Category: Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Land Officially Has An Opening Date

Toy Story Land is set to open this summer and today we have an official opening date. Disney has announced the highly-anticipated toy-filled land inspired by the beloved “Toy Story” films, will open to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios June 30, 2018.

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. Here, guests can take a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit and topped off with Slinky and Jessie. Check out the time-lapse video below above of one of Slinky Dog Dash’s first test runs.

Families will also be able to take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won from Pizza Planet. Here, adorable little green aliens swirl about in their flying saucers with guests in tow in their rocket ship toys, while “The Claw” hangs overhead.

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 put even more guests in the action taking aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games.

February 16, 2018
D23 Expo Reveals New Details For Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction and it is opening in 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and after the D23 Expo Japan on Sunday we now have some exciting new details about the attraction.

Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Bob Chapek, announced the opening year and showed how they are pulling out all of the stops to make Mickey’s first attraction an unbelievable experience for everyone. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature a new catchy theme song created especially for the attraction as well as a new experience that defies logic that we’re calling 2 ½-D. No glasses required.

On the attraction, the fun begins when you see the premiere of a new cartoon short with Mickey and Minnie getting ready for a picnic. As they head out, they drive alongside a train and find out that the engineer is Goofy. Then, one magical moment lets you step into the movie and on Goofy’s train for a wacky, wild ride.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will put you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where you’re the star and anything can happen. And for the first time, we shared a preview of what the cars will look like when you board the attraction for a zany, out-of-control adventure filled with surprising twists and turns.

The teams helping create the attraction are currently working with partners at Disney Television Animation—the people who create the popular and award-winning Mickey Shorts – to keep the characters and story authentic and to make sure you’re able to step through the movie screen and join Mickey and his friends like never before.

February 12, 2018
New Concept Artwork For Toy Story Land’s Alien Swirling Saucers
Will You Be “Chosen” by the Claw? When you ride Alien Swirling Saucers after Toy Story Land Opens this summer you just might get the chance.

Here’s a first glimpse at the latest concept artwork for the attraction.

With blockbuster expansion continuing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney is rolling out the red carpet for the new Toy Story Land opening this summer. Guests will get to play big in Andy’s backyard and also get to ride big on two family-friendly attractions planned for the new land and one popular fan favorite.

Inside a play set that Andy won at Pizza Planet, the Aliens will power up their flying saucers and spin you on a wild ride into space! You’ll get to climb into a toy rocket and hang on as aliens lead the way on an interstellar romp set to an intergalactic soundtrack of electronic space music. And if you’re really lucky, you just might get “chosen” by the claw!

For more about Toy Story Land, visit the posts below:
February 8, 2018
BREAKING: Hollywood Studios Name Will NOT Change In The Foreseeable Future

With rumors swirling around about the future of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a possible name change, Disney finally addressed the issue in a recent statement. Disney put the rumors to rest stating that the parks name will not be changing.

“In response to questions we have been receiving, we also want to let fans know that the Disney’s Hollywood Studios name will remain the same for the foreseeable future since we are immersing our guests in a place where imagined worlds of Hollywood unfold around them from movies and music, to television and theater”, the company said in a statement.

Rumors of a name change for Disney’s Hollywood studios have persisted since Disney CEO Bob Iger, not so subtly, hinted about it at a shareholder meeting back in 2015.

“It’s not announced. We used to be MGM Studios, we changed to Hollywood Studios and we’re doing some significant work there right now that I guess will result in a name change,” Iger said at the meeting. “We’ll announce that we’re changing the name, but we won’t announce what we’re changing it to. How’s that?” he continued.

So the “foreseeable future” still doesn’t mean they won’t be changing the name one day. We still know that with the evolving nature of the park a name change may still be the park’s future.

Toy Story Land is scheduled to open this summer at Hollywood Studios, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens in 2019 and neither of those projects had been announced when Iger made his off the cuff statement.

We know that the idea has been seriously considered by Disney, because back in August several Disney fans had received a survey asking their opinions of several potential new names for the park. The internet blew up last week with speculation that “Cinemagine Park” had been settled on, from that list, as the parks new name. Perhaps Disney didn’t like the survey results or maybe it was the reaction to the possible name choice that was floating around. In either case it’s clear that Disney doesn’t want possible name change to be a distraction to all of the upcoming changes.

If Disney really wanted to make it clear the name would remain the same indefinitely, they might have chosen different language for their statement. But for now everyone can rest easy that “Cinemagine Park” is not the new name of the Park. Perhaps Disney feels the Hollywood name does fit the future of the park, but only time will tell.

February 7, 2018
Star Wars: Galactic Nights Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios May 27
Alright Star Wars Addicts, it’s back – the Star Wars: Galactic Nights one-night special event will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 27.

