PHOTOS, VIDEO: Aerial View of Star Wars & Toy Story Land Construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
It has been a little while since the last time we took to the skies over Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see the progress on the expansion of the park, but the time has come to see how Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land are shaping up from above.
I wish it were a joke, but there is clearly just as much construction zone at Hollywood Studios as there is active, in-use park area.
Over in Toy Story Land, track was completed for Slinky Dog Dash, and now the picket fence barrier behind it is being painted. On the lower right, you can see the new entrance to Toy Story Midway Mania taking shape, on the lower left is Alien Swirling Saucers.
Here we see the Slinky Dog Dash coaster traveling behind the Alien Swirling Saucers attraction.
A backstage facility near Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is already nearly completed.
Above, we see work continuing on the Millennium Falcon attraction.
More of the two centrifuges that will hold the carousel of simulators for the ride, featuring many Falcon cockpits for guests to ride in.
A look across Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge towards Toy Story Land.
Looking back at Toy Story Land, we see the Slinky Dog Dash building at the very back, the Alien Swirling Saucers middle-left, and the small counter service location for the land to the right.
In this shot, we can see both the current and future entrances to Toy Story Midway Mania.
Moving back to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, here we see the construction of the massive show building for the “Battle Escape” ride.
The World Drive entrance offers a close encounter with the attraction.
To the left is the show building for “Battle Escape”, to the right is the circular base for the pre-show experience which will happen before guests board the Imperial Transport.
Here we see the entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, with PIXAR Place looming in the distance.
Here is where Grand Avenue meets Galaxy’s Edge, view obscured by MuppetVision 3-D and the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway building (you know, what was The Great Movie Ride) at the top of the picture.
As we pull back, we get a better look at the scope of the projects, as well as the roadway and parking lot enhancements being made.
Zooming into Grand Avenue, we see a patio area nearly finished for Baseline Tap House, as well as trees and lampposts all along the street.
Behind MuppetVision lies the strange, concrete barrier between Grand Avenue and Galaxy’s Edge.
Another look at the Battle Escape attraction.
Now moving towards the Millennium Falcon.
Two days ago, we went over to One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and noticed some new photos and artwork had been added to the walls. We returned yesterday to find that even more new content has been added as the exhibit prepares to become Walt Disney Presents. Pictures from the Mickey Mouse Club now reside near the corresponding display. More Disney Parks related imagery added as well. More from the animated and live action films made during Walt’s life now adorn the walls as well. With all of the demolition, removal, and construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it is no secret that most of the park that once existed is now history, which has lead many a guest to ask what the new theme of the park will be and why Disney hasn’t just renamed it already. Well, a recent focus group survey sheds some light on the possible new theme and a host of possible new names for the transitioning theme park.
As described above (including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land), the park would now revolve around you being the star and jumping into your favorite movies, television shows, cartoons, and more, taking an active role in the story in every experience. The survey goes on to ask the guest to pick from a list of possible new names for the park… For what it is worth, we were unable to verify the source of the focus group, but it looks pretty official. We’ll just have to wait and see if any of this comes to fruition now… What do you think of this possible theme and the new names listed above? Also, don’t forget to check out our latest aerial tour of the construction at the park! SOURCE: Mickey Views Guest lockers offered at Walt Disney World’s 4 theme parks have been changed to self service, electronic kiosks that no longer require a cast member or physical keys. Guests paying with cash and credit can now head directly to the lockers to pay. Guests paying with gift cards or MagicBand will still need to see a cast member at the nearby merchandise location. Lockers are available in standard size (12.5″x10″x17″) for $7 or large (15.5″x13″x17″) for $10. No deposit is required any more. Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World water parks already utilize this system. The Slinky Dog Dash will be the headlining attraction in Toy Story Land when it opens next Summer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but today, we’re getting our first look at the physical coaster trains for the ride. The above leaked photo reveals pieces of one of the Slinky Dog trains being delivered to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney is expected to release official images this week once they are loaded onto the track at the ride. Until then, we’ll just have to settle for this somewhat blurry phone pic… The show “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be dark for two weeks in September. The show will not perform September 13th-September 26th, 2017, but will return on the 27th. This is not the first extended downtime the show has had this year. Join former Imagineer Brian Collins & WDWNT.com’s Tom Corless on Tuesday, August 8th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to say farewell to The Great Movie Ride. As an Imagineer, Brian worked on scripting & staging for The Great Movie Ride. You’ll hear about his work, the ride’s original concepts, & other behind-the-scenes stories. We’ll begin with dinner (Dutch treat), then hold a discussion/Q&A session, followed by a final journey through The Great Movie Ride. Attendees get a special signed keepsake & 25% of all ticket sales will be donated to Ryman Arts in Marty Sklar’s name. Tickets are on sale now at this link and are $20 a person. Event starts at 6:30pm. Space is extremely limited. Beginning October 1st, 2017, the Star Wars Guided Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will shift to take place in the early morning and afternoon. Guests will still be able to enjoy reserved viewing for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at the end of the night, but the dessert party will no longer be included on the tour. As a result, the price of the tour is being reduced from $121.12 to $99 per person, which includes tax. Star Wars: Launch Bay is expected to close earlier in the evening starting October 1st as part of budget cuts at the park, which could be a reason for some of these changes.
Beginning January 1st, 2018, the Fantasmic dining package at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be removing appetizers from the offering at the Hollywood Brown Derby and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. Beginning January 1, 2018, Fantasmic! Dining Packages will include: The new pricing will be… Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano Hollywood & Vine The Hollywood Brown Derby While the Brown Derby and Mama Melrose’s are $3 cheaper, that obviously doesn’t make up for the loss of an appetizer in price. Hollywood & Vine’s pricing for the package is remaining the same. The Great Movie Ride farewell merchandise we told you about last week is now on sale at Walt Disney World. There is also farewell merchandise for the Universe of Energy attraction at Epcot. Some of the Great Movie Ride merchandise is available at the merchandise stand to the left of the stage in front of the attraction. The T-shirt is $27.99 and the Tervis is $19.99. Merchandise is also available at Mickey’s of Hollywood, which happens to be the only location for the Annual Passholder exclusive items. The AP shirts and ornaments are behind the register at Mickey’s of Hollywood. The passholder shirt is priced at $27.99. The ornament is $14.99 and is also a passholder exclusive. There is supposed to be a Great Movie Ride hat, but it is not yet available. The Universe of Energy merchandise is available at MouseGear in Epcot. The Universe of Energy AP shirts are priced at $27.99 and the AP ornament is $14.99. The hats are $23.47. Non-passholder shirts are priced at $28.16 for some reason. The ornament is an AP-exclusive and is $14.99. The Tervis is $19.99. There is a fantastic LE 3000 Universe of Energy pin at Pin Central for $15.99 also. Some of this merchandise will be available online at DisneyStore.com starting August 10, but we do not yet know if all of it will be available online.
PHOTOS: More New Photos & Artwork Appear at One Man’s Dream, Becoming Walt Disney Presents







Survey Reveals Possible New Park Theme and Name for Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Walt Disney World Switching to Self-Service Automated Lockers at Theme Parks
PHOTO: Leaked Image Provides First Look at Coaster Trains for Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios
Star Wars – A Galaxy Far, Far Away Show at Hollywood Studios Closing for 2 Weeks in September
ON SALE NOW: Join WDWNT & Former Imagineer Brian Collins for “The Great Movie Ride” Farewell Event Benefitting Ryman Arts
Star Wars Tour at Hollywood Studios Shifting Hours, Removing Dessert, and Reducing Price
Appetizers Removed from Fantasmic Dining Packages at Hollywood Studios, Prices Adjusted
PHOTOS, PRICES: Great Movie Ride & Universe of Energy Farewell Merchandise Now Available at WDW




















