Category: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The world has anxiously been awaiting the addition of another track to Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for years now, not wanting to wait in the often incredibly long line that the attraction would boast most days of the year. Well, this afternoon the 3rd track finally opened (a few days early) to guests:

The new track enters from the merge area for both standby and FastPass, where cast members can then direct you to either the two pre-existing existing tracks or down a series of hallways to the new additional 3rd track of the ride.

Down to the left guests enter the series of hallways.

Guests then pop out in a very different iteration of Andy’s Room.

Much like in the Tokyo version, the vehicles travel under Andy’s bed.

The ride itself is pretty much the same, the only big difference is really that there is no staircase over the load and unload area, which let’s this side flow a lot better than the existing side.

The load and unload area here is much smaller and does not include the handicap access like the other side.

Guests then exit down a tent style hallway towards the area behind PIXAR Place, which will eventually be Toy Story Land.

Here is a video of the experience:

As of 11:00AM, Toy Story Midway Mania had pretty much no wait for stand-by, a byproduct of the additional track. I’m not sure this will remain the case, but clearly there has been an impact…

This is the wait time for the attraction as of 11:12AM ET. Clearly, this is much lower than it usually is at this time, and the wait is actually shorter than what is posted.

The new 3rd track at Toy Story Mania was scheduled to open on Friday, but should remain open from here on out.

With the opening of the 3rd track for Toy Story Midway Mania today, Disney also introduced a new Toy Story “Green Army Men” Boot Camp show in PIXAR Place, right near where the new track of the ride exits (and where guests can preview the fun to come in Toy Story Land). The new show has one speaking Green Army Man along with a troop of others recruiting younger guests to join the ranks. Take a look for yourself:

A few weeks ago, we told you about plans moving forward to add a Tower of Terror themed bar at the exit of the Hollywood Studios attraction sometime this summer. The desk had been cleared out, the CDS location had moved, and then suddenly thing stopped happening at the little desk situated between the photo desk and the Hollywood Tower Gifts shop. Well, it appears Disney pulled the plug on the project not too long ago.

Why cancel the addition of the bar? There was certainly a lot of good publicity for the project spurred by our article, in fact, it may be the first time I can ever recall posting a rumor to almost completely positive response by our readers. Well, it seems the merchandising team at the park wasn’t keen on a bar in the middle of their very profitable retail outfit at the exit of one of Walt Disney World’s most popular attractions.

In fact, this isn’t event the first time this happened recently. Food and Beverage was determined to have a location inside Star Wars Launch Bay, in fact, it’s mentioned in the original press release for the attraction, but when Launch Bay actually opened, all guests found was an abandoned false Cantina set footsteps away from a rather large Star Wars shop.

It came ever so close to happening…

So (for now), any hope of a bar at the Tower of Terror is dead, but, if I know the food and beverage department well enough, I’m sure they are looking at other nearby venues at the Tower of Terror to play host to this new bar concept.

As work continues at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there is so much more happening than just the construction of two new themed lands. There’s plenty of other changes happening around the park, and since it’s hard to see what’s happening way back in the demolition zone currently, this is where we will turn our focus in our latest video update:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5MgwWIYk]

Starting today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can share a warm hug with Olaf from Disney’s Frozen…

Entering on the Echo Lake side, guests can head to Celebrity Spotlight to meet Olaf from Frozen. The new experience features the lovable snow man with a fun summer backdrop. According to Disney, the character meeting in this location will rotate every few months, but there has been no word on how long Olaf will be featured here.

The location (situated between the Star Tours area restrooms and the Star Wars: Path of the Jedi film) does not offer FastPass+, so you’ll probably want to get here early to meet Olaf if desired. Adjacent meet and greet experiences for Mickey and Minnie Mouse are expected to open very soon, but those experiences will enter through a separate queue on Commissary lane.

PHOTOS BY DIRK WALLEN

A  new Mickey and Minnie meet and greet experience is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: “Mickey and Minnie Starring in Red Carpet Dreams”.

Here, you’ll discover Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, living the dream as A-list Hollywood stars. Walk the red carpet and step right into a scene with Minnie, where she appears as a Tinsel Town starlet in a ritzy setting straight out of a lush and colorful musical extravaganza. Next, join Mickey in a scene from “Fantasia,” where he’s portraying his iconic role of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

“Mickey and Minnie Starring in Red Carpet Dreams” makes its debut on Sunday, May 8.

Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios will now find a new indoor home for both Mickey and Minnie Mouse as of Sunday. The new experience is titled “Mickey and Minnie starring in Red Carpet Dreams”.

The meet and greet is located inside what was the audition space for the American Idol Experience

The queue is in a pleasant covered area where 1930’s Hollywood-style instrumental music plays

Guests then pass through a marquee and posters for both experiences

Guests can meet Minnie dressed as a Golden Age of Hollywood starlet

Between the two meet and greets is a gorgeous hallway covered in marble accents and filled with some amazing spoof posters

A lot of really awesome park references to found throughout

Guests then arrive at the Sorcerer Mickey Mouse meet and greet, now moved from it’s home on the other side of the park

Overall, this is a really nice set-up for both meet and greets and a welcome addition to the park. It’s nice to see both characters in a permanent home after a period of uncertainty and in a home so fitting of the theme of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Be sure to check this out next time you visit the park.