You know how that new launch site for fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is located just across World Drive? Well, that means the launch site is a little closer to many major roadways at Walt Disney World than any other at the resort, so things like this can happen:
In the above video, it seems a firework landed and exploded on a Walt Disney World roadway. According to the video description, the bus was travelling from Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and caught this incident while passing Disney Hollywood Studios during the nightly fireworks. The incident supposedly happened a few weeks ago and clearly no one was injured.
It’s time once again to check in on the latest progress of the expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios! By popular demand (although I still don’t really understand why anyone wants to hear me talk), this edition is the first narrated by Tom Corless, as he explains what exactly you are looking at throughout the update.
Our latest trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios takes us from exciting new merchandise, to the thrill of speedy demolition throughout the Backlot section of the park to make way for Star Wars and Toy Story Land. But first, let’s start with something weird…
In The Year 2016…
Prepaid phone cards and Sim cards still exist at Walt Disney World, in rarely found dispensers near park entrances.
Nothing pictured on the phone cards is still actually featured at Walt Disney World.
Zika Prevention Kiosks
Mosquito repellent stations can be found throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Toy Story Land – Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Movie Set Demolition
The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure is now being demolished.
Scratch that, it’s already gone…
One blade of grass remains, but that is all.
New Merchandise
MARVEL t-shirts were spotted in Keyston Clotheirs along Hollywood Boulevard. The woman and stroller are not included with them.
A new Haunted Mansion MagicBand is available at many locations
Glasses featuring the artwork for Tower of Terror and the Great Movie Ride were released last weekend.
The glass is shared between the two attraction posters.
A lot can happen in a week, including the erasing of structures that have stood for over 27 years. Meanwhile, PizzeRizzo nears completion and a plethora of new merchandise invades Disney’s Hollywood Studios in our latest photos report.
If you haven’t seen our video update this week on the expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you should probably preface this report with a watch:
Backlot Demolition for Toy Story Land
Studio Catering Co. and the adjacent Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure have been leveled, leaving practically nothing between PIXAR Place and Muppets Courtyard.
While the Backlot Tour entrance was still standing on Sunday, it has since been demolished.
The Prop Shop is still being emptied before it is the next structure to get demolished in the coming weeks.
The Studio Catering Co. has been reduced to rubble.
This and That
I caught Betty Shambles by surprise…
Now she is ready for her close-up!
Not sure how long ago this happened, but Sunset Ranch Market got a new sign to match the recent refresh of the area.
A new Buzz Lightyear plush was recently released.
PizzeRizzo
Work continues on the new PizzeRizzo in the Muppets Courtyard area.
This billboard was installed this week as the restaurant gets closer and closer to its yet to be announced opening date.
Over the last week, the windows were painted, lights were installed on the facade signage, and the Heckler Tomato was painted on.
New Merchandise
In my last photo report, I showed that men’s MARVEL shirts were now available at Keystone Clothiers. Well, now there are a few ladies shirts available as well.
A Disney Parks exclusive Baymax mug is now available.
I guess you get happier as you drink more coffee…
A bit pricey, but it is a fairly large ceramic mug.
Some March Magic-esque character sports team mugs are now available. Here’s hoping we get some new sports team jerseys with these designs.
It’s time once again to check in on the latest progress of the expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
This update includes the latest progress on PizzeRizzo in the Muppets Courtyard, the demolition of the Streets of America & Studios Catering Company for Star Wars and Toy Story Land, and more! Enjoy:
If you ever wanted to train to be a Jedi like Luke Skywalker, you may want to take a look at the latest Disney patent…
Disney Patent for Interactive Star Wars Lightsaber
“An entertainment environment has a user with a faux light saber that interacts with a drone flying through the air or operated with hidden rods to appear as if its flying through the air. The faux light saber has LEDs attached thereto to provide IR light to the drone. As an LED is turned on, an invisible light sensor built into the drone captures an image of the field of view with a bright spot at the position of the activated LED. A visible light source built into the drone then projects light through particulate matter toward the faux light saber. As a result, the uses is provided with the illusion that the faux light saber has deflected a laser beam. Multiple LEDs can be activated in sequence at various times to give user the impression that the movement by the users of the faux light saber is deflecting multiple laser beams.”
While sometimes these patents mean nothing, rumors have suggested that the Star Wars lands coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland would be full of role-playing experiences like this. Could you imagine being able to train to be a Jedi just as Luke Skywalker was by Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode IV, deflecting lasers with your weapon?
Could guests get to be Jedi knights?
Again, this could be nothing, but guests could in fact be wielding an interactive lightsaber at Disney Parks someday.
For those who were wondering if some of New York Street and the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios would survive the upcoming expansion of the park, I think the following photos will answer your question…
The street is being removed to make way for the Star Wars themed land and Toy Story Land that will be added to the park in the coming years.
Streets of America Being Removed
We will provide further pictures and video of the “damage” later today, but it looks like the Streets of America and New York Street could be removed from the park in a matter of days.
As you have probably seen by now, demolition of the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios began over the weekend, making room for the Star Wars and Toy Story Lands that will make up the park’s expansion project. On Saturday, we were lucky enough to get a look behind the walls and see the demolition up close and personal. We have some pictures of what we found to share with you today.
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
A whole section of what was San Francisco is now gone as well.
Streets of America demolition
While I’m sure some pieces were saved and sent to various places, large sections of the facade were simply torn apart in a matter of hours.
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
I will be curious to see how they hid the Muppetvision 3-D building from sight in Star Wars Land.
Streets of America demolition
Lights, Motors, Action looms off in the distance…
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Streets of America demolition
Goodbye Streets of america, you will be missed… but certainly the long overdue expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be a worth replacement.
Earlier this week, we flew over Disney’s Animal Kingdom to give you a better look at the construction of Pandora: The World of AVATAR. Today, we take flight over Disney’s Hollywood Studios to view the wreckage and remains of the Streets of America and Backlot area of the park, with demolition now nearing completion. This land clearing is of course to make way for the Toy Story Land and Star Wars themed area coming to the park in the next few years:
An overall view of the work site, including the tree clearing to accommodate the move of the car toll plaza to a new location, making more room for the Star Wars land.
The viewing area of the former Lights, Motors, Action show is being slowly gutted.
This is the area where the cars once performed for guests, now a pile of rubble.
The backdrop for the tank area at the Backlot Studio Tour remains, but a fair amount of it has been leveled.
Most of this area next to the cast parking garage will be Toy Story Land.
The first pipes and pieces of infrastructure have arrived on site for the new areas.
Just a few structures remain of the Streets of America.
This was a street just 6 days ago.
We also have a short video overview of the demolition to share with you:
