Hollywood Studios – Page 6

New Permits Reveal Star Wars Hotel Scope and Connection to Hollywood Studios

Disney recently filed permits with the South Florida Water Management District that reveal new details about the size and scope of the Star Wars Hotel as well as how guests will be entering Hollywood Studios directly from the resort.

Walt Disney World confirmed back in may that the hotel will be located just east of World Drive, on the south side of Hollywood Studios, but now with these construction plans we get real sense of exactly how the hotel will fit in to the surrounding area.

Disney has said that hotel will be “seamlessly connected” to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. According to the recently filed permits, guests staying at Walt Disney World’s Star Wars hotel will drive from Hollywood Studios’ parking lot over a drainage canal to get to the main hotel entrance.

Guests staying at the resort will use a special pathway to enter the theme park that will take them between the two attractions in the new land.

This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.

“It’s unlike anything that exists today.” Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek said. “From the second you arrive, you will become a part of a Star Wars story! You’ll immediately become a citizen of the galaxy and experience all that entails, including dressing up in the proper attire. Once you leave Earth, you will discover a starship alive with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold all around you. It is 100% immersive, and the story will touch every single minute of your day, and it will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits.”

Disney has not released details on the new resort will open, but we do know the Star Wars-themed land at Hollywood Studios will open in late fall 2019.

July 5, 2018

New Show Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy Opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2019

Calling aspiring racers of all ages! There’s a big ol’ Ka-Chow coming on, because beginning in early 2019, there’s going to be another exciting reason to get revved up about a visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, a high-octane first-of-its-kind new show that’ll put you right in the middle of the world of Disney•Pixar’s “Cars.”

At Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, located near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, you’ll come face-to-face with racing legend Lightning McQueen, who is excited to showcase what he’s learned over the years with you – the next generation of rookie racers. Of course, as Lightning McQueen has discovered throughout his career, things don’t always go according to plan, and he has to think fast to get back on course. With friends Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez and the gang from Radiator Springs on his side, Lightning gears up for the challenge.

What will happen? You’ll have to speed on over to find out when Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy opens early next year!

July 1, 2018

Tim Allen and Buzz Lightyear Reunited at Disney World’s Toy Story Land

Buzz Lightyear was reunited with the man who voices the beloved character this week, as Tim Allen helped his animated counterpart open Disney World’s newest addition, Toy Story Land. Tim Allen and Buzz Lightyear… Excuse me, I think the word you’re searching for is “Space Ranger”.

The press was invited to attend the opening celebration of new land at Hollywood Studios Friday and the crowd of about 100 journalists got an amazing surprise when Allen came out on stage during the dedication.

Of course, in addition to the opening ceremony duties, Allen had to spend some family time in the new land. Allen and his daughter Elizabeth even took a spin aboard Alien Swirling Saucers during the special preview as you can see in the photo below.

It’s the largest expansion in the parks 29 year history. In Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Woody, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, Green Army Men and other fun-loving Toy Story characters come to life in the outdoor setting of Andy’s backyard. A world of toys surrounds guests: giant building blocks, Tinkertoys, yo-yos, board-game pieces, dominoes, Scrabble tiles, and even a giant roller coaster set. The entire land encourages the best playtime ever.

Toy Story Land includes two all-new attractions and a new entrance for Toy Story Mania!. Guests can hop on Slinky Dog for a family-friendly roller coaster ride, take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers and go for the high score in midway games populated by beloved Toy Story toys.

Toy Story Land is now open at Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

June 30, 2018

All The Toy Story Land Merchandise Available at Hollywood Studios

Oooooohhhh!!! With the opening of Toy Story Land you’re going to want to ride all the rides, but you’re also going to want to buy all the new awesome Toy Story Land Merchandise.

Here’s a look at some of the fun merchandise that will be available exclusively at Toy Story Land when the area debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on June 30.

First up, guests can make a fashion statement with these playful headbands inspired by characters featured in Toy Story Land, with styles inspired by aliens and Slinky Dog.

Guests can find this Light-Up Slinky Dog, which doubles as a toy and fashion accessory, with playful light-up rings.

Also available will be “I Played There” commemorative T-shirts for kids that will let the world know they were among the first guests to experience Toy Story Land.

Of course, shopping for these adorable items is just one way guests can enjoy themselves when Toy Story Land opens on June 30. Guests will also be able to ride Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit, take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won at Pizza Planet, or 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. Families can also head to Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land for tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats.

