Our series of video updates on all of the work happening around Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues today as we bring you the latest changes to this park in flux at Walt Disney World:
Beginning May 20th, guests will have the option to choose from 3 new food booths at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
The offerings can be found around Echo Lake and are available for a limited time.
Just minutes ago, Disney shared a sneak peek of what’s coming to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including new details on the land’s attractions set to bring the world of Toy Story to life for guests.
In Toy Story Land, you’ll find yourself shrunk to the size of a toy to explore the world of Andy’s backyard with your favorite Toy Story characters, including Woody and Buzz. There are two new themed attractions being developed for Toy Story Land.
The first – Slinky Dog Dash – will be a family coaster attraction. The attraction features a coaster track that Andy has built all over his backyard using his Mega Coaster Play Kit, but as you know, he has a pretty amazing imagination, so he’s combined it with some of his other toys, according to Imagineer Kathy Mangum. Take a look at a concept video of Slinky Dog Dash that Kathy shared earlier:
On Slinky Dog Dash, you will zip, dodge and dash around many turns and drops that Andy has created to really make Slinky and his coils stretch to his limits.
The second all-new attraction in Toy Story Land will be Alien Swirling Saucers. This attraction is designed as a toy play set that Andy got from Pizza Planet, inspired by the first Toy Story film. Aliens are flying around in their toy flying saucers and trying to capture your rocket toy vehicle with “The Claw.”
As you rotate around the toy planets and satellites as part of the game, you’ll swirl to the beat of fun “Space Jazz” music developed just for this experience, Mangum said. The music, the lighting, and the sound effects will add to the flurry of your adventure while “The Claw” looms ominously over you.
Also today, Mangum shared an update that beginning Memorial Day weekend, even more guests will be able to experience Toy Story Mania with the addition of a third track.
Over the last month, I have heard a lot of people talking about a possible Guardians of the Galaxy overlay for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Supposedly, Disney is looking to opt out of the licensing fees paid for the use of the Twilight Zone franchise in this ride at Disney Parks around the globe, as odd of an overlay as Guardians might sound like for it. Sounds pretty far fetched, right? Well, it isn’t. Actually, it’s all true according to sources.
Before you get too upset, from everything I have heard at this point, this only applies to Disney California Adventure. There are no plans anytime soon to overlay or replace the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, especially with Disney and Sony working together on a feature film based on the attraction that also ties into the Twilight Zone franchise. Why overlay the California attraction? For a brand new theme park land for DCA – MARVEL Studios.
MARVEL Studios would encompass the last true expansion pad for the park, situated between Hollywood Land and A Bug’s Land. The area would be a natural extension of Hollywood Land, being a “working movie studio”. On the lot, guests could find a series on indoor and outdoor meet and greet experiences, as well as plenty of shopping and dining. One completely new attraction would greet guests according to current rumblings: a launch coaster featuring Captain America, showcasing elaborate show scenes between coaster ride portions. The other attraction would be near one of the two entrances to the new land: a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed overlay of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
With the current budgetary mindset in Disney Parks management right now, this makes a lot of sense. If they want to get MARVEL quickly and in a less costly manner into the California parks, this seems like a good answer. The Tower of Terror in California has never been as beloved or admired as much as the original attraction in Florida, and as long as an attraction of the same style existed, I find it hard to believe that any guests visiting the Disneyland Resort would actually care.
What would a Guardians of the Galaxy overlay for Tower look like? Who knows. I’m assuming there may be some material in the second Guardians of the Galaxy film which may lend itself to this attraction style, but until then, I am absolutely at a loss for how this makes sense. However, I don’t doubt Disney could make it work and make the overlay not feel so forced.
As always, things are subject to change and it sound like all of this is still in the very early design phases right now and very much subject to change. They still have an entire Star Wars-themed land to complete at Disneyland before this sees the light of day, and a lot can change between now and then. However, it certainly sounds like Disney is “hooked on a feeling” when it comes to Guardians of the Galaxy, so I expect to see an attraction based on these films sooner, rather than later.
