The recently named Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is already no more, as Disney announced today that the entire land and the remains of the Streets of America will all become the new Grand Avenue area this Fall.
Muppets Courtyard, along with a portion of the former Streets of America, is being re-imagined by Walt Disney Imagineering to become a new area called Grand Avenue. Inspired by the revitalization and the vibrant culture of present-day downtown Los Angeles, Grand Avenue is where vintage office buildings and warehouses are being converted to exciting new uses. Guests will soon see facades for “merchants” appearing in this area for a music shop, loft apartments, a tailor and more, with each window on the street featuring charming displays.
Grand Avenue includes BaseLine Tap House, which takes over the former Writer’s Stop. This new corner pub will feature California beers and wines along with a selection of small bites.
The current Muppets Courtyard will become Grand Park, an urban square off Grand Avenue surrounded by shops and restaurants like PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. Guests can already see changes in the area, with the Muppets theater being renamed “Grand Arts Theatre” and boasting a brand-new marquee. Disney has assured guests that the hilarious and irreverent “Muppet*Vision 3D” show will remain in this new area.
The future of the Stage 1 “Muppets Store” and various themed elements in the area remains in doubt as Disney has not mentioned them specifically.
The classic Muppet-Vision 3-D sign that has welcomed guests to the Hollywood Studios classic since 1991 has been removed and will be likely replaced today with this…
The new sign gives a name to the theater the Muppets and Muppet Labs have taken over for the show, The Grand Arts Theatre. This change is likely just the next step in further changes to the Muppets Courtyard area of the park, as well as its expansion into what is left of the Streets of America next door.
Here is what the original sign looked like last week, as preparations were already underway for this new marquee:
The old sign was completely removed as of yesterday, with two new banner flanking where the new sign will go.
With the placement of the marquee, it appears something would have to go above it, but that is purely speculation. We will be sure to show you the finished product once it is finally installed.
Our latest photo report brings us back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see the latest progress on the park’s massive overhaul, as well as some recent closures an removals. Let’s take a look…
Welcome to Hollywood!
Work continues out in the parking lot on some of the park’s infrastructure.
Beauty and the Beast: Live Action on Stage
Some significant changes have come to Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage. A new pre-show featuring a song from the upcoming film was added…
Also, the Beast’s character costume was recently updated to the new style…
This and That
A new monorail mystery pin set was released, featuring all 123 monorails. They retail at $16.99 for a box of 2 pins.
The chasers are actually kind of easy to figure out based on the character silhouettes and that only 4 monorail colors remain…
As we informed you on Friday, the Starring Rolls Cafe is now indefinitely closed. No real reason has been given as to why as of yet, but we expect their to be an expansion of the often crowded Brown Derby Lounge.
While I always liked this location, breakfast offerings at Trolley Car Cafe are similar and plenty of sweet pastries can be found next door at Sweet Spells on Sunset Boulevard.
Toy Story Land
For the most complete look at the current work on the Star Wars and Toy Story Lands, also be sure to check out our latest Hollywood Studios Expansion Update video:
Work progresses on the Toy Story themed land behind PIXAR Place, with the maintenance bay for the Slinky Dog Dash coaster looming over the gate by the former Jack Sparrow attraction.
From the edges of PIXAR Place, the removal of the MuppetVision balloon is surely noticeable. It’s easy to see how that would be visible from any land in the back of the park.
Star Wars Land
The trees and such that once separated the Streets of America from Commissary Lane and Star Tours were recently removed and the walls expanded outward. This offers an unobstructed view towards other areas that has never existed within the park.
It’s not even a construction wall, it is actually a chain link fence covered with a tarps twice over (to make sure I can’t see through it and get you guys some better pictures, I assume).
It’s not the prettiest thing, but we’re gonna have to live with it for a while if we want Star Wars Land, and I do.
With the trees gone, it is much easier to see in from the Tatooine Traders patio though…
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.
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.
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.
We once again take to the skies to give you the best view possible of the ongoing expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Things are actually starting to get exciting over on the Toy Story Land area as structures are beginning to rise, meanwhile, Star Wars Land remains mostly a dirt pile. (Click images for larger res if you are into that kind of thing)
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
This side of the park is a disaster currently, and guests can really see this if they come in through the World Drive entrance to the park. A new car entrance and a parking lot expansion rounds out the construction you can see beyond the current borders of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Here you can see guest vehicles entering what’s left of that entrance, while just behind the fence, land clearing continues.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Here we see the one set of facades remaining from the Streets of America.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
The billboard is the only sign of what was the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground area.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Some temporary trees were rolled into the PIXAR Place area as otherwise the view beyond the walls would be nothing but blue skies.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
This road going through the middle of the site likely separates the Star Wars and Toy Story Lands.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
I’m kind of amazed at the one tree and small piece of concrete still standing from the Premiere Theater area…
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
They are beginning to carve out space for the attractions.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Disney recently released the above concept art for the Star Wars land at Hollywood Studios, which matches the shape of the site above pretty well if you turn it around (as our photos are looking from what will be the backside).