Which item above is your favorite? Tell us in the “Comments” section below. And be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog over the next few weeks for more coverage on this exciting expansion.

Check out the list of related posts below for more on Toy Story Land now open at Hollywood Studios!

June 30, 2018

Alien Swirling Saucers in New Toy Story Land Are Out Of This Galaxy

Three-eyed Toy Story Aliens take guests on a whirling flying saucer ride in toy rocket ships as part of Alien Swirling Saucers, one of the new attractions inside Toy Story Land, opening June 30 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

As guests become “honorary toys” in the new land, they encounter Alien Swirling Saucers, a playset that toy-owner Andy of Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story films won at the Pizza Planet restaurant. The new attraction whirls and blinks with colorful lighting, electronic space music and nonstop fun.

Alien saucer pilots are straight out of the Toy Story movies, with their pointy ears, three eyes, short antennae and facial expressions designed to convey surprise or delight. Each extraterrestrial has hitched its flying saucer to one of 22 rocket ships; together, flying saucers and rockets spin through the Pizza Planet galaxy.

With “The Claw” dangling overhead, guests climb aboard their rocket ships and hover in Pizza Planet’s version of “deep-dish space” for an out-of-this-world saucer whirl to the beat of new versions of Toy Story songs and musical themes. During the adventure, the Aliens spin guests around toy icons like Planet Pepperonia and a pizza-inspired space station.

Before boarding Alien Swirling Saucers, guests can pose for a photo with a Buzz Lightyear action figure standing more than 14 feet tall on top of toy building blocks near the entrance to his Star Command Space Station Playset. Toy robot guards flank the Pizza Planet-inspired marquee.

Inside Star Command, there are buttons to push, dials to turn and a switch to toggle for audio and visual effects. His creativity never flagging, Andy built a toy gantry with his Construx toy pieces that guests use to traverse from Buzz’s command center to the Swirling Saucers game.

Guests who are spin-averse can swirl vicariously by watching from the viewing area in between and around the playset.

“This is a world created by a boy’s imagination,” said Dave Fisher, Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Story Editor. “Andy has brought out all his space toys – it’s a really fun and high-energy attraction.”

Before or after a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, guests can pose for an out-of-this-world selfie with a stationary, photo-ready green Alien in its colorful saucer just outside the attraction. Toys of all makes and sizes – from a 10-foot-diameter “rubber” ball to colorful Cooties – have been carefully placed by Andy among the landscape of overgrown grasses, toy shrubs and playset trees throughout Toy Story Land.

Alien Swirling Saucers: At a Glance

Type of attraction: Swirl-and-whirl ride
A Disney first: Three-eyed green Alien pilots
Number of passengers per seat: 2 to 3 honorary toys
Number of saucer/rocket ships: 22 (11 in each of two playset areas)
Height restriction: 32 inches
FastPass+: Yes

Check out the list of related posts below for more on Toy Story Land now open at Hollywood Studios!

June 30, 2018

Woody’s Lunch Box Now Open at Toy Story Land!

Calling all Honorary Toys – Woody’s Lunch Box is now open for business and is now dishing up all sorts of sandwiches and sides that blend classic flavor combinations with a modern twist, plus nostalgic soda floats and specialty beverages.

Located in the heart of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Andy has propped open his Woody-themed lunch box to turn it into a walk-up window where his toys can grab a bite to eat. So if you’re getting hungry while playing around in Andy’s backyard, then come on down to refuel with a few tasty bites.

Here you’ll find ooey-gooey toasted, cheese-filled sandwiches that will melt in your mouth! I have to say, the Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich is definitely my favorite – it has melted provolone and cheddar cheese with a cheddar cream cheese spread on garlic buttered and grilled artisan French bread. AND THAT’S JUST ONE SANDWICH! There’s also a BBQ Brisket Melt with sliced smoked brisket, pickles, and tangy BBQ sauce between melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese on grilled sourdough. If you’re looking for more a more healthful option, the Smoked Turkey Sandwich is the way to go! This sandwich has thin-sliced smoked turkey breast, lettuce, tomato, and dijonnaise spread and is served chilled on sunflower multigrain bread.

