video of the modified show if you are so inclined…

Star Wars, Nothing But Star Wars…

 width=

A new bubble blower can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is shaped like Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter and it has sound effects and it is awesome…

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

I just had to have one…

“Fireworks”

 width=

Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! has concluded its run for the season, but Disney has already stated that the show will return in 2017. Oh joy…

 width=

 width=

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is now back and performing regularly:

Re-Launch Bay

 width=

Star Wars Launch Bay’s final gallery was updated with props and models from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

The new style customizable name tags are now available at the Launch Bay – Cargo Bay store.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

 width=

Over at Star Tours, not only are all of the scenes on the ride back in randomized order, they also finally turned open the MagicBand interactive feature in the queue.

 width=

Guest animus and where they are from now show up on this screen behind the Goose Droid. Maybe someday a photo will show up as well…

 width=

If it can’t read enough MagicBands in the area, some random Star Wars characters show up on the screens.

 width=

This and That

 width=

The Rogue One MagicBand 2 is now available all around the Walt Disney World Resort if you are interested in it.

 width=

The Christmas decorations at Hollywood Studios are my favorite, so I took some pictures. Sorry, no news here.

 width=

 width=

The Red Car Trolley cart returned recently to the park.

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 1/4/17 (Star Wars Overload, New Shows, New Socks, Etc.)

 

Our latest photo report brings us to Hollywood Studios, where we won’t be looking at Star Wars or Toy Story Land construction because you should just check out the aerial pics and video we recently posted for that. Instead, we will check out all of the other changes and modifications happening around what of the park actually exists now. Welcome to Hollywood!

Hollywood Studios Goes Rogue

 width=

Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away was updated for Rogue One. That being said, the show is still pretty awful.

 width=

 width=

 width=

Death Troopers from Rogue One now come out in a new scene.

 width=

 width=

 width=

We also have a video of the modified show if you are so inclined…

Star Wars, Nothing But Star Wars…

 width=

A new bubble blower can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is shaped like Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter and it has sound effects and it is awesome…

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

I just had to have one…

“Fireworks”

 width=

Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! has concluded its run for the season, but Disney has already stated that the show will return in 2017. Oh joy…

 width=

 width=

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is now back and performing regularly:

Re-Launch Bay

 width=

Star Wars Launch Bay’s final gallery was updated with props and models from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

 width=

The new style customizable name tags are now available at the Launch Bay – Cargo Bay store.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

 width=

Over at Star Tours, not only are all of the scenes on the ride back in randomized order, they also finally turned open the MagicBand interactive feature in the queue.

 width=

Guest animus and where they are from now show up on this screen behind the Goose Droid. Maybe someday a photo will show up as well…

 width=

If it can’t read enough MagicBands in the area, some random Star Wars characters show up on the screens.

 width=

This and That

 width=

The Rogue One MagicBand 2 is now available all around the Walt Disney World Resort if you are interested in it.

 width=

The Christmas decorations at Hollywood Studios are my favorite, so I took some pictures. Sorry, no news here.

 width=

 width=

The Red Car Trolley cart returned recently to the park.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: December 2016 Flyover of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Construction (Star Wars & Toy Story Lands)

 

We take to the skies again today, this time to look at the latest progress on the Star Wars and Toy Story themed lands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As you’ll see below, a little progress has been made since our last flyover.

The Toy Story Land is starting to take shape, but there still just isn’t much to look at over on the Star Wars side.

With probably 2-2.5 years to go, there is certainly time to build this land, but I would hope to see some progress soon.

We also have a quick video of our flyover to share with you today:

VIDEO: Watch the Star Wars Launch Bay Exclusive Film Previewing Rogue One

Recently, the exhibits and film at the Star Wars Launch Bay attractions at both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts were updated to reflect the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story later this month. Lucky for us, Disneyland allows for the filming of the exclusive preview film attraction as it is not located in a formal theater there:

We also have a video walkthrough of the exhibit for you, featuring props and replicas from the film:

LIVE STREAM: Star Wars – A Galactic Spectacular Returns at Hollywood Studios

Join us this evening at 10:30 PM for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular’s return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, (maybe with new additions to the show inspired by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, now in theaters).

[sc name=”YouTube Embed 825w” id=”JXd74zudmUU” ]

[sc name=”YouTube Chat 825w” id=”JXd74zudmUU” ]

 

PHOTOS: Awesome New Darth Vader TIE Fighter Bubble Gun at Disney Parks

In celebration of the release of Rogue One in theaters today, Disney Parks have started to sell a brand new bubble blower shaped like Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter!

The bubble blower sells for $20 and is currently on sale at outdoor carts around Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Pretty neat, huh?