Construction is actually underway over at Disney's Hollywood Studios! We're finally seeing some movement on the Star Wars and Toy Story land work. The queue building for Slinky Dog coaster is going up and foundation work is happening at Star Wars land. The Muppets balloon with Kermit's face on it has been removed from the MuppetVision theater tower. This was to prevent it from being seen from within Star Wars land, (although I'm not sure why it had to come down so soon.) See below for more details about these massive new expansions, including concept art and a map outlining the ride placements in relation to the rest of the park.
Elsewhere in the park, Starring Rolls Cafe has closed its doors for good, with many of its baked goods now only available at the Trolley Car Cafe across Sunset Blvd. The tables out front are still present for guests, and signage remains (for now,) but there's no indication that Starring Rolls is ever going to be coming back. And lastly, guests now have a chance to check out a preview for the new live-action Beauty and the Beast at One Man's Dream. Plus, you can see props and Belle's dress used in filming. See the video as well as the extensive photo report below and stay tuned for more theme park news and updates!
I made the map below to outline where the new lands will be located, generally. Each new land will debut with two new attractions. Toy Story Land will feature a spinner ride based on the little 3-eyed aliens from the film, and a family roller coaster based on Slinky Dog. Construction has already begun on the Slinky Dog coaster's queue and load building, (see photos below and video above.) The area will be themed to look like Andy's backyard, where guests can feel like they're the size of a toy!
The new Star Wars themed land, planned for sometime in 2019, will open with two main attractions as well. One will be a ride where we get to pilot the Millennium Falcon ourselves. The other is an attraction featuring a battle between First Order stormtroopers and Resistance fighters. The battle attraction has already begun construction, with foundation being laid as we speak. The land will be themed as an outpost planet filled with cantinas and shops all run by "real" alien employees.
Expansion map for Hollywood Studios: Note the two new lands will connect to each other. Also note that entrance and exit for Toy Story Mania will be moved to back of building. Where the ride entrance is now will be turned into backstage areas and that street will no longer be accessible to guests.Star Wars Land Concept Art: Battle attraction seen on middle-left, then Millennium Falcon ride top-middle, and village shops and dining on the rightToy Story Land Concept: Existing Toy Story Mania ride at bottom, Slinky Dog coaster top-right, alien spinner ride left, and pathway to Star Wars land on far left middle
Photo Update
Welcome to Hollywood Studios!
Minor work going on at The Darkroom storeGuests being redirected to other stores in the meantimeStarring Rolls Cafe officially closedSignage still upDoor windows blacked out from the insideEmpty condiment barGuests can still utilize the tables and chairsGuests being redirected to Trolley Car Cafe (Starbucks) across the streetThe Trolley Car Cafe opened two years ago offering similar itemsInside the Trolley Car CafeMany baked goods from Starring Rolls now available at Trolley CarYou can still get the famous Butterfinger Cupcakes, (although with a new name)Moving on to One Man's Dream for a preview of the new Beauty and the Beast film
Rose under glass and Belle's dress on display
Word is, when Toy Story Land opens, this street will be closed off to guests and be cast members only (again)To the right of the Toy Story Mania building will eventually be the entryway to Toy Story LandOver the wall we can see the Slinky Dog coaster queue building taking shapeA better look at the Slinky Dog coaster queue/load buildingOne more look at the closed off breezeway to Toy Story LandAt the dead end of Pixar Place we can see a little bit more work going onCranes moving heavy pieces behind Toys Story ManiaWork being done for edge of Toy Story LandSeveral cranes seen in the distance for Star Wars landBehind the work wall a large dirt berm is being createdThis berm will eventually block Star Wars from Toy Story, and visa versaTall berm starting to poke over the work walls
New work walls surrounding the future entrance to Star Wars land
Directory sign on wall using the worst directional arrows possibleAll of the trees and all of the flat New York facades that were once here, are now completely goneOne last structure from Streets of America remains, and may stay here to help block area from rest of parkFormer location of Writers Stop. (It's possible this might re-open in two years when the land is ready)I'm ready. I'm ready!As you get closer to Muppets area the original work walls remainFront view of the last remaining streets of America structureThis ice cream sundae also survived the wrecking ballMuppets balloon has been removed from top of MuppetVision tower
How it originally looked
How it looks now
First the fountain is turned into a planter, and now this!View of construction from PizzeRizzo balconyThese are the trees directly behind work walls on Pixar Place street, just for show for nowWorkers setting up foundation for Star Wars landOne last look at this area from above, mostly what will be the entryway to Star Wars land from the parkBehind the Muppet theater, walls still up blocking this beat up old building facadeOver the wall, the Phineas and Ferb meet and greet backdrop still remainsStill a lot of work to be done for Star Wars land over the next two years or soIn the meantime, there's still lots of Star Wars in this park alreadyThat's all for this update! Be sure to check out our recent Avatarland update over at Animal Kingdom too!
Construction is actually underway over at Disney's Hollywood Studios! We're finally seeing some movement on the Star Wars and Toy Story land work. The queue building for Slinky Dog coaster is going up and foundation work is happening at Star Wars land. The Muppets balloon with Kermit's face on it has been removed from the MuppetVision theater tower. This was to prevent it from being seen from within Star Wars land, (although I'm not sure why it had to come down so soon.) See below for more details about these massive new expansions, including concept art and a map outlining the ride placements in relation to the rest of the park.
That's all for this construction update. See all of the Hollywood Studios updates here and subscribe to the feed for more continual park updates!