Of course, you can always pair these yummy sandwiches with some Mini Babybel Snack Cheese or a tasty side such as the Potato Barrels or the Tomato-Basil Soup. The Vegetable Macaroni Salad is also a great choice with onion, red and green peppers, diced tomato, green olive, and Italian dressing.

AND THEN THERE’S DESSERT! These Lunch Box Tarts are SO TASTY! And they’re available all day too. There’s two tasty tarts – Raspberry and Chocolate-Hazelnut. The Raspberry Lunch Box Tart is stuffed with raspberry marmalade, coated in strawberry fondant, and topped with strawberry crispy pearls and dried strawberry pieces. The Chocolate-Hazelnut Lunch Box Tart is stuffed with chocolate-hazelnut filling, coated in maple fondant, and topped with chocolate crispy pearls and candied bacon.

And of course I can’t forget the drinks! Cool down with a Mystic Portal Punch (POWERade® Mountain Berry Blast with flavors of lemon-lime and tangerine) or an Ice Cream Float with Barq’s® Root Beer. Fountain beverages and water are also available.

All of these bites are totally delicious and can even make for some cute photo-ops – and there’s definitely no shortage of adorable backdrops throughout the land! So what are you waiting for? Come on out to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to get in on all the tasty fun! Woody’s Lunch Box is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Check out exactly what’s inside Woody’s Lunch Box here.

Check out the list of related posts below for more on Toy Story Land now open at Hollywood Studios!

June 30, 2018

Slinky Dog Dash Stretches the Fun in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Jumping on the coolest canine toy ever, guests are in for a rollicking good time as Disney’s Hollywood Studios unleashes Slinky Dog Dash in the new Toy Story Land at the Walt Disney World Resort. This multi-launch, family-friendly roller coaster careens around bends and “catches air” over camelback humps as it runs across the 11-acre land.

As honorary toys, guests have Andy of Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story films to thank for this incredibly fun experience. They get to ride his creation and be inside Slinky Dog’s coils as the lovable pooch twists and turns around the track. It all takes place in Andy’s backyard, where he used the Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Play Kit to assemble this speedy toy.

Andy’s idea for his double-launch coaster – a Disney first – was to pick everyone’s favorite floppy-eared dachshund with the stretching coil body – Slinky Dog – to send guests around the track. The attraction’s ride vehicles are spring-tailed spinoffs of Slinky, the iconic American toy from the 1940s. Track and supports for the coaster are done up in bright colors of red, orange, yellow and blue.

Guests approaching the ride launch see Andy’s plans sketched out in Crayola crayon on notebook paper. Glue bottles, empty toy boxes and stray coaster parts and pieces are strewn about – Andy’s pet project was clearly a work in progress when he was called away. But that’s when the toys will play!

In one hilarious scene, the coaster swoops around blocks Andy stacked around his Jenga game. Rex, the toy dinosaur, is precariously perched atop the unstable Jenga stack trying to decorate the toy block city by stringing up colored Christmas lights – a daunting task when you’re a dinosaur with short front arms! Jessie comes to his rescue, working to untangle Rex’s dino-sized predicament.

Andy also tricked out his coaster creation with a power booster. When Slinky Dog Dash hits its midway point, the coaster stops, reverses a few yards, then shoots through multiple rings pulsing with sounds, spinners and flashing lights to launch riders into the second act of the ride experience.

“The first half of the ride is many swirls, turns and dips, and after the second launch come a drop and camelback humps – as if you were playing with a Slinky Dog toy,” explained Dave Minichiello, Executive Creative Director of Walt Disney Imagineering.

Andy saved one last surprise for his coaster’s finale: Wheezy, the squeaky toy penguin from the Toy Story films, breaks into a rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Created especially for Slinky Dog Dash, the Audio-Animatronics figure of Wheezy is unique among Disney Parks globally. Toys and toy packaging complete the scene, including a Rubik’s Cube, a game canister for Pick-Up Snakes and toy wooden blocks spelling out F-U-N – all against the backdrop of a towering book, Mr. Pricklepants’ “Songs for Singing,” compiled by the huggable hedgehog from “Toy Story 3.”

“As Toy Story Land welcomes our guests – as toys – into Andy’s backyard, Slinky Dog Dash invites them into Andy’s imagination,” said Phil Holmes, Vice President of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “What Andy has dreamed up will deliver nonstop coaster fun for all ages.”