We now focus our view over towards the Toy Story Land area.
That square is the extent of Toy Story Land, minus the eventual new entrance that will cross into the Toy Story Midway Mania attraction just across that road.
You can already make out the main thoroughfare of Toy Story Land, although it is just a dirt path winding down the center of the above photo.
This big concrete box is most definitely part of the Slinky Dog Dash attraction, as it can bee seen behind the buildings of the load station in the concept art for Toy Story Land (included below). The attraction features a launch of a moderate speed and this box will likely hold the mechanics that can make that launch happen. The foundations for the Alien Swirling Saucers ride system are in place below that site. It seems this land is racing ahead, possibly not as far off as we once imagined.
It’s nice to finally start to see things that are recognizable after so many months of prep work. You can almost envision what this area will look like now if you compare it to the concept art.
We also have a video flyover of the site to share with you:
Of course, we will continue to keep you in the loop as work progresses on all facets of the massive expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned for more!
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen has been all-over the Walt Disney World Resort as of late and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
While most of the new parking lot at the Grand Floridian Villas is open, some is still closed to accommodate construction
Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian
This appears to be the drop-off area
Iron Man-O-Rail running
Moving to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Main Street Bakery
The new Dumbo popcorn bucket available on Main Street
Purty
Work continues on the exterior of the Adventureland Veranda
The glass canopy on the other side of the building is still missing
Some work happening at the Swiss Family Treehouse while it is open
Kodak picture spots are still up around the parks
Some new Splash Mountain shirts have come out
Work continues on Columbia Harbor House
The other side looks completely new
More rock-work appearing everyday on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train
A new shirt featuring Main Street U.S.A.
Some new sports shirts
They put a cardboard popcorn bucket inside the Dumbo popcorn bucket
Moving over to Epcot, work continues on the facade of Mission: Space
Walls are already up and work has begun on the Spice Road Table restaurant in Morocco
A temporary stage is now up for Mo Rockin’
Work continues on turning the old France bakery into an ice cream parlor
Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
Kodak signage is gone from Muppetvision 3-D
A dance party truck was rolled out on Streets of America to deal with the heavier crowds recently
The Disney Truck Shop at Downtown Disney
The latest pin in the 2013 poster collection was released last week
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen made a quick trip over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier today and has a couple of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip. Let’s take a look:
Peter Pan blu-ray billboard in the parking lot
We’re still letting the memories begin…
More RFID entrances are being installed in preparation for the rollout of MyMagic+ and MagicBand
Plenty of Kodak references still up all over the park
The stage is finally down in front of the hat
Peter Pan and Frankenweenie billboards in the Animation Courtyard
The Monsters Inc. 3-D billboard is now a billboard for Monsters University
Comedy Warehouse is gone…
Muppetvision 3-D is still presented by Kodak currently
WDWNT Reporter visited the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Friday the 13th, so get ready for a not-so-spooky look at what’s new in the parks:
A new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window has appeared under the Main Street train station
Some new wall art was added to the Town Square Theater queue
Very creative
I think we’re going to see an elephant fly!
There he goes
He seems happy about it
Moving on to Studios
A look at the wait times
The stage is still up in front of the Sorcerers Hat
A pretty long wait for Star Tours
Most of the Muppetvision posters were replaced with posters for  The Muppets
The lenticular Muppets poster was also replaced inside the pre-show area
Osborne Lights are being taken down
Some Narnia props were moved to the Backlot Tour
The Block Party Bash cones are still sitting back here
The old fire truck that used to be located near the exit of Muppetvision 3-D was restored and is now along the Backlot tour route
Some minor changes over at the Magic of Disney Animation
The animation studio theme is being embraced with new signage
WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday to catch a special one-day appearance of Agent P (Perry the Platypus) from Phineas and Ferb. While he was there, he took a plethora of newsworthy photos, so let’s take a look:
Gone is the billboard outside the park, but the Memories have Begun…
WDWNT’s Jason Diffendal was visiting the Walt Disney World Resort earlier this month and has some news-worthy photos to share with us from during WDWCelebrations‘ Holiday Hoopla:
