Star Wars Launch Bay

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 12/12/17 (Star Tours, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Muppet Subtractions, ETC.)

WDWNT on December 21, 2017

Our latest photo report brings us back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see the latest progress on this park in transition.

Welcome to Construction

The new sections of parking lot were completed some time ago, removing greenery and palm trees in favor of more parking spaces that will be needed sorely come 2019.

This expansion of the lot took place on both sides.

Work continues on the Disney Skyliner station for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which you can see the concept art for here.

Welcome to Hollywood

More stuff was thrown onto the left projection tower in the Center Stage area as Disney tries to make this thing look like it belongs there.

It’s certainly better than it was, but these things still look completely out of place.

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration now features Olaf and music from the Olaf’s Frozen Adventure short. They might want to change the sign that says it is playing in theaters with Coco.

Guests can now sit and eat in the former AOTAS Hall of Fame area, while Disney hopes the vines around the former sign grow in at some point…

Nothing but Star Wars…

Signage at Star Tours was changed to reflect the recent additions to the ride.

Nearby, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is taking shape. For a better look at this, be sure to check out our latest Disney’s Hollywood Studios Expansion Update video:

Some palm trees were planted off to the side of the tunnel.

This and That

The “Muppet Babies” section of Stage 1 Company Store has been closed for a while now, and sadly looks like it will not return. Why must Grand Avenue take everything Muppets away from us?

Not only is it sealed off from inside, but there is a fairly permanent looking Cast Member access door now visible.

A brick wall now separates Muppets Courtyard, I mean Grand Park from Star Tours. This will make for the most terrible crowd flow when Galaxy’s Edge opens.

A new backstage gate has been constructed near the exit of MuppetVision 3-D. This was once a path through the Backlot, but now it will be a dead end.

Work continues on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Toy Story Land

Work continues on the entrance to Toy Story Land, set to open next Summer.

The corner of the Toy Story Mania building (where the catwalk was ripped off) is now being patched up.

Mousecellaneous

Both of the billboards behind the Chinese Theater are for The Last Jedi. I guess this movie needs to be advertised heavily…

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge looms in the distance from PIXAR Place.

The highest point in the land was topped off with a flag and a tree.

To help guests visiting Toy Story Mania, Disney added these rope signs. This is somewhat helpful as the average guest never seems to know where to go.

iPhone X cases are now available from D-Tech on Demand at the Star Wars Launch Bay Cargo Bay store.

The store was also shaken up quite a bit, removing the onstage counter where the D-Tech devices were made. Now they are just made offstage and brought to the checkout counters when they are done.

Guests can now partake in the Droid Factory here as well.

More 2018 pins have hit shelves at the parks.

Despite debuting over a month ago, they are still not finished building the projection booth for Sunset Seasons Greetings…

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: New 3-D Star Wars Phone Cases at Launch Bay, Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on October 7, 2017

New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Guests can now order customized 3-D layered Star Wars phone cases at Star Wars Launch Bay.

The cases are available at the D-Tech on Demand stations inside the store at the exit of Launch Bay.

The cases are available for a number of Apple and Android phones, they retail at $34.99 each.

They can also be customized with a name in English or in the Star Wars Aurebesh language for an additional $5.00.

For a better look at the layered element in the cases, check out our video below:

Hostess with the Mostess – Top 5 Star Wars Experiences Results

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Episode VI: Hostess with the Mostess Strikes Back

I received multiple requests to hold off on the result post for a few weeks so some of you could experience the things on my list before voting for them. I was thrilled that so many of you wanted to actually go out and give them a try that I was more than happy to honor your request. I hope most of you were able to experience something new and vote for your favorite.

In honor of Star Wars’ 40th Anniversary I brought you my top five favorite Star Wars experiences in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can check out my original list here.

Now let’s see how you voted!

5. Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

You voted the Jedi Training into the number 5 spot. Maybe someday we will be lucky enough to experience Jedi Training. After all, this is the place where dreams come true, is it not?!

4. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party

The Galactic Dessert Party beat Jedi Training … but only by one vote! If you do ever get to experience this yummy event make sure you get the Freeze Fried Nutella! It is amazing and you do not want to miss it. If the desserts/snacks weren’t already good enough, the VIP viewing area was the perfect spot!

3. Star Wars Launch Bay

I am surprised the Launch Bay did not get more votes. With an introductory film, meet and greets, and movie props … it is a pretty cool place! You have the choice to bear right and skip the film, but I do not recommend skipping it. It is only about 9 minutes long and features interviews with some of the creators, movie clips, and they even talk about Star Wars’ impact on culture. It is an interesting film and really gets you pumped for the future!

2. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular

You brought Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular into number two. What a fantastic show! If you haven’t seen it yet, you must make time to go! I recommend scoping out your viewing area ahead of time. If you are not attending the dessert party, near Center Stage is a prime spot. It can get pretty crowded so try to get there early to stake your claim.

1. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Star Tours comes in first and this attraction deserves it! It would have been my number one pick but I unfortunately cannot ride it most of the time #Bummer. The last time I was able to ride it was shortly after The Force Awakens came out and lo and behold our scene was Jakku. I was ecstatic that I could experience the new story. I am very happy that this attraction made number one!

Thank you again for voting! I love to read your comments and see how you vote! I have another special post coming up very soon! May the Force Be With You!

Extra Magic Tip: While you are in the queue for Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, pay attention to the security droid scanning luggage. If you look closely while he scans, you will see some familiar objects. There are tons of different easter eggs, but my personal favorite might be a Buzz Lightyear toy that he sends to “Infinity and Beyond”!

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: New Preview Film & Model of Star Wars – Galaxy’s Edge Unveiled at Disneyland, Disney World

WDWNT on May 28, 2017

Guests visiting Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are now being treated to a new preview of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening in 2019 at both parks.

A small section of the model of the entire land that was on display at the D23 Expo this year is on display now at Disneyland’s Launch Bay. Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios has had a different section on display since September.

In addition, the Star Wars Launch Bay film was updated on both coasts to include a new, never-before-seen preview of the 14-acre land coming to Disney Parks:

So, what do you think of this new preview?

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 5/3/17 (New York Street Lives, Pirates Preview, Star Wars & Toy Story Land, Etc.)

WDWNT on May 8, 2017

Our latest photo report brings us to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the midst of Disney’s Hollywood Studios appreciation week for a look around at what’s new and exciting in tinsel town. Ready when you are C.B.!

Hooray for Hollywood

Streetmosphere characters Mayor Sonny Burbank and Evie Starlight welcome guests to the park.

Officer Percival Peabody of the Hollywood Police Department also ensures that guests walk, and not run to their first destination.

Happy 28th Anniversary

On May 1st 2017, Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrated its 28th birthday!

The park of course opened as the Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, changing its name in Early 2008.

The only opening day attraction left standing at this point is the Great Movie Ride, but rumors persist of even that closing in the next 2 years.

MagicBand 2.0

For whatever reason, the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival MagicBand is now available at the Studios.

A number of older designs have been updated for the MagicBand 2, some even using the new white and black band base colors.

40th anniversary banners remain outside of Star Wars Launch Bay.

Wait times for the character meet and greets have been short lately. Chewbacca was posted as 20 minutes.

Only 15 for Kylo Ren.

Even the new BB-8 meet and greet has had short wait times.

That sadly hasn’t stopped guests from destroying the walls…

It’s a pretty cute meet and greet experience if you haven’t seen it yet:

New designs celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars can be found at the D-Tech on Demand location inside of Star Wars Launch Bay.

Skywalker Vineyards wines are also available now. We actually bought a bottle and tried the new flight at the Brown Derby, so we will dedicate a post to this in the coming days.