Slinky Dog Dash: At a Glance

Type of attraction: Family-friendly roller coaster, first at Disney Parks with a second mid-ride launch
Track type: Steel
Number of passengers per train: 18
Height restrictions: 38 inches
FastPass+: Yes

Check out the list of related posts below for more on Toy Story Land now open at Hollywood Studios!

June 30, 2018

Playful Attraction Photo at Slinky Dog Dash Coaster Available in Toy Story Land

The newly opened Toy Story Land is the perfect place where guests of all ages can play together at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and to help commemorate your experience, Disney PhotoPass Service wants to help you preserve those memories. It’s easy and convenient to use, and no assembly is required.

There’s so much to enjoy in this fun-filled, 11-acre land, and one of the best Disney PhotoPass opportunities in Toy Story Land is found at Slinky Dog Dash coaster, a roller coaster that covers the land. As you’re dashing through Andy’s backyard, Disney PhotoPass Service will capture your adventure!

To preview, purchase and download this attraction photo, you must be wearing an active MagicBand or MagicBand 2 Icon in a MagicKeeper that’s linked to your Disney account. Your photo will be automatically linked to your account, where it can be viewed at MyDisneyPhotoPass.com or in the My Disney Experience app alongside all of your vacation memories from Disney PhotoPass Service.

To take home all of your photos from Toy Story Land and beyond, purchase Memory Maker! You’ll receive unlimited digital downloads of all Disney PhotoPass photos linked to your account and taken during your vacation.

June 30, 2018

Toy Story Land Is Officially Open in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World

The new Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort officially opens today! Inspired by Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story films, the new land turns guests of all ages into “honorary toys” and allows them to PLAY BIG in the whimsical world of a child’s imagination.

In Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Woody, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, Green Army Men and other fun-loving Toy Story characters come to life in the outdoor setting of Andy’s backyard. A world of toys surrounds guests: giant building blocks, Tinkertoys, yo-yos, board-game pieces, dominoes, Scrabble tiles, and even a giant roller coaster set. The entire land encourages the best playtime ever.

Toy Story Land includes two all-new attractions and a new entrance for an enduring favorite. Guests hop on Slinky Dog for a family-friendly roller coaster ride, take a spin with the little green Aliens from Pizza Planet and go for the high score in midway games populated by beloved Toy Story toys. Guests will also love to chow down on tasty vittles available for purchase at Woody’s Lunch Box

Toy Story Land also celebrates what defines entertainment for kids of all ages. Crayola crayons, a Rubik’s Cube, Cooties, and other toys and games pour on the nostalgia for park-goers – and fascinate young ones. With building blocks around every corner, there are lampposts shaped like Tinkertoys and benches built from Lincoln Logs and K’nex pieces. A balsa-wood glider, a Barrel of Monkeys, giant playing cards and jacks add to the visual tapestry of the new land. Sheriff Woody, standing nearly 20 feet tall, welcomes all to Toy Story Land by jauntily leaning on a tall assemblage of colorful wooden blocks, tipping his wide-brimmed hat to guests while holding onto his trusty lasso.

“With set pieces, staging, attractions and experiences, Toy Story Land represents the best of Walt Disney Imagineering’s collaboration with our storytelling partners at Pixar Animation Studios,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products. “This new land will place guests inside the wondrous world of Woody, Buzz and their pals – and invite everyone to experience the joy of being a toy.”

Check out the list of related posts below for more on Toy Story Land now open at Hollywood Studios!

June 30, 2018

New Concept Art Unveiled for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

The Great Movie Ride closed on August 13, 2017, to make room for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and today, new concept art from the upcoming attraction has been released by Disney.

Though it was sad for many guests to see The Great Movie Ride go, what is to come is pretty unique. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway makes for the first ever Mickey-themed ride-through attraction. The new attraction will totally immerse guests in a cartoon world and will feature a new catchy theme song created especially for the attraction.

On Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you’ll step through the movie screen and join Mickey and his friends like never before. The attraction will put you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where you’re the star and anything can happen. This zany out-of-control adventure features surprising twists and turns, dazzling visual effects and mind-boggling transformations that happen before your very eyes.

The fun begins when you see the premiere of a new cartoon short with Mickey and Minnie preparing 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.

The teams helping create the attraction are currently working with partners at Disney Television Animation to keep the characters and storyline authentic – and allow guests to join Mickey and his friends like never before. The attraction is planned to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2019.

June 29, 2018

Category: Hollywood Studios