Disney News

Category: Construction

  • BREAKING: First Disney Skyliner Gondola Cable Car Seen Arriving at Disney World

    BREAKING: First Disney Skyliner Gondola Cable Car Seen Arriving at Disney World

    Construction on Disney’s new Skyliner gondola system is moving along rapidly and the progress is clear as the first gondola cable car was spotted making its way into Walt Disney World today.

    Thanks to a twitter user who was quick to snap some pics, we get a really great idea of exactly what these gondolas look like and the size of them.

    As you can see in the pictures, the gondola cars are currently unthemed, but once they are installed the exterior will be covered with various Disney characters.

    Disney Gondolas Skyliner

    When it’s finished, the transportation system will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts and other locations with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.

    There is no official date, but the Disney Skyliner project is expected to be completed by 2019.

  • UPDATE: Latest On Galaxy’s Edge Construction at Hollywood Studios

    UPDATE: Latest On Galaxy’s Edge Construction at Hollywood Studios

    Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open in late fall 2019 at Walt Disney World Resort, when guests will land in the middle of the action as they live their own Star Wars stories. Construction for the massive project is of galactic proportions and these are the updates you are looking for.

    The grand opening is just over a year away and anticipation is building just as fast as the construction is coming along. These aerial photos of the site gives a great view of just how much progress is being made on the upcoming land.

    Below you can see some aerial views of the arched structure for the Battle Escape attraction which will be a trackless ride that puts guests in the middle of a fight between the First Order and The Resistance.

    Galaxy's Edge
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    And here you can see a wider angle that shows the scope of this attraction.

    Galaxy's Edge
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    The tunnel between Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Grand Avenue is also coming along and here you can some of the newest concrete forms being added.

    Here’s a great shot of the infamous stop for traders, adventurers, and smugglers known as Black Spire Outpost!

    Here’s another angle that also shows that the rock-work on the Millennium Falcon is to be eroded petrified trees, or black spires.

    Galaxy's Edge
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    Plans for an immersive Star Wars-inspired resort at Walt Disney World Resort were unveiled last summer and below you’ll see an aerial view of the site with Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at the top. At the center is path where a raised conveyor belt transferred dirt from a staging area on the West side of World Drive.

    star wars hotel
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    This week Disney announced the exact location of the new resort which is currently under development on the south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, just east of World Drive. Here is another aerial overview of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and you can see the Star Wars Resort site is upper right.

    star wars hotel
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    The progress on Galaxy’s Edge and the Star Wars Resort is just amazing to see and if you want to see how its been shaping up take a look back at our previous updates:

  • Toy Story Mania Closing For A Week To Prep For Toy Story Land

    Toy Story Mania Closing For A Week To Prep For Toy Story Land

    The Toy Story Midway Mania! attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is scheduled to be closed for an entire week this June in preparation for the opening of Toy Story Land. According to Disney the attraction will be unavailable June 11-18 and is expected to reopen on June 19.

    The closure will allow work to progress on the reconfiguration of the main entrance of the attraction. Currently Toy Story Mania’s entrance and exit are located in the park’s Pixar Place area, but after Toy Story Land opens they will both be located in the new land. When it reopens, the entrance will remain in Pixar Place until it permanently moves to Toy Story Land for the grand opening of the new land.

    Toy Story Mania will also return to full capacity on May 20 2018, with all three tracks becoming available following queue reconfiguration work. FastPass+ reservations should already be available for rides beginning May 20, if there not already booked up.

    When Toy Story Land debuts on June 30, guests will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other beloved toys are having in Andy’s backyard. Here, guests can ride Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit, take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, grab a tasty snack at Woody’s Lunchbox – and meet some of the characters from “Toy Story” films!

    Check out the list below for more stories on the new Pixar experiences coming to Hollywood Studios.

     

  • Disney Files Permit For Another Magic Kingdom-Area Project

    Disney Files Permit For Another Magic Kingdom-Area Project

    Disney filed another permit on Monday with the South Florida Water Management District seeking to use a 30-acre site south of the theme park for temporarily stockpiling fill. The project which is named in the documents as “Stolport Stockpile” plans to use the area for “temporary stockpiling of earthwork”.

    stolport project

    The project is most likely named “Stolport Stockpile” because it sits just east of the old STOLport. The Lake Buena Vista STOLport, or “Short Takeoff and Landing” port was built in 1971 to serve as a private airfield for Walt Disney World guests and employees.