PIXAR Displaced

Work continues on the Star Wars and Toy Story themed lands.

This barrier for Star Wars land continues to rise over the walls.

A peek through the walls at the beginning of PIXAR Place reveals the current state of Toy Story Land.

There appears to be a structure of some kind being erected in the middle of the Slinky Dog Dash rollercoaster now.

It appears that the coaster will barrel through it, whatever it is.

These pics from a few days later show some progress on the walls going up at the other end of PIXAR Place.

Pirates of the Caribbean: One Man’s Dream

The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales preview has moved in at Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.

The Moana meet and greet recently closed inside, leaving us to believe that the Star Lord and Groot meet and greet coming will be located here.

The exit is currently boarded up as well.

A costume worn by Javier Bardem in Dead Men Tell No Tales is now on display.

The preview is quite good, leading me to believe we might just be returning to form in the series.

New York Street Lives!

It is now certain that this lone standing section of New York Street will remain as modifications are being made to the structure.

Meanwhile, Star Wars Land rises next door.

Not only are the facades being touched up, but new elements are being added.

A new awning was installed at the end of the street.

With much of the original signage stripped, it will be interesting to see what becomes of this area.

The former Writer’s Stop lies behind walls, amidst rumors that this may be the Club 33 location for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. How cool would it be to either here through a facade on New York Street?

Star Tours

No trip to Hollywood Studios is complete without a ride on Star Tours.

In Tatooine Traders, a number of new items can be found.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Star Wars BB-8 Living Character Meet and Greet Debuts Early at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on April 19, 2017

Scheduled to debut on April 14th, 2017 at the Star Wars Galactic Nights event, the BB-8 character meet and greet experience inside of Star Wars Launch Bay debuted early on Sunday, April 9th, 2017.

The picture is dark because the signage points into the dimly lit cantina area in the Star Wars Launch Bay. This space was originally a hallway with a gaming area for Disney Infinity, which has since moved near the Path of the Jedi film and is what is now called the XBOX Game Port.

There isn’t much queue space because of this, so the line was spilling out into the cantina despite being fairly short. I expect that this will be a daily occurrence.

This is the first queue room, oddly lit from above in rainbow colors. I expect this will change before the formal debut.

The ceiling screams “office of the future” to me with the light panels that don’t seem like something you would see in Star Wars.

The second part of this queue is a hallway with a well-themed emergency exit.

I’m happy to report that the lighting in here is much better.

How cool is this door?

The infamous yellow line you wait behind until they bring you into the meet and greet is even themed. I know this is a small and stupid thing, but I love it.

You then get brought into a private room (which there appears to be two of behind closed doors) where you can have a short conversation with BB-8 and then get your picture taken. This was honestly one of the coolest character experiences I have ever had. While the cast member does have to translate for the droid, the extremely authentic and realistic movements, lights, and sounds that BB-8 emits will have fans young and old smiling.

To see him in action, please check out our video walkthrough of the experience, which includes my “conversation” with the Resistance hero:

As you can see, the backdrop is great as well, making for an awesome photo.

BB-8 will officially starting greeting day guests on April 15th, 2017, but guests at the now sold-out Galactic Nights event can meet him on April 14th, 2017.

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 4/4/17 (Star Wars Land, Toy Story, More One Man’s Dream Changes, ETC.)

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

Our latest photo report brings us to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see the latest progress on the park’s massive expansion and more. Let’s take a look…

Welcome to Hollywood!

PhotoPass services will remain at Sid Cahuenga’s, even now with Cover Story on Hollywood Boulevard reopened.

Some repaving happening on Hollywood Blvd., long overdue based on the color difference.

Will this be the end of the infamous metal lines in the ground on Hollywood Boulevard?

The Darkroom and Cover Story have reopened as one larger store attached to the Celebrity 5 & 10.

The Dark Room has mostly pins and MagicBands for sale.

Cover story has a lot of smaller trinkets, as well as stationery and assorted other souvenirs.