In case you aren’t familiar, Star Wars: Galactic Nights is a thrilling Star Wars-themed event held after park hours from 7 p.m.-midnight. It celebrates the entire Star Wars saga with out-of-this-world entertainment, special photo opportunities, event-exclusive merchandise and F&B, and encounters with rarely seen characters that guests can only experience during Star Wars: Galactic Nights.

Here’s a look at other event offerings:
- Star Wars: Galactic Destinations Projections Transform The Hollywood Tower Hotel – Visible on the Sunset Boulevard area of the park the facade of the Hollywood Tower Hotel will transform via stunning projection technology to showcase familiar locations from across the galaxy. Favorite film moments, special effects, lighting, and of course the stellar Star Wars cinematic score supports each galactic location moment all night long. Star Wars Galactic Destinations is currently an event exclusive.
- Existing Star Wars Entertainment Will Debut New Enhancements – The park’s existing Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks and the Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away stage show will both debut new saga elements for the first time during Star Wars: Galactic Nights.
- Special Photo Ops – Throughout the park, guests can step into immersive and iconic scenes from their favorite Star Wars films in a series of incredibly detailed photo locations. These special photo ops will only be available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Star Wars: Galactic Nights
- Character Encounters – Expect to encounter Star Wars characters from throughout the galaxy. Guests will also be able to view an Imperial Stormtrooper March with Darth Vader.
- Exclusive Food & Beverage offerings – Taste your way around the galaxy with specialty food and beverage offerings created for Galactic Nights. Inspired by the stories and iconic characters of Star Wars, these tasting-sized sips and bites bring a delectable addition to this event.
- Enjoy park attractions – Select attractions will be open to all guests – and some may even offer a special Star Wars twist on May 27 only.
January 29, 2018
Latest Construction Update for Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios

We’re back with another update on the progress with the Galaxy’s Edge construction at Hollywood Studios.

The opening is still well over a year away and the anticipation is overwhelming, but at least we can get these little peeks at what they are up to and how the future land is shaping up!

Overview of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. pic.twitter.com/YtCuhfXj4E

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) January 14, 2018

The awesome ariel shots show the massive project which is hard to appreciate from the ground. In the picture below you can really get a sense of the scope of the project.

Photo: @bioreconstruct

The left arrow at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge rock work frame that can be seen from Grand Avenue. Smaller arrows at what may become a landscaped hill, and a section almost filled in with dirt.

Here you can see Where they starting to block the view from the surrounding areas with a natural looking forest.

Instant forest on the berm isolating Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Seen from Pixar Place. pic.twitter.com/Y3i2JtD9UA

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) January 20, 2018

Here you can see the high points in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. This is the current view from Grand Avenue.

Photo: @bioreconstruct

Photo: @bioreconstruct

Here is another great aerial view where we can see the current work on the buildings near the Millennium Falcon attraction in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. You can also make out the marketplace passageways taking form.

Photo: @bioreconstruct

If you want to see more of the progression they have made so far take a look back here. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set to open in 2019. Keep checking

January 23, 2018
9 Things We Know About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge So Far

1. It Opens Next Year! – Opening date is currently set at 2019. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at the Disneyland Resort will debut first and the land at the Walt Disney World Resort will debut second.

2. It’s Set On The Planet Batuu – At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests visit Batuu, a remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes, but its prominence was bypassed by the rise of hyperspace travel. Now home to those who prefer to stay out of the mainstream, it has become a thriving port for smugglers, rogue traders and adventurers traveling between the frontier and uncharted space. It’s also a convenient safe haven for those intent on avoiding the expanding reach of the First Order. (See rendering at the top).

3. You’ll Be Able To Fly The Millenium Falcon – One of the land’s two signature attractions will put you in the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, piloting the ship, shooting blasters or preparing for hyperspace – all while completing a critical mission. But how you perform on the mission holds even bigger stakes: perform with skill and you may earn extra galactic credits, while bringing the ship back banged up could put you on the list of a bounty hunter. End up on Harkos’s list and you may face a problem if you show up at the local cantina.

4. A Second Attraction Planned for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Puts You On A Star Destroyer – This attraction, “built on a scale we’ve never done before,” will make guests feel like they’re inside a hangar bay in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. (The name of this attraction is still yet to be released).

5. A Cantina Will Serve Up Blue Milk – Only one F&B item has been announced for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge so far and that’s the blue milk Luke Skywalker made famous in “Star Wars IV: A New Hope.”

6. Expect To See Characters From A Galaxy Far, Far Away – Guests will also encounter many familiar faces inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, including BB-8, Chewbacca, members of the First Order and – among many others – Rex, the troublesome pilot you may remember from the previous version of a certain Disney attraction who takes on a new role in this land as the DJ at the cantina.

7. The Land Will Feature Marketplaces & New Toys – Imagineers looked to the exotic markets of Istanbul and Marrakech for inspiration for the land’s marketplace, where guests can explore a rich collection of shops and merchant stalls. One stall will be overseen by a Toydarian, a creatures fans first encountered on Tatooine in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.” Here, guests will be able to discover all kinds of fun toys straight out of the Star Wars galaxy.

8. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Merchandise Has Already Been Released – The first Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge merchandise, available at select locations at the Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resort, was released in December. The line currently consists of an assortment of men’s and women’s T-shirts, hats and more that feature faces and places familiar to Star Wars fans, including the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge logo, the Millennium Falcon, BB-8, DJ Rex and more.

9. You Can View A Portion Of The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Model Right Now – A portion of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge model is currently on display at the end of the Walt Disney Presents exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

January 13, 2018
Classic Hollywood Music Loops Replaced at Hollywood Studios

Add another change to the list for Hollywood Studios as it reimagines itself right before our eyes. The music loops known throughout the park, often playing music from Hollywood’s Golden Age, have been replaced as of today.

Change is hard and if you have loved Hollywood Studios since the day it opened in 1989 as Disney-MGM Studios, then this might be a hard one for you, but this is a change that is necessary for Disney’s vision of the park’s future.

Walt Disney himself knew that his parks would continue to change and evolve. “As long as there is imagination left in the world”, said Walt.

In a release from Disney they say, “Every great Hollywood story has a soundtrack that sets the tone and supports the narrative, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no exception.”

They have now officially updated audio arrangements around the park and Disney says it will put a bounce in your step, and you’ll feel as if you’ve walked right into your own adventure.

Here is what you can expect to hear:
At the park’s Main Entrance, big band arrangements of familiar Disney tunes get your day started off right. As you enter the park, the music transitions to popular songs from the 30s and 40s, also in the big band style that comes to a crescendo as you approach the Chinese Theater. Throughout the park, the music complements each area’s setting and timeframe perfectly. From brassy horns near Echo Lake and jazz at the BaseLine Tap House, to the sounds of live performances outside Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, it’s music to your ears!

Of course, music is just one part of your experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There’s also the park’s unprecedented growth that features even more of what today’s Hollywood has to offer, whether it be in movies, music, television or theater.

In 2018, Disney is rolling out the red carpet for Guests to experience the first part of the park’s blockbuster expansion with Toy Story Land where Guests will step right into Andy’s backyard and play alongside his toys. And in 2019, another out of this galaxy land will come to life when Guests will play a starring role in their own story at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019.

To quote Walt again, “We don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things”.

January 11, 2018
LEAKED: Slinky Dog Coaster Test Video in Toy Story Land

We’ve brought you several construction updates on the developments of Toy Story Land and the toy box is filling up nicely. Now we can do you one better with some really neat video that surfaced Saturday and gives us a great look at The Slinky Dog Dash attraction in action as they test it out.

In the video, uploaded by Mickey Views, we see the full train racing up a fairly steep incline and then gliding down around the corner as it traveled the track. It finishes up by seemingly springing up and down, like a slinky dog might do, as it fades out of sight.

Slinky Dog Dash is a family coaster themed as if Andy built it in his backyard using his Mega Coaster Play Kit and some of his other favorite toys. The attraction’s ride vehicles, inspired by the character of Slinky in the film, will send riders dipping, dodging and dashing around turns and drops Andy has created to stretch Slinky’s coils to the max.

In this new land guests will shrink to the size of a toy so they are able to explore Andy’s backyard, which is filled with toys from the “Toy Story” films.

The 11-acre land will be themed around toys from the “Toy Story” movie series, like the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster and Woody’s Lunch Box, a quick-service window serving soda floats and more. Another ride will be Alien Swirling Saucers, where aliens circling in flying saucers pull along rocket ships full of guests. Toy Story Land is expected to open summer of 2018.

January 7, 2018
Toy Story Mania Closures in Preparation for Toy Story Land

It’s 2018! It’s a new year, a new you and a new Hollywood Studios. The eagerly anticipated opening of Toy Story Land is not to far away. In preparation, the third track of Toy Story Mania has been closed, according to Disney.

The third track opened for Toy Story Mania in May of 2016, which helped alleviate the long longs for the ride. However, the third track is now closed as of Jan. 3, 2018, and it will most likely remain that way until Toy Story Land is ready to open.

The lines will be longer for the time being, but a Disney spokesperson said, the ride is still fully operational.

To accommodate the ride’s new entrance into the new land, some changes are being made, as you can see in display model.

It’s not just the one track that will be closed. You can expect the ride will fully close in the next few weeks to make the final preparations and for the grand opening. No dates have been set for that as of yet.

In this new land guests will shrink to the size of a toy so they are able to explore Andy’s backyard, which is filled with toys from the “Toy Story” films.

The 11-acre land will be themed around toys from the “Toy Story” movie series, like the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster and Woody’s Lunch Box, a quick-service window serving soda floats and more. Another ride will be Alien Swirling Saucers, where aliens circling in flying saucers pull along rocket ships full of guests.

January 6, 2018