    This immediately brought up speculation about if the project might have something to do with a revamp of the airport, but documents included in the filing show it appears to be related to Disney’s “Project 89”. Disney filed permits for “geotechnical work” at the site of Disney’s former River Country water park back in March.

    According to those permits, Disney is going to “Conduct geotechnical investigation to assess the suitability of subsurface soils”.  In layman’s terms, they will be drilling to evaluate the soil conditions at the River Country site.

    No one knows for sure what Disney’s plans for the area are, but many have speculated that a new Magic Kingdom resort could be in the works and it’s likely another DVC resort. At this point Disney hasn’t released any information about what either project is for.

  • Concrete Foundation For ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Roller Coaster At Epcot Has Been Poured

    Concrete Foundation For ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Roller Coaster At Epcot Has Been Poured

    Earlier this year Disney announced a ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’-Themed Roller Coaster coming to Future World at Epcot and earlier this week, 960 trucks’ worth of concrete was poured to create the foundation of what will soon take shape as Epcot’s mammoth attraction.

    It’s now on track to become one of the world’s longest enclosed coasters, and to house it, a new facility is being built adjacent to the existing Universe of Energy building.

    Inspired by the films, the “Guardians of the Galaxy”-themed attraction will expand on the original vision of Epcot’s Future World, with an epic storyline being developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in close collaboration with the original filmmakers.

    Take a look at the construction progress below in this awesome time-lapse video from Disney Parks.!

    While the “Guardians of the Galaxy”-themed attraction is currently set to debut at Epcot just in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, guests don’t have to wait too long to get a “Guardians” fix at Epcot. As a part of Walt Disney World’s “Incredible Summer,” Star-Lord and Gamora from “Guardians of the Galaxy” will take guests on a musical journey through the cosmos in “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” at the America Gardens Theatre at Epcot.

    Guests can catch “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” five times a day from June 9 through August 19.

  • Meet The Redhead From Pirates of the Caribbean Ride In Person At Disneyland

    Meet The Redhead From Pirates of the Caribbean Ride In Person At Disneyland

    Guests have been chanting “we wants the redhead” for years and now they are finally getting what they want! Arriving soon at Disneyland park will be a fierce and independent pirate known as Redd and she’ll soon be in New Orleans Square Disneyland where you can actually meet her in person.

    The redhead has been part of the auction scene in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction since it first opened, but last year Disney announced that it would be reimagining that section of the ride. The attraction has already opened in Disney World with its new scene and refurbishment for the attraction at Disneyland is currently underway.

    Red Head Pirates of the Caribbean

    In Disney World’s new version the famed redhead is no longer being auctioned off. She has a new look and a new attitude! Now she sports a rifle and clearly isn’t taking any guff from any scurvy pirates.

    A bit mysterious by nature, Redd travels to various ports throughout the Caribbean—selling rum and collecting coin.  She has been given a full back story and even told Disney when asked if she knew Captain Jack Sparrow, “That Sparrow owes me a new ship. Wouldn’t be surprised if he found himself in irons once more. If you see Mister Sparrow, I’m lookin’ for ‘em!”

    Redd is no longer anyones bride, auctioned or otherwise, and according to Disney it seems she’s only married to the coin!

    Keep an eye out for Redd this summer strolling around New Orleans Square!

     

  • First Look: New Incredicoaster Trains at Disney California Adventure Park

    First Look: New Incredicoaster Trains at Disney California Adventure Park

    When Pixar Pier opens this summer California Screamin’ will be permanently transformed into Incredicoaster! The attraction is already closed for construction and today Disney gives us a first glimpse of the new Incredicoaster trains that will ride the rails of the newly redesigned high-speed wooden roller coaster.

    Disney Imagineers have been putting the final details on the new trains, which will take you on a thrilling race alongside “The Incredibles.” The superhero family, each with special gifts, will race alongside guests during the attraction, trying to catch their baby Jack-Jack.

    The Incredicoaster will glide around Pixar Pier on steel tracks that cover a distance of almost 1-1/8 miles—the longest and fastest roller coaster at the Disneyland Resort. The attraction will feature a super combination of character figures, lighting, music and special effects, bringing all the action of “The Incredibles” to life!