The Disney Parks Blog just announced some special festivities that will occur at Disneyland on May 4th:
Are you a rebel looking for a place to commemorate May the 4th?
Disneyland park is the place to be on this special day as we celebrate Star Wars! You already know that Tomorrowland is filled with new galactic experiences like Star Wars Launch Bay and Hyperspace Mountain, and now on May 4, 2016, fans can join even more special celebrations!
Head over to Tomorrowland Theater for a special screening of an episode from the hit Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels. In the fan-favorite episode, “Shroud of Darkness,” Kanan, Ezra and Ahsoka return to the Jedi Temple on Lothal to find out how the Inquisitors have continually been able to track the rebels. Seeking the advice of Yoda, voiced by Frank Oz, the three will experience powerful visions that reveal the future, the past and old friends long gone.
Jedi and Sith alike can find special commemorative merchandise and all-new Star Wars collector glasses. And be sure to capture your memories from the day at a unique, themed photo location.
Then the party jumps into lightspeed at 6 p.m. at the Galactic Grill Stage with a fan celebration, where Star Wars trivia and other special surprises will take place throughout the evening.
So join us, you will, for May the 4th and celebrate Star Wars at Disneyland park!
As of now, no event has been announced for Hollywood Studios, but we will inform you if and when they are.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
I made a visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier this week to see the latest progress on all of the ongoing projects at the park, so let’s see what’s new and exciting around the park:
Work continues on what we assume will be where the projectors are going for the new Star Wars fireworks show
The new Center Stage looks almost ready for the new Star Wars show premiering on the 4th
Some work happening around the old show towers
Just a few days left until the Backlot is history
They have wasted no time ripping down the back of the Premier Theater
Work continues on what was Pizza Planet, rumored to now be a Muppets eatery
All of the signage is gone now
If the Writer’s Stop is supposed mto change in some major way come Sunday, there is very little evidence of it yet
Work continues on the new meet and greets for Mickey, Minnie, and Olaf
A look at the other side
A new covered queue area and entrance being installed
The Trolley Car Cafe Starbucks is now testing using the larger doors on Sunset as the entrance
Reel Vogue now sells MARVEL merchandise
Hollywood Junction, which was a pin store for many years and more recently sold hats, is now just a new home for the food carts that once resided in the streets
The cart used to be right outside
There is now a Caprese Sandwich at Backlot Express
Also, a seasonal cupcake
The caprese sandwich actually wasn’t terrible
The Jungle Book preview has now taken over the theater at One Man’s Dream
Originally slated to debut today, Sunday saw the soft opening of two new Star Wars entertainment offerings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The first show features Captain Phasma leading a battalion of First Order Stormtroopers through the park, leading them to the Center Stage for a short show:
While short, this show is very well put together and sure to delight fans of The Force Awakens. It’s quick, accurate to the film, and a really nice touch several times throughout the day. My suggestion is to stand by the Launch Bay restrooms around the time of this show and simply follow the march once they pass you. They will lead you all the way up to the stage and a great viewing location in the very center.
Then there is Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away…
This show is bad, real bad. Other than a few really great photo-ops and an appearance by a cool, new BB-8 character, this show falls flat. It’s just a series of film clips followed by quick character appearances:
I feel like guests standing in the hot Florida sun will not think their time was well-spent waiting for this disaster to happen. Hopefully it isn’t too late to re-tool this, otherwise I foresee a lot of disappointed guests this summer.
As you know, plans change when building attractions for Disney Parks, and Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no different:
Original Toy Story Land rendering, 2015
2016 rendering
When walls went up near PIXAR Place on April 3rd, so did a new piece of concept art for Toy Story Land (which guests can now visit at the end of the street). Noticeable in the concept art were some changes to the Slinky Dog Coaster, most noticeably the loss of the portions of ground where Andy (or maybe Bonnie) had dug a path for the roller-coaster playset to travel through. As well, one of the large turns that was to travel over a guest pathway now simply travels through a wooded area.