The openings between all three shops were greatly expanded for better traffic flow as well.

The merchandise stand outside of Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is now also sponsored by Hanes and has signage with a shop name.

Signage outside of the former Starring Rolls Cafe now tells guests of many other dining options.

You can see a large crane working in the former-Backlot area from the entrance of the Hollywood Brown Derby.

BB-8 Meet And Greet Coming To Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on February 23, 2017

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The Disney Parks Blog has just announced that BB-8 will be meeting with park guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this spring! The meet and greet will debut at Star Wars Galactic Nights.

From The Disney Parks Blog:

Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have more Star Wars fun to look forward to this spring when BB-8, the loyal droid from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, begins character greetings at the park’s Star Wars Launch Bay.

BB-8 will appear in addition to Kylo Ren and Chewbacca, two characters from the Star Wars galaxy who guests regularly encounter at Star Wars Launch Bay.

Source: The Disney Parks Blog

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 1/4/17 (Star Wars Overload, New Shows, New Socks, Etc.)

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

Our latest photo report brings us to Hollywood Studios, where we won’t be looking at Star Wars or Toy Story Land construction because you should just check out the aerial pics and video we recently posted for that. Instead, we will check out all of the other changes and modifications happening around what of the park actually exists now. Welcome to Hollywood!

Hollywood Studios Goes Rogue

Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away was updated for Rogue One. That being said, the show is still pretty awful.

Death Troopers from Rogue One now come out in a new scene.

We also have a video of the modified show if you are so inclined…

Star Wars, Nothing But Star Wars…

A new bubble blower can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is shaped like Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter and it has sound effects and it is awesome…

I just had to have one…

“Fireworks”

Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! has concluded its run for the season, but Disney has already stated that the show will return in 2017. Oh joy…

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is now back and performing regularly:

Re-Launch Bay

Star Wars Launch Bay’s final gallery was updated with props and models from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The new style customizable name tags are now available at the Launch Bay – Cargo Bay store.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Over at Star Tours, not only are all of the scenes on the ride back in randomized order, they also finally turned open the MagicBand interactive feature in the queue.

Guest animus and where they are from now show up on this screen behind the Goose Droid. Maybe someday a photo will show up as well…

If it can’t read enough MagicBands in the area, some random Star Wars characters show up on the screens.

This and That

The Rogue One MagicBand 2 is now available all around the Walt Disney World Resort if you are interested in it.

The Christmas decorations at Hollywood Studios are my favorite, so I took some pictures. Sorry, no news here.

The Red Car Trolley cart returned recently to the park.

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 1/4/17 (Star Wars Overload, New Shows, New Socks, Etc.)

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

Hollywood Studios Goes Rogue

Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away was updated for Rogue One. That being said, the show is still pretty awful.

Death Troopers from Rogue One now come out in a new scene.

We also have a video of the modified show if you are so inclined…

Star Wars, Nothing But Star Wars…

A new bubble blower can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is shaped like Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter and it has sound effects and it is awesome…

I just had to have one…

“Fireworks”

Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! has concluded its run for the season, but Disney has already stated that the show will return in 2017. Oh joy…

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is now back and performing regularly:

Re-Launch Bay

Star Wars Launch Bay’s final gallery was updated with props and models from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The new style customizable name tags are now available at the Launch Bay – Cargo Bay store.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Over at Star Tours, not only are all of the scenes on the ride back in randomized order, they also finally turned open the MagicBand interactive feature in the queue.

Guest animus and where they are from now show up on this screen behind the Goose Droid. Maybe someday a photo will show up as well…

If it can’t read enough MagicBands in the area, some random Star Wars characters show up on the screens.

This and That

The Rogue One MagicBand 2 is now available all around the Walt Disney World Resort if you are interested in it.

The Christmas decorations at Hollywood Studios are my favorite, so I took some pictures. Sorry, no news here.

The Red Car Trolley cart returned recently to the park.