    The coaster’s existing tunnels will be fully enclosed, and the character of Mrs. Incredible, also known as Elastigirl, will stretch inside, over the heads of coaster riders, trying to catch her baby.

    The new loading area for the ride will be a soaring glass mid-century-modern building inspired by the Parr family home in the movie. Music will be provided that hypes the new “Incredibles 2” movie slated to open July 14.

    There has been a 13-year wait for The Incredibles 2, finally coming to theaters next year, but the anticipation is even higher as we wait for Incredicoaster’s debut this summer.  You can enter for a chance to win a Pixar Pier getaway here! The new area opens June 23 at Disney California Adventure park.

  • First Look: Toy Story Land Entrance Sign Installed at Hollywood Studios

    First Look: Toy Story Land Entrance Sign Installed at Hollywood Studios

    With less than one hundred days until the opening of Toy Story Land the excitement is hard to bear, but today we got to see just how close we really are. In new images revealed by Disney today, we get a first look at the Toy Story Land marquee that will adorn the entrance into the new land.

    The signage features the Toy Story logo on a wooden yo-yo toy atop the word “Land” spelled out in alphabet blocks. The only thing missing is the Woody figure that will tower over guests as he leans against the sign.

    Toy Story Land

    When it opens, guests visiting Toy Story Land will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other beloved toys are having in Andy’s backyard.

    Guests will be also be able to take a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit, or take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won at Pizza Planet.

    toy story mania

    Toy Story Land guests can also walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, which has been a guest-favorite attraction at the park since it opened in 2008. Now expanded with a third track, the popular attraction will allow even more guests to take aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games.

     

    You can see the new marquee when Toy Story land opens up on June 30!

  • Sweet Spells At Hollywood Studios Closing To Make Room For Pixar Store

    Sweet Spells At Hollywood Studios Closing To Make Room For Pixar Store

    In preparation of Toy Story Land There opening this summer there is some bittersweet news coming from Disney’s Hollywood Studios today.  Beverly Sunset Sweet Spells on Sunset Blvd will be closing permanently on April 16 2018 to make way for a Pixar store.

    The shop is known for it’s the scary and sweet treats that lurk inside the “theater” as well as Disney Villain merchandise and house-made candy. It’s unclear how the refurbishment will affect the theater-like exterior of famous snack spot.

    After the refurbishment is finished the shop will be the only place in the park where you will be able to find Pixar Merchandise other than Toy Story Land itself. The Sweet Spells production kitchen will be removed, but you will still be able to find some of the prepackaged favorites when the new store opens.

    The new got to spot for Pixar merchandise is set to open alongside Toy Story Land on June 30 2018.

     

  • What’s Being Demolished At Downtown Disney For New Disneyland Resort Hotel

    What’s Being Demolished At Downtown Disney For New Disneyland Resort Hotel

    Construction on the upcoming new Four Diamond Disneyland Resort Hotel is scheduled to start in summer 2018. The new luxury resort edition will add fourth Disney-themed hotel to the area and while that is really exciting several businesses that have been part of Anaheim’s Downtown Disney since it opened in 2001 will be demolished.

    Disney is looking to expand lodging at the Disneyland Resort and to make room for a new 700-room hotel they will be tearing down several popular spots.

    Here’s a breakdown on what is being demolished:

    • Earl of Sandwich
    • ESPN Zone
    • Rainforest Cafe
    • AMC 12 Theatres
    • Alamo Rent-a-Car
    • (west side) Starbucks

    Basically, everything west of the Lego store and Disneyland Drive will be demolished making plenty of room for the resort.  The addition of the new hotel shows Disney’s new strategy to try to attract more out-of-town guest as they have historically catered to local Cali residents, according to The Orange Count Register.


    It is the largest renovation in Downtown Disney District history clearing up 17 acres for the resort. Disney officials announced that the businesses will be closing by June 30 with demolition slated to begin in early July.  Talks are ongoing and it is still possible that a few of the closed businesses will reopen inside the new hotel complex.

    The new hotel will have a dedicated Monorail platform inside the hotel for direct transport into Disneyland park and a new restaurant that will offer a magical view of the Disneyland fireworks. Disney has yet to receive expected final approvals from the city of Anaheim for the new hotel.