Among the other changes were the removal of a scene featuring the Green Army Men and a portion where guests would burst through a wall of some kind. Some other set pieces and scenes have also quietly disappeared, but it is hard to make out exactly what was lost in the concept art. The cuts are not being seen as budgetary, but likely to speed up the construction of Toy Story Land, which Disney hopes to have completed by late 2017/early 2018.
Even though there appears to have been cuts, some great details remain:
Woody’s friend Mic makes an appearance…
As does Mr. Spell…
The second launch sends guests through a Hot Wheels-style device.
There’s even a show scene with Jessie rescuing Rex from a tower of toppling Jenga pieces!
Looking at the rest of the artwork, taking over what was the Studio Catering Co. space appears to be “Woody’s Round-Up”, a new counter service location.
Looks like it may even recycle a few props from Hey Howdy Hey Take-Away. The entire building may not just be this small eatery, but this lunchbox and the seating area outside definitely are.
Just beyond the borders of Toy Story Land is the heavily wooded new planet of Star Wars land. A tunnel will transport guests between the two realms.
The Little Green Men Flying Saucer ride has its own concept art up on the walls as well. The ride is similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, but there are Aliens in saucers pulling carts around instead while you avoid The Claw.
Here you can see the ride has an expansive indoor queue area with two separate ride areas
Guests enter past Buzz Lightyear, down a pathway, and under neath Buzz’s spaceship
Down at the bottom you can find the new entrance to Toy Story Midway Mania, most likely with the new outdoor home to the Mr. Potato Head animatronic character.
Other details of the land seen in the original concept art aren’t seen here either, but they could just be out of frame (i.e. the Al’s Toy Barn and Woody’s western-style facades). While a few details of Toy Story Land seem to have fallen to time and budget, what’s left still looks to be an impressive and much-needed addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
What do you think?
On Sunday, Writer’s Stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios debuted a new lounge menu. Among a selection of fairly normal alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, the lounge offers three “plates”.
The warm pretzel was good, but the sipping sauces were awful. The melted cheese tasted as if it had been sitting there for a long time and the mustard tasted off as well.
The cheese plate was standard, nothing too crazy and everything tasted just fine.
The spiced nuts weren’t bad, but shouldn’t be priced at $5.00. They had a nice spicy kick to them.
For being a lounge, there isn’t anything very lounge-y about this place. You have to go to the counter to order, the drink selection is the usual Disney selection, and the menu is abysmal. This is everything a “lounge” at Walt Disney World shouldn’t be. The menu is a lazy cash-grab to offset the loss of several establishments now closed in the overhaul of the park. If you want to stop in and grab a drink to go, this isn’t a bad idea, but removing all of the baked goods to serve three of the blandest dishes I have ever seen at any dining establishment at Disney World that doesn’t have wheels on the bottom? Yikes.
The idea of a lounge to serve guests waiting for Sci-Fi Dine-In is great, and the system works really well with 50’s Prime Time Cafe and the adjacent Tune-In Lounge, but this isn’t working. Why not just cart Sci-Fi appetizers over here? At least that give a better or real) menu. Who wouldn’t stop in for a Sci-Fi milkshake or dessert if offered here? There is a world of possibilities here, but instead, it’s a half-store, half-lounge with almost zero reason for you to visit it. Unless changes are made, Writer’s Stop is a place that you just shouldn’t stop at.
Demolition is happening and fast at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s no secret that Disney wants to complete both Toy Story Land and the Star Wars themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as quickly as possible, and in just one week they have leveled whatever was left of the Premier Theater. Meanwhile, the first signage showing guests Star Wars land concept art has gone up in the park:
Last week’s update shows the Premier Theater still standing on one side, but also the latest progress on Pizza Planet and Toy Story Land on the other side of the park:
