Star Wars Land – WDWNT Archive

PHOTOS REPORT: Disneyland Resort 10/23/17 (Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Mountain Range Appears, Splitsville, New Dress Shop, ETC.)

WDWNT on October 25, 2017

WDWNT reporter Conner Purzycki brings us back to the Disneyland Resort for a long-overdue photo report from The Happiest Place on Earth.

Rockin’ Galaxy’s Edge

The first pieces of sculpted metal rock-work on top of the show buildings in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have appeared.

From the Mickey and Friends parking structure, the two attraction buildings fill most of the skyline.

Walls have sealed in most of the “Battle Escape” attraction at this point.

Despite the height, the highest points will only be visible in the park from the back of Frontierland and Toontown, both of which surprisingly blend nicely with the mountain’s tallest peaks.

This is probably our last look inside “Battle Escape” at the Disneyland Resort before the whole building is enclosed.

Looking past “Battle Escape” towards the Millennium Falcon attraction.

You Can Always Go… Downtown

Tarps are on on Tortilla Joe’s facing the Disneyland Monorail station.

Work continues on Splitsville, set to open before the end of 2017.

Between Sprinkles and D-Street, the VR experience “Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire” will open on January 5th, 2018.

I guess January 5th is technically still a day before the traditional holiday season ends…

Not to be outdone by Orlando, Downtown Disney Anaheim now has the Disney Dress Shop, selling all of the very popular Disney Parks dresses released this year.

Ridemakerz is operating with adjusted hours right now, for some reason.

One of the former Disney information booths just outside of the esplanade is now a Haagen-Dazs location, because money.

Welcome to Disneyland

A construction crane looms behind the Sailing Ship Columbia and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

River Belle Terrace is being converted into a full-fledged table service restaurant, removing all of the leftover setup from when it was a quick service eatery.

Livin’ on the Edge

We now journey to the back of Frontierland and Critter Country to check out Galaxy’s Edge from the other side.

Some of the rock-work will peek over, but none of it will look out of place, which is nice.

The real question is where will Disneyland set up the queue to enter the land? Will it be here, or towards the center entrance behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? They have less than two years to figure it out.

A peek through the walls gives us a great look at that newly installed mountain range.

2019 can’t get here soon enough…

PHOTOS, VIDEO: The Latest Progress on Walt Disney Presents, Star Wars Land, & Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

Our latest Hollywood Studios expansion update brings us the latest progress on Walt Disney Presents, Toy Story Land, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge:

Below, we also have photos of the progress on these three projects to share with you:

Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream has begun its conversion into Walt Disney Presents.

The catwalk that once connected the soundstage has been ripped away to make room for the entrance to Toy Story Land.

A peek through a hole in the wall reveals the coaster track for Slinky Dog Dash, as well as some colored blocks that mark the first themed elements to appear in the land.

The construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is visible from the end of PIXAR Place.

The large structure you see here houses the Battle Escape attraction.

Grand Avenue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Just Queue Space to Enter Star Wars Land

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

Many have been asking, besides the Baseline Tap House, what is the purpose of the Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? It’s a fairly big parcel and nothing more than this bar and lounge has been announced for it. What else is going in there? Well, the answer is the only dedicated queue space ever built for a land.

Grand Avenue stands before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the former New York Street area. Photo by @bioreconstruct

Based on the absolutely monstrous demand that there is to see Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this giant street will act as a queue just to enter the area. Guests will be able to exit to Grand Avenue or Toy Story Land, but entry to Toy Story Land seems unlikely for the opening months (maybe even years) of the Star Wars themed land. This info comes directly from an Imagineer working on the Florida version of the Galaxy’s Edge project.

So yes, there will be a theme park land at Hollywood Studios that is just queue space and a bar essentially.

While Grand Avenue opens this Fall, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will not be completed until mid-to-late-2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Star Wars – Galaxy’s Edge Construction, Grand Avenue Takes Shape at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on August 2, 2017

Our latest Disney’s Hollywood Studios Expansion Update focuses on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge construction, as well as the continuing work on Grand Avenue, a new area that will open this Fall:

For those who prefer photographs, we have some below:

Looking at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Battle Escape ride from PIXAR Place.

If you look closely, you can see the framework for one of the AT-AT walkers standing inside.

We now change our view to Grand Avenue, the newly named area that will serve as an entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

The Baseline Tap House is behind scrims.

A large wall separates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from Grand Avenue.

The Muppetvision Theater was renamed the Grand Arts Theater to fit the new area.

We’ll continue to bring you the latest on the expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios as it develops, so stay tuned to WDWNT.com!

VIDEO: First Look at Star Wars Land Model and Pavilion, D23 Expo 2017

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

We’ve just gotten a first look at the A Galaxy of Stories Pavilion at D23 Expo 2017, and it includes a full model of Star Wars Land coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Check out the video below!

PHOTOS: An In-Depth Look at the Star Wars Land Model for Disney Parks, D23 Expo 2017

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

This is a panoramic shot of the entire model on display at the “A Galaxy of Stories” Pavilion at D23 Expo 2017. Note that this is the Disneyland model, but we expect the Walt Disney World version to be very similar. To give you a general overview, the large mountainous structure on the left side is the show building for the battle escape attraction, while on the far right is the Millennium Falcon attraction. In the center is the village area, which will contain the Cantina, the Dinner Show Restaurant, and mostly as-yet-unannounced Shopping and Entertainment offerings.

Plenty of Star Wars vehicles adorn the area.

A close-up of the left side of the village area.

You can plainly see the Millennium Falcon sitting in the area in the back, right side of the model.

Here’s a wider shot of the right side showing the Millennium Falcon ride’s show building.

Another perspective of the right side of the model.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more breaking news about Star Wars Land coming from the D23 Expo 2017!

VIDEO: In-Depth Review and Analysis of Every Disney Parks Announcement Made at the D23 Expo 2017

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Last night, Tom Corless, Jason Diffendal, Ron D’Anna, Scott Smith, and Patrick Hackett sat down to discuss, in depth, all of the amazing announcements made at the D23 Expo 2017. From TRON Lightcycle Power Run, to the overhaul of Epcot, and from the new Riviera Resort to the Skyliner system, last night’s live program covered every bombshell announcement mad by Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek on Saturday. In case you missed it, you can catch the entire show here:

This show will also be available on audio form on this week’s WDW News Today Podcast.

CONFIRMED: Star Wars Land Named “Galaxy’s Edge”, Rex Will Appear in Cantina – D23 Expo 2017 News

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Bob Chapek has just confirmed at the D23 Expo Parks & Resorts presentation the rumor we noted yesterday that the new Star Wars land will be called “Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge”.

Also, Rex from Star Tours will be in Star Wars land as the DJ at the Cantina.

New concept art from the two major attractions was also shown.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES NEW DETAILS OF ATTRACTIONS PLANNED FOR STAR WARS: GALAXYÕS EDGE — Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek shared new details and a glimpse inside the two attractions planed for Star Wars: GalaxyÕs Edge coming to both Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif. and DisneyÕs Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla. in 2019.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Star Wars Land Construction Update at Disneyland Park for June 28th, 2017

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Thanks to our friends over at Fresh Baked Disney, we have another weekly look at how the construction of Star Wars land is going over at Disneyland Park. Here is a look at the project as of June 28th, 2017: